Classic Compilation
Classic Compilation: Nazareth – Greatest Hits
Nazareth Greatest Hits should be used as a strong case study in how to do a compilation right.
Classic Compilation: The Who – Meaty Beaty Big & Bouncy
The Who are an odd one for me. A few of their peers managed the same transition from being a “singles” group to an “albums” group, but for me the demarcation between the two phases of The Who’s career is notable, as prior to them going all in as an album focused act with their 1969 concept …
Classic Compilation: Talkings Heads – The Best of
Rhino have always had a reputation for putting together some damn fine compilations which work as ideal introductions to the bands in question. The Best of Faces – Good Boys … When They’re Asleep and Permanent Record: The Very Best of Violent Femmes have been much-needed single disc introductions to two bands that may otherwise have remained permanently …
Classic Compilation: John Cooper Clarke – The Very Best Of
Lydon, Shelley & Diggle, Strummer and Jones. They were the great punk poets weren’t they? The less cliched among us would cast the net further and point to the genius of Ian Dury, a superior lyricist in every way to his punk peers. And then there was John Cooper Clarke, not a lyricist, but a …
Classic Compilation: Barenaked Ladies – Disc One: All Their Greatest Hits (1991-2001)
Barenaked Ladies continue to get a bad rap, particularly here in the UK, where they are primarily known for their one hit wonder status courtesy of “One Week”, and the theme to love it / hate it mainstream comedy The Big Bang Theory. While admittedly knowing, arch, and just a bit too smart-arse, Barenaked Ladies …
Classic Compilation: Various Artists – Step Right Up: The Songs of Tom Waits
As an example of the Tribute Album sub-genre, it’s fair to say that Step Right Up is easily one of the best.
Classic Compilation: Various Artists – I’m Your Fan
The compilation album consisting of multiple acts recording a variety of songs penned by a single artist by way of tribute resulted in a series of releases which can be generously considered ‘patchy’. For every Step Right Up, or A Testimonial Dinner, two examples which actually worked, there were a dozen more ham-fisted attempts at …
Classic Compilation: Aerosmith – Big Ones
Aerosmith’s career is a strange one. During the 70s they came out of nowhere to establish themselves as America’s home-grown stadium fillers, take all the drugs and make minimum commercial impact outside of north America. As the decade closed they carelessly lost not just one, but both, of their guitar players, Brad Whitford and Joe …
Classic Compilation: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young – So Far
For years I shied away from the work of Crosby, Stills and Nash (both with and without Neil Young). There was something a little too soft and fluffy about them, and they seemed to embody the self-congratulatory happy-clappy West Coast vibe of millionaire rock stars totally out of touch with their audience. They were the …
Classic Compilation: Sam and Dave – The Best of Sam & Dave
Sam and Dave, while not regularly being the first name to spring to the lips of members of the general public when asked to name a great soul act, released as many classic soul tunes as anyone during soul’s golden period. From the brilliant “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (the picture-sleeve of which depicted them riding …