WB Years: Best & Rare [Import]

Track Listings

1. Beex Comin' Through

2. Feelin' Alright

3. Doin' Our Own Dang

4. What "U" Waitin' 4?

5. "U" Make Me Sweat

6. Beyond This World

7. Done by the Forces of Nature

8. Book of Rhyme Pages

9. Good Lookin' Out

10. My Jimmy Weighs a Ton

11. All I Think About Is You

12. 40 Below Trooper

13. Simple as That

14. Doin' Our Own Dang [Do It to the JB's Mix]

15. What "U" Waitin' 4? [Love Ride and Orchestra Mix]

16. On the Radio Again [My Jimmy Weighs a Ton] (Q-Tip Remix)

17. Promo No. 2 [Mind Review '89]

18. Beyond This World [Bone-A-Baby BAM Beat Version]

19. Good Newz Comin'

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Japanese exclusive compilation for the alternative rap/hip-hop trio, focusing on their years at Warner Brothers where they released two classic albums 'Done by the Forces of Nature' (1989) and 'J. Beez Wit the Remedy' (1993). Featuring 19 tracks in all, including mixes of all their singles released on Warner Brothers. 2000 release. Standard jewel case.

WB Years: Best & Rare,Jungle Brothers,Wea International,Classical Composers,Golden Age,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop

The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years

Average customer rating:

A Casual Fan Semi-Review...
"The Only Elvis That Matters" Done Justice
Same Old Music in Yet Another New Sleeve
how many times can you jump out of the cupboard
+1/2 -- The best early Costello single CD yet

The Best of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years
Elvis Costello
Manufacturer: Hip-O Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000OHZJJQ
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Tracks:

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes
Alison
Watching The Detectives
(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Pump It Up
Radio, Radio
Accidents Will Happen
Oliver's Army
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding
I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down
High Fidelity
Clubland
New Lace Sleeves
Good Year For The Roses
Beyond Belief
Man Out Of Time
Almost Blue
Every Day I Write The Book
Shipbuilding
Brilliant Mistake
Indoor Fireworks
I Want You

Customer Reviews:

A Casual Fan Semi-Review..........2007-05-29

Being a fan,but not a fanatic of Elvis,I came across this new collection of hits from him and thought it was a great time to buy. I had purchased an old hits of his from the 80's, on cassette.Of course,I know the standard hits.Alison,Pump It Up,Accident's Will Happen and my fave, What's So Funny...,among a couple of others. Noticed a whole bunch of songs I wasn't familiar with and look forward to hearing them,when I receive this new set.Of late,I am digging deeper into many classic artists I listen to.Elvis fits into that. For that reason,I am giving this collection,4 stars.For the songs I know. After listening to the others,perhaps I can raise it to 5 stars.

"The Only Elvis That Matters" Done Justice.......2007-05-20

In my opinion, this is the best single-disc Elvis Costello compilation anyone has ever released. In fact, it may even be the best introduction to E.C. out there (He's so stylistically diverse that no single album is an effective introduction, and both of the more extensive collections - "Girls Girls Girls" on Columbia and "The Very Best of Elvis Costello" on Rhino - would probably be overwhelming to someone unfamiliar with the majority of his work). Also, the collection "Rock and Roll Music," as is evident in the title, ignores his non-"Rock and Roll" songs.

But this disc finally gets it right. There was a "The Very Best of Elvis Costello & the Attractions" single-disc issued on Rykodisc in 1994 that came close, but as good as that disc was, this collection makes three substitutions that are actually improvements: "(The Angels Want to Wear My) Red Shoes," "New Lace Sleeves," and "Almost Blue" replace "Watch Your Step," "New Amsterdam," and "Love Field."

Not only are the substitutions slightly better songs in my opinion, they also paint a more complete picture of Elvis Costello as an artist and writer. Especially "Red Shoes" - if you'd only heard the ballad "Alison" and the reggae-influenced "Watching the Detectives" from his debut album, you'd have no idea what to expect from the rest of the CD, but "Red Shoes" really sets the tone for the rest of that disc (and it's just an amazing song). Some people complain that these songs have been repackaged too many times, but I have a hard time arguing with the final result.

The remastering of this collection sounds as good as the Rhino remasters (which managed to be a slight improvement over the already great-sounding Rykodisc versions), and I really don't understand why some people complain about the sound (but I never owned any of the vinyl records, so maybe I am missing something). Still, the sound is the best that I've heard on CD, and in terms of song selection, this is a near-perfect set. For some, this will be all the Elvis Costello they ever need. For others, it will be the beginning of a long journey into the career of one of the best, most insightful and most interesting singer-songwriters in popular music. Either way, it's hard to go wrong with this collection.

Same Old Music in Yet Another New Sleeve.......2007-05-15

Now that thirty years has passed since his debut, it is apparent to me that Elvis Costello has a lot more in common with his namesake than a singing career. Case in point - Almost immediately upon his arrival at RCA, Elvis Presley's recordings were packaged with little regard to the consumer, and then re-packaged so relentlessly that nobody except the most dedicated, wealthy, and mentally unbalanced collector could possibly hope to amass all of Presley's catalog. With blithe regularity, RCA executives would abuse their position as the historic caretakers of a rock and roll legend by digging deeper and deeper into obscurities, then packaging them with recycled classic recordings. Very, very little was genuinely `new' except the package itself. These collections are innumerable, and I pity the poor soul who suffers the disease of being a completist collector, because it can cost you your bank account, your house, and maybe even your marriage, all in the pursuit of owning all that is Elvis.
It now appears as though the same type of abuse has befallen the recorded works of Elvis Costello. I should know. I was one of those `mentally unbalanced' individuals who felt the need to own every Elvis Costello item released on the marketplace. In the beginning, it was kind of fun. Costello had numerous singles with non-LP b-sides, and plenty of `alternate' versions to keep fans quite busy. I was a part of that vinyl junkie set, a cult of obsessed lunatics who lived to find the rarest single, or an alternate package. After three years and hundreds of dollars spent, I remember feeling betrayed when Columbia issued "Taking Liberties," a collection of Elvis' rare b-sides. In an instant, one five-dollar album made twenty rarities commonplace. Nevertheless, I soldiered on; buying 10" collector's singles, alternate mixes, and all sorts of oddities. Then, the CD era began, and it started to happen all over again. Elvis changed labels (from Columbia to Warner Brothers), and his catalog albums were subjected to not one, not two, but three separate repackagings, each of them containing unique `rarities' that could be obtained nowhere else. A dedicated collector would require four versions of each Elvis Costello album. At this point, I finally surrendered, but I already spent enough to finance a Hawaiian vacation for some record executive and his family of four. Nowadays I simply stand by, amazed as the repackaging craze continues unabated. By my count, the above named collections represent the 10th and 11th re-compilation of Elvis Costello's `hits'. I'm not saying they are bad collections. The booklets contain song lyrics, which is a nice touch, especially for the older material. Naturally, the songs are great and I should know, because I bought each of these tracks at least a half-dozen times already. If you still don't own them, then go ahead and buy them. You will enjoy them. I, however, will stare at my room full of Elvis-related plastic and acknowledge the reason that I never made that trip to Hawaii myself.
B+ Tom Ryan

how many times can you jump out of the cupboard.......2007-05-12

i swore i wouldnt buy the elvis cannon again=LPs,Singles,3 sets of CDs etc., unless it was on SACD,and i wont.But the 2 comps were worth a listen,rock and roll for the unreleased stuff{how is it possible?}and 10 years for the 4th remaster.Seeing Elvis's Lexus commercial with him enjoying surround sound just makes me sad for what could have been.Rock on,EC!

