Howard Jones - The 12" Album / Action Replay Album

If you requested and were sent a replacement bonus disc that still appeared to be faulty, see my post on https://www.discogs.com/Howard-Jones-Risk-Specially-Selected-12-Mixes-Remastered/release/11876729 .

check the matrix of the "faulty" disc image I uploaded to this release to the repress submitted here https://www.discogs.com/Howard-Jones-Risk-Specially-Selected-12-Mixes-Remastered/release/11876729

i have got a replacement of the "Risk" CD and all tracks work perfectly with no issues so this is good news so now i have a spare "risk" slip as this disc has the last track issue at least i have a working complete set now.https://drive.google.com/open?id=1L2iXEMz1Tz0SLypixVd8IbWWJ24uPI0xi also noticed on my new replacement upon import to my computer although the tracks are same the "mix /version" is not stated next to the track (like the cover) this leaves me to believe something has been changed with this new batch regarding tagging/metadata etc although i could be wrong......but the disc works flawless with no errors.

well I bought my copy direct from them and not from the crazy sellers here on Discogs and not at theses prices!so I had a valid receipt' saying that there is definitely a fault with the disc my replacement looks identical but it works flawlessly I keep my defect copy separate don't want to mix them up ;)

Many thanks i'm onto management right now about this although left a message 24 hours ago and no response. Emailing now

I contacted them with my receipt and order number the replacement discs looks identical but it works flawlessly so I am not sure what has changed but I still own the defective one it fails every time in the same area the replacement is perfect. see linkhttps://drive.google.com/open?id=1L2iXEMz1Tz0SLypixVd8IbWWJ24uPI0x

How did you get a replacement? I've never heard of them offering any.

Has anybody had trouble with the last track on the 12" Remixes CD? On laptop it plays ok - maybe some error clicks - on a proper player the sound stops at around 4:38, and starts to click beforehand.

if you need a working copy of the last track let me know i can send the WAV from the disc if it helps.

i got it from Howard Jones shop i spoke to someone called Vicki after i purchased the box set i gave her my order number receipt etc explained the "Risk" disc and the error not so much the indexing that seems fine on both copes but the last track is fully functioning now not sure if they are new batches that have been re pressed or i was just lucky but gathering how many people have had this error it seems they may have printed some more and fixed what ever was the issue.https://drive.google.com/open?id=1L2iXEMz1Tz0SLypixVd8IbWWJ24uPI0x

Where did you manage to get a replacement CD from?

my replacement CD has no such error now so some batches must have been issued! disc works great now.

That's helpful to know - but it's a frustrating error!

mine is exactly the same!! 4:23 to be exact refuses to play especially the last track' it's the same on all my Hi Fi equipment.track 11 New Song (Alternative Extended Mix) is actually showing 1:41:27 playing time? so it's definitely an indexing problem usually the read Solomon code is pretty good at fixing errors (if anyone is familiar with it's workings).correct me if i am wrong going on what i learnt at college 99% of all CD's due too the manufacturing process have errors' it's the nature' and never were intended solely superior for bit for bit sound quality and more for storage of the information' and hardware and software work together to get the information off the Discand obviously the sound quality depends on equipment used.shame really sound quality is very good the packing and artwork are great' and the jewel cases used are those that don't damage inlays! and hold the Disc securely.I can live with the sequenced issues on the other 2 discs although the "Risk Disc" does not have this issue like some reviews have experienced it's only the last track for me at around 4:30 will just stop and halt and lock up the drive and cause it to go erratic.

It should be noted that the bonus disc in this set has numerous track marker issues which become apparent when you listen to the tracks individually. Specifically the end of tracks 5 through 10 all have a small amount (a bit less than a second) of the following track, and likewise tracks 6 through 11 all have beginnings truncated by the same amount.This problem has been noted to HJ's people but as of yet there has been no acknowledgement or response from anyone.This is a great set, but the technical glitches unfortunately take some of the luster off.

yes totally it is always on by default i have also tried XLD same issue i have found this before CD's can play through dust and scratches that look really bad yet some CD's that show no obvious sign skip! i have also seen finger prints somehow on the polycarbonate substrate layer before the foil goes on!but this CD is flawless i have emailed directly Howard Jones (department) as i see many here have had problems with this particular "risk" CDbut my reply was "HI Adrian,Many thanks for your email. We are sorry to hear you have received a defective CD, I will mail you a replacement out straight away.Sorry for the inconvenience caused,Regards,Vicki Manager, HJ Webstore"

Did you try Exact Audio Copy or ripping through iTunes (with error correction enabled)?

