An American Album

Track Listings

1. Comes Autumn Time

2. When Dusk Gathers Deep

3. Madrigal

4. Manhattan Serenade

5. Embraceable You

6. Fanfare

7. Nocturnes, Book I

8. Mountain Music

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
There is a wonderful photo on the front cover of this new disc which perfectly sets the nostalgic mood: Congress Street, looking east, in Portland, Maine, c. 1920’s (looking surprisingly like Pearl Street of the same time in our hometown of Albany). As organist Harold Stover writes: "There was a time in America when technological progress was equated with mechanical complexity, when radio and talking movies still lay in the future, and when the recording industry was barely out of its infancy. In those days, pipe organs joined the great ocean liners and the mighty steam locomotives on the cutting edge of modernity and were a central component in the listening experience of the American public. They were found almost everywhere that music was a part of life: in churches, to be sure, but also in concert halls, theatres, school auditoriums, hotel ballrooms, mortuaries, sporting arenas, carousels, and the mansions and even the yachts of the well-to-do. They provided! a world of sound more varied than the commonplace parlor piano, more sensual at its softest, more awesome at its loudest. In an era when aspirations of personal advancement included cultural as well as material goals, the organ and the music played on it were benchmarks of social arrival in civic, ecclesiastical and domestic life." Harold Stover is a native of Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and a Juilliard graduate. He has appeared at Riverside Church in New York, Westminster Abbey in London and many other distinguished locales. He presently serves as Organist and Director of Music at Woodfords Congregational Church in Portland, Maine. He presents here a wonderful selection of old and new works (with his own compositions based on traditional forms) giving the organ enthusiast a chance to hear some familiar names and the means of meeting new ones. And thanks to the newest technology of CD, we get to relive the wonderful sounds of one of the organs of that bygone time.

Tracks:

Love ->
Building On Fire
Psycho Killer
Oh, Love Comes To Town
Take Me To The River
Found A Job
Life During Wartime
Heaven
Memories Can't Wait
Once In A Lifetime
Houses In Motion
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Girlfriend Is Better
Burning Down The House
Road To Nowhere
And She Was
Wild Wild Life
Blind
(Nothing But) Flowers

Album Description

Formed in NYC in the mid-'70s by David Byrne, Chris Franz, Tina Weymouth, and ex-Modern Lover Jerry Harrison, the Talking Heads evolved out of their now-legendary humble beginnings at CBGB's to become one of the most adventurous and influential bands ever. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the Heads' visionary, polyrhythmic sound daringly combined funk and punk, African beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop. From their 1977 debut through their Brian Eno-produced classics to their '88 farewell, Naked, they both pushed artistic boundaries and delivered indelible radio hits like "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House."

Customer Reviews:

CBGB.......2007-07-06

This collection is all a Talking Head fan (except the most devout fan) will ever need. 3/4s of the tunes are great, the rest are still good.

Exceptional best-of set.......2006-10-10

Of course you know all these songs, and of course there are many more great cuts deeper on the original albums, but for a single-disc review of a band with over 10 years' worth of releases, this 18-track set is hard to beat. The group went through several striking stylistic changes over its lifetime, but that variation actually helps this disc hold together as an album as well as a set of songs.

This would make a great introduction for a younger fan of the current crop of danceable art rock bands (Of Montreal, The Killers, Decemberists) or a casual fan looking to supplant an old LP collection.

A nice compilation of The Talking Heads.......2006-08-24

I've always liked The Talking Heads, they always had catchy songs that were fun to listen to. I must admit, my favorite of theirs has always been "Burning Down The House", but there are so many good songs on here, as well. The Talking Heads were one of the best bands of the 80's, that's when they had their best work. The 70's were ok, too, but their 80's work really shined. I'm quite happy with this.

Articulate Collection.......2006-08-17

Oddly, a compilation by Talking Heads should come out uneven and disjointed, but this collection is marvelously done. The songs meld well together and provide a sampler that wouldn't prevent anyone from buying their excellent original albums. ('Talking Heads '77,' 'Remain in Light,' and 'Speaking in Tongues' are their crowning achievements artistically, but 'Fear of Music,' 'More Songs About Buildings and Food,' and 'True Stories' demonstrate that they had a great repertoire. (Unlike, 'Sand in the Vaseline,' which is also excellent, but perhaps takes too many gems and doesn't align them as well.)

For the uninitiated, Talking Heads is one of the freshest and engaging progressive bands from the seventies and eighties. "Psycho Killer," "Once in a Lifetime," "Burning Down the House," and "Wild, Wild Life" all capture the inspired lunacy that dares to match the insanity of ordinary life. All of their albums are well represented. "Life During Wartime" represents them at their progressive best, but "And She Was" showcases their ethereal best.

In sum, 'Best of Talking Heads' provides a great mix and a thoughtful sampler without spoiling all of the fun.

Excellent Heads Compilation.......2006-04-03

Known as much for their quirky style as well as their enigmatic and creative music, Talking Heads were one of the most popular and successful bands of the late 1970s' and early 1980s'. Even today, almost 20 years after they broke up, they still have a large fanbase.

Personally speaking, I'm not the world's biggest Talking Heads fan. However, I've always liked what I heard from them, and I always wanted one of their cds in my collection. So when I found the single disc, 18 track collection "The Best Of Talking Heads", I snatched it up immediately.

This is by far the best collection for the Talking Heads novice. Pretty much all the Talking Heads essentials are here, including "Love - > Building On Fire", "Take Me To The River", "Life During Wartime", "Memories Can't Wait", "Once In A Lifetime" and "Burning Down The House" as well as many others. And every track sounds fantastic.

In addition, there is a wonderful booklet replete with great liner notes, including interviews with Talking Heads fans such as Moby and El P. It is also readily available and affordabe. I highly recommend it.