+1/2 -- The best early Costello single CD yet.......2007-05-09

You can't hardly swing a dead cat without hitting Costello's early material in reissue form. With Ryko and Rhino both having taken ever-lengthening passes at his albums, Hip-O picks up the catalog years of 1977-1986 for another round. In addition to a new pair of compilations (this one and "Rock and Roll Music") that skim the initial decade's eleven albums, their May 1 release date also marks the re-re-re-reissue of the albums on CD and the catalog's digital download debut (initially from iTunes, later from addtiional services).

After so many Costello reissues and compilations, this collection is mostly a retail shelving refresher and a beacon for Hip-O's album reissue and digital programs; all 22 of these tracks have been available on CD before. And as with other single-disc Costello anthologies such as Sony's 1990 19-track "Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions" and Ryko's 1994 22-track "Very Best of Elvis Costello and the Attractions," there's simply too much worthy material in Costello's initial eleven albums (not to mention assorted singles and B-sides) to fully essay in 80 minutes.

What you get here is a well drawn sketch that provides the neophyte a sense of Costello's incredible torrent of early creativity, the sustain of his first few years, a few missteps in the mid-80s, and a stronger-than-ever comeback with 1986's "King of America" and "Blood & Chocolate" LPs." Though fans of the albums will mentally flinch at the inter-album segues (and thus the missing classics), condensing Costello's career arc does demonstrate how his punk-era angst and blistering song-writing aged and then reasserted itself in a more mature, but no less powerful form a decade later. Reducing 10 years to a single CD also creates a bit of genre whiplash as Costello applied himself to rock, punk, pop, soul, R&B blues, and jazz.

As on Ryko's 1994 collection, Costello aided in the track selection. No surprise then that there are 19 tracks in common with Ryko's earlier release. The three substitutions add the essential "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," "Almost Blue," and "New Lace Sleeves" in place of the expendable "Watch Your Step," "New Amsterdam," and "Love Field," making this the best single-disc Costello anthology on the market. Costello fans are better off making their own anthologies from the original albums, but those just coming to his work decades after the fact will find this an excellent primer. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

And I Feel Fine...: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987

Average customer rating:

And, oh, do I feel fine listening to this collection....
Change of heart
"Music that didn't pander to an audience" - it created one
More about the remastering
Discover This Band

And I Feel Fine...: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987
R.E.M.
Manufacturer: Capitol/I.R.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000GTJSLM
Release Date: 2006-09-12

Tracks:

Begin The Begin
Radio Free Europe
Pretty Persuasion
Talk About The Passion
(Don't Go Back To) Rockville
Sitting Still
Gardening At Night
7 Chinese Bros.
So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)
Driver 8
Can't Get There From Here
Finest Worksong
Feeling Gravity's Pull
I Believe
Life And How To Live It
Cuyahoga
The One I Love
Welcome To The Occupation
Fall On Me
Perfect Circle
It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

Tracks:

Pilgrimage (Mike's pick)
These Days (Bill's pick)
Gardening at Night(slower electric demo; previously unreleased)
Radio Free Europe (Hib-tone version)
Sitting Still (Hib-tone version)
Life and How to Live It (Live at the Muzik Centrum, Utrecht, Holland 9/14/87; previously unreleased)
Ages of You (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
We Walk (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
1,000,000 (Live at the Paradise, Boston 7/13/83; previously unreleased)
Finest Worksong (other mix)
Hyena (demo) (previously unreleased)
Theme from Two Steps Onward (previously unreleased)
Superman
All the Right Friends (previously unreleased; later version released on Vanilla Sky soundtrack)
Mystery to Me (demo; previously unreleased)
Just A Touch (live in-studio version; previously unreleased)
Bad Day (session outtake; previously unreleased)
King of Birds (last song cut from the best of)
Swan Swan H (live, acoustic from Athens, GA-Inside Out)
Disturbance At The Heron House (Peter's pick)
Time After Time (annElise)(Michael's pick)

Amazon.com

The songs collected on And I Feel Fine... The Best of The I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 are just good enough to render the previous I.R.S. years collection, 1998's Eponymous, officially dead. The latter was likely the way the masses heard R.E.M.'s underground hits on CD the first time--after all, the band had just come off of their apocalyptic breakthrough single ("It's the end of the world...") and CD players were finally hitting below the $400 mark. It did the trick. We all got up to date and it paved the way for a more sonic R.E.M. to grow into the phenomena they've become. This new version is a welcome history re-write as it pulls more from Murmur and Reckoning days and does a far better job at telling the early story--owing a great deal to the photos and in-depth notes from Anthony DeCurtis.

For our money it's worth $2 to buy the "Collectors Edition" for the massive collection of rarities on disc 2. The DVD companion to this CD is a visual goldmine. --Peter Hilgendorf

Amazon.com

R.E.M. Photos

More from R.E.M.

Lifes Rich Pageant
Document
Fables of the Reconstruction

Eponymous
The Best of the I.R.S. Years
The Best of the I.R.S. Years Video Collection

Customer Reviews:

And, oh, do I feel fine listening to this collection...........2007-03-06

I'm not going to lie to you - I like the idea of "Best-Of" & "Greatest Hits" albums in general. This medium allows for bands to gaze backwards through the annals of history so that they might view & review their work, in hopes of gathering together their best songs from a given time period. All of this is done in the hope of providing a means for which their fans (whether old, new, or as-yet-discovered) can listen to those songs in a fairly simple format. With "Greatest Hits" albums, you don't have to carry around all of the albums from your favorite bands just to hear the songs that you like the best. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved - a band gets to make a few more bucks by repackaging old material and a fan of the band only has to carry around one or two albums as opposed to 4, 5, 9, or 10 of them to get their fill of the band's music.

However, there is a dark side from whence a music listener can view a "Best-Of" album, since the whole concept of creating an album or two that will attempt to gather together a band's preeminent songs is one that has been used and disastrously abused for decades now. There are legions of rock snobs out there who disdain (quite rightly) the fact that many of these records only collect a band's singles and/or the songs that receive the widest levels of popularity & notoriety. Record companies too often get involved in the decision-making process, forcing the band to include songs just so that more records will be sold on the basis of that one song (i.e., how record companies have been pushing record sales for years, getting the dumbed-down public to buy an often crappy album for the one poppy, radio-friendly tune). "Best-Of" albums too frequently have been turned into "What-Sells-Best" albums, sacrificing content for sales.

I say all of that to say this - R.E.M.'s prior "Greatest Hits" release, In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, was plagued by such issues, especially in terms of leaving often strong, fan-favorite songs in favor of ones that were more easily recognized by the average music-buying public. Case in point - while Automatic For The People is one of R.E.M.'s best records, it's also the fan favorite and received 4 nominations on In Time, while the critically-acclaimed New Adventures in Hi-Fi only had two songs included. Yes, an alternate track of "Leave" did make it to Disc Two, but you had to pay extra for it (even though it is an excellent remix). The band was in the thralls of a world tour in 2003 and this compendium of their years on Warner Brothers left much to the imagination. I mean, "Country Feedback" only made it on as a live track to close out Disc Two - as wonderful as the song is and as well-recorded as the live cut is, it's a travesty of justice for this song not to have been on the Disc One.

