Phew, what a week! It was exciting, fun, irritating and stressful waiting for all my Finally Enough Love formats to come in. I have most of them now, just waiting for one more (the Canadian CD). Unless something else interesting pops up (maybe a Taiwanese version with obi?). I think I’m pretty much done with buying anything else.
It looks like the majority of fans are enjoying Finally Enough Love. I definitely have some things I would have changed about the packaging, but I thought I’d instead go down every track and give my thoughts on the versions they chose. Narrowing down one remix edit per track was never going to be an easy task, but they did it. Let’s take a look.
1. Holiday (Remix Edit) It’s nice to finally have the official 7″ Edit on a widely-released Madonna album, and since the only remix option was the You Can Dance Remix Edit which was already on a promo disc, I think the 7″ version here is fine.
2. Like A Virgin (7″ Version) aka the Album Version. I disagree with this choice. They should have edited down the 12″ mix as an exclusive for this set.
3. Material Girl (7″ Version) aka the Album Version. Same situation here, why choose the album version when they could have edited the 12″ mix?
4. Into The Groove (You Can Dance Remix) This is fine. The remix edit was already on the You Can Dance single edits promo CD, but I don’t mind its inclusion here, and it was really the only remix option they had.
5. Open Your Heart (Video Version). This was a fun bonus. We’ve been waiting decades to get the Edit Of Extended Version on digital, but I guess we’ll have to keep waiting.
6. Physical Attraction (You Can Dance Remix Edit) OK, I have issues with these next two tracks. Clearly, Madonna loves them, and I love them too (especially Physical Attraction, which is one of my favorites from the debut), but within the context of this compilation, she missed the mark. They should have only included one You Can Dance track, and in my option, Spotlight or Where’s The Party would have been a better representation.
7. Everybody (You Can Dance Remix Edit) Same. It’s also strange hearing these two tracks right after Open Your Heart and right before Like A Prayer. The sequencing to a Madonna fan who knows her singles chronology is jarring. That’s why I think Spotlight or Where’s The Party would have fit in better after Open Your Heart because they were from the same era. AND! Causing A Commotion Should. Have. Been. ON THIS! It was a #1 dance hit. PERIOD.
8. Like A Prayer (7″ Remix/Edit) This isn’t my favorite Like A Prayer remix, but it’s ok. I personally would have chosen the 7″ Dance Edit to include here since this 7″ Remix/Edit was already on the Remixed Prayers EP.
9. Express Yourself (Remix/Edit). After decades of getting altered versions of this mix on The Immaculate Collection and Celebration, we finally get the original O.G. version on a commercial release. This mix was previously on the promo CD, but it’s finally out there on a wide scale for the world to enjoy. I also love the 7″ Remix but the Remix/Edit was the perfect choice.
10. Keep It Together (Alternate Single Remix) According to the liner notes, it sounds like this version was especially created for this collection. This was totally unnecessary. The original Single Remix or even the more scarce 7″ Remix were just fine. The editing at the end of this Alternate Remix is really awkward.
11. Vogue (Single Version) I love the beginning of this version, so I’m glad it was included here instead of the version with the long into that is always on Madonna’s releases.
12. Justify My Love (Orbit Edit) None of the remixes for Justify My Love were really dance-y, so the choices were limited here, but I’m not sure how I feel about this mix included. I guess it’s ok, I can’t think of any other alternates that would have worked better.
13. Erotica (Underground Club Mix) This is another mix that I have mixed feelings about. It just starts off way too slow. It’s almost a full a capella track for nearly the first 2 minutes. Once the beats kick in, it’s fine, I just wish it got to the point faster. I hate to say it, but the album version probably would have worked better than any of the remixes.
14. Deeper And Deeper (David’s Radio Edit) Shep’s Deep Makeover Edit would have been a good choice as well, but David’s Mix has always seemed to have the upper hand with fans, plus everyone remembers it from The Girlie Show.
15. Fever (Radio Edit) I like this mix but I think I would have picked an edit of the Hot Sweat mix instead, though I know most fans wanted the Edit One (Video) Mix. This Radio Edit has never been available digitally, though, so that’s a plus.
16. Secret (Junior’s Luscious Single Mix) I remember hearing this mix on the radio a lot back in 1994. One of Madonna’s most iconic 90’s mixes. Perfection.
17. Bedtime Story (Junior’s Single Mix) This choice was ok but it may have been a better gift to fans to include either of these promo-only mixes: Junior’s Sound Factory Mix Edit or the Lush Vocal Mix Edit. Junior’s Single Mix was already on so many commercial single pressings.
18. Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Miami Mix Edit) The only choice. This dance mix was a huge hit so I’m glad it’s finally being given the time to shine after foolishly being omitted from GHV2.
19. Frozen (Extended Club Mix Edit) OK, I’m going to say it: I have never liked this remix of Frozen. I thought it sounded dated even at the time in 1998. Many seem to like it, though, so have at it. The only other choice may have been the Stereo MC’s Remix, which I would have preferred.
20. Ray Of Light (Sasha Ultra Violet Remix Edit) This was definitely the best choice for Ray of Light. A cool remix for a cool song.
21. Nothing Really Matters (Club 69 Radio Mix) Love this mix from the late Peter Rauhofer. I always thought they should have pushed this version to radio, maybe the song would have done better.
22. Beautiful Stranger (Calderone Radio Mix) Another mix from Calderone that I don’t love (in fact, I don’t care for most of his mixes), but this one is miles better than the Frozen remix. A fun bonus would have been including his promo-only New Club Edit mix since this Radio Mix was on every commercial single known to man.
