The Essentials [Original recording remastered]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
2002 compilation featuring 12 remastered tracks, 'I Just Want to Make Love to You', 'What a Shame', 'Slow Ride', 'Fool for the City', 'Drivin' Wheel', 'I'll Be Standing By', 'I Just Want to Make Love to You' (live), 'Stone Blue', 'Third Time Lucky (First Time I Was a Fool)', 'Stranger in My Home Town', 'Maybellene' & 'Take Me to the River'.

Tracks:

Taxi
Sunday Morning Sunshine
W.O.L.D.
Cat's In The Cradle
I Wanna Learn A Love Song
Better Place To Be
Dreams Go By
Sniper
30,000 Pounds Of Bananas (Live)
Dance Band Of The Titanic
Sequel
Remember When The Music - Reprise

Album Description

Includes #1's 'Cat's In The Cradle', 'Taxi', I Wanna Learn A Love Song', 'Sequel' and 7 more musical vignettes of life and love, despair and hope in modern America. Digitally remastered. Elektra. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Not quite pleased.......2007-03-18

I thought the cd was going to be studio versions of the songs. Instead it is live versions that do not sound well. You can barely hear Chapin sing. Not quite pleased with this purchase.

A Storyteller's Dozen.......2007-02-07

The late Harry Chapin had few peers in the seventies. Like Jim Croce and Harry Nilsson, Chapin was a troubadour in the storyteller's tradition. At his best, he spun tales of folksy everymen gone down on their luck ("Taxi" and "WOLD"). He could also go all out cinematic, like the 10-plus minutes of "Sniper," which could be one of the weirdest songs ever recorded by a so-called folk artist. (And one of the most disturbing I-hate-my-parents howls this side of The Door's "The End.")

But he also had a sanctimonious streak that could turn downright corny (his biggest hit, "Cat's In The Cradle") or treacley at its worst - the pointless "Sequel." But Chapin was - like many storytellers - best experienced live. I got to see him play one of his many benefit shows, at Susquehanna University in 1980. The crowd heartily joined in for "30,000 Pounds Of Bananas," which is presented here live, as it should be.

Chapin's baritone voice barrels out atop the songs, richly expressive for every song here. Like Jim Croce, Chapin's voice was instantly recognizable and his writing style very much of his own personality. He drew from both folk and tin-pan-alley, with songs like "Remember When The Music" and sentimental fare like "Dreams Go By" being the stuff of stage musicals.

I am not the huge fan here that some claim to be, so I think this is all the Harry Chapin I - a casual listener - would need. The only song I really see as missing is "Circles," but for the budget price, I can live with that omission. Worth it for the 72 minutes of music; for a change, one of the "Essentials" discs in the Rhino series that lives up to its name.

In the High School English Book!.......2007-01-13

I teach and the kids read the poetry book and NEVER heard of Harry.
iPODS surrounded me.............

It's What's Missing.......2006-10-03

Minus two stars for not including Harry's two best storytelling gems: 30,000 Pounds of Bananas & Six String Orchestra. Some gold is on the surface. Some gold is buried, and sadly overlooked.

Top Notch.......2006-09-23

Brings back so many memories from the 70's. My friend had tickets for the concert the night he died, and still has them.

Average customer rating:

Boring, painfully vapid
Best song writer around
Lots of music
Shows the imagination and skill of a masterful singer/songwriter
Essentially Ellis

Essentials
Ellis Paul
Manufacturer: Philo / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Writing in the Margins
American Jukebox Fables
Over the Hills
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ASIN: B000ICLSTM
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Tracks:

Take Me Down
Eighteen
Paris In A Day
Home
If She's The One
Take All The Sky You Need
Maria's Beautiful Mess
The Only Way
Conversation With A Ghost
The World Ain't Slowin' Down
Angel In Manhattan
If You Break Down
Words
Snow In Austin Intro
Snow In Austin
Did Galileo Pray?
Jukebox On My Grave

Tracks:

Sweet Mistakes
3,000 Miles
Blacktop Train
Seventeen Septembers
Autobiography Of A Pistol
The Martyr's Lounge
Midnight Strikes Too Soon
Alice's Champagne Palace
Roll Away Bed
All Things Being The Same
Deliver Me
Welcome Home To Maine
She Loves A Girl
She Was
The Speed Of Trees
God's Promise Intro
God's Promise

Customer Reviews:

Boring, painfully vapid.......2007-06-17

Ok, I'm not a fan. I bought this CD because I like folk music, and the song "The World Ain't Slowin Down". The music on this album is fine, but the lyrics are so consistently vapid that I was disgusted that he dares mention Woodie Guthrie as his inspiration. Woodie sung about things going on, events of the past and hopes for the future. Woodie sang with social conscience and relevance. This guy sings like if he's scrawling on a bathroom wall--and has NOTHING to say. Granted 90+% of singers/songs do the same, and nobody seems to notice any lack, so my complaint is from the minority, but there you have it. (As a final insult, the last track moans and whines and destroys a song written by Woodie)

I listened to every song. I hated this CD, I'm selling it immediately, and I demand my two hours back!