So, when I heard that And I Feel Fine was going to be released in Fall 2006 as a replacement for the nearly 2-decades-old Eponymous, released when R.E.M. left I.R.S. Records, I was filled with a mixture of excitement & trepidation. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, even with the promise of liner notes & comments left by all four members Yes, I will admit it - even the promise of long-retired drummer Bill Berry contributing to this collection did little to assuage my fears. As such, as highly- and fittingly-lauded as the band's early work is, there is much misunderstanding that revolves around the first five R.E.M. albums: there aren't any true singles until Document, the band seems overly indulgent in regards to experimentation & quirky lack of direction, and no one really knows what Michael Stipe is singing on any of those songs. I wasn't sure if the problems of over-reliance upon one album that afflicted In Time would burden down And I Feel Fine.

And I am so glad that my fears were dismissed (quite quickly at that). Each of the five albums from the I.R.S. Years (Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, Life's Rich Pageant, & Document) is appropriately and evenly represented on the 21 songs on Disc One. Four songs were chosen from each of the five albums, plus "Gardening At Night" from the Chronic Town EP. Thus, besides personal favorites such as "Moral Kiosk" off Murmur, I don't think that there's one necessary song missing between the two discs. Name a song that might be missing - I dare you. "7 Chinese Brothers"? It's there. "Disturbance At The Heron House"? Present. "Cuyahoga"? Accounted for. And even more to the point, the tracks on Disc One are arranged in a non-chronological format, with precedence given to how the songs will sound when listened to as a complete album, from song 1 to song 21, as only a mixtape should be.

There are definite highlights that must be pointed out, and they're all from Disc Two (even though Disc One is a wonderful & complete collection). The first notable selection is the 3-song live set from Boston, MA, on 07/13/1983 - "Ages of You," "We Walk," & "1,000,000." The energy of these four boys from Atlanta, GA is never more apparent than on these tracks as they flow effortlessly and seamlessly through their set. In second place comes the at-half-speed, demo version of "Gardening At Night" - the song sounds more hushed & intimate than a great many other songs in the R.E.M. pantheon. "Hyena" (in a scratchy demo version) represents my third choice, complete with the band's revealing in the liner notes that, while the song was released on Life's Rich Pageant, it was originally recorded during the Fables of the Reconstruction sessions. I've always been a fan of hearing songs in their early, unfinished, not-quite-complete phase - it gives new life to how you hear the "finished" version that you've been used to all of these years.

Do I have any complaints? Not really. As I said, there aren't really any songs that have been left off this 2-disc, 42-song compilation. If you've never listened to R.E.M. before, I would suggest you go purchase the album as soon as you finish reading this review. And I Feel Fine is what a "Best Of" album should be - representative of how a band has grown & developed over a given period of time and beautifully illustrative of the contributions that the band has made to the greater picture of music history. But in case you need just one more reason to buy this album, take this into account - it's both poignant and hilarious to read in the liner notes for Disc Two and learn how Bill, Mike, & Peter haven't always understood what Michael Stipe is singing or what his lyrics even mean, but they're certain that they have meaning for someone (and on occasion, the boys even present their differing interpretations of certain songs). So, if the band doesn't know what's going on with Stipe's beautiful mumblings, then it's OK that us listeners have also been confused for almost 25 years now.

Change of heart.......2007-02-23

I thought R.E.M. was just dismissable frat-rock all through the eighties...wow, has my mind changed. I love the jangly rock on this excellent collection...yes, R.E.M. rock for the best.

"Music that didn't pander to an audience" - it created one.......2007-02-18

During 1982-87 REM was probably the best band - possibly ever - if you define best band by great ALBUMS and great concerts. Similar to U2, REM created an audience - a big one - by original ideas that invited the audience to interpret the music. They didn't let tell you what it meant - maybe it meant nothing - but millions (billions?) THOUGHT IT DID. As Michael Stipe stated "Not everyone can carry the weight of the world". They CREATED an audience that wanted something new (the original alternative music). Nowadays - as the last line in U2's "Kite" states ("the time when new media was the big idea") audiences demand technology but the meaning or value of music is not relevant. I'd recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear America's greatest band at its creative best from a time when music could be relevant.

More about the remastering.......2007-01-07

Firstly, the music on this collection is stupendous. In the 80's, R.E.M. was the most consistently excellent, yet idiosyncratic and unconventional, band around and each release was a new gift. I don't have many quibbles with the song selections made for this best-of, and getting the second disc for not much more than the price of the single-disc version is a value. If you don't know early R.E.M. very well, this is a great place to start.

But... as several other reviewers have commented, this release was mastered to sound as loud as possible. And at first listen, it sounds great. Then, after it's on for awhile, you will probably find yourself turning the volume down, and even thinking about turning it off. That's because the mix has been highly compressed - that's how they get newer CDs to sound so much louder than old ones, but it's akin to how a loud commercial suddenly comes on when you're watching a TV show and sends you jumping for the remote to turn it down. It becomes obnoxious and irritating when everything is so loud all the time, and robs the music of all dynamics. And if you listen closely you'll hear distortion - they mix it so high that they're actually introducing clipping, which means flattened sound waves that results in a static-y edge to the sound.

Unfortunately this is a trend that has been going on with CD mastering for the last decade, though it gets very little publicity. The record companies do it because they think we like it, and actually many of us think we do, judging by a lot of the positive comments on the sound of overloud remasters. But once you're aware of it, you'll notice it, and you'll start to feel ripped off. The public needs to tell the record companies we want quality remasters that don't compromise true fidelity and range for shallow loudness and distortion. To learn more on this topic, do a web search on "loudness war".

Discover This Band.......2007-01-06

There was once a band called 'R.E.M.' and they played energetic, inventive, interesting, raw, yet somehow sophisticated jangly rock country punk. Their lead singer sounded like nobody else with sort of a baritone drawl that somehow managed to not really sound country at all, but they were from Georgia. They weren't precious or self-conscious. At the same time that a lot of groups were doing synth-pop or hair metal, this band was sorting out how to fuse art-rock with folk rock. The words the singer sang were sometimes imagistic, sometimes surreal, sometimes obscure. The drums were punchy. The bass was melodic. The guitar was sometimes jangly, sometimes ferocious. This is a collection of what that band sounded like 'in the day'. Not complete without the bonus disc, however.

Average customer rating:

Rockin' n Rollin' all Night!
THE WORST OF POISON!!!!!!!!!
Great to hear Poison again!
The Best of Poison
I always liked this band, no matter how many other people hate it :)

The Best of Poison: 20 Years of Rock
Poison
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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POISON'D!
Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection

ASIN: B000EHQ80K
Release Date: 2006-04-04

Tracks:

Talk Dirty To Me
I Want Action
I Won't Forget You
Cry Tough
Look What The Cat Dragged In
Nothin' But A Good Time
Fallen Angel
Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Your Mama Don't Dance
Unskinny Bop
Rock And Roll All Nite
Ride The Wind
Something To Believe In
Life Goes On
Stand
The Last Song
Shooting Star
Were An American Band (New track, produced by Don Was)

Album Description

From hair metal stardom to "Behind the Music" melodrama, few bands have rocked as hard and lived as high as L.A.'s famous foursome, Poison. Bret, C.C. and the boys celebrate 20 years of glam-trashed brilliance on the remastered Best of Poison. This must-have set includes all of Poison's biggest hits, including "Unskinny Bop," "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Talk Dirty To Me," and "Nothin' But A Good Time," plus a cover of Grand Funk Railroad's "We're An American Band."

