The Anthology (1972-1997)

• 109 track Deluxe 7CD Clamshell Box Set containing expanded versions of the original albums ‘Real Thing’, ‘4 From 8’, ‘Step Into Our World’ and ‘…Saints Or Sinners?’

• Also includes 3CDs containing B-sides, 7-inch single edits, 12-inch extended versions, remixes, instrumentals and standalone singles with many of the tracks featured within this box set having never previously been released on CD or digitally.

• This is the most comprehensive collection ever released by The Real Thing. Featuring songs that they recorded for EMI, Pye Records, RCA, Jive Records as well as a few tracks released on a couple of independent labels compiled together on one compilation for the first time.

• With a fully illustrated 24 page booklet containing rare and previously unpublished photos with a brand new annotation by Ed Piller.

Best known for their legendary hits ‘You To Me Are Everything’, ‘Can’t Get By Without You’ and ‘Can You Feel The Force’, as well as their ground-breaking 1977 song, ‘Children Of The Ghetto’, The Real Thing remain Britain’s most successful black group of all-time. Pioneers in soul, funk and dance music, the journalist, author and founder of MOJO magazine Paul Du Noyer credits them alongside Deaf School with restoring “Liverpool’s musical reputation in the 1970s” with their success.

The two original members – Chris Amoo and Dave Smith – are now celebrating over 45 years in the music industry. Still gigging across the world, the band’s success and longevity is unprecedented in British entertainment history.

Tracklist

DISC ONE:

Real Thing (Expanded Version)
1 Hallelujah Man
2 You To Me Are Everything
3 Topsy Turvy
4 (He’s Just A) Moneymaker
5 Young And Foolish
6 Flash
7 Can’t Get By Without You
8 Why, Oh Why (Oh Why)
9 Keep An Eye (On Your Best Friend)
10 You’ll Never Know What You’re Missing

Bonus Tracks
11 Watch Out Carolina
12 I Want You Back
13 Stone Cold Love Affair
14 A Love That’s Real
15 Keep An Eye (On Your Best Friend) (Edit)
16 You’ll Never Know What You’re Missing (7″ Single)
17 Love Is A Playground
18 Keep An Eye (On Your Best Friend) (Extended Version)
19 You To Me Are Everything (Extended Version) (The Decade Remix ’76-’86)
20 Can’t Get By Without You (Extended Version) (The Second Decade Remix)

DISC TWO:
4 From 8 (Expanded Version)
1 Love’s Such A Wonderful Thing
2 Lovin’ You Is Like A Dream
3 Kathy
4 Down To The Way You Feel
5 Plastic Man
6 Lightning Strikes Again
7 I Wish You Well
8 Liverpool 8 Medley (Liverpool 8/Children Of The Ghetto/Stanhope Street)
Bonus Tracks
9 Dance With Me
10 Children Of The Ghetto (Edit)

DISC THREE:

Step Into Our World (Expanded Version)
1 Whatcha Say, Whatcha Do
2 Lady, I Love You All The Time
3 Rainin’ Through My Sunshine
4 Can You Feel The Force?
5 Give Me The Chance
6 (We Gotta Take It To The) Second Stage
7 Won’t You Step Into My World?
8 Whenever You Want My Love
9 You Gotta Keep Holding On 10 Love Me Right

Bonus Tracks
11 Let’s Go Disco
12 Raining Through My Sunshine (Edit)
13 Never Be Alone
14 Can You Feel The Force? (12” Single)
15 Can You Feel The Force (7” Single)
16 Can You Feel The Force? (US 12″ John Luongo Remix)
17 Can You Feel The Force? (US 12″ John Luongo Remix) (Instrumental)

DISC FOUR:

Saints Or Sinners (Expanded Version)
1 Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)
2 Saint Or Sinner
3 The Story Of My Life
4 Thank You For Loving Me
5 You Can’t Force The Funk
6 Give Me Your Love
7 One Girl In My Life
8 Boogie Down (Instrumental)

Bonus Tracks
9 Saint Or Sinner (7″ Single)
10 Boogie Down (Get Funky Now) (7” Single)
11 Boogie Down (Get Funky Now) (Instrumental) (7” Single)
12 She’s A Groovy Freak (12″ Single)
13 It’s The Real Thing
14 She’s A Groovy Freak (7″ Single)
15 Foot Tappin’ (Extended Version)
16 Foot Tappin’ (Instrumental Extended Version)

DISC FIVE:

The EMI, Calibre & Catawba Singles
1 Check It Out
2 Daddy Dear
3 Girl, I Don’t Mind (Losin’)
4 Humpty Dumpty
5 Listen, Joe McGintoo
6 Plastic Man
7 Sun Gold
8 Vicious Circle (Part 1)
9 Vicious Circle (Part 2)
10 Foot Tappin’ (7” Single)
11 I Believe In You (7″ Single)
12 Love Takes Tears (7″ Single)
13 Goin’ For The Big One (7″ Single)
14 I Believe In You (Extended Version)
15 You’re My Number One (12″ Single)
16 Goin’ For The Big One (12″ Single)
17 Street Corner Boogie (7″ Single Mix)
18 Street Corner Boogie (12” Single Mix)

DISC SIX:

Remixes & RCA Singles
1 You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix ’76-’86) (7″ Single Version)
2 Can You Feel The Force? (’86 Mix 12” Single)
3 Can You Feel The Force? (’86 Mix 7” Single)
4 Can You Feel The Force (’89 Remix 12″ Single)
5 Can You Feel The Force (’89 Remix 7″ Single)
6 Can You Feel The Force (Mark Moore + Ian B Remix)
7 Can You Feel The Force (Rhythm Masters Dub Mix)
8 We Got Love
9 We Got Love (Extended Version)
10 Street Scene (12″ Version)
11 We Got Love (Dub Mix)
12 The Crime Of Love (12″ Extended Version)
13 Baby, Don’t Go (Extended Version)
14 The Crime Of Love (Un Poco Loco Latin Instrumental Mix)
15 Baby, Don’t Go (Instrumental)

DISC SEVEN:

The Jive Singles
1 Straight To The Heart (Remix)
2 Mystique
3 Hard Times
4 Children Of The Ghetto
5 I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
6 Straight To The Heart (Extended Version)
7 Hard Times (Extended Version)
8 Children Of The Ghetto (Extended Version)
9 I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) (Extended Version)
10 Straight To The Heart (Dubappella Mix)
11 Hard Times (The Real Mix)
12 Straight To The Heart (Instrumental Version)
13 Straight To The Heart (Extended Remix)