Best song writer around.......2007-03-14

Ellis Paul is far and away the best modern song writer. Just close your eyes and see the stories unfold; from climbing the water tower to floating down fifth avenue in a taxi with an angel at your side. And that voice! There aren't many like him anymore. He is truly a classic. Not like that commercial garbage all over the radio nowadays. If you like Ellis give Martin Sexton a listen. Marty also is tops when it comes to song writing. Another Boston folk singer. Good stuff.

Lots of music.......2007-01-09

Paul uses a unique style to give a wide variety of music. Very enjoyable. A good change of pace from the copy-cat tmes we're in right now.

Shows the imagination and skill of a masterful singer/songwriter.......2006-12-22

Playing Time - 1:16:46 (CD#1), 1:07:30 (CD#2)-- Wow, what a body of material to get an historical overview of Ellis Paul' songwriting for the past twenty years. He has many many kinds of songs over the years - folk, love, pop, story, rock, and even novelty songs. This 2-CD set with nearly two and one-half hours of music deserves close listening and analysis of melodies, lyrics, messages, and arrangements. He's worked with seven producers over the years and many more musicians.

Paul attributes "Conversation With A Ghost" (released in 1992) as the first song that brought people out to the clubs of Boston to hear him play. Folksinger Bill Morrissey was producing his music back then. Most recently in 2006, his "American Jukebox Fables" album was produced by Flynn, and there are several cuts from that project on this compilation. There is some previously unreleased material on "Essentials" too, including some live material from some 2006 shows in Mass. and Maine. Reviewing this project a week before Christmas, I especially enjoyed "Snow in Austin," a Texas Christmas song. Another unreleased song was an attention-grabber entitled "Welcome Home To Maine," a writing assignment about his birthplace and its features for the Maine Governor. John Jennings produced some of the newest material for "Essentials" with The Best of Band that included Paul and Jennings, along with J. T. Brown, Dave Mattacks, Don Conoscenti, and Rachel Davis contributing background vocals on one cut.

From the stock of Maine potato farmers, Ellis Paul moved to Boston, studied music, connected with the roots of the folk genre, then proceeded to develop a signature singer/songwriter sound that now incorporates pop, rock and contemporary sensibilities. Ellis Paul's wise perceptiveness and charisma have built him a strong fan base. He's also a hardworking, resilient touring artist who has garnered numerous awards for ten album releases and music, some of which has been featured in soundtracks for the films, Shallow Hal and Me, Myself, & Irene.

Ellis' voice has much character, and his songs understand the bond between land, life, heart and soul. Most are slower to moderate tempo'ed, and Ellis does particular well creating an intimate and familiar feeling with some songs. Keyboards and percussion provide the primary instrumental excitement that serve to increase the emotional impact of his later material. I would've enjoyed more vocal harmony in his arrangements.

Ellis possesses all the fundamental elements for success as a singer/songwriter. His messages are profound, and they make us think. For example, "Home" (from the American Jukebox Fables album) is a lover's tribute with the "house being just an address, you're my home." "Jukebox on my Grave" leaves us with his simple wish to mark the music man's ultimate resting place. His influences are many -- Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Marvin Gaye, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Rolling Stones, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, Patty Griffin and others. Interesting that "Essentials" tips his hat to Woody Guthrie tribute artists and even Woody himself "in a sense." Ellis Paul's imagination and skill are both polished and fanciful all in one. He a masterful singer/songwriter. (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)

Essentially Ellis.......2006-11-21

Ellis Paul is the best singer songwriter to come along in years & he just keeps getting better.
His Essentials cd is the perfect way for a new fan to get aquainted & a long standing fan to get lost in Ellis memories as well as connecting to a few new songs.
The songs were chosen with care & love I am sure & made me go back into my Ellis collection & pull out some of my less played Ellis cd's to rediscover their magic as well.
This two cd set is a wonderful look at Ellis' career. I especially like the second cd with a beautiful live performance of She Was, a haunting Ellis song. As well as God's Promise, the Woody Guthrie piece that Ellis supplied the music for. And a new favorite Welcome Home To Maine.
If you only buy one cd this holiday season, this should be it.