Customer Reviews:

Rockin' n Rollin' all Night!.......2007-07-16

If you're talkin' bout Rock n Roll, then definitely you're talkin' bout POISON; the best hair metal band and the sons of glam rock! This 20th anniversary collection shows the undeniable truth that POISON marks as an icon to the 80's rock n roll. But I find it dissapointing that the songs included were almost the same in their first Greatest Hits collection. In my opinion, they should'nt have included songs like Were an American Band, Rock n' Roll All Nite and Your Mama Dont Dance since they were released in a revival album called Poison'd. The new songs included like Shooting Star and Last Song were impressive however. All the rest were truly great POISON classics. Overall, this CD may be the best substitute to their Greatest Hits 86-96 collection.

THE WORST OF POISON!!!!!!!!!.......2007-05-13

I HATE POISON THE SONG I HATE THE MOST IS EVREY ROSE HAS A THORN IS THE MOST HORRIBLE SONG OF ALL TIME THE FIRST TIME I HEARD IT I THOUGHT OF THROWING UP THERE ONLY GOOD SONG IS NOTHIN BUT A GOOD TIME. ALL POISON IS IS A ONE HIT WONDER!!!!!MY ADVICE IS DON'T BUY THIS ALBUM!!!!!!!

Great to hear Poison again!.......2007-04-19

I was missing my Poison songs that I remember jamming to when I was in high school. This album brought back floods of memories! Some of their newer stuff isn't too bad either. Great collection of some of their biggest hits. Good purchase...

The Best of Poison.......2007-04-04

This is a good copulation of their work. A recommended purchase for Poison fans.

I always liked this band, no matter how many other people hate it :).......2007-01-22

Poison is one of those 1980s bands that became "unfashionable" after the 1990s grunge craze, and is now looked upon with almost universal scorn. Reviled for their big hair, spandex clothing, and simple song structures, almost nobody even admits to liking them, but I still do! For one thing, who cares if 80s music is no longer hip and trendy? Time waits for nobody, and all music eventually becomes old. The grunge music that replaced hair metal is every bit as dated as hair metal itself is, and I don't see people bashing Nirvana or Soundgarden for being "90s has beens" do you? Nothing stays hip and trendy forever. And the other argument used against Poison is that their music isn't complicated or technically complex, it only has 3 chords, and doesn't require any talent to play. Has it ever occured to you hair metal bashers that there is more to music than lightning fast guitar solos that are so impossible that nobody can play them? Sometimes 3 chords is enough to make an impression on the listener, even if it isn't hard to play. In fact, virtually all rock stars s*ck at playing their instruments. You only need to look at all the Avril Lavigne, Green Day, U2, Nickelback and Nirvana songs that have ever hit #1 on the rock charts to realize that. Nobody thinks anything less of these people for playing 3 chords on their guitars, so why should it be any different for poison? I think this band has always been underrated.

Best Of Peter, Paul & Mary: Ten Years Together

Average customer rating:

only wanted 1 song
Good music, but misleading professional review
A Classic of American Folk Music
38 minutes of Greatest Hits
Crisp American folk music

Best Of Peter, Paul & Mary: Ten Years Together
Peter Paul & Mary
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002KHJ
Release Date: 1992-07-28

Tracks:

Blowin' In The Wind
Too Much Of Nothing
Lemon Tree
Stewball
Early Mornin' Rain
500 Miles
I Dig Rock & Roll Music
Leaving On A Jet Plane
Puff (The Magic Dragon)
For Lovin' Me
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
If I Had A Hammer (The Hammer Song)
Day Is Done

Amazon.com essential recording

Warner Bros. did with the CD release of the 1970 vinyl LP 10 Years Together: Best of Peter, Paul & Mary what every label should do with CD reissues of vinyl compilations. They took into account the longer length of CDs and added tracks. The original release of 10 smash hits has been fleshed out here with three additional tracks, including a melodic take on Dylan's Basement Tapes rarity "Too Much of Nothing." Otherwise, it's hits and nothing but hits, ranging from definitive folk interpretations ("If I Had a Hammer") to pop ("I Dig Rock 'n' Roll Music") to Dylan and Gordon Lightfoot covers that compete with the originals and first brought such material to the mainstream. Only "Cruel War" is missing. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

only wanted 1 song.......2007-05-13

puff the Magic Dragon brings all the kid in you out

Good music, but misleading professional review.......2006-10-18

I'm sure that all of us who remember PP&M welcome a CD reissue if only because we won't have to listen to the scratches and the skips that a well-loved record album is burdened by. But I'm surprised at the Amazon review posted ahead of all the "amateurs" because there are NO NEW TRACKS on the CD. The record has 13 tracks, not 10, as the review so prominently claims. I agree with the other amateur reviewers who would like to hear some of the other PP&M songs added, such as "This Land is Your Land" and "Where Have all the Flowers Gone." And it's understandable that all the recording company wanted to do was reissue the original. But please, Amazon, don't advertise a product as something it's not.

A Classic of American Folk Music.......2006-10-08

I still have this on vinyl, but just never bother with the stereo anymore. I pounced on the CD and popped it into my player, so once again I can relive the sound that meant so much to me in my college days. It's still a mellow blending of voices and a great selection of songs.
You get your classic folk tunes (Blowin' in the Wind and If I Had a Hammer), plus 60s songs like Too Much of Nothing and I Dig Rock and Roll Music. I love their version of Lemon Tree and you just have to have Puff the Magic Dragon.
A marvelous album!

38 minutes of Greatest Hits.......2006-01-18

First released on LP in 1970, this greatest hits album contains several of the big hits by Peter, Paul, and Mary, the folk trio from the '60's whose classic works include "Puff the Magic Dragon" and their covers of Pete Seeger's "If I Had a Hammer," John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," and Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind." The group's sound consisted of simple, feel-good, peace-loving, almost naive, harmonies with spare instrumentation (usually just guitars and acoustic bass) and without much of a hint of an edge (realizing that some of their music was "protest music" in spirit and assuming for the moment that "Puff!" wasn't about lighting up a doobie). This formula garnered them a loyal following in the '60's and no doubt has today's greying listeners harkening back to those good old days. Anyone who was a fan and hasn't heard them for years will find this a warm reminder of the classic tunes and times.

It's always a bit difficult to review a Greatest Hits album -- people always quibbling about what songs in their opinion were unjustly left out and which they could have done without. I always think that's pointless, but I can't resist jumping on the bandwagon this time... True, this CD release improves on the earlier LP version by adding 3 tracks, but the total playing time still only comes to less than 38 minutes. That just doesn't cut it for me in the age of the CD format. So, what would I add? Well, how about "This Land is Your Land," "Where Have All The Flowers Gone," or "Kumbaya," "Michael Row the Boat Ashore," "Down By The Riverside," or even "Because All Men Are Brothers." Ah, fair enough... if I'd wanted those tracks, I should have purchased either the 2CD collection, "Around the Campfire" or the newly released and remastered "The Very Best of Peter, Paul, and Mary." Don't get me wrong, "Ten Years Together" is a decent album with some classic hits from PPM, but if you want something more complete and a better value for your $, check out either of those two albums first -- I wish I had (and I wish I'd read a review that made this clear). Then again, with "The Very Best..." available now, you should be able to pick up "Ten Years Together" for a dollar or two.

Crisp American folk music.......2005-10-16

A music collection that contains classical numbers from the classics of American folk music.

A collection that also makes me cruise to the 60's, both with its melodies and lyrics. The themes are socially and politically oriented making them even more universal.

Ten Years Gone: The Best of Everclear, 1994-2004

Average customer rating:

Great CD
Guess I like their newer stuff better
One of the best collections EVER, and that's CLEAR.
An Everclear Fan Who refuses to buy this Album
Everclear's Best Of is a great CD for anyone to own.