This indexing issue is awful - had to recreate my own CDR via Audacity.

Would be nice if they fixed the mastering issue on CD 3. The last track refuses to play on my copy, too and causes the player it has been inserted into to freeze up! I'm considering sending it all back for a refund...

This is surely the (re-)release that old-school HJ fans have been waiting for, primarily for the bonus disc of this rather fabulous package! Firstly, the albums themselves... "The 12" Album" is up there with the best of the 80's remix albums. Like Pet Shop Boys' seminal "Disco" compilation, the mixes here are extended and different enough to be exciting whilst the songs remain firmly intact! Most notably, from back in '84, this was the only place to get the sublime reworking of "New Song" and the extended "Pearl In The Shell". "New Song (New Version)" was apparently recorded for inclusion on "Human's Lib" but vetoed by spoilsports Warners who insisted on the original hit 7" mix featuring. Certainly, the version here has a much warmer, fuller sound than Colin Thurston's original production and HJ's piano overdubs really fill out the mix into something rather lovely. The "...Shell" mix was edited from a US promo-only 12" mix and another welcome inclusion after that single's 12" release disappointingly featured only the album version. The other exclusive on offer at the time was live favourite "Always Asking Questions" which would have sat quite comfortably on "Human's Lib". It has to be said that previously-US-only "Action Replay" doesn't sit together as comfortably or play as satisfyingly as disc one, but does feature the exclusive Corsaro US mix of "Look Mama" and the full 12" mix of "Hide & Seek". Some fans have complained about the inclusion of "...Questions" for the second time on this set (identical here to the version on disc one but for a crude fade before "New Song" sequences in) and questioned the inclusion of the album version of "Specialty" which was on the original US release of this EP to compensate for its absence from the original US "Dream Into Action" pressings. However, if the purpose here was to remaster and re-release these 2 compilations as originally intended, then it all makes sense... As mentioned at the top, the real gem for fans and collectors here is the bonus disc of 11 specially selected 12" remixes which pretty much rounds up HJ's 12" mix output from the HL & DIA eras. I say "pretty much" because "Look Mama" original UK 12" and the full-length "Total Conditioning" (from "Pearl In The Shell" 12") are missing. The former has since been offered as a free download through HJ's official site and the latter's master tape is apparently sadly lost! As well as the remaining UK 12" vinyl mixes, we get the rare second 12" version of "Look Mama" (sadly Mr Inspiration was out of the building when someone came up with the "megamamamix" name!), the afore-mentioned full US 12" promo mix of "...Shell" and previously unreleased mixes of "Conditioning" and "New Song", the latter being close to, but longer (and, in my opinion, better) than the released 12" mix. Again, those easily-disgruntled fans have lamented the second appearance of "Like To Get To Know You Well" within this set just for its natural ending (it overlaps with "...Shell" on disc one) and certainly, the UK 12" mix of "Look Mama" would have been a better use of valuable disc space, but this is a minor gripe when you consider the overall package here. Finally, the quality of both sound and packaging needs a shout-out. Although we may have been blessed with the full length "Total Conditioning" if this had been issued by certain other re-release specialist labels, it would have been a crass vinyl rip, and nothing on these 3 discs is anything of the sort. All tracks have been lovingly remastered from the original master tapes and they sound great: clear and clean, with no clipping or saturation and no crazy-high compression levels! The 2 albums each come in a Super Jewel box with matching slip case (the bonus disc in a simple card sleeve) all housed in a lovely hard card outerbox. (This release is no friend of the environment and all-the-lovelier for it!) In short, this is an absolutely essential set for any HJ fans or lovers of quality 80s 12" mixes!

what should be noted about the bonus disc--after like the 3rd song, the tracks are not indexed correctly. About the first second of every track is attached the track BEFORE it. A shame that HJ would take so much time to meticulously remaster and re-release his stuff for fans and then let a pretty huge error such as this be the final result.