Let me say first of all that this CD contains only the songs that are listed above from Amazon. That's right. They do not contain "Time(Clock of the Heart)", the dubbed version of "Do you really want to hurt me?" with Papa Weasel, and "Romancing the Alphabet". If we went back to 1989, we could get Kissing to be Clever with "Time (Clock of the Heart)", with all the lyrics from the album on CD. That was when Culture Club was from Epic Records in the USA. We were also able to get "Time" on cassette from a label called 747 Pop. The two additional songs, "Romancing the Alphabet" and "Do you really want to heart me?" with Papa Weasel were released on "Kissing to be Clever" on CASSETTE from Epic Records in the 1980's. You can't get those on "Kissing to be Clever" anymore. Now, starting in the 1990's, Epic is out of the picture and Virgin America is in the picture. They decided to release "Kissing to be Clever" the original way it was relesed on record, with the black cover and no "Time", since "Time" was never originally part of the LP. We also do not get any lyrics with the album. It's a shame, no lyrics, no "Time". As a matter of fact, when I first bought this version of the CD in 1992 from the Virgin America label, it's sad to say you could not find "Time" on any cassete or CD at that time (with exception of pawn shops). Anyway, the album with out "Time" is still a classic. "White Boy" is fun, especially when we hear George rap at the end. But not even that, we all know that beautiful voice. Beside "Do you really want to hurt me?" which is a classic in it's own right, the rockers on this album are "You Know I'm Not Crazy", "White Boys Can't Control It", and "Love Twist" (with Captain Crucial, A.K.A. Amos). You can't dislike George's soulful voice, or that awesome 80's beat from the group. Buy this right now before this goes out of print! It is different from "Colour by Numbers", since it does have a different tone, but it is worth it. Just like "Colour by Numbers", every song is fantastic. Albums don't get better than that. Buy it now!

Culture Club's 1982 debut album was a success mixing dance, pop, rock, raggae, western, and even a bit of comedy(George has such a sense of humor). Scoring two big hits "I'll tumble 4 ya," and their break-through ballad, "Do you rally want to hurt me?," Georges smooth, mellow, tenor was complimented by Helen Terry's sensational, powerful voice. Before I go on, I'd like to remind anyone about "track-fillers" is this:what may be a track-filler to you, maybe an inspiration to another.

Beginning with the danceable "White boy"(dance mix), the funny "you know I'm not crazy," to cheerful, happy hit "I'll tumble 4 ya," and the dance floor sound of "Take control." Then to the smooth, mysterious "Love twist," danceable, fun "Boy-boy-I'm the boy," and the real funny "I'm afraid of me"(remix). Then to the haunting, mysterious, western sound of "White boys can't control it." (OK, it sounds a little racist, but its still fun.) Closing the album is the classic, timeless "Do you really want to hurt me?" This beautiful, tender, ballad is so heart-hearming and heart-breaking and can send tears running. I hope you enjoy this album like I did. Enjoy!

When Culture Club dominated the charts in the early Eighties, people were so intrigued by Boy George's look and style, that few recognized what an amazing vocalist he really is. For a dude out of the UK, this guy's truly got soul. Like Aretha or Smokey, his voice sounds like the battered heart of a man who's been kicked around by love a few many times. Proof? Listen to his vocal delivery in the still-heartbreaking "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" or "Time." It's unfortunate that Culture Club has been associated with 1980's cheese, for their talents were largely overlooked. This was a group that had soul, and this fine debut album is here to prove it, even after nearly 20 years since its release.

Long before Paul Simon and Peter Gabriel made so-called "world music" trendy, Culture Club released this classic LP from within the depths of London's post-punk music scene, and pop culture would never be the same. You already know the hits, but the real treat here is the rest of the album, which is just as good if not better: the spaghetti-western feel of "White Boys Can't Control It," the utterly danceable "You Know I'm Not Crazy," and the reggae-flavoured "Love Twist" are just some of the highlights. Combining international influence with edgy pop hooks, the whole LP is fantastic. Sometimes I think this is even better than the band's "centerpiece" album, COLOUR BY NUMBERS ... but in the end, they are both brilliant.

It's all either a hit or a miss on Culture Club's debut album, 'Kissing to be Clever,' and that's not just taking into account chart position. The hits from this album deserved to reach the top. Most of the rest of the songs were unfortunate filler tracks, especially on side two.

Side one opens strongly with the current faddishly-popular "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" The song is staging a comeback for good reason; Boy George's vocals were never softer and airier than on this track. Sixteen years after the original release, it still sounds fresh.

The next two songs are decent material, "I'm Afraid of Me" and "You Know I'm Not Crazy." The first crazily mixes a cheerful, carnival sounding background with darker lyrics. The vocals don't sound much different from each other on these two.

"I'll Tumble 4 Ya" was a cheerful pop hit, combining rapid-fire vocals with a steady beat. One song that wasn't a chart hit, but is a good song, is "Love Twist," great to dance to. It features vocals by Captain Crucial (a.k.a. Amos Pizzey, is it any wonder he changed the name?), which is a cut above most of the usual Culture Club background singing.

(Definitely on cassette, possibly on CD, the side ends with a limp dub mix of "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?" featuring vocals by Poppa Weasel, who sounds like he is being stuck with pins as he whines the lyrics.)

After the first two songs on side two, the album precedes to unravel like a cheap suit. "Time (Clock of the Heart)" is gorgeous, one of the top five Culture Club songs ever, and the dance mix of "White Boy" is effective in its purpose of letting the listener shake his/her booty to the rhythm. The vocals are good here, too, with a chanted chorus and the Boy's rapid rhyming at the end.

The only way to kill the album's effect would be to now offer up interchangeable closing songs. Fulfilling the prophecy, the final songs are forgettable pieces of pop filler: "Boy Boy (I'm the Boy)," "White Boys Can't Control It," and "Take Control."

(Once again, definitely on cassette, possibly on CD, the side ends with a bonus track, this time the instrumental version of "Time (Clock of the Heart)," here called "Romance Beyond the Alphabet." It's undeniably pretty, but seems sort of out of place.)

It may be sacrilege to many Culture Club fans to even mention 'Kissing to be Clever' and 'From Luxury to Heartache' in the same sentence, but the latter holds together better as an album. It should increase in popularity with time, as 'Kissing to be Clever' simply gets its best songs stripped to form part of some 'Culture Club's Greatest Hits' album.