Ten Years Gone: The Best of Everclear, 1994-2004
Everclear
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002Y4SXY
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Wonderful
Santa Monica
Everything To Everyone
AM Radio
Volvo Driving Soccer Mom
I Will Buy You A New Life
Learning How To Smile
Strawberry
Local God
Summerland
Fire Maple Song
When It All Goes Wrong Again
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The Boys Are Back In Town
Heroin Girl
Brown Eyed Girl
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The New Disease
The New York Times
Song From An American Movie Pt. 1
Rock Star

Customer Reviews:

Great CD.......2007-01-10

This is a great CD that contains all of their hits. Hard to review because it's all pre-released music.

Guess I like their newer stuff better.......2006-08-10

The newer music on the CD I liked much better than the older stuff. I should have just bought the CD that most of the newer songs were on. I actually had that tape and loved it but now have CD player in the car and thought if I liked that album I should like their other music too. But overall its not a waste like some best hits CDs out there.

One of the best collections EVER, and that's CLEAR........2005-04-05

Unlike some other people, I find this "Best Of" to be perfect. Mostly because I always liked them when I heard them, but not enough to buy an album, so "Ten Years Gone" was made for me. This is also packed full of 21 songs, the more popular ones being "Wonderful", "Santa Monica", "AM Radio", and "I Will Buy You A New Life". Plus the excellent "Father Of Mine", which unfortunately many relate to, and 2 good covers of "The Boys Are Back In Town" and "Brown Eyed Girl". Most of what I didn't know I like now also. This collection should easily please most, but it probably won't be "Everything To Everyone".

An Everclear Fan Who refuses to buy this Album.......2005-02-25

A Friend of mine bought this album and I listened to it. This compilation is a serious shortchange to Everclear's fans, and saddest of all, to themselves. Alexakis and Co. have seriously mislead themselves in almost all ways since Thier 2000 release of 'Songs from an American Movie: Part 1' For starters, what in the hell kind of title is that? It's lame, that's what. I only found two, maybe three songs on that album that I could keep listening to. I only bought 'Vol 2' to say that, yes, I owned all of their albums. I don't think there is one good song on Vol 2, especially when you line it up with anything they produced up until 1998. All songs on that album either consist of pathetic, blind rage, or pathetic, dithering, trivial matters. It is a long shot from their introspective, clever disapointment and sorrow that still somehow carries a touch of sunshine and hope, everclears trademarks.
I would have really liked to have seen some of their fantastic, less well known songs on this album like 'Sunflowers,' 'Amphetamine,' or 'White Men in Black Suits' off of 'So Much for the Afterglow', by far Everlears best album. Their inclusion of less well known songs from 'Sparkle and Fade' is good, but they really shortchange themselves on what they wrote during their early days on 'World of Noise'
Eveclear, I hope, is starting to show some hope. I believe that they have seen their last two albums for the failures that they are. Their sound has become extremely weak and uninspired, their lyrics a far cry from the smack-you-in the face stuff that they used to write. The only glimmer of hope I saw on their latest release, 'Slow-Motion Daydream' was 'Crysanthemum,' which heralds a very pure and stripped-away quality of acuoustic guitar, blended ever so slightly with effective sound effects of blowing wind and haunting lyrics. 'New York Times' is half way good, but is nothing that stands up above anything else that any unpublished poet or musician wrote to express their feelings in a post 9/11 world.
10 Years are definetly gone, and the last 4 of them are WAY gone. i hope you get your rear in gear Art. You've done it before, now do it again. I know '20 Years Gone' can be a much better shot.

Everclear's Best Of is a great CD for anyone to own........2005-01-12

Everclear's Best Of is a great CD for anyone to own.

This is a great Everclear best of CD. I am glad there are 21 songs and that it is almost 80 minutes long. There are 2 b-sides on here called Local God (from the Romeo And Juliet soundtrack) and The Boys Are Back In Town (a Thin Lizzy cover that was originally a hit off of the Detroit Rock City soundtrack). There are also 2 new songs on here that were originally recorded during Everclear's recording sessions for their previous CD Slow Motion Daydream. The new songs are called Sex With A Movie Star (The Good Witch Gone Bad) and The New Disease.

The songs and what I think of them is the following:

#01. Wonderful - This is a great pop sounding song from them. It is a big hit too. This is a great song to listen to when you are in a good mood. Even though the lyrics sound happy, they are not.

#02. Santa Monica - This is a great rock song from them with a great beat and great words. This is this first big hit and the song that made them famous.

#03. Everything To Everyone - This is another good rock song that was a big hit. This was followed by other hit songs that broke them into the mainstream music concious.

#04. AM Radio - This is another big hit with a 70's feel to it. It surprised me by how popular it became. This is not a favorite of mine off of here, but I like it. It is a necessity for this CD.

#05. Volvo Driving Soccer Mom - I like this song a lot. It was a hit but not a big one. This song did not help their CD Slow Motion Daydream sell well because not many people liked this song I guess or that album.

#06. I Will Buy You A New Life - This song was a huge hit. I think it was either this song, Santa Monica, Father Of Mine, or Wonderful that was their biggest hit. This is the song that broke them into the mainstream music concious and made them a household name. If you didn't know Everclear from their song Santa Monica off their CD Sparkle And Fade, you now did because of this song off their CD So Much For The Afterglow.

#07. Learning How To Smile - I don't remember this song being a hit. But it is another kind of pop song from them. It is not as good as Wonderful in my opinion. Both these songs can be found off of their CD Songs From An American Movie, Vol. One: Learning How To Smile, which is their most pop sounding CD.

#08. Strawberry - This song was a small hit. It is a slower song, but I like it and the acoustic guitar that you can hear throughout the whold thing. I like the words to this song and how well they go with the music.

#09. Local God - This song was a hit in Austraila. I am not sure if it was here in the U.S.A. But it sure sounds like it was, because it is a great sounding rock song and sounds like a big hit. This is the first b-side off this CD. It was originally on the Romeo And Juliet soundtrack. If it wasn't a big hit, then that is because it is a off a soundtrack and wasn't promoted right. This is a favorite Everclear song of mine.

#10. Summerland - This is another hit, not a big one or small one though. In the booklet for this CD Art Alexakis says about this song: Hands down... my favorite Everclear song of all time. This is a slow rock song. Not a favorite of mine, but I like it some.

#11. Fire Maple Song - This was not a hit. But if it was, it would have been their first one. This is the only song on this compilation CD off their first CD World Of Noise. This song is alright. It is growing on me. It is another slower rock song. I wish they included another song or two from their first CD on this compilation than some others included on here.

#12. When It All Goes Wrong Again - This is their first hit off of their CD Songs From An American Movie, Vol. Two: Good Time For A Bad Attitude, which is the more rocking of the two Songs From American Movie CDs. This is another rock song. I prefer their song Rock Star over this one. Both songs are on Good Time For A Bad Attitude.

#13. Father Of Mine (Radio Mix) - Father Of Mine was another huge hit from Everclear. This is the radio mix version, so if you have So Much For The Afterglow, this version may sound a little different to you. But it still sounds good. This is Art Alexakis's favorite version of this song. This is Everclear song has touched and helped more people than any other.

#14. The Boys Are Back In Town - This song was originally a hit off of the Detroit Rock City soundtrack. It is a cover of an old Thin Lizzy song. This is a good rock song. This song is the second b-side off of this CD. I like this song better than their cover of Brown Eyed Girl.

