Belinda Carlisle possesses an incredibly smooth, powerful voice, equally effective in mainstream rock/pop efforts and more sedate ballads. Probably the best track on this album is the enchanting, hypnotically intricate "Circle in the Sand". However, there are two magnificent ballads, "Summer Rain" and the touching "Vision of You".

Belinda isn't at her best with hard-charging rock but, for those who like that sound, the punchy "Live Your Life Be Free" is included, alongwith "Do You Feel Like I Feel?" and "Gotta Get to You." There is also the catchy, regae-influenced "I Feel Fine."

Any Greatest Hits album is a dicey effort for a record label, but when you combine Belinda Carlisle's beautiful, sensual voice with one terrific track after another, you've got a winner. Belinda Carlisle-Her Greatest Hits takes home the Blue Ribbon.


Unique Singer   March 7, 2005
giles corey (CA, USA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Belinda Carlisle possesses a unique pop voice and style that might've been more at home in the swinging sixties than the late eighties. As such, much of her solo music capitalized on her trilling delivery and poured on the sixties-style melodies. There's some great solo work here, unmatched by cookie-cutter girls on today's charts. The packaging is cheap and useless - Belinda was blacklisted from MTV during a dispute, her sales plunged, MCA dropped her like a rock and rushed out this collection. Bet you didn't know that, did you? Funny thing, the European hits package debuted at number one in the U.K. and guaranteed a new beginning for Carlisle abroad. Incredibly underrated singer, but that tide has changed somewhat in the past few years.


Truly one of the great women of modern rock songs!   January 28, 2000
Renate Reichenbacher (Maine, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

I had known of Belinda's formerly being the lead singer of the Go-Go's for a while, hearing their popular early '80's staple "We Got The Beat" at the beginning of the movie "Fast Times At Ridgemont High". Anyway, I am very glad that Ms. Carlisle decided to pursue a solo career in the mid and late '80's, because she has a great sounding voice and has made some truly cool rock songs, most of which are included here on this album. Of course, her biggest solo hit is here first, being "Heaven Is A Place On Earth", but I do admit that I've grown a little tired of hearing it quite a few times over. Then there's "I Get Weak", "Circle In The Sand", and "Mad About You", all of which I heard on the radio before. However, my top three favorites are ""Half The World" (very dreamy), "Summer Rain" (very funky), and my absolute favorite, the last track, but the very best, the excellent rock ballad "Do You Feel What I Feel?". But since this was relased in 1992, I'm am not aware of Belinda's more recent material, and I read that there was a temporary reunion (! ) with the Go-Go's sometime in the '90's. Why, I wonder? She's a lot better-sounding on her own, I think. Get this CD today!


ANOTHER LAZY RECORD COMPANY   September 19, 2008
snicko (penshurst, australia)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Let me lay my cards on the table right off. I have had a crush on Belinda Carlisle for over 20 years. In my cellar is a vintage bottle of red for the day she finally pays a visit. I fancied her more during her chubby go go's days, but let's not get nostalgic.
A big thumbs down too the people at Mca for this package of so called greatest hits. They missed a few tracks which should have been included, but mostly I'm unimpressed by releasing only 13 tracks. Why not indulge the consumer with 18 or 22 tracks you bloody scabs! Oh and thanks for the "Time Life" style CD cover. You know the type artwork some idiot at a hired graphic art studio hacked together in 25 minutes. This is hardly Belinda's best photo.
Instead of padding the wallets of Mca executives visit your local library and make your own greatest hits CD from their catalog. Rest assured they will have her CD's. Libraries seem to be 2 decades behind the times when it comes to music. So a flood of 80's stuff is most probably available for your consumption.


Why Did I Wait So Long To Buy This?   March 24, 2003
Aaron (Ohio, USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

I was always a fan of Belinda's power-pop masterpiece of a song "Heaven Is A Place On Earth," but never got around to buying this despite that. But after purchasing this, it has quickly become one of my favorite Cds in my collection *and it's a very large collection.* An awesome "Greatest Hits" album if ever there was and one of the best pop singers of the last few decades. This covers the best of her first four solo albums Belinda (1986), Heaven Is A Place On Earth (1987), Runaway Hourses (1989), and Live Your Life Be Free (1991).

Of course, you get Belinda's signature hit, the #1 80's classic "Heaven Is A Place On Earth" which still sounds fun and fresh to this day. Two other top 5 hits are present and those are the Diane Warren penned power ballad "I Get Weak" and Belinda's breakthrough hit, the upbeat "Mad About You." And who can forget the top 10 hit "Circle In the Sand?" But these aren't the only good songs. "Leave A Light On" from the Runaway Horses album was a moderate hit back in '89 and ranks right up there with HIAPOE. Very catchy and uplifting. "Summer Rain" was also a top 40 single and a good inclusion. The 50's-ish "I Feel the Magic" was a minor hit for Ms Carlisle and is also present. One of my favorites has to be the beautiful lush ballad "Half the World." It was taken from Live Your Life Be Free which never got the attention it deserved due to the altering music climate of the early 90's. A real shame. "Vision of You" is also a very pleasent ballad that adds to the set.

Sure, Belinda Carlisle wasn't the best vocalist ever or anything, but her voice had such a distinct quality making her and her songs instantly recognizable. She was a real joy to the pop charts and with the right song, I'd love to see her make a comeback to the mainstream. Do not hesitate on this one!!