Average customer rating:

Tom Petty, not his most engaging....
Sounds so comfortable and familiar, that you almost miss the real master stroke....
A discovery
More great work from a master craftsman
Good Title

Highway Companion
Tom Petty
Manufacturer: American
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Southern Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

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

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Modern Times
All the Roadrunning
The Road to Escondido
Surprise
Living With War

ASIN: B000FP2O2C
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

Saving Grace
Square One
Flirting With Time
Down South
Jack
Turn This Car Around
Big Weekend
Night Driver
Damaged By Love
This Old Town
Ankle Deep
The Golden Rose

Amazon.com

Four years after he took Elvis Costello's advice and bit the music/radio biz hands that have simultaneously fed and frustrated him for decades on the scabrous The Last DJ, Tom Petty returned to the studio with more personally introspective matters on his mind. Reuniting with producer/Wilbury sideman Jeff Lynne sans Heartbreakers for his third solo release proper, the veteran doesn't so much retool his trademark sound here as allow it the freedom to roam. The sonic landscape here is bluesier ("Saving Grace's opening shuffle, the haunting "Turn This Car Around") and more country-fried (the twangy energy of the blue collar lament "Big Weekend"), a return to familiar roots that produces subtly different results this time around. That sensibility now seasons songs as different as the stoned-elegant languor of "Night Driver" and the playful "Jack," where Petty and Lynn give a knowing nod and wink to the contemporary pop milieu. The stately, pop-perfect closer "Golden Rose" may lean on the Beatle-y side of their familiar sound, but it's a cliché the duo use both sparingly and shrewdly throughout, forging one of the veteran's most free-ranging and warmly satisfying efforts in a decade. Jerry McCulley

Recommended Tom Petty Discography

The Last DJ
Anthology: Through the Years
Wildflowers

Album Description

Highway Companion, Tom Petty's third solo album and first in a dozen years, is a timeless album about the passing of time. A constant companion on the road of rock n' roll, Petty, says Rolling Stone, is "rock aristocracy".

Customer Reviews:

Tom Petty, not his most engaging...........2007-07-22

I have ALL of Tom Petty's offerings on tape, CD and iTunes. Love his overall body of work. Quite a talented force in the American music business.

I bought this CD, hoping against hope that it would be akin to his fantastic CD "Wildflowers" of many years ago---every cut on "Wildflowers" grows on you. Not a dud in the bunch. One of my alltime faves!

"Highway Companion?" One song out of 12 could be construed as worthy to transfer to your iPod. In fact, this CD is proof-positive as to why iTunes and Apple's various iPods are such a runaway success: their biz model. Not all CDs cuts are winners. Too many dogs.

Jobs/Apple realized before everyone else that everyone has an inner DJ and very rarely does one like ALL the cuts on any CD. There are a few rarities out there: U2s "Actung Baby?" You want ALL the cuts. Same with many of Jackson Browne's offerings. Gotta have them all. Just like Petty's "Wildflowers CD"---all cuts are winners.

I spent $17 on "Highway Companion" and am sorry that I did. It heralded the last CD I'll ever buy. I'd be $16 ahead had I just downloaded the one tune I really liked. But I did not know and took a chance. It failed.

This mirrors the current status of the Music Business: much investment and little payback. Thanks to iTunes, MP3, iPods and other MP3 devices, the music consumer is no longer strung along to accept all the songs.
We can pick and choose, feeding our inner DJ.

burgdawg

Sounds so comfortable and familiar, that you almost miss the real master stroke...........2007-07-19

Sure, there are familiar Tom Petty themes and melodies on Highway Companion, but I can't help but get the same vibes as from Full Moon Fever and the first Travelling Wilbury's album. The songs Saving Grace and Big Weekend sound like Running Down a Dream and at least 4 of the tracks on the Wilbury's first. These are good things for fans of, what is now coined, traditional rock and roll.

HC has a rhythm and blues sound and just over half the tunes are medium to down-tempo or as another reviewer imparted -- melancholic. So, don't plan on playing this CD at any keggers (unless it is real late).

I agree with another reviewer noting that the songs could have been more fully fleshed-out had the rest of the Heartbreakers been involved, in particular, keyboardist Benmont Tench (see Don Henley's Boys of Summer and Sunset Grill). As it were, Tom, along with Jeff Lynne from ELO, and Mike Campbell (Heartbreakers lead guitarist), holed up in the studio to play and record HC. With these three playing all the instruments, along with the minimalist production by Lynne, Tom has achieved the simplicity that he wanted to tell these parables about the passage of time. However, the additional keyboards and more complex drum patterns that the Heartbreakers would have added may well have created a better record. But, not that much better, and maybe only different. The strength of this material with these particular musicians are a force to be reckoned with.

Some have an issue with Tom partnering with ex-Wilbury and ELO chief Jeff Lynne. Their contention is that Jeff over-produces, or turns into pop, Tom's rock and roll, heavy rhythm and blues sound. If Jeff has a bad influence on Tom, then what about the unchallenged success of the Travelling Wilburys catalog, Full Moon Fever, or one of the Heartbreakers best -- Into the Great Wide Open. All of these were produced by Jeff and forged this now 3-decade musical partnership. The song Learning to Fly, from Great Wide Open, has become to the 1990s what Boys of Summer was to the 1980s.

WHAT AND WHERE IS THE MASTER STROKE OF HIGHWAY COMPANION?
There is a unique sonic attribute to HC that took several listens to uncover, i.e., the sound of the electric/acoustic guitars. Between Tom, Jeff, and Mike, these guys have a combined 100 years of writing, playing, and recording guitar sounds. Whom better than this trio to reinvent and invigorate the sound of the recorded guitar. Jeff has been producing and engineering music since the 1970s. Take the HC tracks Jack, Square One, or This Old Town. Although they sound as comfortable as your favorite pair of shoes, listen deeper to discover the virtuoso guitar playing and the resultant unique textures and tones coming from your speakers or headphones. These sounds can only be created by mucho-experienced craftsman such as Petty, Lynne, and Campbell.

Let's hope Petty and company will get back into the studio to create more guitar-driven rock and roll pearls. There may not be that many more chances to experience the magic of collaborations like Highway Companion.

A discovery.......2007-07-12

An amazing record a bit melancolic though but loved every song. Big Weekend is very Wilbury-like. I love all songs for different reasons, not one I would leave out. More more of it Tom !

ps for someone with a deep voice his singing is incredibly polyvalent and has been for years. It seems he can "colour" his voice with so many different shadows... and now at 57 again, it changed again from his other records

More great work from a master craftsman.......2007-04-12

Ok, so Tom Petty isn't exactly wandering into new unknown musical waters very often these days. But he is still churning out very solid material with memorable, well written songs and tasteful, sonically stimulating production that really pulls the listener in. Just like his fellow Traveling Wilbury Bob Dylan, he is still a master craftsman doing what he does best. "Saving Grace", "Flirting with Time", "Damaged by Love", and "Big Weekend", are my personal faves, all of which fit nicely in his vast catalog of great songs. Tom, please go on tour again!

Good Title.......2007-04-04

Great CD for the car. If you enjoy Tom's other CD's you'll love this.

Average customer rating:

THIS IS A GREAT LENNY KRAVITZ COMPILATION!
As Good as a Greatest Hits Collection Gets
Good Place to Start People!!!!!
Excelent Compilation
Truly his greatest!

Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits
Lenny Kravitz
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Funk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

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

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Baptism
5 (REISSUED WITH 2 BONUS TRACKS)
Lenny
O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits
Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00004ZB9D
Release Date: 2000-10-24

Tracks:

Are You Gonna Go My Way
Fly Away
Rock 'n' Roll is Dead
Again
It Ain't Over Till It's Over
Can't Get You Off My Mind
Mr. Cab Driver
American Woman
Stand By My Woman
Always On The Run
Heaven Help
I Belong To You
Believe
Let Love Rule
Black Velveteen

Amazon.com

More prolific than D'Angelo and Terence Trent D'Arby combined, one-man rock & soul revivalist Lenny Kravitz kept traditional pop values alive through much of the '90s. From the Motown-perfect "It Ain't Over Til It's Over" to the Beatlesesque "Let Love Rule," Kravitz has always inhabited his influences with a genuine spirit that transcends imitation. The 15 tracks found here provide a surprisingly coherent reminder of just how much the artist has accomplished in a relatively short time. And even if his biggest hit, "Are You Gonna Go My Way," falls short of its Hendrix target, Kravitz's cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" still rocks in a pleasingly Neanderthal way. An infectious new cut, "Again," fits neatly alongside sturdy Kravitz originals such as "Fly Away," "Mr. Cab Driver," and "Black Velveteen," showcasing a talent whose postmodern pop should play well into the new century. --Bill Forman

Amazon.com

Lenny Kravitz Photos

More from Lenny Kravitz

Baptism
Circus
Mama Said

Customer Reviews:

THIS IS A GREAT LENNY KRAVITZ COMPILATION! .......2007-01-02

I will be writing a review on the legendary brilliant masterpiece compilation album entitled "LENNY KRAVITZ GREATEST HITS" by one of Rock's newest premiere performers, LENNY KRAVITZ! This complilation album was originally released in 2000 on Compact Disc on the Virgin Records America label. The matrix or ID number is 7243 8 50316 2 5. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary compilation album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible.

What can I say about LENNY KRAVITZ that hasn't already been said? Lenny Kravitz is one the latest and most recently new rising black guitar players to emerge in the Rock n' Roll scene! They're has been great black guitarists that have passed through Rock n' Roll history! I'm talking about guitarists such as THE GREAT CHUCK BERRY, THE LATE GREAT JIMI HENDRIX, VERNON REID FROM LIVING COLOUR and THE LEGENDARY PRINCE! When LENNY KRAVITZ came on the music scene in the early 90's, he had no intentions of ever looking back! Lenny's blistering guitar playing would have definitely made his ancestor's extremely proud! Did you also know that Lenny's mother was a famous actress named Roxie Roker? You might remember her as the neighbor of Cleaners owner George Jefferson of the popular 70's TV series "THE JEFFERSON'S!" Did you also know that Lenny is half black and half white! Lenny would even do one better by marrying and divorcing America's Sweetheart from The Cosby Show, Lisa Bonet! In my opinion, it wouldn't be until the 1991 album "MAMA SAID" that Lenny would gain fame and attention! However, Lenny would really gain worldwide fame with the release of "ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY" in 1993! And as the saying goes folks, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY!" In my opinion, "LENNY KRAVITZ GREATEST HITS" is an outstanding compilation album that is also a true testament of a great guitarist that is also a sheer genius in striving for perfection for his greatest love and passion, HIS MUSIC! This compilation album is quite simply, LENNY KRAVITZ'S STORY! Every single song track in this compilation album is GREAT!

I will list and briefly review all the song tracks contained in this compilation album in their original exact running order as follows: (1.) "Are You Gonna Go My Way," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! A GREAT KRAVITZ ROCKER THAT KICKS A*S! I love KRAVITZ'S blistering guitar riff arrangements in this one! This ROCKER is one of KRAVITZ'S BEST EVER! I love this Rocker!) (2.) "Fly Away," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Another GREAT KRAVITZ ROCKER THAT KICKS A*S! I also love KRAVITZ'S blistering guitar riff arrangements in this one as well! I love it!) (3.) "Rock And Roll Is Dead," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, another GREAT KRAVITZ ROCKER THAT KICKS SOME SERIOUS A*S! This Rocker, like many of his Rocker's, has some great guitar riff arrangements that result a kick a*s Rocker! I love it as well!) (4.) "Again," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! A GREAT SLOW KRAVITZ ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I love this slow Rocker!) (5.) "It Ain't Over Til It's Over," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! I LOVE THIS SONG! This is a GREAT slow KRAVITZ number! This song sounds a little R & B and Disco! KRAVITZ really displays his talents as a Lead Singer by demonstrating his falsetto voice range!) (6.) "Can't Get You Off My Mind," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Another GREAT slow KRAVITZ ROCKER! This slow Rocker really kicks! I love it!) (7.) "Mr. Cab Driver," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, this is another KRAVITZ ROCKER that KICKS A*S! I love the way Lenny uses the "F" word in this one! I love this Rocker!) (8.) "American Woman," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! A GREAT TRIBUTE TO THE GUESS WHO! This is a GREAT ROCKIN' version done the LENNY KRAVITZ way, ROCK'S AND KICKS A*S! I love it!) (9.) "Stand By My Woman," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! I LOVE THIS BEAUTIFUL SLOW MELLOW SONG! KRAVITZ really sings this song with such raw power and emotion like he REALLY means it! This song sounds like something that John Lennon would sing if he were alive today! I love this song so dearly!) (10.) "Always On The Run," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, this is another GREAT KRAVITZ ROCKER that KICKS A*S! Preach it Lenny! Ain't it the truth! I love the musical arrangements in this one as well! I love it!) (11.) "Heaven Help," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Another GREAT slow KRAVITZ number! I love the musical arrangements in this one! I love this one!) (12.) "I Belong To You," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! This is a great number with a great beat to it! This song has a pinch of some R & B and Soul added to it! I love this song!) (13.) "Believe," (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! The Vocal effects in this song sounds like The Beatles and/or the George Harrison composition song "BLUE JAY WAY! You can actually feel The Beatles influence in KRAVITZ'S music! I love it!) (14.) "Let Love Rule" (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, this is another GREAT slow KRAVITZ ROCKER! KRAVITZ'S blistering Lead Vocals REALLY GET DOWN in this one! This song sounds like a Beatles song, am I wrong? WOW! I love this one!) and (15.) "Black Velveteen." (Outstanding! Brilliant! Superb! Again, this is another GREAT KRAVITZ ROCKER THAT KICKS A*S! I love this one as well!) There are four GREAT A*S KICKING songs that deserve honorable mention with this compilation album! They are "Lady," "California," "Where Are We Runnin'" and "Flash" from Lenny's 2004 album release "BAPTISM." Overall, this is one GREAT A*S KICKING compilation album! Every single song track contained in this compilation album is nothing less than outstanding and brilliant!