#15. Heroin Girl - This is a rock great song. This was a big hit and another one of my favorite Everclear songs. This is the fastest song off of this CD. It has great music and the lyrics are really cool. I love listening to this song. It is cool.

#16. Brown Eyed Girl - This is another hit song. This is a slow rock song. But that should be obvious since it is a cover of the Van Morrison classic. This is a good cover, but I prefer The Boys Are Back In Town over this one. But this is still good.

#17. Sex With A Movie Star (The Good Witch Gone Bad) - This is the first previously unreleased song off of this CD. This is a good rock song. It is not that hard but not that soft either. I like the words and the music to it.

#18. The New Disease - This is the second previosly unreleased song off of this CD. This is a good rock song. I am not sure if this song or Sex With A Movie Star (The Good Witch Gone Bad) were hits or not. I am not sure which one I like better. They are both good songs. I am glad that they are on here.

#19. The New York Times - This song is about hoping there is love and compassion in this post 9/11 world. 9/11 plus something tragic that happened to a poor soul in Everclear's hometown of Portland Oregon inspired Art Alexakis to write this. He wrote this hoping the world would stop hating and fearing, and start loving and being compassionate. This is a slow moving rock song. A definiate inclusion on this CD. I like this good hit song too.

#20. Song From An American Movie Pt. 1 - If any song doesn't deserve to be on this CD, it is this one. This is just a soft nice intro to a previous CD of theirs. They should have taken this song off and replaced it with the song One Hit Wonder off the CD So Much For The Afterglow. That would have been better.

#21. Rock Star - This is of course a rock song. I like this song a lot. It has great music and some cool lyrics that got misinterpreted by a lot of fans of the band. This is another hit song. This is a great way to end the CD. This is another favorite Everclear song of mine. It is a song I am sure you will like too. It is a loud fast and just excellent song of theirs.

So there you have it. 21 great songs from a great band. I am glad I got this CD. I recommend it to anyone, even if you don't like the band or already have all of their other CDs. Pick it up.

It is too bad though that Everclear is just done to one member now, Art Alexakis. But he promises another Everclear album later this year. I hope he makes a great one with some great musicians. Everclear is a good band and I hope they live on and on.

Just go out and pick up this CD and enjoy it as much as I do.

The Very Best of the A&M Years (1977-1988)

Average customer rating:

Classic Rock for any age
If You Like What You Hear on the Radio, Buy This.
Great Tunes
WHOA
This guys are not Southern Rock in my book

The Very Best of the A&M Years (1977-1988)
.38 Special
Manufacturer: Interscope Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000931MU
Release Date: 2003-04-29

Tracks:

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Customer Reviews:

Classic Rock for any age.......2007-04-02

I am getting a lot of enjoyment out of this CD! Buy one; you won't regret it!

If You Like What You Hear on the Radio, Buy This........2006-11-10

I'm really just a radio fan of 38 Special. But I decided to take a chance with this "best of" collection. And I came out golden on this one. Every single song is at least as good as the handful that you hear on the radio now.
Personally, I tend to go for the harder bands. So I'm often having to enjoy my music in a semi-voluntary semi-solitude while pretty much everyone else plugs their ears and runs away. But this is catchy, very nice, and lively while somewhat softer rock and roll, with a more general appeal--something that the whole family can kind of enjoy together. I would probably compare 38 Special to the Eagles, for beat, intensity and overall listenability.
So far it has a 5-star average rating, and I wouldn't mess with that.

Great Tunes.......2006-08-17

This is really good music to listen to on a beautiful day driving in the car or just hanging out- I love 38 Special and this CD has alot of their hits on it. Its worth a buy

WHOA.......2006-04-21

I could see, why they are called Southern Rock indeed. At first, back in the old days (aka 90's for me), I mistaked this guys for an 80's band. Most of their great songs came out in the 80's I believe. So, these guys can't be southern rock. But that doesn't matter, cause they still kick it.

Caught Up In You, is quite a good song, due to the guitar solo. It's practically that 80's "Dream song" since it's so perfect in every manner. You know how the band Autograph had their perfect song called "Turn Up the Radio"? Well, Caught Up in You, is just as perfect, or more perfect. I can picture many things when that guitar solo goes off... It's quite astounding what music can do to the brain.

Somebody Like You- When this song first started, I thought it sounded a little like Billy Idol's debut. This isn't a waste of time ballad, like some bands right. This is happy feeling, yet sad due to the "broken" heart. Any broken hearted person could listen to this and feel great. This song makes alot of sense, which helps you come to your senses. (good line huh?) The Soli (minor guitar solo) is very good.

Like No Other Night- Very very 80's. I could see someone rocking out to this song. I heard the song "Straight to Your Heart" inside that song, by Bad English. Except, it's well written. I could imagine John Waite singing this. Over all it's a great song.

I reviewed only 3 songs, because they touch me the most on the inside. They're fantastic. I love .38 Special. Where would the music world be without them. This cd (off itunes) blew me away, listening to the whole thing. I listened to this cd many times last night, and I didn't get to bed until atleast 3 am! haha!

On my ipod, I only have hair metal and classic rock, aka like Journey, Boston, Eric Clapton, etc. I got sick of rap and R&B, so I took it all off. Sound crazy? Well, I've only been listening to classic rock and hair metal for a few years, since I was born in 1990. KEEP CLASSIC ROCK AND HAIR METAL ALIVE.

This guys are not Southern Rock in my book.......2006-01-03

If you looked up 38 Special on the internet or in a book, you would probably see these two words: southern rock. Widely considered southern rock, I think they have a more Foriegner-type pop/rock sound and feeling. This album is a rather nice compilation. It has all the major and minor hits and fan favorites. You get 18 songs on one disc and it's rather inexpensive. Not a bad deal. If you like 80s pop/rock like Foriegner or REO Speedwagon buy this superb collection of radio friendly rock godliness.

The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years

Average customer rating:

The best of the best!
Not so faulty Tower
You want to know the truth in life...
I would give it 6 stars if I could
Tower of Power: Live they are far better

The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years
Tower of Power
Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005LMXQ
Release Date: 2001-07-17

Tracks:

You Got To Funkifize
What Happened To The World That Day?
Down To The Nightclub
You're Still A Young Man
What Is Hip?
So Very Hard To Go
This Time Is Real
Will I Ever Find A Love?
Soul Vaccination
Time Will Tell
Below Us, All The City Lights
Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream)
Willing To Learn
Only So Much Oil In The Ground
I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To
You're So Wonderful, So Marvelous

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best!.......2007-07-09

This 2001 Tower of Power anthology spans the period between 1972 and 1976, during which they were signed to Warner Records. The albums represented include 1972's Bump City, 1973's Tower of Power, 1974's Back to Oakland, and 1975's In the Slot and Urban Renewal. These albums are widely considered the best TOP ever recorded, and this collection is a well-selected compilation of the best of these fine albums. During this period, Oakland's Tower of Power set themselves apart from the budding west coast music scene with their brand of soulful funk (or funky soul, whichever you prefer). Most famous was their incredibly tight horn section, which had as many as six players and full instrumentation. Besides being a vastly talented section, these players play so well together and their chemistry makes them a joy to listen to. The rhythm and percussion section is also very talented, so musically Tower of Power is just awesome on this disc. During this period, Tower of Power had two lead vocalists. On the earlier albums, the competent Rick Stevens was the singer, before being replaced by the wonderful Lenny Williams in 1973. Williams is very entertaining. Besides being a really gifted vocalist, he is so much fun because of his yelling and performance, you can tell he's having fun too. His voice has great range and versatility, and he brings a lot of soul and even gospel influence to the group. The tracklist is very well selected, and it is done in chronological order, so you can watch the band's progression. There's a nice balance of pure upbeat funk tracks and their signature slow jams. Tower of Power songs are all so well written and produced, and this record is a perfect example. I highly recommend "The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years" to all.

