Been a looooong time fan and still am. Saw them live at the Marquee back in the day and was there on the night when they were recording 'All Those Wasted Years'. Have met the band a couple of times after the show. I used to somehow get into the venues where they were performing when I was 16/17 y.o. I still remeber like it was yesterday when they did Blitzkreig Bop on the night of 'All Those Wasted Years', the stage at the Marquee isn't all that high - 600mm? - everybody rushed the stage, Mike Monroe was on the drums and Razzle on vox. As everyone rushed the stage the monitors mix was to the right of the main stage and the monitors engineer looked very nervous due to everyone rushing on. I walked over to him and said through all the noise with my hands held out and asked him 'Do you need any help'? Next thing I know he slaps 2 Gibson Les Pauls Custom Deluxe's - Black, Ivory - which belonged to Andy McCoy (Guitarist) in my hand and says 'Look after these'. After everything calmed down I handed the guitars back to him. He then told me, 'stick around affter the show'. After the show and everyone had cleared, band came out, Andy thanked me and gave me a Gibson guitar pick which he used on the night. I still have it at home somewhere. I was glad to see that they recently did a reunion gig in Finland for Michael Monroes birthday. Long live the Hanoi Rocks.... For anyone who knows the 'All those wasted years' album, I'm the guy who yells out 'Hanoi Rocks' between the tracks I feel Alright & Train Kept a Rollin' (where Andy is playing with the toggle switch while the feedback is coming through the amps. Those were the days!
Thanks for the presentation, elaborate and informative as usual. I was always interested in this band as many of my friends say they inspired the American Glam Metal explosion of the 1980s. They sound like a cross between Sweet and The New York Dolls. My next project is to get this box set. Great recommendation Phil.
I used to occasionally write for a Swedish fanzine called Heatwave in the early eighties. Best thing were all the free tickets that came with that for gigs etc. I suppose I got an "assignment" to do something on Hanoi Rocks. Knew nothing about them except they looked great. Got in touch with their record company (or distributors, can't remember which) and left my phone number. No one called but a couple of months later (sometime '82-'83) out of the blue I get a phone call from a very nice sounding and polite guy called Michael Monroe! What followed was a great talk (over an hour) about glam bands, the Dolls, Mott the Hoople but mainly his hopes and aspirations for the band. It was a great conversation/interview as he gave so much of himself (not common among the musicians and bands I got to meet as a whole). Never got to see them though but enjoyed their first two albums and with this set from Cherry Red will no doubt catch up on their later releases. Seems a shame though Cherry Red didn't put more effort in the booklet.
@@NowSpinningMagazine Not any longer. This lasted from ’81 to ca ’85 when I was an aspiring ”music journalist”. Didn’t last long but got to meet some fun and interesting bands such as Girlschool, The Clash, Johnny Thunders etc. Best one however was spending a couple of hours with Dr. John. That was awesome to say the least. It was a history lesson in Rock n’ Roll by a very eloquent gentleman. Lost the tapes I used a few years later, which I will always regret. His Swedish band for that night was Rost, who were so keen for me to come well prepared to the interview that they recorded all his output for me on C-90 cassettes. They had such respect for him🙂
I first got into Hanoi Rocks when Axl Rose reissued the first 4 studio albums on his "Uzi Suicide' label around 1989. They just blew me away. A glorious mix of punk and glam, so superior to any of the so called "hair bands' of the time. They wore the Dolls, Alice Cooper and Mott on thier scarf draped sleeves. Those boys were pure Rock n roll. Thanks for the review, I will order this box set ASAP!
You're right about the live album but I think 'Back to Mystery City' is there best. The first album came out as a double in Finland w/Dead By Xmas/Cafe Avenue 12" The Twisted Sister thing actually happened but it was more of a thing with Manowar, Hanoi apologized thru management. Dee, ever the dramatist, looked under benches and in garbage cans for them while carrying his bat. Manowar never showed
Saw them at the Palais in Notts in 1984, it was recorded and released as the 'nottingham tapes' video/dvd. It's still the loudest concert i have ever been to.
