This Time – The First Four Years
This Time – The First Four Years is the first official greatest hits album by British new wave group Culture Club, released by Virgin Records on 6 April 1987. Its release came one year after the band had split up.
Overview
The compilation exclusively includes, in its vinyl edition, Culture Club's most successful hits. The one track which was never available in single format is "Black Money", which was intended to be released to promote this collection, but never actually came out. The album includes a wide selection of tracks taken from all their albums, as well as the group's contribution to the Electric Dreams film soundtrack; "Love Is Love". For many countries, it was the first time that their hit single "Time (Clock of the Heart)" was included on an album.Two additional tracks are featured on the CD and cassette version: the remix of "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" and the US 12" medley of "It's a Miracle" and "Miss Me Blind".
The bulk of these tracks would be re-issued on numerous compilations for years after.
Personnel
Band/musicians
- Boy George: lead vocals and lyrics
- Roy Hay: guitars, keyboards, sitar, synth guitar
- Mikey Craig: bass
- Jon Moss: drums and percussion
- Helen Terry: female lead and background vocals
- for the other musicians, see Culture Club's first four albums
Staff/production
- Steve Levine: production, except track 8
- Arif Mardin, Lew Hahn: production on track 8
- Assorted iMaGes: album cover
- David Levine, Jamie Morgan, Mark LeBon, Kate Garner, Stevie Hughes: photography
- Mitaka: booklet Japanese translation
- for the other members of staff and production, see Culture Club's first four albums