23. American Pie (Richard “Humpty” Vission Radio Mix) I love the Humpty Visits Madonna Mix more than this one, but since it doesn’t really have many vocals, this one was the better choice.
24. Music (Deep Dish Dot Com Radio Edit) I always thought the Groove Armada and Tracy Young remixes were the most interesting. The Deep Dish one is ok. A nice bonus would have been to include the promo-only edit of the Tracy Young mix.
25. Don’t Tell Me (Thunderpuss Video Remix) Another remix I never really loved. I would have chosen the Vission Radio Remix over this one.
26. What It Feels Like For A Girl (Above & Beyond Club Radio Edit) This song had so many good remixes to choose from. I love the Richard Vission, Tracy Young and Oakenfold Mixes. This Above & Beyond mix is ok and everyone seems to love it. It was always a bit too rave-y for me, but I still like it.
27. Impressive Instant (PeterRauhofer’s Universal Radio Mixshow Mix) One of my all-time favorite Madonna remixes ever. So glad it’s on here after being promo-only for over 20 years.
28. Die Another Day (Deepsky Radio Edit) There were a lot of mixes to choose from for this song as well. This Deepsky Mix is ok, but I will say that this was the ONE time that I really liked a Calderone mix so I would have choses an edit of that one. The Dirty Vegas edit would also have been a great choice.
29. American Life (Felix Da Housecat’s Devin Dazzle Edit) American Life is not one of my favorite albums, but I do think the remixes for all of its released singles were fantastic. I like this mix of the title track, but I would have included the version without the Rap, which is a lot more scarce and actually includes the words to the second verse.
30. Hollywood (Calderone & Quayle Edit) Not my favorite of the Hollywood mixes, but I have no complaints here, especially when this remix was previously promo-only.
31. Me Against The Music (Peter Rauhofer Radio Mix) I’m not a fan of this song, but this Rauhofer mix was definitely the best choice. Makes the song bearable for me!
32. Nothing Fails (Tracy Young’s Underground Radio Edit) This was a great bonus because there weren’t any released edits of the club mixes for this song at the time. This was a good choice, I usually like Tracy Young’s remixes.
33. Love Profusion (Ralphi Rosario House Vocal Edit) According to the liner notes, this version had to be reconstructed. There’s definitely some sloppy editing here, most notably when her vocals start and the beginning of “There are…” is faded in too late. But I do love this remix.
34. Hung Up (SDP Extended Vocal Edit) I like this mix because it takes the original and adds a bit of extra oomph. It’s a little lacking in the amount of vocals, though.
35. Sorry (PSB Maxi Mix Edit) The Green Velvet mix was always my favorite out of the remix package, but I understand that they would choose the Pet Shop Boys remix for the name value.
36. Get Together (Jacques Lu Cont Vocal Edit) This was a good choice, I like this mix.
37. Jump (Axwell Remix Edit) Another good choice. This was my favorite Jump mix of the lot, though the others were good as well.
38. 4 Minutes (Bob Sinclar Space Funk Edit) I don’t like this song in its original version but all of the remixes were fantastic. Good choice here.
39. Give It 2 Me (Eddie Amador Club 5 Edit) I’m surprised they didn’t go for the Oakenfold Mix here, but I do like this Eddie Amador mix. No complaints here.
40. Celebration (Benny Benassi Remix Edit) The obvious choice.
41. Give Me All Your Luvin’ (Party Rock Remix) Not only do I not like the original version of this song, but there were better remixes to consider than this one.
42. Girl Gone Wild (Avicci’s UMF Mix) This remix is ok, I liked the Justin Cognito Remix over this one, though.
43. Turn Up The Radio (Offer Nissim Remix Edit) There are other remixes that could have worked here as well, but listening to this one now that I’m typing this up, I don’t mind it at all.
44. Living For Love (Offer Nissim Promo Mix) OK, so this whole time I’ve been thinking that this mix is the exact same as the Offer Nissim Living For Drums promo mix, and I was just about to say that I wish this mix had the full vocals. So I start playing it while I’m typing and realize that this version on Finally Enough Love DOES have the full vocals! Nice surprise!
45. Ghosttown (Dirty Pop Intro Remix) My favorite mix of the bunch was the Mindskap Remix but that one only had short vocal loops. I like this one too.
46. Bitch I’m Madonna (Sander Kleinberg Video Edit) This is a fun mix, but maybe not enough of Madonna’s vocals.
47. Medellin (Offer Nissim Madame X In The Sphinx Mix) Not my favorite of the Medellin remixes but it’s ok.
48. I Rise (Tracy Young’s Pride Intro Radio Remix) OK, I know this one won a grammy and all, and it’s a fine remix but I Rise actually had other remixes that I think would have been better to include. The Kue Drops The Funk and Thomas Gold Remixes were both really fun.
49. Crave (Tracy Young Dangerous Remix) I love this mix. Quite possibly my favorite Madonna remix of the last decade. Loved that she performed it on tour and was disappointed when it was excluded from the concert film!
50. I Don’t Search I Find (Honey Dijon Radio Remix) I like this mix, but I would have gone with one of Craig C’s mixes instead, especially since they were promo-only.
And there it is. Overall, I’m not taking the track list too seriously. After all, I have every Madonna remix known to man so I could make my own playlist if I wanted to. But it’s a nice compact package for people who don’t usually bother with remixes.
Finally Enough Love Review
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Albert's Madonna Collection 