Five Star / The Remixes 1984-1991

Later this month Cherry Pop will reissue two albums from Five Star, the eighties British group likened to the Jackson Five, whose time in the spotlight was rather fleeting. Five Star (1990) and Shine (1991) are the albums in question and neither secured an official UK release (on new label Epic), which only served to demonstrate how their popularity had fallen quickly from the high point of 1986’s Silk and Steel, which spawned an incredible five UK top ten singles (a sixth reached no. 15).

Although neither of these reissues is particularly recommended, what is of interest is a Remix Anthology (aka The Remixes 1984-1991), which is due for release on 18 February 2013. This is a 2CD set of reworkings, with a heavy contribution from the ubiquitous remixer of that era, Shep Pettibone.

The selection includes dub mixes, seven-inch and extended remixes and covers all the singles that you would expect. Although 26 remixes of Five Star 45s may be more than most people really want or need (particularly the later ones), at £9 it is cheap enough ignore large chunks and still feel like good value.

• • UK Pre-order: The Remix Anthology: The Remixes 1984-1991
• • USA Pre-order: Remix Anthology: Remixes 1984 – 1991
• • CANADA Pre-order: Remix Anthology: Remixes 1984-91
• • GERMANY Preorder: The Remix Anthology-Remixes 1984-1991