Heartlands (Dino Entertainment, 1992)

Review
Dino Entertainment was a label that specialised in compilations back during the early 1990s. A number of its releases have become favourites in my collection – Cold Sweat, Precious, Trance Dance, Rave Generation and the Hardcore series – all of which can be found for pence.

Heartlands is an odd one as it concentrates on Scottish and Irish tracks only – as illustrated on the above map. It’s also the only place to get single edits of I Don’t Like Mondays, Broken Land and Strange Kind Of Love on CD.

U2’s Desire is the opening track; the lead single from the uneven Rattle and Hum LP. It’s followed by classic Deacon Blue [Real Gone Kid] and the ubiquitous Whole Of The Moon. After a pleasant diversion to 1984 [Big Country’s non-album single Wonderland] we’re back in 1988 with the Hothouse Flowers [star about to wane in 1992] and two well known numbers from Aztec Camera and Danny Wilson. However it’s The Adventures track that really stands out – the epic Broken Land.

The second half starts on a dance tip with The Shamen [Move Any Mountain – predictable] and Primal Scream [Movin’ On Up – a refreshing change] before sliding into the sophisti-pop of Hue and Cry and the blue-eyed edgy soul-fuelled Strange Kind Of Love from Love and Money which remains one of the late 1980s most underappreciated tunes. This is followed by Orange Juice who keep the groove going with the bouncy Rip It Up.

For the home stretch it’s a turn for more traditional fare with The Pogues and The Dubliners’ raucous Irish Rover and a pair of uneventful numbers from Goats Don’t Shave and Runrig. Finally Sinead O’Connor steps up to the mark with her beautiful and heartfelt My Special Child. She hasn’t recorded anything as good since then.

Favourite tracks
The Adventures – Broken Land

Love and Money – Strange Kind Of Love

Lest we forget
Sinead O’Connor – My Special Child