Years ago I bought Back to Mystery City on vinyl after the band came to my attention via the Mott The Hoople connection. I didn’t listen to it much, but years later I bought a 6 CD box set "The Albums 1981-1984" which, again unforgiveably, I have barely listened to. The set includes Back to Mystery City, Two Steps from the Move, All those Wasted Years, Self Destruction Blues, Oriental Beat, Bangkok Shocks Saigon Shakes. I really should listen to more of my collection. Speaking of Mott the Hoople connections, in the early 90s I bought a CD by Rockhead which contained the track "Chelsea Rose' as the instrument mix was so much like MTH I wondered if there were some notable sessions from band members. That proved not to be the case, but I've played that more than any of the Hanoi tracks!
Hi Steve, thank you for watching and I do not what you mean. Life and just been busy can mean something can sit in our playlist pile for months! … perhaps even longer - Phil :)
'Almost' seen Hanoi Rocks live. Before the loss of Razzle on December 1984, there was talk about them opening for Motley Crue in 1985 on the Theater Of Pain tour. Of course those plans were sacked. Instead when Vince Neil got out of prison & went on tour the band Autograph ("Turn Up The Radio") opened. I went to the November 12, 1985 show in my city (Vancouver)
Just got this today...saw this video when you released it and got express shipping. Thank you for the heads up. One of my very favorite bands...words can't express how wonderful I think they are. Such a big influence on 80's bands that made way more money than them.. It's sad.
They were pretty big in Poland back in a day. Their music was a ray of sunshine during these gray communist times. Don’t you ever leave me was a big hit. I forgot about them, thanks for this
A big fan of Hanoi. Up there for my favourite band for a while during 1983/4. I had All Those Wasted Years on import. It had a white cover instead of the blue one. As well as Michael Monroe's solo career Andy McCoy has been part of some interesting projects over the years. The band played an anniversary celebration gig with their early 80s line up in Helsinki last September. Monroe, McCoy, Nasty Suicide, Sami Yaffa & Gyp Casino. You can find some fan footage on TH-cam
Other 80s bands for wich I would love to see a 5 CD box set: Keel Autograph (the albums with Steve Plunkett) TNT (with Tony Harnell) Krokus (already has one but only 3 albums) Mr. Big (has one too, but only released in Japan 20+ years ago, even the Raw Like Sushi live albums series qualify for a box set on their own) Stryper (if it ever happens please include the original Yellow and Black attack EP recording, whatever as an stand alone disc or as bonus content) Twisted Sister Winger Tesla Lizzy Borden Riot WASP (also has one, but a 3 CD set in 2000 with lots of cool bonus tracks) David Lee Roth (an odd yet cool bonus would be the Sonrisa Salvaje spanish version on Eat 'Em And Smile CD) Van Halen with Sammy Hagar era.
Cherry Red does great work. This is the 3rd time this set of 5 records has been released. "Lightning Bar Blues" and "Strange Boys" a few years ago. I am wondering if these were remastered?
They were remastered by John Braddock and sound excellent. Other Now Spinning members have told me these discs are much improved on previous releases. Phil
But concerning Oriental Beat, you need to have the 2023 remix (and remaster) from the original, lost tapes which sounds completely different than the original mix that the band and everyone else hated.
They remixed Oriental Beat and it sounds almost completley diffierent. Its almost like a new release. My favorite is Back To Mystery City and the live record. 5/5 for those two
I really wanted to like this but there are too many issues sadly...not going to list them all. Which songs have been replaced with live versions if you would be so kind??
Like Mike Monroe always says, that Hanoi Rocks is "The best kept secret in rock 'n' roll" 🙂 Nice box set indeed. Too bad that Oriental Beat on this box isn't (in my knowledge) the 2023 remix from the newly found lost tapes which was released at least here in Finland and sounds sonically far better than the original.
