"The Essential" was first released in 1983 and presented various tracks from Jarre's first four albums. As you might expect this compilation opens with the main themes "Oxygene Part IV", "Equinoxe Part V", "Oxygene Part II" and "Magnetic Fields Part II". So far, so predictable.
Things do go slightly awry with the selection of "Orient Express" which is a bit bombastic when held up against the smooth textures of "Oxygene" and "Equinoxe". The inclusion of "Magnetic Fields Part I" is much more understandable but it fades out after a mere three minutes. Side One finishes with an excerpt from "Fishing Junks at Sunset" which clearly illustrates there is diversity in Jarre's music even if it is not always enjoyable.
The flip side opens with a surprising selection, "The Overture". This is a good track but it is basically a rehash of a song we've already heard. The next three numbers are all appropriate choices for an "Essential" compilation, but both "Equinoxe Part IV" and "Magnetic Fields Part IV" are curtailed prematurely. Things go off the rails at the end with a jumble of tracks from "Equinoxe" and the uncomfortable "Magnetic Fields Part V".
For the German speaking market there was another compilation the following year called, "Musik Aus Zeit Und Raum". In my youth I used to see this record available as an import and was fascinated by the sleeve. One day I decided to buy it as I only owned "The Essential" on cassette and the track choices on this record seemed much better. When I got the record home and dropped the needle I was a little surprised to find new versions of "Magnetic Fields Part II", "Equinoxe Part IV" and "Magnetic Fields Part IV". I didn't know it at the time but, for whatever reason, this album features the single mixes of these tracks. It is also worth noting that the version of "Equinoxe Part V" included here is the original 1978 album mix as opposed to the more common second mix. I own the Polydor version of this record (a rare survivor from my youth) and the "Polystar" version and they both feature these different mixes - disappointingly the CD version uses the standard album versions.
The final compilation is from France and is titled "The Essential 1976 -1986". This later release is pretty much the same as the 1983 version but swaps out "Equinoxe Part I" for the single remix of "Zoolookologie". Whilst this change is a slight improvement over the original, there was a lost opportunity to substitute some of the weaker tracks with more material from "Zoolook". So "Zeit Und Raum" remains the pick of these early compilations and the vinyl with the single mixes is a real bonus. 4/5
