The Pleasure Principle (30th Anniversary Edition)

This album will always fascinate me. It was, despite Gary Numan's distrust of the term, at the heart of the New Romantic movement going on in London, UK at the time. It was an idea extension of the wonderful and dark started on Gary's album 'Replicas'. The fact that 'Cars' was overplayed to death on the radio diminishing nothing here. In the original liner notes for the album Gary stated: "I'd like to give my special thanks to the band who turned basics into songs." With the demos provided with this two disc version of the album, at last we are able to hear those 'basics' upon which the band elaborated. There are some fascinating instrumental aspects in some of the demos that are unique and even heartfelt. I am floored by the piano dominated arrangement of the 'Complex' demo. It is a jewel. After hearing all the demos, it is fun to then return to the finished versions of the songs to appreciate just what the full band added to Gary's roughs. Again, 'Complex' is made all the more endearing, listening ever more closely to the beauty added by Billy Currie's playing. I'd so much enjoy Gary Numan returning in his 'old age' to the joyful experimentation, color and rich melodies evident here. This is a classic album of its time and for all time. Enjoy.

I can not believe its been 30 years ! wow still great !

When I was 13, no one spoke to me as much as Gary Numan. His music and lyrics meant more to me than any artists then, or since. Sure, he had lost me by the time Warriors (1983) came out, but I'll never forget the impact his music had on me. The angst and alienation I was feeling was comforted by his music and I'll always be grateful for that. But this is a review of the 30th Anniversary Edition of The Pleasure Principle (that currently sells for $6 more than the original edition). I can't say it's worth that extra $6. In fact, I can't say it's worth anything more than the original at all. All of the demo versions, etc., sound pretty much identical to the final versions. There's no interesting alternate takes, or 4-track demos, or different arrangements or anything! And the additional tracks were not used for a reason. They're basically retreads of everything else on the album, and inferior. So, Gary Numan = Good. The Pleasure Principle = Good. Paying +$6 for this edition = Bad.

I was 16 in '79 when I first heard Cars by Gary Numan; it was hard to get that catchy melody and hook out of my head. I wore my cassette tape out long ago playing the tape over and over in my Vega. 30 years later this masterpiece still holds up, especially when listening to it digitally from my iPhone pumped through the 10 speaker system on my Cadillac CTS4. The remastered tracks, especially Metal, Engineers, Conversation, and of course Cars sound amazing, and rival anything being released today. Great value, great music and great memories now digitally remastered.