ÍøÆغÚÁÏ
Customer Review
- Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 December 2024No one around at the time in circa: November 1984; could fail to be moved by the scenes at an Ethiopian refugee camp as reported by BBC news correspondent - Michael Burke.
These dreadful scenes pricked the conscience of the nation,and most notably Bob Geldof (of The Boomtown rats) and Midge Ure (frontman of Ultravox).
What seemed like a blink of an eye,they had assembled top pop and rock acts both (then) current and established into a London recording studio to record the now seminal - Do they know it's Christmas - and became the best selling single of all time in the UK. The rest as they say is certainly history.
Over the next 40 years (1984-2024) several other versions of DTKIC have been recorded by more contemporary artists of their day I.E. Band aid 2 (1989),Band aid 20 (2004),Band aid 30 (2014) and the latest Band aid 40 released Dec 2024 - as the '2024 ultimate mix' featuring performances of artist who have performed on these various recordings over said years.
Only puzzling omission is the non inclusion of the BA 2 1989 assembly.regarded by some as the worst of all the versions of Do they know it's Christmas - I disagree and give that booby prize to Band aid 20 - especially the chorus on the outro.
The cause it supports is in absolutely no doubt.it resulted in saving so many lives in famine torn Ethiopia and beyond,and I don't want to come across as mean spirited by having a dig at a particular version.
This 'Forty years of Band aid' cd release; comes complete with all the aforementioned versions and the live aid finale,Wembley stadium 1985 version - very moving and powerful - especially when I remember it very well.
Presented in a gatefold sleeve cd digipack; also includes informative and expert opinions in the sleeve notes by Bob Geldof on rear sleeve,and list of practically all performers on all included versions (why I've deliberately not mentioned any) of Do they know...an excellent package on the whole.
NB: also includes part of Michael Burke's powerful report on the unfolding humanitarian disaster in Ethiopia in late 1984 😢
PS: shame it keeps having to be repeated approximately every ten years - to help save more lives from potential starvation!
PPS: if a charity ensemble is required in 2034: please try to come up with a new song 🎵
You know what - has surely had its day!
