Another toppest album from Hall and Oates' golden years. Has the hard to find classics: "Friday Let Me Down", "Ungaurded Minute", "Head Above Water", and the song that gets me every time "Did it in a Minute".

If you haven't heard those songs, you are missing out.

If you are looking to get this album, don't spend the extra money on this import. It is identical to the US remaster and bonus tracks. The remaster credits in the liner notes are the same as the US remaster. The only difference here is that you get a Japanese mini booklet with a translation and some liner notes in Japanese. If you speak Japanese, go right ahead.

The BMG 2004 reissue of "Private Eyes" brings out the sharpness in what is already one of Hall and Oates' most important albums. There's not a clunker in any of the 11 original songs and two remixes, from the title track to the 12-inch version of "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)."

The sound reproduction, cleaner than either the original RCA CD or 1996 BMG reissue, also lets listeners hear how the duo tried to balance technology and sound effects with live instrumentation, never letting one take over the other. Even when the song is almost all computer and synth -- "I Can't Go For That" -- it's done with such balance that it still sounds perfect a quarter century later. You can hear Daryl and John coming into their own as songwriters and producers.

The reissue also gives the band's fans a chance to hear lost gems sounding better than ever -- especially "Looking For a Good Sign" and "Unguarded Minute." They can also debate the merits of the original "Your Imagination" version vs. its 12-inch remix. While the pounding, heavily-electronic remix was the basis for the single and MTV versions of the song, the album mix (with its acoustic drums and cymbals) wins out on sheer quality.

Also dig Ken Sharp's liner notes, which give listeners an interesting window into the duo's working dynamic, especially from Neil Kernon, their co-producer here and on "H2O."

It's hard to improve on a classic, but BMG does so here.

Well, here's your answer: The Japanese win. Hands down. Big time.

To start off, I compared the album tracks of the 2004 U.S. remastered versions of VOICES, H20 & BIG BAM BOOM against the limited edition, Japanese, K2 remastered, album mini-LP-sleeve replication versions of the same titles. Then I compared the bonus track remixes on each U.S. remaster to their counterparts on the Japanese-only 12-INCH COLLECTION, VOLUMES 1 & 2.

The comparisons were performed using two Sony XA7 decks run via identical Acoustic Zen coax cables to a Camelot Uther DAC. Those of you who know your gear know that this is about as good as it gets under $25,000.

I cannot attest if the difference between the two remastering results are a result of:

1.) The K2 process being more robust than whatever mastering equipment was used (at Sony Studios in NYC) for the U.S. versions
2.) Whether the Japanese utilized source material closer to the original masters than the U.S. versions, or
3.) If the Japanese engineering was just better, or they took more time & care, than their U.S. counterparts.

Whatever the case may be, the K2 albums, and the two Japanese remix Collections, blow the U.S. versions out of the building. There is more of everything: More gain, bigger soundstage, more definition and, oh yeah, baby, more bottom end. The remixes on the U.S. versions are adequate; on the Japanese COLLECTION CD's, they THUNDER.

The three U.S. titles have nine additional remix tracks. All of these tracks appear on the two Japanese COLLECTION titles. All of the sonic accolades I attributed to the individual K2 album remasters apply to these two CDs also.

The bottom line? If you're a fan of the band, you have the cash and some above-average gear, the K2's and the dual-remix CD's are the ticket. While the entire RCA H&O catalog is available on the limited edition K2's (with the nice mini-LP sleeves), there would be some serious moolah required to acquire the full set. I consider the 3 titles mentioned here to be their best overall work from that period, so I opted for just those.

I'm currently piling thru all of the "Hits" packages from recent years to determine which has the best audio. It will be interesting to run the 2004 "Ultimate" set against the new "Essential" package.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 13.5MM X 13.5MM cardboard-sleeve, precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, everything else packaged with the original LP is precisely replicated and included, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and die cuts. An English-language lyric sheet is also included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have Japan-dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2 or K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "OBI" ("oh-bee"), a Japan-language promotional strip. The OBI often also lists the original album's release date, the Japan street date of that particular disc, the catalog number, and mastering info. Bonus tracks are always only listed on the OBI, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork.

The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake copies of Japan `sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

Also, there are older Japan mini-sleeve releases that have been supplanted with newer ones, usually with updated audio (such as JVC-Japan replacing older K2-mastered titles with new K2HD mastered releases).

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common with some of the Japanese companies (but, again, not always). Mini-sleeve collecting can get expensive quickly, so, if you're a novice, it is highly advisable to seek the advice of an experienced `sleeve collector!

This album just pips Voices to the top spot of my fav Hall & Oates' albums. Why? It sounds more consistent overall although Voices has some superior individual songs.

Side One of the original LP (till Did It In A Minute) consists of the stronger hit material while Side Two has the more experimental tunes. Still, the quality never drops and in Unguarded Minute and Your Imagination, the duo has a couple of excellent overlooked gems. The original album when it first came out challenged me to accept a different Hall & Oates, notably in I Can't Go For That, with its weird mix of soul, rock and Indian vocal stylings (No-oh-oh)! But it grew on me and has now become my favourite Hall & Oates song of all time!

The bonus tracks on this CD are interesting to listen to (altho' not essential) and together with the liner notes and remastered sound, makes this purchase a no-brainer. Now if only BMG would consider releasing Rock 'N Soul Part 1 with the extended versions of Say It Isn't So and Adult Education!