Hi Phil, Gd evening. Some of the amazon reviews have for some reason bn negative bcoz they are saying some of the tracks on the cd are live instead of the original recordings. As I am looking to spend money on this product, cud u kindly confirm whether this is correct or not. Thanks Phil. Naomi :)
Hi Naomi, I had a look on Amazon and saw one review saying there was no booklet or remastering as well? Well there is a booklet, the box set was remastered by John Bradock and I have just played the last couple of tracks off the first two albums and they sound great 👍 quite a few members of the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook group have bought this set and have said it’s the best these albums have sounded. That’s all I can say really! Phil :)
Question Phil: are these remixes? If so from when? I've listened and they sound great... I saw Oriental Beat RE(AL) remix on CD...is that particular one different than the one in this box set?
I thought they looked great but their LPs were always disappointingly pedestrian to my ears. I never saw them live though and maybe that was where they excelled.
Been a looooong time fan and still am. Saw them live at the Marquee back in the day and was there on the night when they were recording 'All Those Wasted Years'. Have met the band a couple of times after the show. I used to somehow get into the venues where they were performing when I was 16/17 y.o. I still remeber like it was yesterday when they did Blitzkreig Bop on the night of 'All Those Wasted Years', the stage at the Marquee isn't all that high - 600mm? - everybody rushed the stage, Mike Monroe was on the drums and Razzle on vox. As everyone rushed the stage the monitors mix was to the right of the main stage and the monitors engineer looked very nervous due to everyone rushing on. I walked over to him and said through all the noise with my hands held out and asked him 'Do you need any help'? Next thing I know he slaps 2 Gibson Les Pauls Custom Deluxe's - Black, Ivory - which belonged to Andy McCoy (Guitarist) in my hand and says 'Look after these'. After everything calmed down I handed the guitars back to him. He then told me, 'stick around affter the show'. After the show and everyone had cleared, band came out, Andy thanked me and gave me a Gibson guitar pick which he used on the night. I still have it at home somewhere. I was glad to see that they recently did a reunion gig in Finland for Michael Monroes birthday. Long live the Hanoi Rocks.... For anyone who knows the 'All those wasted years' album, I'm the guy who yells out 'Hanoi Rocks' between the tracks I feel Alright & Train Kept a Rollin' (where Andy is playing with the toggle switch while the feedback is coming through the amps.
Those were the days!
Thanks for the presentation, elaborate and informative as usual. I was always interested in this band as many of my friends say they inspired the American Glam Metal explosion of the 1980s. They sound like a cross between Sweet and The New York Dolls. My next project is to get this box set. Great recommendation Phil.
Hi Jegaraj, thank you for watching, I think you will enjoy this set if you get it - Phil
I used to occasionally write for a Swedish fanzine called Heatwave in the early eighties. Best thing were all the free tickets that came with that for gigs etc. I suppose I got an "assignment" to do something on Hanoi Rocks. Knew nothing about them except they looked great. Got in touch with their record company (or distributors, can't remember which) and left my phone number. No one called but a couple of months later (sometime '82-'83) out of the blue I get a phone call from a very nice sounding and polite guy called Michael Monroe! What followed was a great talk (over an hour) about glam bands, the Dolls, Mott the Hoople but mainly his hopes and aspirations for the band. It was a great conversation/interview as he gave so much of himself (not common among the musicians and bands I got to meet as a whole). Never got to see them though but enjoyed their first two albums and with this set from Cherry Red will no doubt catch up on their later releases. Seems a shame though Cherry Red didn't put more effort in the booklet.