As you can see, this is definitely one great treasure compilation album worth purchasing that he or she should definitely own as a valuable and important part of his or her own personal music collection. This album will prove to persevere the test of time and will only get better like wine! This compilation album without a doubt will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished for many more years to come, NOW AND FOREVER!

In closing, the LENNY KRAVITZ LEGEND has continued to grow to this point and will only get better! I really truly believe with all my heart that KRAVITZ'S best is yet to come! I, as one am definitely looking forward to it! Here's to you Lenny and your band too! Keep up the GREAT ROCKIN' Lenny! Keep The Faith! Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. LENNY KRAVITZ RULES! Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take care. Forever in Rock, J.L.

As Good as a Greatest Hits Collection Gets.......2005-12-12

In the mid 1990s, I heard a concert promotion radio ad that was basically introducing the performer to be "The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Star". When they announced that star to be Lenny Kravitz, I must admit, I nearly drove off the road when I heard that. I had realized Kravitz had some commercial success and had a nice following, but "World's Greatest Rock and Roll Star"? - Come On! However, now about a decade later, as I have begun to get a deeper appreciation for what Rock music has to offer, I now realize that perhaps there is some real merit to that radio ad. I'm still not ready to put Kravitz up there with the upper echelon of Rock with the Paul McCartneys, the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteens, or even Billy Joels - however, it is safe to say that Kravitz could easily be one of the great revelations of the 1990s and has lived completely up to expectations as he has entered the 2000s. In 2000, Kravitz amassed enough material and success to release his first Greatest Hits album. This collection, "Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits" provides some a great cross-section into Kravitz's musical career and is a great place to start if you are interested in checking out Kravtiz's material.

"Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits" hits focuses on the first decade of Kravitz's career (1989-2000). During this time, Kravtiz would release five solo albums for an average of 1 album every 2 years. These albums (and the associated tracks included from these albums) are: 1989's "Let Love Rule" ("Mr Cab Driver", "Let Love Rule"); 1991's "Mama Said" ("It Ain't Over Til It's Over", "Stand By My Woman", "Always On the Run"); 1993's "Are You Gonna Go My Way" ("Are You Gonna Go My Way", "Heaven Help", "Believe"); 1995's "Circus" ("Rock and Roll is Dead", "Can't Get You Off My Mind"); "5" ("Fly Away", "I Belong to You", "Black Velveteen"). As with the case of most greatest hits albums, there is one new song to stimulate album sales among the deep fan base - a very solid song called, "Again". It is worth noting that Kravitz's cover of the Guess Who's "American Woman" is also included on this collection. This song was part of the soundtrack of "Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me", but was eventually included on the re-issue of "5". One thing that is very nice about this collection is that it is split among the 5 albums just about evenly. I'm pleased that there are even two songs from his first album which was really not commercially successful.

I think that Kravitz hits the three main dimensions that I expect from a successful solo artist: Vocals, Instrumentation, and Songwriting. On top of these three dimensions, Kravitz cross all of these dimensions by providing a variety of different music styles. Whether it is hard Rock, R&B, or Funk - Kravitz finds ways to incorporate these styles and more into his music. Kravitz was influenced by Prince who also incorporated similar styles into his music. "Lenny Kravitz Greatest Hits" will show examples of this wide range of diversity. You can hear Kravitz's Hard Rock style on "Are You Gonna Go My Way", "American Woman", "Fly Away", "Rock and Roll is Dead" and "Always on the Run". Songs such as "Mr Cab Driver" have a definite Funk influence in it - especially on the Bass. Still songs such as "Heaven Help" , "It Ain't Over Til its Over", and "I Belong to You" show Kravitz' R&B side. Despite these obvious influences, it is not easy to pigeon-hole Kravtiz's music into one musical genre. There are many of his songs that definitely cross several of these genres and also break new ground. Perhaps the best example of this is "Black Velveteen". "Black Velveteen" has been a song that Kravitz has been criticized for, but I happen to think it's the best song he has done. The song does have a "Euro Pop" feel, but it you will hear parts of Hard Rock and even R&B overlaid on top of this. I like how Kravitz tries to do something "out of the box" and "different" to his music. Kravitz's ability to innovate didn't happen late in his career - listen to his early song "Let Love Rule". Kravitz uses combines some R&B with some Jimi Hendrix-like sounds to give a unique sound.

As mentioned I think it comes down to the three dimensions I list above. Kravitz shows incredible range on his vocals - whether it's "It Ain't Over Til It's Over", "Let Love Rule" or his new track "Again", Kravitz will show he is not one dimensional as a vocalist. From an instrumentation standpoint, Kravitz is well-known for his incredible guitar, but also listen to his Bass work as well. You'll hear Kravitz incorporate other instruments as well - such as piano on "Heaven Help" or horns on "Let Love Rule" and "Always on the Run". Lost in this whole picture is some of Kravitz's songwriting - this is perhaps one of the most overlooked dimensions of his talent. Once again, this can even be traced early to his career - on 1989's "Mr Cab Driver", he describes the experiences of racism and discrimination.

There is one negative on this collection. I normally like when an artist puts tracks in chronological order because this allows me to hear how the artist progressed over time. Unfortunately, this collection does not do so. It would have been a great strength if this had been done on this collection.

The liner notes include the lyrics to the new song - "Again". The songwriting credits as well as what album the song is included on are also included in the liner notes. Overall, this is as solid a Greatest Hits album as it gets. The only other negative may be as Kravitz continues to have success, this album might someday be eclipsed by a more current Greatest Hits portfolio.

Good Place to Start People!!!!!.......2005-11-16

I had this album for quite some time and thought to myself that I should finally place my input on this. I had met Lenny Kravitz in the Bahamas ten years ago during the Christmas holiday and it was great to shake his hands. We are lucky to be alive to hear the work of this man. He's one of these artists' that are out there who puts so much of what is lacking in performance of contemporary sound and that is FEELING. It blows my mind the criticism he's received accusing him of robbing the stylistic graves of his idols - excuse me? So do hundreds of other artists who can't even hold a candle in tribute no matter how hard their effort or sincerity. THIS is a man who takes whatever influences and MAKES THEM HIS OWN. I have no problem whatsoever picking out a riff or musical inflection out of any of his works in recognition of his predecessors. He writes, produces, and most impressive plays almost all instruments on his recordings. Like back in the 70's, where there were numerous groups with plenty of organic vibes.
If you don't have this CD or any of his CDs, I recommend picking this one up. It also includes a never before released song called Again that I am sure you heard back in the day and loved. Lenny's greatest hits is a great introduction to his music, it has all his best songs, all his great rock songs like 'Are You Gonna Go My Way' 'Fly Away' and 'American Woman' it also has the best of his soul work like 'I Belong To You' and 'Heaven Help' but you also get a few funky numbers like 'Always On The Run' and 'Black Velvetine' this a great way for anyone to get into him, you'll see once you hear this album your gonna want more.