Average customer rating:

Great C.D.
Matchless inventiveness; a near-perfect blending of sound
Essential? Yes! Comprehensive? No!
Why not include the full

The Essentials
Tommy James & the Shondells
Manufacturer: Rhino
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Bubblegum | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

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Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
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The Essentials
The Grass Roots - All Time Greatest Hits
Happy Together: The Very Best of The Turtles
The Very Best of the Rascals
Hollies - Hollies Greatest Hits

ASIN: B0000630Z9
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Hanky Panky
Say I Am (What I Am)
I Think We're Alone Now
Mirage
Gettin' Together
Mony Mony
Crimson and Clover
Sweet Cherry Wine
Crystal Blue Persuasion
Ball of Fire
She
Draggin' The Line

Album Description

2002 compilation featuring 12 remastered tracks, 'Hanky Panky', 'Say I Am (What I Am)', 'I Think We're Alone Now', 'Mirage', 'Gettin' Together', 'Mony Mony', 'Crimson & Clover', 'Sweet Cherry Wine', 'Crystal Blue Persuasion', 'Ball of Fire', 'She' & 'Draggin' the Line'.

Customer Reviews:

Great C.D........2004-02-22

Exellent sound quality. Buy ths C.d. It's the only new Rhino C.D. and the C.D.s on the other labels either are missing a version and or are different versions.

Matchless inventiveness; a near-perfect blending of sound.......2003-09-26

This is one amazing band as far as their ability to reinvent themselves on every release of a single - kind of the way the Doors did on every song of their 'Strange Days' album, though of course in a very different way.

They started out with the lanky, strongly original proto-garage tune "Hanky Panky" - at about the same time the Young Rascals launched their smoky, similarly styled "I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore". [Gritty, intensely moving and sonically astounding as it was, the (Young) Rascals' song crashed and burned on the charts, though not in the minds of forward-looking listeners. But they tamed their sound a bit on "Good Lovin'", went straight to the top, and stayed there for several years.]

The Shondells' (as they were announced by DJs at the beginning of their equally long run) had a second hit with "Say I Am" - which didn't grab me during its short tenure on the charts (I later realized my mistake). This one is amazingly inventive in terms of melody and vocal delivery; and with those jazzy riffs/rhythms that accompany the lyrics, the song moves through its paces relentlessly, confidently buoyant throughout.

"I Think We're Alone now" was the obvious follow-up to the Turtles' "Happy Together". [This is especially true since the Turtles' own next effort "She'd Rather Be With Me", was such inferior product - a very bad-sounding song possessing none of the gorgeous guitar playing of their short-lived folk-rock phase - early in their career the Turtles were among the best in the world.]

"I Think We're Alone Now" tugged at the heartstrings and told a very familiar story in a novel musical fashion - its pop-rock sonic pallet was colorfully descriptive - its arrangement was rich but uncrowded. In "Mirage", their follow-up in a similar vein, Tommy's vocal (during verses, not choruses/bridges) added a twinge of the jazzy R &B influences the band was [secretly?] absorbing, eventually exploding full force into their music ("Crystal Blue Persuasion").

"Gettin' Together" I suppose was one of their rare mistakes; in bowing to the likes of Tommy Roe, Gary Lewis and other proto-bubblegum artists, they temporarily displaced themselves from the main thrust of their ongoing musical experiment/evolution. Sentimentality can be a creative force, but these two songs are obvious instances of poor songwriting and stylistic meltdown.

"Mony Mony" I hated this song, convinced at the time the group was going in a really bad direction, but later changed my mind, and give it almost a 4 out of 5. Even today people get really happy dancing to this one.

"Crimson and Clover" was called 'psychedelic' by one reviewer. Ouch! Sure it was squarely in the midst of that era, and fit in very well, but the average groovy hippie freak (myself included, at the time) didn't pay it much mind. On the other hand, slow dancing in high school and beyond was never greater than when this was playing. Still solidly rock, but with a lot of soul - it was maybe a forecast of Bob Seger on the far horizon - who knows? But this richly energetic outburst owed more to the Kingsmen than to Jefferson Airplane - a severely/serenely updated version of the Kingsmen nonetheless, like when they did their occasional ballad-like song.

"Sweet Cherry Wine" The way this begins in the middle of a phrase is formula-shattering (Motown was famous for launching into songs in this fashion, ditto Paul Revere and the Raiders). Gorgeous overall sound, gorgeous singing executed with extreme aplomb - even with such minimal melodic movement! Tommy sings his way into and all around the melodic contour - great lead singers know how to gently release and channel their overtones - he lets loose in a stunning manner here.