Thank you for watching and sharing your memories, I loved that story. Do you still write reviews or do interviews? Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine Not any longer. This lasted from ’81 to ca ’85 when I was an aspiring ”music journalist”. Didn’t last long but got to meet some fun and interesting bands such as Girlschool, The Clash, Johnny Thunders etc. Best one however was spending a couple of hours with Dr. John. That was awesome to say the least. It was a history lesson in Rock n’ Roll by a very eloquent gentleman. Lost the tapes I used a few years later, which I will always regret. His Swedish band for that night was Rost, who were so keen for me to come well prepared to the interview that they recorded all his output for me on C-90 cassettes. They had such respect for him🙂
I first got into Hanoi Rocks when Axl Rose reissued the first 4 studio albums on his "Uzi Suicide' label around 1989. They just blew me away. A glorious mix of punk and glam, so superior to any of the so called "hair bands' of the time. They wore the Dolls, Alice Cooper and Mott on thier scarf draped sleeves. Those boys were pure Rock n roll. Thanks for the review, I will order this box set ASAP!
You're right about the live album but I think 'Back to Mystery City' is there best.
The first album came out as a double in Finland w/Dead By Xmas/Cafe Avenue 12"
The Twisted Sister thing actually happened but it was more of a thing with Manowar, Hanoi apologized thru management. Dee, ever the dramatist, looked under benches and in garbage cans for them while carrying his bat.
Manowar never showed
Hi Tim, thank you for the extra info ! Phil
Thank you so much for this!
As an Hanoi fan for life, I really do appreciate your video. Keep on going my brother!
Thank you 🙏
Thanks for doing this box set🎉
Also just purchased this box set❤
Saw them at the Palais in Notts in 1984, it was recorded and released as the 'nottingham tapes' video/dvd. It's still the loudest concert i have ever been to.
Hi Neil, thank you for watching, listening to the live album from the Marquee you get the feeling… that must have been a very loud gig! Phil :)
I saw the band probably on the same tour as you did, Phil - they were a great live act! Nice review, as ever :)
Hi Derek, thank you for watching - Phil
Years ago I bought Back to Mystery City on vinyl after the band came to my attention via the Mott The Hoople connection. I didn’t listen to it much, but years later I bought a 6 CD box set "The Albums 1981-1984" which, again unforgiveably, I have barely listened to.
The set includes Back to Mystery City, Two Steps from the Move, All those Wasted Years, Self Destruction Blues, Oriental Beat, Bangkok Shocks Saigon Shakes.
I really should listen to more of my collection.
Speaking of Mott the Hoople connections, in the early 90s I bought a CD by Rockhead which contained the track "Chelsea Rose' as the instrument mix was so much like MTH I wondered if there were some notable sessions from band members. That proved not to be the case, but I've played that more than any of the Hanoi tracks!
Hi Steve, thank you for watching and I do not what you mean. Life and just been busy can mean something can sit in our playlist pile for months! … perhaps even longer - Phil :)
'Almost' seen Hanoi Rocks live. Before the loss of Razzle on December 1984, there was talk about them opening for Motley Crue in 1985 on the Theater Of Pain tour. Of course those plans were sacked. Instead when Vince Neil got out of prison & went on tour the band Autograph ("Turn Up The Radio") opened. I went to the November 12, 1985 show in my city (Vancouver)
Thank you for watching and sharing your memories - Autograph were a great band as well ! Phil
Just got this today...saw this video when you released it and got express shipping. Thank you for the heads up. One of my very favorite bands...words can't express how wonderful I think they are. Such a big influence on 80's bands that made way more money than them..
It's sad.