Excelent Compilation.......2005-08-19

If you don't have any Kravitz record, just purchase this item and you know who is he.

This record compile great songs of his music life including a new song (Again').

Truly his greatest!.......2005-07-05

I am a big fan of Lenny's & I absolutely love this cd! It truly is his greatest hits! I couldn't have asked for anything better. There's not one song that I have to skip over when I'm listening to this cd; I love them all! And you will too, so purchase this cd today!

Average customer rating:

Good blues
If you like guitar blues, you must own this album.
Back Door Slam Rock With " Roll Away"
A GREAT debut album from a REAL Band with massive potential!,

Roll Away
Back Door Slam
Manufacturer: Blix Street
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Close as You Get
Solid Ice
Power of the Pontchartrain
Moment of Truth
In the Palace of the King

ASIN: B000QEILGU
Release Date: 2007-06-26

Tracks:

Come Home
Heavy On My Mind
Outside Woman Blues
Gotta Leave
Stay
Too Late
Takes A Real Man
It ll All Come Around
Too Good For Me
Roll Away
Real Man

Product Description

Hailing from the United Kingdom s Isle of Man hardly a bastion for the blues Back Door Slam is fronted by 20-year-old singer, songwriter and guitar prodigy Davy Knowles, and has already begun to develop a following in the U.S. via high profile performances at SXSW in Austin and the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis. From the same Running Media Group management stable as multi-platinum Grammy nominee Corinne Bailey Rae, they recorded the album at the Isle of Man s DAM Studios with RMG s Dave Armstrong producing.

One of the season s most compelling debuts, ROLL AWAY finds Back Door Slam displaying its powers of what has been described as "Back To The Future Blues" on a diverse program of tough rockers, moving ballads and cleanly executed blues. Highlights include the guitar-driven opener Come Home, the dark Albert King-styled Heavy on My Mind, rock-funk groover Takes a Real Man, and the album s one cover song, the highly-charged Outside Woman Blues. Too Good for Me is a quiet, change-of-pace piece featuring mandolin and guitar; it is more folk than blues, more Bruce Springsteen than Stevie Ray Vaughan. Stay is a powerful paean to a fallen comrade (the band s original rhythm guitarist, Brian Garvey, killed in an auto accident in 2004), while the title song, a reflective, largely acoustic track with Celtic overtones, deals with a young man s love of his safe, idyllic home and his need to break away for the uncertainties of the world beyond.

Back Door Slam s name comes from the Robert Cray blues classic, and Cray s influence and that of other blues greats like Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Rory Gallagher, early Fleetwood Mac plus the late Stevie Ray Vaughan imbues their intoxicating, guitar-driven sound. Knowles, who also writes most of the songs, first picked up the guitar at age 11 after hearing Dire Straits Sultans of Swing on his father s cassette. Skipping the usual three-chord songbook approach to learning the instrument, he taught himself to play the classic song in its entirety and, in doing so, also discovered his destiny.
After hearing Back Door Slam at SXSW in March, 2007, Patrick MacDonald wrote in the Seattle Times: I heard the spirit of Jimi Hendrix coming from the open, streetside windows of a joint called B.D. Riley's. It was Red House, executed superbly by a surprisingly young trio called Back Door Slam, from the Isle of Man in the U.K. The club was packed and so was the street outside. Folks were transfixed by this kid on guitar, who played with a fiery spirit and sang with conviction, making the song his own.

Customer Reviews:

Good blues.......2007-07-14

I happened to catch Back Door Slam at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. Just out for a night after a grueling conference, I was in the mood for some relaxing blues. On stage came BDS, to setup for their show. Watching a group of kids, wearing t-shirts, jeans and sneakers, it didn't appear quality blues were going to be heard that night. But then they began to play and for a group of 21 year olds, they sounded real good. In no time at all the audience was into the music. Leag guitar and singer, Davy Knowles, made his presence known immediately.
If you ever have a chance to catch this group, I would advise you to do so. They are good and have a long life ahead of them in this business.

If you like guitar blues, you must own this album........2007-07-09

I saw this band in the Blues Tent at Memphis in May 2007, and they were unbelievable. I have not heard anyone play a guitar like that since Stevie Ray Vaughn. They put on an unbelievable show which received numerous standing ovations.

Back Door Slam Rock With " Roll Away".......2007-07-03

Wow...finally a blues player with grit and who can play and sound fresh!
The cd is fantastic!One of my all time favorite tunes is Outside Woman Blues by Cream and the band do it right on Roll Away! Fantastic voice on this kid and I know that Back Door Slam will have staying power for sure.....I am a fan of early Fleetwood Mac , Cream and Hendrix if you enjoy these as well you will not be disapointed ....Davey Knowles is the real deal and I wish them the best..buy this cd !

A GREAT debut album from a REAL Band with massive potential!, .......2007-06-26

Finally.. the wait is over! After years of waiting for some superb REAL music and genuine musical TALENT to come out of Britain, or more specifically, the Isle of Man..here are the guys who have the raw talent to put the British rock /blues music back on the map. Forget all those slack-jawed, self-obsessed, over-hyped pseudo-celebrities you see on celebrity TV that have as much talent and depth as an empty box of chocolates..BACK DOOR SLAM are THE REAL DEAL.
Guitarist Davy Knowles continues to amaze and inspire with his seemingly effortless guitar playing that draws on so many great influences and takes them somewhere new and with utter class. Also Davy has 'that' voice which puts him into the realm held by only a few rock legends - you won't believe your ears believe me. His songwriting, like his guitar playing and singing, belies his years and you can bet this is just the beginning of something VERY special as audiences in the USA have been discovering on the first part of their 2007 debut tour. The talented trio is completed superbly with fellow school mates, Ross Doyle on drums and Adam Jones on bass guitar who together bring out the best in Davy's playing and their chemistry live is not something you see every day... It's not often that you hear of a band getting several standing ovations at a gig as prestigious as the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, but that's just what Back Door Slam got! Now their debut CD, Roll Away has been released, you can bet that the word is going to spread even faster, and a lot of that live magic has been captured here - though as any of you who have seen them live, dripping with raw sweat and passion will know there's a heck of a lot more to come in the future. A BIG thumbs up to Davy, Ross and Adam!
**[...] **

Average customer rating:

Cry Baby
Awesome deal on a hard-to-find CD
BALDWIN AND THE WHIFFLES. F.Y.I.
Crybaby original motion picture soundtrack
AWESOME

Cry Baby: Original Soundtrack Album
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