[Still decidedly "rock", but with some kind of almost unexpressed R &B flavor moving/flowing underneath/inside it.]

With the song "Crystal Blue Persuasion" Tommy James and the Shondells completed their temporary transition into the royal echelon of blue-eyed soul, taking their place amongst earlier-arrived luminaries such as the Righteous Brothers, the Rascals, and dare we say it - the Fifth Dimension. We hear horns - and a gloriously reedy, buttery combo organ for the first time - the musical arrangement is full to the brim, and tasty to the core. The songwriting is emotionally appealing, inventive to a fault - this song is both musically and poetically priceless!

Pop songs, appealing as so many seem to be, are rarely so powerful, memorable, enlivening, and even "healing" - as is this collection of gems.

Essential? Yes! Comprehensive? No!.......2002-08-09

This is a concise, if not thorough, collection. All the big hits are here. In fact, only three of the Shondells Top 40 hits ("It's Only Love," "I Like the Way" and "Do Something To Me") are missing. In addition you get James' lone solo Top 10 hit "Draggin' the Line." [Footnote: James was still only 24 when "Draggin the Line" was a hit--he was only 16 when he first recorded his biggest single "Hanky Panky"!] Like other Essentials releases, Rhino has simply taken an earlier compilation (in this case 1990's 27-track Anthology) and repackaged the material. This is only an improvement if you want nothing but the big radio hits--and they're all here, but at 35 minutes my only complaint is that the lesser hits weren't also included.

Why not include the full.......2002-06-06

As with most other Rhino comps, this one also includes the edited version of "Crimson & Clover." If the full version were included, this would be a 5-star review, because all the other tracks I would consider "essential" are there. And the remastered sound is great--truly an improvement over previous releases.

Average customer rating:

A cd worthy of 5 stars
"beautiful tones is music-to-the-ears via Hamilton"
Great for creating a romantic mood!
This cd should be titled the "Best Of Scott Hamilton"
The true ballad album.

Ballad Essentials
Scott Hamilton
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00004NRVM
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Skylark
Everything Happens To Me
My Foolish Heart
That's All
In A Sentimental Mood
I Should Care
Body And Soul
'Round Midnight
My Romance
Stardust
I'll Be Around
Tonight I Shall Sleep With A Smile On My Face

Amazon.com

The musical line leading up to tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton is not confusing. He wears his influences on his sleeve. You hear Lester Young's phrasing, Ben Webster's languid tone, and more than a dash of Zoot Sims's overall presentation. And while 1989's Scott Hamilton Plays Ballads is a gorgeous showing off of these influences, Ballad Essentials is a magnificent overview of his smoldering command of the genre. There's a pair of tracks from Plays Ballads ("In a Sentimental Mood" played as limber, late-night swing and "Round Midnight" given a robust, big-hearted embrace) and a pair from With Strings. The other eight pieces come from all over Hamilton's catalog, and describing any particular tune would tax the vocabulary--"aching" and "tender" have only so many synonyms. Hamilton's sense of swing is easy to love, as is his brawny tone--even when it slips into whispering mode. Ballad Essentials is meant as a themed collection, and it not only succeeds as such, it also serves as a primer for Hamilton's whole output. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews:

A cd worthy of 5 stars.......2001-12-28

I shall not waste your valuable time with an analysis of this cd. Other reviews exist with which I am in agreement and these reviews detail the merits of Hamilton's work with far more eloquence than I could achieve.

Ballad Essentials is a wonderful and marvelous cd. Hamilton's saxaphone is smooth and flowing. The songs are basically romantic. This cd is ideal for a romantic and/or relaxing evening. One of the best Jazz cd's I have ever heard for such occasions. Highly do I recommend Scott Hamilton's Ballad Essentials.

"beautiful tones is music-to-the-ears via Hamilton".......2001-01-28

This talented artist began playing at the age 16 and developed quickly, moved to New York in 1976. Played with Benny Goodman in the late '70s, also with such greats as Warren Vache, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney and the Concord-Jazz All-Stars, recording a long string of performances for Concord that are not able for their consistency of outstanding jazz.

Scott Hamilton has appeared on more than 60 Concord releases during the past 22 years, a master of the swing, butmore not able are his beautiful tones which appear on these dozen collections from - "Scott Hamilton Is A Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill" (CCD-4042)(1977), "Scott Hamilton 2" (CCD4061)(1978), "Tenorshoes" (CCD-4127)(1979), "The Right Time" (CCD-4311)(1986), "Scott Hamilton Plays The Ballads" (CCD-4386)(1989), "Radio City"(CCD-4428)(1990), "Scott Hamilton With Strings"(CCD-4538)(1992), "East Of The Sun" (CCD-4583)(1993) and"My Romance" (CCD-4710)(1995), is just the tip of the iceberg.