The compilation kicks off with a bang, the blasting "You Got to Funkafize," showcasing the awesomely powerful horn section. "What Happened to the World That Day?" is a heartfelt love song, Rick Stevens' influence is pretty clear on these earlier tracks. "Down to the Nightclub" was their first big hit, a swinging party song. "You're Still a Young Man" is another solid early-70s slow jam. "What Is Hip?" is their best known song, musically incredible, with a gorgeous arrangement for the funk guitar and horns. Lenny Williams also lends one of his finest performances ever on this song. "So Very Hard to Go" is among my favorites, an inspired love song, and "This Time It's Real" is also very appealing, a happy and hopeful ode. The slow "Will I Ever Find a Love?" precedes the awesome "Soul Vaccination," a fast and funky cut from the same mold as "What Is Hip?," but maybe even better. "Time Will Tell" and "Below Us All the City Lights" are both fine examples of TOP's range and versatility, and "Don't Change Horses (In the Middle of a Stream)" is a pumped up, swinging number. The slow, well-produced songs "Willing to Learn" and "I Won't Leave Unless You Want Me To" are split by the unforgettable "Only So Much Oil in the Ground," with the soaring horn cadence and Williams' wild vocals. The collection closes with the inspired "You're So Wonderful, So Marvelous."

One thing I love about Tower of Power's 1970s discography is that unlike so much music from that era, it really doesn't sound dated at all even today. Their music is so unique, well-produced, and exhibiting talent that the sound is timeless. For anyone who's a new listener or was a fan back in the day, "The Very Best of Tower of Power: The Warner Years" is a must have in the collection.

Not so faulty Tower.......2007-01-09

A bit dated, but I'm such a screaming fan I'd take recordings from when they were all in diapers!

You want to know the truth in life..........2006-06-24

...don't pass Tower of Power by. This band is smokin.' They have it all, great vocals, great compositions, great horns and arrangements. I would have loved to see Man From The Past on this one, but overall a very solid collection. So Very Hard To Go is top notch material - one of my all time favorites and they have so many great tunes - Below Us All The City Lights, Down To The Nightclub, What Is Hip, This Times It's Real, Only So Much Oil. Easily one of the best bands from the 70's. Got to have this one!

I would give it 6 stars if I could .......2005-11-02

This band is one of the greatest bands of all-time, and most people don't even know it. Their Top Ten songs are:
1. "What is Hip?"
2. "Down to the Night Club."
3. "Soul Vaccination".
4. "Only so much Oil in the Ground".
5. "Your still a Young Man".
6. "Diggin' on James Brown".
7. "Clever Girl".
8. "Attitude Dance".
9. "Oakland Zone".
10. "Page One".

Tower of Power: Live they are far better.......2005-06-26

Hallo Folks. I went to two concerts of TOP in the previous years in Holland, One time outdoor for the North Sea Jazz Fetival in The Hague and one time In Paradiso, in Amsterdam. I like TOP live far better than their album recordings. So for me the best CD is TOP live. This contains all their best hits, which are played more free, open and are recorder with much more base and a clearer sound. If you are a new fan, or a a huge fan, I would recommend the Live CD.

Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years

Average customer rating:

Solid, lovely to listen to (yes, I said "lovely")

Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years
James McMurtry
Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Americana Master Series: Best of the Sugar Hill Years

ASIN: B000MGBS94
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Tracks:

Sixty Acres
Every Little Bit Counts
No More Buffalo
Gulf Road
Tired of Walking
Lobo Town
Broken Bed
Paris
Walk Between the Raindrops
Fast as I Can
Out Here in the Middle
12 O'Clock Whistle
Choctaw Bingo

Customer Reviews:

Solid, lovely to listen to (yes, I said "lovely").......2007-06-09

I can see planets moving in the cosmos when I listen to James McMurtry. This is an album full of great tracks. I've got other recordings of some of them, and I wouldn't prioritize any over others, because James McMurtry is so emotive that ...any particular day, even if you get a different sound, it's a good one. But for a good set of recordings on a single CD you can leave in the player or take on a trip, this is nice. I am enjoying it time and time again, and will most likely listen more to this album than my older ones, unless I'm on a huge James kick, and want to hear more of a range.

Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years

Average customer rating:

One new thing..................................
Good 90s Summary
Fans can never be objective...
sorry
Fine as a bee's wing

Action Packed: Best of the Capitol Years
Richard Thompson
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

British Folk | Traditional British & Celtic Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Best of Richard & Linda Thompson: The Island Records Years
Live from Austin, TX
Shoot Out the Lights
Rumor and Sigh
Mock Tudor

ASIN: B00005A9KU
Release Date: 2001-03-27

Tracks:

Turning Off The Tide
Waltzing's For Dreamers
1952 Vincent Black Lightning
I Misunderstood
I Feel So Good
Keep Your Distance
King Of Bohemia
I Can't Wake Up To Save My Life
Beeswing
The Ghost Of You Walks
Razor Dance (Voltage Enhanced)
Cold Kisses
Bathsheba Smiles
Cooksferry Queen
Uninhabited Man
Walking The Long Miles Home
Persuasion
Mr. Rebound
Fully Qualified To Be Your Man

Amazon.com essential recording

Eric Clapton had better marketing. That's the only way to explain why Richard Thompson isn't as famous as that other British guitar god. A brilliant, albeit subtle, guitar genius, Thompson writes wonderful songs that are sometimes rockin', sometimes haunting, and sometimes a little bit of both. And he presents them all in a voice that can only be called unique. Unlike most guitar heroes, Thompson is less based in the blues than he is in folk--dating back to his early years with the seminal Fairport Convention--but his has always been a folk music with bite and soul, adding things to the folk lexicon like rockabilly and zydeco. "Cooksferry Queen"--one of the 19 tracks on this compilation culled from the six albums Thompson released on Capitol between 1988 and 1999--features a guitar solo that's downright punk. Tracks like the semihit "I Feel So Good," "Razor Dance," and "Bathsheba Smiles" remain as exhilarating as anything you're apt to hear. Longtime fans will need to hear the three tracks previously unreleased on CD, including a new duet with son Teddy Thompson on "Persuasion" (co-written with Tim Finn) that is absolutely gorgeous. Ultimately, one longs for a box set that encompasses all eras (and labels) of this master's career, but Action Packed proves that the recent last third of it has been topnotch. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews:

One new thing.........................................2007-03-13

If you are a loyal RT fan and possess "Rumor and Sigh", "Mirror Blue" and all the rest perhaps the only reason you have to lay your hard earned down is "Persuasion" the only previously unreleased material in this collection. But what a reason; this is Richard and Teddy playing ,it singin' it, harmonisin' it and tellin' like it is. If you are not a die hard this is an excellent entry point all the classics are here Vincent Black Lightnin' ,Turning of the Tide ( a song for ex-wives everywhere) , I misunderstood (cosmic angst) The Ghost of You Walks and on and on.... superb guitar (a red fender never lets you down) & tight rhythm section(s) . There are many treasures on this album and then there is the incomporable Beeswing......... buy & enjoy.