1990s | By Decade | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classic Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Soundtracks | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Cry Baby (Director's Cut)
Hairspray: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Hairspray
Grease II (1982 Film)
21 Jump Street - The Complete Third Season

ASIN: B000002O8L
Release Date: 1990-02-28

Tracks:

King Cry-Baby - James Intveld
Sh Boom - Baldwin And the Whiffles
Doin' Time For Bein' Young - James Intveld
A Teenage Prayer - Rachel Sweet
Please, Mr. Jailer - Rachel Sweet
Cry Baby - The Honey Sisters
Teardrops Are Falling - James Intveld
Nosey Joe - Bull Moose Jackson
Mister Sandman - Baldwin And the Whiffles
High School Hellcats - James Intveld
Bad Boy - The Jive Bombers
The Flirt - Shirley & Lee
I'm So Young - The Students
(My Heart Goes) Piddily Patter, Patter - Nappy Brown
I'm A Bad, Bad Girl - Little Esther
Jungle Drums - Earl Bostic
Cherry - The Jive Bombers
Rubber Biscuit - The Chips

Customer Reviews:

Cry Baby.......2007-02-07

I love this CD !!! i keep it in my car and on my IPod. My daughter and I know all the songs already, i can't get enough of the CD or the movie.

Awesome deal on a hard-to-find CD.......2007-01-03

My daughter is a big fan of the movie, and we couldn't find the CD locally. So, I turned to Amazon.com! Great price, fast shipping, and my kid absolutely loves the soundtrack!

BALDWIN AND THE WHIFFLES. F.Y.I........2006-11-08

IN THE QUARTET IS JERRY BECKLEY FROM AMERICA, AND TIMOTHY B. SCHMIDT FROM THE EAGLES. VERY INTERESTING!

Crybaby original motion picture soundtrack.......2006-08-06

Overall transaction of the product was very satisfactory!! A++++!!!!! CD plays very well. Very happy!!!

AWESOME.......2006-07-08

The album is has everything for the hip cat or cool chick who loves Rockabilly music. All the great tracks from the movie are on this album. And if you like James Intveld this is a must have. Totally rock'n.

Stop Making Sense: Special New Edition (1984 Film)

Average customer rating:

Probably the best concert ever preserved
good Talking Heads record
Bigger is not always better
One of the greatest live albums ever.
Great Improvement Over The Original Version

Stop Making Sense: Special New Edition (1984 Film)
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Live Albums | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Stop Making Sense
The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
Little Creatures
Speaking in Tongues
Remain in Light

ASIN: B00000K3G8
Release Date: 1999-09-07

Tracks:

Psycho Killer
Heaven
Thank You for Sending Me an Angel
Found a Job
Slippery People
Burning Down the House
Life During Wartime
Making Flippy Floppy
Swamp
What a Day That Was
This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)
Once in a Lifetime
Genius of Love
Girlfriend Is Better
Take Me to the River
Crosseyed and Painless

Amazon.com

The soundtrack to the Jonathan Demme documentary, Stop Making Sense captures the Talking Heads live in 1984 on what would turn out to be their last major tour. This collection, and the film, is a true gift to the band's fans, a testament to the Heads' extraordinary talent, both in the studio and especially onstage. Frontman David Byrne infuses each song with a jolt of energy and drama that could only have come from a late-'70s art-school student. Now-classic tracks such as "Psycho Killer," "Girlfriend is Better," "Once in a Lifetime," "Take Me to the River," and "Burning Down the House" have never sounded better. This expanded 1999 reissue includes all nine of the original tracks, plus seven previously unheard cuts, including "Heaven," "Found a Job," and "Crosseyed and Painless." --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

Probably the best concert ever preserved.......2007-02-19

Simply the single best set by any band in the history of rock and roll. I know there will be people out there who will point to some Dead concert that's only available on a third generation cassette, but this set is as hot as the Heads ever were. The expanded edition is a great gift to the world.

good Talking Heads record.......2006-02-20

i own this on vinyl and it's just good talking head songs live,although i have to say the original version of some songs are better but if you have the money i guess go for it but i recommend buying non live recordings.

Bigger is not always better.......2004-10-26

The original LP version of this was a mere 9 songs, and was absolutely brilliant. I remember playing it constantly, wearing it out much like my two album "The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads" double live album. I also got to see the concert film at some midnight show and was enthralled...a concert movie for people who liked music! I loved it so much that I eventually got David Byrne to sign the book that came with the album.

So I was really hyped to hear that the entire concert soundtrack was about to be reissued on CD. Seven extra songs! Warm with nostalgia, I finally bought the disc. Boy, was I let down. First, it isn't the whole concert. "I Zimbra" is particularly missed. Then, of all the crappy songs to include over that one, we have the Tom Tom Club and their SERIOUSLY dated "Genius Of Love."

One of the brilliant things about Talking Heads is that they may have been trend setters, but they were never trend mongers. The music sounds just as fresh today as it did when I slit the shrink wrap on the 1984 Album. But the Tom Tom Club was a lightweight side project that scored one novelty hit, and it sticks out like crayon smears on a DaVinci. I reach for the skip button just about everytime its lame, cliched, and oh so 80's stage patter starts to invade what used to be a flawless CD.

It takes what used to be a 5 star CD and knocks it down by one. It also provides continual proof that that not all unreleased tracks are really a "bonus." Since it has finally come out on a double disc, I strongly recommend the remastered and reissued "The Name Of This Band is Talking Heads" over this. At least the expanded tracks aren't an emarrassment.

One of the greatest live albums ever........2004-10-23

Jonathon Demme's 1984 concert film of the Talking Heads was an incredible experience. Sadly, when the original soundtrack was released, it contained only nine of the songs performed. Not only that, but they were entirely out of sequence, completely destroying the original purpose behind David Byrne's conception of the concert. Thank God they released this anniversary edition of the soundtrack, as this really does the film justice. Every song is here, and in its proper place, the way it was meant to be heard.

So, what is the big deal, you ask? Well, picture this. The soundtrack begins with "Psycho Killer," one of the first really big hits for the group. Instead of the entire band being onstage, David Byrne walks out with an acoustic guitar and a boom box. He presses PLAY on the box, which cues a drum program to begin playing. So the first song is just David Byrne singing and strumming his guitar, accompanied by pre-recorded percussion. For the next song, "Heaven," Byrne is joined onstage by bassist Tina Weymouth. Then Chris Frantz's drumset is wheeled out, and the three of them go into "Thank You For Sending Me an Angel." We finally hear some real drumming, not the predictable, computerized beats in "Psycho Killer." The album really begins to come alive. Then they go into "Found a Job," and things get more interesting. Byrne swaps his acoustic guitar for an electric, and lead guitarist Jerry Harrison comes out, meaning we now have two guitars. By the time the fifth track, "Slippery People," is underway, the entire band (including the extra musicians and backup singers) are on the stage, and now things are cooking. What happens over the remaining twelve tracks can only be described as an overload of the senses.