Of course there are stand outs - "MY FOOLISHHEART" the classic Ned Washington and Victor Young composition performed by Alan Broadbent (piano, musical director, arranger andconductor) and a trans-fixing solo by Hamilton, you just want it to go on and on..."IN A SENTIMENTAL MOOD" smooth and haunting Duke Ellington tune, Scott makes this one his own, you find yourself drifting in a musical journey with just a peaceful existence.

But the highlight is - "TONIGHT I SHALL SLEEP WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE" another Ellington tune, shades of the Jackie Gleason presents arrangements from "Music For Lovers Only", only this time we have Scott Hamilton to put the icing on the cake.Concord once again shares the warmth and wonderful moments from their vaults of never-to-be-forgotten classic sounds of JAZZ!

TotalTime: 58:36 on 12 Tracks...Concord Jazz CCD-4885...(2000)

Great for creating a romantic mood!.......2000-12-09

This CD will definitely put you in a mellow mood. It is very relaxing throughout each track. All of the songs are slow and smooth. You don't listen to two or three slow songs and then suddenly a fast upbeat song that catches you off guard. It's great to curl up to with a cup of hot chocolate or glass of your favorite wine and the one you love.

This cd should be titled the "Best Of Scott Hamilton".......2000-11-28

What a thrill it was for me to buy this cd. It has 12 tracks on it from 12 different cd projects. It re-opened my eyes to what Scott had available of his music. I am sure I will want to order more products by him based on this cd.

On this cd Scott plays nothing but pure ballads. This is my favorite kind of song. I can't seem to get enough of this romantic music. For the most part I liked what Scott did with this project. However, I did hear a few songs that I didn't paticulary like. All in all, I liked this cd and hope others will feel like wise.

The true ballad album........2000-06-01

This is my first Scott Hamilton Cd.I didn't know much about this guy until I heard him in a music store.Wow!he is a real gentleman who play great ballads.He got the warmest and most beautiful subtones that anyone can get.His tone is full of lust and romance.Listen with care...exquisite harmonies keep pouring out from his sax.Watch out for , a song fills with bittersweetness.I rate this 5 stars because this is the best ballad album I have ever heard.The notes that came out from his sax may not be as complex as Henderson or Coltrane's,but every note he played is very essential to Jazz ballads.With this album,you don't even need a lover to spent a perfect valentine's day.Enjoy it at solitude moments with a glass of red wine would make a perfect moment.I highly recommend this album to people who love REAL MUSIC.Trust me,this one is unlike many other ballad albums out there...Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Ratt - 'The Essentials' (Warner)
Waste of manufacturing time...
Ratt 'n' Roll Never Sounded So Good!
Decent Overview, but...
The sound quality will blow you away!

The Essentials
Ratt
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Detonator
Mass Slaughter: The Best of Slaughter
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Out of the Cellar

ASIN: B00006BTAM
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Round And Round
Back For More
Wanted Man
Lay It Down
You're In Love
Dance
Way Cool Jr.
Lovin' You's A Dirty Job
Givin' Yourself Away
Body Talk
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
One Step Away

Album Description

The 80's hard rockers storm out of the cellar and into your stereo with blazing guitars and pounding rhythms like 'Round & Round', 'Lay It Down', 'Wanted Man' & 10 more. Digitally remastered. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Ratt - 'The Essentials' (Warner).......2005-12-25

The title notes these are the 'Original Master Recordings'.Are they sure about that?Quality seems to be a bit lacking here.Don't get me wrong,if you liked Ratt in their prime like I did,this twelve track compilation shouldn't let you down too hard.We get four tunes from each of Ratt's first three albums.Personally,I haven't heard "Dance","Way Cool Jr." or "Heads I Win,Tails You Lose" in sometime now.Pretty much aimed at Ratt completists.

Waste of manufacturing time..........2003-10-16

First of all, I have to give this collection at least 2 stars because it is RATT after all and there are some great tunes here. But in general, the Essentials series sucks. They try to put the big over-played radio tunes and leave out killer album cuts and fan favourites. They only have two tracks from Dancing Unvercover, my favourite Ratt release. The material from Detonator is the slow ballad crap and not the really high energy stuff. What a disappointment. Do yourself a favor and buy Dancing Undercover. If you still don't like Ratt after listening to that album, you never will.

Ratt 'n' Roll Never Sounded So Good!.......2003-07-22

This album was released by Warner Strategic records as the first comprehensive Ratt "greatest hits" release since the 1991 release of Ratt 'n' Roll. To me, it was about time a release was made with remasteerd audio. But, it is a travesty that the release was promoted by no one. The cover art is not even available on the Amazon site, which tends to be the sign of a not very well promoted release.

