Ace of Base Album: “Platinum & Gold Collection”

Words cannot describe how good Ace of Base is. No one can make pop/dance music like they can. This collection is incredible. In only 12 songs they have covered all of their megahits, and then some.

1) THE SIGN

This song is incredible. It went to No.1 for 6 weeks. I love the way they mix reggae with pop. It is their biggest hit and was also No.1 on the airplay chart for an incredible 13 weeks.

2) CRUEL SUMMER

This brought Ace of Base back to the top 10 after 4 year hiatus from it (It hit No.10 on the Hot 100). This song is much better then the original by Bananarama. AofB's version has a really good beat which makes the song so much more catchier. Great Song.

3) DON'T TURN AROUND

This was originally done by Tina Turner as a B-side on her "Typical Male" single. It was also covered by James Ingram, Neil Diamond and Aswad (who hit No.1 with it in the U.K.). This song was never a hit in the States until Ace of Base recorded it. they changed the key from a major to a minor, so it sounds different then all of the other versions by other artists. It also made it to No.4 on the Hot 100, but No.1 on the Hot 100 Airplay list for 2 weeks.

4) LUCKY LOVE (ORIGINAL VERSION)

Thank God this version is on here. I really am not a fan of that bland acoustic remix that is on the North American verison of "The Bridge" Album. This is actually the version that I always heard on the radio anyways. This original one is great. "Lucky Love" made it to No.30 on the Hot 100.

5) ALL THAT SHE WANTS

This is what made Ace of Base wrold famous. After they hit it big in Europe, they released this in North America and it exploded. It made it to No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 on the Hot 100 Sales Chart for 3 weeks.

6) EVERYTIME IT RAINS (RADIO MIX)

This was originally a ballad on the "Cruel Summer" CD, but on here it is a dance remix. It's good.

7) WHENEVER YOU'RE NEAR ME

This song is a remix of "Life is a Flower" from their "Flowers" album (The International version of "Cruel Summer"). It has the same melody, but different lyrics and it is in a higher key. I prefer this version better. It appears on the American verison os "Flowers" (Cruel Summer). This song got moderate airplay in the fall of 1998. It made it to No.76 on the Hot 100.

8) LIVING IN DANGER (D-HOUSE MIX)

This was the fourth single from "The Sign" album. It made it to No.20 on the Hot 100. It appears in remix form on this collection. It is a dance remix by David Morales. It has heavy piano on it and it is very different than the original. It's on here because this is primarily the version that radio stations chose to play. This is the version that I always heard on the radio.

9) HAPPY NATION

This song was written after the Swedish press found out that Ulf was a skinhead when he was a teenager. It was not realeased on the States but was an international hit. I love this song, nad it has a very positive message.

10) WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Like Track No.9, this song was not a hit in the staes but it was an international hit. In fact it was their first single ever to be released.

11) NEVER GONNA SAY I'M SORRY

This song was the third single released from "The Bridge" album. It wasn't a big hit, and it only charted on the Bubbling Under Chart. I think it's a fantastic song though. It' classic Ace of Base.

12) BEAUTIFUL LIFE

This is very fast compared to their other songs. This is one of my favorteis from them. The video is amazing. It made it to No.15 on the Hot 100.

Overall this CD is pop paradise. They are in my opinion, the best pop group of all time. If you want all of their hits in there most popular forum, then this is the album to get. It's Awesome!!

I am a mega fan of Ace of Base...since "The Sign" I have devoured just everything with their name written on it. Maybe it's nostalgia...maybe I'm crazy--regardless this compilation is a must have. A few years ago "Greatest Hits" was released, and Arista has now seen it fit to release a more fabulous a cheaper version of Ace of Base's hits. For this price you can't go wrong.

I know what you want to know. Is this cd really worth it if you have the albums. Well in reality no, it is their best hits but the only real differnces are that lucky in love is the original version, not the acustic that is in the album the bridge. Also living in danger is remix in a house style which is also different than the original. All the other songs are pretty much the same as the albums. Even the sign is the same as the greatest hit version with the first second cut off which i do not understand, totally ruins the best song. Well any questions you know where to ask.

This compliation is AMAZING. Not only does it manage to be cheap, it also includes some rather exclusive songs on it as well.

1. The Sign- Their biggest hit to date. I like it, although it's not on my top 5 list, it's definitly worth a listen.

2. Cruel Summer- Poppy, poppy, poppy. Pure pop. But in a different way then any other artists at the time bothered to do. You'll like this one.

3. Don't Turn Around- A bit grungy. Pretty good.

4. Lucky Love (Original Version)- One of the 3 exclusives on this album, and was not featured in any U.S. release. I like them both equally.

5. All That She Wants- A big hit that made them a worldwide success. One of my favorites.

6. Everytime It Rains (Radio Mix)- Another exclusive. I prefer the regular version better, but this dance mix is good too.

7. Whenever You're Near Me- One of the downers on this album, and apparantly Hot Billbord 100 thought so too. "Life Is A Flower", the version on the European release, is much better.

8. Living In Danger (D-House Radio Mix)- Yet another exclusive, this was not release on any Album nor single. The D-house mix is on the single, but this is definitly not the D-house mix, although it does say it is. I happen to have the single and the real D-house mix is much, much, longer. This version was shortened for radio play. A nice house track. Possibly my favorite.

9. Happy Nation (Faded Edit)- This is another exclusive, although it doesn't say it is. It was featured on the first release of their first album, and it's better than the original. It has a much shorter beginning, and as you can tell from the title, it's faded.

10. Wheel Of Fortune- A good song, but not one to put on repeat.

11. Never Gonna Say I'm Sorry- One of the best from their second album. It has a phat beat, and I reeealy like it. One of my favorites.

12. Beautiful Life- This hot dance track is known by everyone! With is pulsing dance beat, it's a great song, and sounds a bit like it was remixed, even though it's not.

There's not one song on here that you will find bad. It has a downside, as most albums do, but it's so insignificant that you won't care. If you are deciding between this or the Ace Of Base: Greatest Hits, I would definitly reccomend this one over the other.

I thought that this Ace of Base album that Arista made in 2003 was just as strong as the Greatest Hits album of 2000. They kind of mixed it up, but it's very well balanced. Songs like The Sign and Cruel Summer kick the album out strong. I still like the funky All That She Wants. But there are some other surprises like Wheel of Fortune and the universal message of Happy Nation. Whenever You're Near Me was another creative song here. I especially like the funky David Morales remix of Living In Danger. I have heard that they have an album that's doing well overseas, but they need to put another album in America soon. This album really showed them as their strongest, mixing dance pop with reggae so very well during a 5-yr. period of hits.