The purpose behind the concert was to provide a unique experience for the concert-goer, to create visual as well as aural art. Some of that sense is lost on the CD listener, but some of it remains. The songs were translated to disk beautifully, so that they still retain just about everything that made them a pleasure to listen to while watching the film. One can almost picture David Byrne running laps around the stage, dancing with the lamp, or wearing the big suit.

The concert resulting in the film and this album was performed shortly after the band released their 1983 album "Speaking in Tongues." So, needless to say, many of the songs you will hear are from that album. And I have to say that for each of them, I prefer the live version to the studio version. Each one of them sounds more vibrant, more full of life when performed on the stage. The improvisation on "Burning Down the House" is as good as it gets. Ditto "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)," which is one of the most beautiful things I've heard, and I don't even like love songs. The studio versions lack that extra energy. Their pulse is just too slow. This is never more true for "Life During Wartime," which is actually a song from 1979's "Fear of Music." But anyway, this song displays Byrne's tendency to perfectly mismatch music and lyrics. The pulsating beat of club rock flows beneath what I interpret to be a humourously disturbing tale of a country under martial law. The song should not work as well as it does, and yet somehow, they pull it off. Anyway, after hearing the live version of it, I can no longer listen to the studio version. Also noteworthy is the improvisation on "Crosseyed and Painless." The intro and the extended guitar solos are just the icing on the cake for that one!

If there is a bad song on this album, it would have to be the interlude by the Tom Tom Club (a solo project of Heads drummer Chris Frantz and bassist Tina Weymouth). "Genius of Love" could have been a great song. The instrumentation is very good. Sadly, it's ruined by Frantz's raucous babbling. He's attempting to be random like David Byrne, but tragically, he's not good at it. Other than that, this album is solid gold. It demonstrates the full potential of live music, and sounds amazing while doing it. Whether you're a fan of the Talking Heads or not, this album belongs in your collection.

Great Improvement Over The Original Version.......2004-10-17

It's true, to really appreciate this album, you have to see the film. And that's no chore. Stop Making Sense is probably the best concert film ever made. It's hard to imagine just listening to the album without thinking of Byrne's amazing stage presence (in or out of the big suit).

The Special Edition is the entire film soundtrack (minus some stage banter and the cut performances of "Cities" and "I Zimbra"). Their imagination made Talking Heads one of the greatest live bands of all time. The songs are mostly from SPEAKING IN TONGUES, but they also include interesting and in some cases superior versions of songs from all of their albums prior to 1983 with the help of the Tom Tom Club.

In addition to STOP MAKING SENSE, I recommend the newly released CD version of THE NAME OF THIS BAND IS TALKING HEADS. Listening to both would map eight years of live performances and barely short of 4 hours of live material.

Average customer rating:

Rob O'Connor?
An American Poet
Jim Morrison, The Poet
If you are a Doors fan, you should hear this
"I touched her thigh and death smiled."

An American Prayer
Jim Morrison and the Doors
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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

Supergroups | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Spoken Word | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The American Night: The Writings of Jim Morrison
Wilderness: The Lost Writings of Jim Morrison, Volume 1
Lords And New Creatures
Morrison Hotel
The Soft Parade

ASIN: B000002HJD
Release Date: 1995-05-23

Tracks:

Awake
Ghost Song
Dawn's Highway
Newborn Awakening
To Come Of Age
Black Polished Chrome
Latino Chrome
Angels And Sailors
Stoned Immaculate
The Movie
Curses, Invocations
American Night
Roadhouse Blues
The World On Fire
Lament
The Hitchhiker
An American Prayer
Hour For Magic
Freedom Exists
A Feast Of Friends
Babylon Fading
Bird Of Prey
The Ghost Song

Amazon.com

The Doors recorded six studio albums with Jim Morrison as their singer from 1967 to 1971, hitting the charts with a series of pop songs that were at least as good as Tommy James and the Shondells. On their albums, they indulged in Morrison's pretentious obsessions that included extended pieces about Oedipal complexes and the end of the world. Those obsessions have been exaggerated by The Doors myth that continues to this day. This is a collection of Morrison's poetry, embellished by the surviving Doors several years after the fact. That the live rendition of "Roadhouse Blues" is the only noteworthy selection should tell you what you need to know about the poetry. --Rob O'Connor

Customer Reviews:

Rob O'Connor?.......2007-07-07

Wow never in the history of history has a reviewer been way off, listen to this album again and then review, because it is in my opinion that you didn't bother listening and instead chose to rush through it so you could write a nice and concise review that sets you apart and makes you oh so "unique". Finally poetry that one can listen to. Rather than the babblings of anicent thinkers and more "mythed" poets the lizard king lays it out like it is. But hey Rob just ignore all the reviews against you because it doesn't make much of a difference to you. Good luck finding that new career of your's.

An American Poet.......2007-02-13

James Douglas Morrison is known as a shaman, the lizard king, and lead singer of the Doors, but was also a poet who recorded some of his poems and stories. The result is a journey through the dark alleyways of Morrison's mind. Unfortunately, Morrison died prematurely at the age of 27 in a Parisian bathtub on July 3, 1971. However, the remaining three Doors members (Ray Manzarek, keyboards; Robby Krieger, guitar; John Densmore, drums) took the raw material and provided music to accompany Morrison's voice in a manner that is both deft and supportive of Morrison's poetry. Occasionally the music is overdone to the point of sounding like soft jazz or worse - a stereotypical porn soundtrack. The album, "An American Prayer," was released in 1978; the remastered 1995 version has three bonus tracks. The most notable bonus track is the compelling and haunting "Bird of Prey" with Morrison singing a cappella, as if straight from the grave.

Do not expect a standard story with a narrative arc. "An American Prayer" is better heard as a cohesive mood that begs to be played in one sitting on a moonless night with a solitary candle. To explore the nightmare terrain, Morrison pens words the F.C.C. would not allow for public broadcast; nonetheless the word choice, for the most part, is effective and essential despite the vulgarity. At times the poetry can be trite as the following line from the title poem, "An American Prayer." "Do you know we are ruled by T.V." But more often the words are compelling for its imagery like the following gem from the title poem. "Death makes angels of us all & gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as raven's claws." The fallen world Morrison ushers the listener into is one full of confusion, madness, random acts of violence, sex and sudden death.