So, lets review the album. The material on the album is well chosen. Most of the tracks, however, appear on Ratt 'n' Roll. Ratt 'n' Roll also features far more tracks than the Essentials does. But, having both, I must say that the audio quality of Essentials far exceeds that of Ratt 'n' Roll. But, Ratt 'n' Roll isn't exactly a production nightmare either.

So, what should you do? Well, one thing you shouldn't do is complain that another best of album was released. One of my many pet peeves is reading reviews by both paid record reviewers and fans saying that an album was bad because it was "just another" or a "pointless" greatest hits release. Greatest hits releases are for fans that are going to see a band in concert and want to get to know the songs they probably will hear or for casual fans that don't want to buy 10 albums to get the select few tracks they will listen to regardless. Personally, I own all Ratt's albums. I still buy greatest hits because to me it is a lot easier carrying a travel bag with 20 greatest hits recordings in the bag rather than 200 CD's to get the songs I want to hear with me. So, stop complaining.

My advice is simple. If you are looking for great music in today's audio quality, Essentials is for you. If you want to get the best compilation of Ratt material, buy Ratt 'n' Roll. If you just want to complain about greatest hits albums, buy all Ratt's albums. There's not a bad one in the bunch!

Decent Overview, but..........2003-05-03

I'm not sure which release the other reviewer was listening to when he said "the sound quality will blow you away". I have Ratt and Roll 8191 and the only major difference I find is the recording level is higher on THE ESSENTIALS release. There is still an audible distortion crackle after the first note of BACK FOR MORE. This should have been cleaned up if it had been remastered properly.

I am not happy about the way The record companies slap on a digitally remastered label and call it good, without really spending much time making the recording sound cleaner with less errors.

I believe the CLASSIC MASTERS series from Capitol Records outshines the ESSENTIALS series hands down.

The sound quality will blow you away!.......2003-01-30

Unlike many other reviewers, I actually like a lot of these 12-track Essentials compilations. Unlike some of the Millennium Collection discs (how can you possibly capture the essence of Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart or Chuck Berry in 11 or 12 measly tracks) the Essentials discs tend to represent artists who didn't exactly take the world by storm. In the case of Ratt, who needs more than 12 tracks?

I have owned the Ratt & Roll 81-91 compilation for many years, but I am definitely selling it now that I have this Essentials collection. The difference in the sound quality is astounding! The remastering process has brought new life to these songs. I was blasting this disc in my car the other day, and I couldn't believe that some of these tracks ("Round And Round", "Back For More", "Wanted Man") are almost 20 years old! They sound incredible.

In some cases, I agree with the other reviewer that more tracks are better than slightly improved sound. However, in this case, the improvement in sound quality is anything but slight. And, of the 7 tracks you are losing from the Ratt & Roll 81-91 disc, the only ones worth caring about are "Lack Of Communication" and "I Want A Woman". The others ("Tell The World", "You Think You're Tough", "Slip Of The Lip", "Shame Shame Shame" and "Nobody Rides For Free") are mediocre at best, and are really no big loss.

Tracks:

Take The L Train (To Brooklyn)
The Creator Has A Master Plan
The Revolution Was Postponed Because Of Rain
Bob Hop
Brooklyn Recycles
Mizz Bed-Stuy
A Headnaddas Journey To The Planet Adidi-Skizm
Big Apple Boogaloo
Blow Your Brains Out
Stickman Crossing The Brooklyn Bridge
Dilly Dally
Take The L Train (To 8th Ave.)

Customer Reviews:

A Funky Journey And Then Some.......2006-07-21

Cool and Steady and Easy is a masterpiece. It is a masterpiece of funk done right. As always, the Brooklyn Funk Essentials are grooving and are as funky as they wanna be and then some. This cd proves it!
Providing a real smooth ride from start to finish without any detours, every song on this disc is kickin'.
Personally I was hooked on the first listen. I am extremely pleased to have this music as a part of my collection/library.
If you enjoy a righteous mix of funk, jazz, acid-jazz, R & B, hip-hop, and reggae with a dash of salsa, then get this cd. Put the player on repeat, and take the journey! You will certainly enjoy the ride.
5 stars and then some!

Funk-a-licious.......2004-12-02

An absolute must for fans of funk and jazz fusion. The album melds together R&B, jazz, salsa and rap - with the tracks laid against the sounds of urban life - for a deliciously funky package. Highly recommend to those who enjoy Liquid Soul and The Brand New Heavies - of this genre, this is my personal favorite!