Hi Daniel, thank you for watching and so pleased your are enjoying this box set! Phil :)
They were pretty big in Poland back in a day. Their music was a ray of sunshine during these gray communist times. Don’t you ever leave me was a big hit. I forgot about them, thanks for this
Thank you for watching and sharing your memories - Phil :)
A big fan of Hanoi. Up there for my favourite band for a while during 1983/4. I had All Those Wasted Years on import. It had a white cover instead of the blue one. As well as Michael Monroe's solo career Andy McCoy has been part of some interesting projects over the years. The band played an anniversary celebration gig with their early 80s line up in Helsinki last September. Monroe, McCoy, Nasty Suicide, Sami Yaffa & Gyp Casino. You can find some fan footage on TH-cam
Thank you for watching and the sharing the extra info - Phil
Other 80s bands for wich I would love to see a 5 CD box set:
Keel
Autograph (the albums with Steve Plunkett)
TNT (with Tony Harnell)
Krokus (already has one but only 3 albums)
Mr. Big (has one too, but only released in Japan 20+ years ago, even the Raw Like Sushi live albums series qualify for a box set on their own)
Stryper (if it ever happens please include the original Yellow and Black attack EP recording, whatever as an stand alone disc or as bonus content)
Twisted Sister
Winger
Tesla
Lizzy Borden
Riot
WASP (also has one, but a 3 CD set in 2000 with lots of cool bonus tracks)
David Lee Roth (an odd yet cool bonus would be the Sonrisa Salvaje spanish version on Eat 'Em And Smile CD)
Van Halen with Sammy Hagar era.
Great choices! Thank you for sharing - Phil
Cherry Red does great work. This is the 3rd time this set of 5 records has been released. "Lightning Bar Blues" and "Strange Boys" a few years ago. I am wondering if these were remastered?
They were remastered by John Braddock and sound excellent. Other Now Spinning members have told me these discs are much improved on previous releases. Phil
But concerning Oriental Beat, you need to have the 2023 remix (and remaster) from the original, lost tapes which sounds completely different than the original mix that the band and everyone else hated.
Hanoi rocks ❤️❤️
Thank you for watching - Phil :)
They remixed Oriental Beat and it sounds almost completley diffierent. Its almost like a new release. My favorite is Back To Mystery City and the live record. 5/5 for those two
Nice video Phil, but you haven't mentioned that some of the tracks from the first 2 albums are missing and have been replaced with live versions.
I really wanted to like this but there are too many issues sadly...not going to list them all. Which songs have been replaced with live versions if you would be so kind??
Like Mike Monroe always says, that Hanoi Rocks is "The best kept secret in rock 'n' roll" 🙂 Nice box set indeed. Too bad that Oriental Beat on this box isn't (in my knowledge) the 2023 remix from the newly found lost tapes which was released at least here in Finland and sounds sonically far better than the original.
Hi Phil, Gd evening. Some of the amazon reviews have for some reason bn negative bcoz they are saying some of the tracks on the cd are live instead of the original recordings. As I am looking to spend money on this product, cud u kindly confirm whether this is correct or not. Thanks Phil. Naomi :)
Hi Naomi, I had a look on Amazon and saw one review saying there was no booklet or remastering as well? Well there is a booklet, the box set was remastered by John Bradock and I have just played the last couple of tracks off the first two albums and they sound great 👍 quite a few members of the Now Spinning Magazine Facebook group have bought this set and have said it’s the best these albums have sounded. That’s all I can say really! Phil :)
@@NowSpinningMagazine Hey Phil. Thanks for clarifying. I've bn put at ease now, I'll b buying a copy. Takecare dude. N
Question Phil: are these remixes? If so from when? I've listened and they sound great... I saw Oriental Beat RE(AL) remix on CD...is that particular one different than the one in this box set?
Hi Dan, they are remastered and not remixed, best I have heard these albums - Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine thanks. Of course remixing is a whole different animal. I'm going to order that Oriental Beat RE(AL) mix.
Never heard of this band.
Big influence on the 80's glam metal scene. Lots of those bands idolized them--or just ripped off their look.
@@SO-ym3zs Cool. Thanks. I must check them out.
You have now! Phil :)
I thought they looked great but their LPs were always disappointingly pedestrian to my ears. I never saw them live though and maybe that was where they excelled.
They were very much a live band but the first three albums are well worth a re listen - Phil