Boney M. "Hits and Classics": Another missed opportunity!

This re-release has been released as a 3CD compilation, but contains the same number of tracks as the 2CD The Essential. The 3CD set has 12 on each CD.

The running order is different on the 3CD set, but did does not help anything at all. The Essential had a chronological running order, but on this release the tracks have just been thrown together without any thoughts.

Its a miserable collection with a photo on the cover That already has been used on several Boney M. compilations.
THEREFORE the same review as The Essential:

Sony Music has probably had good intentions on this compilation. They fail miserably HOWEVER, as usual When it comes to Boney M.

Yet another compilation that's edits and remixes Including. How can it be so hard to get the original single versions or LP versions on a compilation? If Sony Music had had a little interest in Boney M. It Would not have been difficult at all.

CD 1:
"Gotta Go Home". Here included in at 2:50 minutes edited version. Taken from the 1992 'Gold' compilation. The original single version is running 4:01 minutes. The original LP version is: 3:45 minutes.

"No Women No Cry" is not the original single- or LP version Which is running 5 minutes. It's an edit as well as a remixed version from the "Gold" compilation running 4:20 minutes

CD 2:
And now to the real disaster! "Mary's Boy Child / Oh My Lord" one of the group's biggest hits ever is therefore included in version of edited and remixed. . The original single version did went to No. 1 in England in 1978 that running 5:43 minutes - a true masterpiece. The version included on this compilation is ONLY 4:01. Yet another edit and remixed version from the "Gold" compilation. It honestly stinks. In the version included Mary and Joseph never make it to Bethlehem Which Means That Jesus never was born and there's nothing to sing about THEREFORE Actually! Over half of the story has been cut out. How Is that possible?

"El Lute", yet the same story. An edited and remixed version from "Gold" running 3:58 minutes. The original single version is 5:09 minutes. The original LP version is 5:50 minutes.

"Going Back West" is included as single version Which is fair enough. But what about "The Carnival Is Over" which what the A-side to "Going Back West"?

CD 3:
"Happy Song" is yet another edit running 3:56 minutes. The original single version is running 4:18 minutes.

What's "Stories" doing on the compilation? It's not even the original lineup.

"Rasputin" One of Their Greatest singles. It's neither the single version nor LP version included here. The original single version is 4:43 minutes. Here is another edit and remixed version from "Gold" running only 4:25 minutes.
Sony Music Seems to enjoy the use of the "Gold" compilation from 1992 ("The Magic Of Boney M." from 2006) When putting together new compilations. Grade! All tracks from the "Gold" compilation are remixes as the tracks have been added specially drumbeats and hi-hats.

5 tracks on this collection are remixes: MegaMix (CD 1), Ma Baker (Boney M. vs. Sash) (CD3), Daddy Cool 99 (CD3), Brown Girl In The Ring 93 (CD3) and Barbra Streisand (CD 1). What are they doing here? Original material from the Boney M. Catalogue 1975 - 1986 would have been preferred.

Suggestions to Sony Music: Stay away from remixes and EDITED versions. Do NOT master a compilation using "gold", "More Gold" or "The Magic Of Boney M." as sources. As a matter of fact, do not compile a Boney M. compilation using other compilations unless it's done by supervision by someone who knows the Boney M. catalog!

This compilation gets one star less than the original release from 2012 (The Essential), Because The tracks havebeen thrown together without any thoughs towards the Boney M. legacy at all.

Go for the budget Boney M. releases "The Collection" (3CD) or "Let It All Be Music (The Party Album)" (2CD) instead - all including original single- and LP versions, as well as a few exciting alternate versions. Or the box with all the original album "The Complete Boney M." (8CD). If you are into the Christmas stuff, then go for "Feliz Navidad - A Wonderful Christmas" (2 CD), despite having a totally wrong photo on the cover for a Christmas release.