Brooklyn Funk Essentials Rule!.......2004-11-27

Hey, let me just say this, if you haven't purchased this CD yet just go on and put it in your shopping cart right now!!! BFE's "Cool and Steady and Easy" CD hands the listener an eclectic offering of a acid-jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop mixture that totally succeeds and it is no doubt as you listen to each track that these folks had nothing but absolute fun putting this CD together! It sounds that good!!!

First introduced to BFE's funky, hard driving music-style while frantically driving a friend to the airport and in the frenzy of almost missing her flight, I later found myself the proud new owner of one of the best mixtures of acid-jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop influenced music that ever hit my ears!

Totally danceable, every track will get your feet moving; trust me, its totally impossible and absolutely irresistible trying to remain seated and simply listen to this jazz-funk-soul-hip/hop offering! If this CD doesn't find a permanent place in your CD player . . . well, I can't find the words right now except that it should, so what are you waiting for, click this CD into your shopping cart and dance, dance, dance and enjoy the music! Oh, and don't worry, I couldn't totally dis' my friend, besides, she missed this CD immediately once she settled in so I brought her a new copy!

the most played disc I've ever bought.......2003-02-10

I completely agree w/ the other reviewers kudos for BFE and this CD. I also bought it on a whim while living in NYC and looking to broaden my musical horizons. It's f-ing brilliant and never fails to put me in a great mood. Musically, it's inventive, smart, well-written, well-produced. It's THE BEST cd for background music at a party as well. People always inquire about it...

Pretty much an all around good mix..........2003-01-20

This cd has pretty much an all around good mix... My fave was the slow groovin' "Take the L Train"... I definitely would recommend it and check them out more in depth (like I'm going to do)...

Average customer rating:

Finally, a sensible "Greatest Hits" from the Association

The Essentials
The Association
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Soft Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
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The Essentials
The Essentials
Young Girl: The Best of Gary Puckett and the Union
Very Best of Herman's Hermits
Hollies - Hollies Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00006JOF8
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Along Comes Mary
Enter The Young
Cherish
Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies
No Fair At All
Windy
Never My Love
Everything That Touches You
Like Always
Time For Livin'
Goodbye Columbus
Six Man Band

Album Description

Formed in L.A. in '65 by six multi-instrumentalists who blended pop, rock and folk with gorgeous vocal harmonies on chart-topping RIAA gold hits like 'Cherish', 'Windy' and 'Never My Love', included here with 'Along Comes Mary', 'Everything That Touches You' and 7 more essentials. Remastered. Warner. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Finally, a sensible "Greatest Hits" from the Association.......2004-12-08

Strangely enough, despite being one of the quintessential "few hit wonder with good deeper catalog" acts of the 1960s, The Association have had precious few, single-disc "Greatest Hits" comps in their favor. The Warner Brothers "The Association's Greatest Hits" disc missed several singles for album tracks from "Birthday," while most other compilations used re-recordings of the original tracks; the Japanese got a great, 20 track disc, but at the usual import prices.

With "The Essentials," Rhino finally fills this niche once and for all. As far as I can see, all of the major tracks are here: Never My Love, Along Comes Mary, Cherish, and Windy are the four big radio tracks, while Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies (a GREAT song, bizarrely missing from the earlier, WB disc), Goodbye Columbus, and No Fair at All round out the slew of minor hits. "Enter the Young" is the far-superior take from the first album, and "Six Man Band" is an excellent Greatest-Hits-only bonus. Some tracks are missing in action from the Warner Brothers disc, but few should miss the "why-was-it-there?" We Love Us.

Quibbles? I'm still perplexed by the inclusion of the twee "Time for Living" ("The Time It Is Today" is a better song, and is one of the few original-GH tracks that deserved to be ported over), and I wish Rhino had seen fit to include some of the tracks from their oft-overlooked--but excellent--self-titled 1969 album. These are minor issues, though.

Verdict: If you're looking for an inexpensive, single-disc original-recordings "Greatest Hits" collection from The Association that's more comprehensive (if more concise) than the ancient, poor-sounding Warner Brothers disc...finally, someone saw fit to provide! Grab it without remorse.

Average customer rating:

Get the two CDs they put out instead
Seriously just buy the other two disks
If You Own....
Better than I thought
Save yourself some money and buy this CD!!!