Good 90s Summary.......2006-09-20

If there are low points in Richard Thompson's long and distinguished career, I've yet to hear them. While I'm not one of his devotees, I'd readily admit that all albums without exception, contain material other folk-blues purveyors would cry, if not die for. Yet the albums as entities are quirky, often jagged in their textures and tones. So, does a masterwork arise? Not for me, since,'Across a Crowded Room', or possibly, 'Hand of kindness' which brings me to this Capitol compilation which does beg the issues above. In short, it offers a terrific overview of a decade's worth of Thompson - Vincent, Beeswing, Razor Dance, Bathseba, Can't Wake Up...all sensational gems, which, given some interpretations by contemporary luminaries, still find their crucial edge in Thompson's shivering vocals.

Fans can never be objective..........2006-04-26

From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...to suggest Eric Clapton is more famous because of marketing mean some reviewer has too much wax in his ears. Richard isn't even close to the same league. Even as a "best of" it barely rises to the 3 star level.

sorry.......2005-05-22

i just don't like greatest hits much. i'm sure some of these songs are pretty good, but i'd have to say buy something like "shoot out the lights" instead.

Fine as a bee's wing.......2004-05-04

Some listeners may hassle over the selection, but this is a good grab for anybody who wants a single-disk survey of this phenomenal singer/songwriter/guitarist. I'd personally like to have "You Dream Too Much" on here too, but that doesnt make this collection any worse. The selections from You? Me? Us? are just right. Theres nothing wrong with the 3 new tracks either. The only problem is that Thompson's essential Capitol material exceeds the capacity of 1 CD. But if you need some RT in your collection, this is an excellent offering.

The Best Of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years

Average customer rating:

A Musiical Treasure
How Can One So Young Be So Musically Mature?
A very good re-master.
Disappointing Remasters
Absolutely necessary collection for Ronstadt lovers

The Best Of Linda Ronstadt: The Capitol Years
Linda Ronstadt
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Country Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Adieu False Heart
Prisoner in Disguise
Hasten Down the Wind
The Very Best of Linda Ronstadt
A Tribute to Nicolette Larson: Lotta Lova Concert

ASIN: B000CEX20O
Release Date: 2006-01-24

Tracks:

Baby You've Been On My Mind
Silver Threads & Golden Needles
Bet No One Ever Hurt This Bad
A Number And A Name
The Only Mama That'll Walk The Line
The Long Way Around
Break My Mind
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
It's About Time
We Need A Whole Lot More Of Jesus (And A Lot Less Rock & Roll)
The Dolphins
It Won't Be Easy (outtake from session; previously unreleased)
Lovesick Blues
Are My Thoughts With You?
Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Nobody's
Louise
Long Long Time
Mental Revenge
I'm Leavin' It All Up To You
He Darked The Sun
Life Is Like A Mountain Railway
He Darked The Sun (Nashville Version-outtake from session;previously unreleased)

Tracks:

Rock Me On The Water
Crazy Arms
I Won't Be Hangin' Round
I Still Miss Someone
In My Reply
I Fall To Pieces
Ramblin' Round
Birds
I Ain't Always Been Faithful
Rescue Me
Can It Be True (b-side to "I Fall To Pieces" single-previously unreleased on CD)
Long Long Time (Live @ The Troubadour 1971)
Kate (Live @ The Troubadour 1971)
You're No Good
It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Faithless Love
The Dark End Of The Street
Heart Is Like A Wheel
When Will I Be Loved
Willin'
I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)
Keep Me From Blowing Away
You Can Close Your Eyes

Customer Reviews:

A Musiical Treasure.......2007-04-10

Versatile and impressive are just two adjectives that appropriately describe the music of Linda Ronstadt. This package, The Best Of Linda Ronstadt: The Capital Years, is simply outstanding. I discovered her music as I was growing up in the mid 70's. This probably explains why I had never heard several of the songs on this C.D. I cannot think of another artist in modern music who can compete with Ronstadt in singing a "hard-core" country song and also equally and impressively singing "Big Band" or "Mexican styled" music. A sad reality is that today's music executives would not permit Linda Ronstadt be who she really is - a versatile and impressive artist. Simply put, if you are a Linda Ronstadt fan, you will enjoy this collection of her early music!

How Can One So Young Be So Musically Mature?.......2007-02-25

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine acquired this new collection, and mentioned it to me. Although I have long been an admirer of the magnificent vocals of Ms. Ronstadt, when I looked the item up, I realized that, although I have a good deal of her late material, and her two early "greatest hits" CD's, I was missing the complete albums of these very essential works on CD. When I realized how much of this material I was lacking, I felt slightly embarrassed, and I ordered the CD immediately.

If anything, I am now even more impressed with Ms. Ronstadt than I was before, and that's quite a statement. Having been familiar for a long time with her rock and roll material, as well as her excellent Spanish language albums and her perfectly arranged pop pieces, I had forgotten (even though I was quite aware) of how much excellent, pure country material she had recorded at the dawn of her career.

And, I had somehow forgotten the fact that, like many of my favorite artists, her earthy, early recordings were some of the strongest and most artistically pure records she ever made. I had also failed to remember that her voice was perhaps at its loveliest at this stage of her career. In fact, in listening to this material again, I am amazed at how much she vocally reminds me here of two of my favorite folk artists, Joan Baez and Judy Collins, although, true artist that she is, her voice is refreshing enough and strong enough to stand up to such demanding comparisons.

And the songs! If classic country is your bag, Linda covers a wealth of material that, for her age at the time, is amazing. Her covers of Lovesick Blues, Crazy Arms, I Still Miss Someone, The Only Mama That Will Walk the Line and I'll Be Your Baby Tonight all show a level of maturity and a depth of emotion that some singers never attain, at any stage of their careers.

With a track listing that includes four complete early albums, plus bonus tracks, this is a special collection that any fan of good music will want to snap up. If you are only familiar with Linda's late recordings, especially her forays into pop with Nelson Riddle, or her Spanish language folk albums of traditional Mexican canciones, open up to her early roots and see the true depth of her artistry.

Highly recommended.

A very good re-master........2007-01-20

Although the high frequencys are a little overbearing, this collection is still an improvement over my vinyl copies (all of which I have). And you can't beat the conveniance of having all four albums on two cd's plus the bonus tracks. I just reduced the treble to zero and boosted the bass a bit to make more enjoyable.

Disappointing Remasters.......2007-01-13

I really looked forward to putting this in my CD player after opening it, but the first sounds out of my speakers were harsh. I hoped it would improve as I progressed through the albums, but it didn't. For whatever reason, they put a pantload of compression on these discs, as if they thought you might want to listen to them through an AM radio. While this won't bother the average consumer, they could have done it right and satisfied those of us who care about such things, and the average consumer would have still been happy - everyone would be happy. Suffice it to say that these discs are not intended for audiophiles. Too bad - this is some really good music.

Absolutely necessary collection for Ronstadt lovers.......2006-12-16

Ronstadt has had a long and diverse career, so much so that one forgets the power and rockin' twang of the early years. Her voice is outstandingly powerful as she belts out notes with a range that seems to defy electronic amplification. Equally at home with rockers such as Jackson Browne's "Rock Me on the Water" to Johnny Cash's "I Still Miss Someone" and the plaintive "Louise" with only an acoustic guitar and the baritone of Gary White following behind Ronstadt's voice. She acquits herself well on both Patsy Cline's and Hank William's classics. This is a super value purchase with two CDs containing 46 tracks.

This CD will remind you why you began listening to Linda Ronstadt in the first place. For those of you not on the bandwagon, you will realize you have a lot of catching up to do.

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