Aug 31 2008
Top 10 best of the best
Unlike completists who own nearly everything produced by an artist, the casual fan just wants to hear them in small doses. Below is a list of some of the better compilation sets — those that not only contain the “greatest hits” you know and love, but also various album cuts, which serve to provide further insight to those who aren’t very familiar with that artist.
- The Beatles - 1967-1970 (Blue Album)
- The Beatles - 1962-1966 (Red Album)
- Moody Blues - This Is The Moody Blues
- Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks 1964-1971
- Eric Clapton - The Cream Of Clapton
- Jethro Tull: The Anniversary Collection
- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Anthology: Through The Years
- George Harrison - Best Of Dark Horse 1976-89
- The Guess Who - Greatest Hits
- The Who: My Generation - The Very Best Of
1967-1970, or the “Blue Album” as it is more well know, is a great snapshot of the fab four during the last few years of their career — the innovative, psychedelic days. Includes a booklet with liner notes, lyrics and photographs.
You just can’t have one without the other! 1962-1966, or the “Red Album,” captures the Liverpool lads during the height of their early, frenzied, Beatlemania days, and also contains a booklet with liner notes, lyrics and photographs. Interestingly, although more “hits” are found on the Red Album, Blue sold several million more copies and is widely considered a much better album.
Most Moody Blues fans agree that the first seven albums of the band’s career were by far the most creative. “This Is” is an outstanding compilation which covers those “classic 7.” Although most of the radio hits are present, there are also many incredible album cuts which present a true picture of what the Moody Blues were really about. Best experienced with headphones in a dark room.
The Stones were also at the top of their game in the mid- to late-60s, and Hot Rocks is a wonderful document of those years. The 2-CD set spans the long and unparalleled career of the Brit band, from the early, bluesy “Time Is On My Side” through to Sticky Fingers’ “Brown Sugar” and “Wild Horses.” Not only a great intro for new Stones fans, but a nostalgic journey back in time for the rest of us.
The title says it all — this is truly the cream of Clapton! The 19-track disc covers Clapton’s defining years with Cream, Blind Faith and Derek And The Dominos, then picks up with the best of his solo career through 1981. As one reviewer states, “If you have room in your collection for just one Clapton album, this should be it.” The only downside is a lack of Yardbirds or Bluesbreakers material.
Released in 1993 for the band’s 25th anniversary, this is a great place for a novice to discover the magic that is Tull! Along with the standards (”Aqualung,” “Locomotive Breath,” “Teacher,” “Thick As A Brick,” and “Cross-Eyed Mary”), we’re treated to the lesser-known gems (”Bouree,” “The Whistler,” “Too Old To Rock & Roll” and “Kissing Willie”), and many other incredible album cuts.
Anthology: Through The Years chronologically covers Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers from their first album in 1976 through the present. The 2-CD, 34-track set includes all the classic Petty tunes, plus “Surrender,” an exclusive, never-before-released song Petty wrote in the 70s. You won’t find a more consistently pleasant album than this one — there’s not a bad song in the bunch!
Dark Horse, of course, refers to Harrison’s own label, formed about a half decade after the Beatles’ demise. This is an absolute must for any classic rock fan, even if only for “All Those Years Ago,” “Crackerbox Palace,” “When We Was Fab” and, from the Lethal Weapon II soundtrack, “Cheer Down.” The CD also contains a bonus track “Here Comes The Moon,” previously unavailable on the vinyl version.
Why these guys still aren’t in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame remains a mystery. One listen to their greatest hits (although we all know that any band’s best are the songs that weren’t released as singles) will have you scratching your head as well. “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “Undun,” “No Time,” “American Woman,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” “Share The Land”… need we say more?
Maybe it’s just impossible to fit the Who’s best into a 20-song compilation. Or maybe the record company is trying to milk the band’s almost 40-year career for all it’s worth. But as Who retrospectives go, this is one of the better ones. Inclusion of “The Seeker” and “5:15″ almost make up for glaring omissions (”Behind Blue Eyes,” “I’m Free,” “Bargain” and “The Kids Are Alright”). Almost.
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