The Essentials
Damn Yankees
Manufacturer: Wea International
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Glam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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Hallucination
Damn Yankees

ASIN: B0000630Y8
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

High Enough
Coming Of Age
Where You Goin' Now
Don't Tread On Me
Come Again
Fifteen Minutes Of Fame
Mister Please
Bad Reputation
Piledriver
Damn Yankees
Runaway
Silence Is Broken

Album Description

Guitar great Ted Nugent, Styx alumnus Tommy Shaw, and Night Ranger's Jack Blades joined with drummer Michael Cartellone to from this early 90's super-group. Their slick harmonies and guitar power shone through on hits like 'Coming Of Age' and the power balled 'High Enough'. Digitally remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Get the two CDs they put out instead.......2005-12-23

Damn Yankees did two great CDs in 1990 and '92. It seems to have done something for Tommy Shaw's songwriting...unlike one other reviewer seems to think, Styx has grown into an honest to God ROCK AND ROLL band ande Dennis DeYoung is touring with a full-blown symphony orchestra (not to take anything away from his considerable talent, they just didn't want to be playing "Babe" the rest of their careers, and Lawrence Gowan seems to have injected some adrenaline there...and they all get along, more than you could say seven years ago). This is a good starter kit...but you're best off just getting the two CDs and finding the soundtracks to Nothing But Trouble and Encino Man for the songs "Bonestripper" and "You're Invited But Your Friend Can't Come" (essentially Vince Neil singing with Damn Yankees backing him). That's everything that's been released aside from a live video "Uprising"...go looking and enjoy!

PS: They saved the best track for last..."Silence is Broken" is a very powerful song that will bring chills to anyone that's ever been in any kind of abusive relationship, and needs the courage to stand up and say "enough"...one of Tommy Shaw's finest pieces of work, intense and emotional and has plenty to say. That alone is worth the price of admission!

Seriously just buy the other two disks.......2005-11-03

Great stuff, but come on they only had two disks. Just get them both for Pete's sake. To act like this is all you need as some reviewers state makes me wonder how you'll love all of these songs and still wake up feeling good in the morning knowing that you are missing awesome rockers like Uprising, Rock City USA, and Livin This Side of Hell.

If You Own...........2004-08-06

If you already own "Damn Yankees", and "Don't Tread" CD's, there is no need to buy this "Best Of" release. If you don't own either of the CD's, this has all the songs you will need. It would have been nice, (in this compilation), if there was something new that didn't make it to either original CD's. That is why I'm only giving this CD, 3 stars. To bad Ted, Tommy, Jack & Michael didn't give us another release. If or when they ever do, crank up this or either of the only 2 original CD's, and enjoy true American musicians, doing what they do best...playing good solid kick ass rock & roll!

Better than I thought.......2004-01-25

I would consider myself a "radio" Damn Yankees fan, having only heard their radio hits like, "Don't Tread on Me," and, "High Enough." After hearing this Essentials CD though, I see that there's more than meet's the ear. The only song on here that I can't seem to get into is, "Come Again," but all the others are real rockers for me. From the milder, "Silent is Broken," to the fast and heavy, "Piledriver," this CD never stops! The guitars, vocals, bass, and drums, all rock. I tend to give conservative ratings, so that's why I gave this a 4 out of 5 stars, but otherwise, I would highly recommend it for any other "radio" fans like myself.

Save yourself some money and buy this CD!!!.......2003-05-27

I must say...instead of buying both Damn Yankees CDs...save yourself some $$$$ and buy this compilation instead....all of their best are here..High Enough, Come Again, Where you goin now, Runaway, etc. I definitely recommend this for any "Yankees" fan!!!

Average customer rating:

One of the Best Old School Collections There Is

Average White Band - The Essentials
The Average White Band
Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music

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Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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The Very Best of Rufus Featuring Chaka Khan
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ASIN: B00006310E
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Tracks:

Pick Up The Pieces
Cut The Cake
If I Ever Lose This Heaven
School Boy Crush
Queen Of My Soul
Walk On By
Got The Love
Soul Searching
A Love Of Your Own
Cloudy
Work To Do
Person To Person

Album Description

12 remastered tracks including 'Pick Up The Pieces', 'Cut The Cake', 'Walk On By' & 'Person To Person'. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

One of the Best Old School Collections There Is.......2006-10-14

AWB is one of the best R&B collections there is. I especially like the diverse background of this group, which makes them great. Should have been called AAWB(Above Average White Band)!

Average customer rating:

Another amazing metal god album!

Metal God Essentials, Vol. 1
Halford
Manufacturer: Koch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000R9R4RQ
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Customer Reviews:

Another amazing metal god album!.......2007-07-18

Rob Halford dishes out another metal attack, great songs plus two new rockin tracks and some remastered re-done goodies from fight. amazing essientials package. Plus!! a bonus dvd full of Halford Videos! Can't wait for Halford IV and the new Priest album!

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review