"An American Prayer" does contain a murderer on the loose ("The Hitchhiker") and it is Morrison himself. Dead Indian souls are ready to possess Morrison's childhood mind in "Newborn Awakening." Barely above a whisper, Morrison says, "Indians scattered on dawn's highway bleeding/Ghosts crowd the young child's fragile eggshell mind." Morrison's melancholic thoughts speak of a poet not well-adjusted. Morrison's voice is clear, but also has a worn edge to it. This is no surprise when you consider Morrison had become overweight, suffered a fallout and conviction from a 1969 Miami concert (Morrison is found guilty of profanity and exposing himself), and had countless paternity suits plaguing the end of his life.

In "Stoned Immaculate," Morrison pleads, "Let me tell you about heartache and the loss of god,/Wandering, wandering in hopeless night." And then later asks in "Lament," "Could any hell be more horrible than now and real?" It is hard to argue with him after this beautiful tour of discord ends.

Bohdan Kot

Jim Morrison, The Poet.......2007-02-12

Jim Morrison was a poet at heart, losing himself in writing long before becoming a famous rock star. This album reflects the true spirit of Jim Morrison and is a must have for any Morrison fan. Get lost in his words and his world. Lose yourself in the young child's fragile eggshell mind as Jim tells you stories of his earliest childhood memories and shares his deepest thoughts and fears in the last months of his life.

If you are a Doors fan, you should hear this.......2007-01-07

The only thing that keeps this from being 5 stars is Lament (which is pretty adolescent, to be quite honest). Spoken word from JDM with really good accompaniment from the rest of The Doors. Not surprisingly, the two work really well together.

"I touched her thigh and death smiled.".......2006-06-28

For those of who would invoke as a criticism excessive vulgarity or "sophomore-ish" are completely ignoring the context that this is epic poetry about the American *street*. And yet there are plenty of high brow cultural references; to wit: "Thoughts in time and out of season" is a reference to one of Nietzsche's works often translated into English as "Thoughts out of Season"; of course Jim was obsessed with Nietzsche. But slang about our body parts cuts straight to the heart of our obessessions - to have ignored said slang would have been to ignore the world that Morrison was immersed in (as our we, once we move past our priggishness). "We cling to c*nts and c*cks of despair" is so dead on its not even funny - or should I provide a link to one of the thousands of porn webpages out there?

Average customer rating:

Music we all need to hear once in a while.
A very good CD
Revision of history
Lovely CD--shameful misspelling on the song titles
The Ultimate Patriotic Album

God Bless America: Ult Patriotic Album

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

God Bless America
Music of the U.S. Armed Forces
America's Favorite Patriotic Songs
Stars & Stripes Forever, Vol. 2
The Military Band: Salute to the Services

ASIN: B000068C7V
Release Date: 2002-06-11

Tracks:

Yankee Doodle
Star Bangled Banner (vocal)
God Bless America
Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Shenandoah
Amazing Grace
America The Beautiful
Simple Gifts
America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee)
Over There
You're A Grand Old Flag
Thru The Years 1776-1969
Semper Fidelis
Washington Post
American Patrol
Star Bangled Banner (instrumental)
The Caissons Go Rolling Along
Anchors Aweigh
Semper Paratus
The Air Force Song
The Marines' Hymn
The Stars And Stripes Forever

Customer Reviews:

Music we all need to hear once in a while........2007-01-04

This album is well put together and I enjoy the old standards. Music is an integral part of our heritage. Often when I listen to this album, I think about what our country has been through and how very, very important it is to appreciate what we have. I spent 3 years living in France in the 60's and I cannot tell you how much all Americans looked forward to going "Home!"

Enjoy!!

A very good CD.......2005-06-16

If you like a mix of songs and marches very well played, this CD is for you. The voices of the singers are good, the music support the lyrics and it is easy to listen or to sing along. Also, nearby half of the tunes are played by the Band of the Grenadier Guards and for me, this Band is the best band to play Sousa marches and military marches. The precision of the execution is perfect, the sound is lovely and the technical quality of the recording is perfect. When I listen Anchors Aweigh, I always hear the sound of the waves and it is one of the only bands that gives me this feeling. If you have just one CD of military music to buy, you may buy this one; it is a best buy.

Revision of history.......2005-03-27

As usual, "Dixie," "The Bonnie Blue Flag," and other songs of a Southern genre are conspicuously absent. Why not throw in a couple of rap tunes to make this album truly "American?"

Lovely CD--shameful misspelling on the song titles.......2002-11-22

I do not own this CD--though it appears it would be a wonderful album to listen to. I was compelled to write my review because of the misspelling of our national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner (as opposed to "The Star Bangled Banner" as it appears not once but twice on the song list). I do hope this error is corrected.

The Ultimate Patriotic Album.......2002-07-20

For all those patriots out there who want to listen to classical patriotic music, then get this album. This has a lot of tracks from yankee doodle march to the Washington post march. Even Amazing grace is here. The orchestras and the chorus here, gave there best performance ever.

Tracks:

Uh-Oh, Love Comes To Town
New Feeling
Tenative Decisions
Happy Day
Who Is It?
No Compassion
The Book I Read
Don't Worry About The Government
First Week/Last Week...Carefree
Psycho Killer
Pulled Up
Love Building On Fire
I Wish You Wouldn't Say That
Psycho Killer (Acoustic)
I Feel It My Heart
Sugar On My Tongue

Tracks:

Thank God For Sending Me An Angel
With Our Love
The Good Thing
Warning Sign
The Girls Want To Be With The Girls
Found A Job
Artists Only
I'm Not In Love
Stay Hungry
Take Me To The River
The Big Country
Stay Hungry (1977 Version)
I'm Not In Love (Alternate Version)
The Big Country (Alternate Version)
Thank You For Sending Me An Angel (Country Angel Version)

Tracks:

I Zimbra
Mind
Paper
Cities
Life During Wartime
Memories Can't Wait
Air
Heaven
Animals
Electric Guitar
Drugs
Dancing For Money (Unfinished Outtake)
Life During Wartime (Alternate Version)
Cities (Alternate Version)
Mind (Alternate Version)

Tracks:

Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)
Crosseyed And Painless
The Great Curve
Once In A Lifetime
Houses In Motion
Seen And Not Seen
Listening Wind
The Overload
Fela's Riff (Unfinished Outtake)
Unison (Unfinished Outtake)
Double Groove (Unfinished Outtake)
Right Start (Unfinished Outtake)

Tracks:

Burning Down The House
Making Flippy floppy
Girlfriend Is Better
Slippery People
I Get Wild/Wild Gravity
Swamp
Moon Rocks
Pull Up The Roots
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)
Two Note Swivel (Unfinished Outtake)
Burning Down The House (Alternate Version)

Tracks:

And She Was
Give Me Back My Name
Creatures Of Love
The Lady Don't Mind
Perfect World
Stay Up Late
Walk It Down
Television Man
Road To Nowhere
Road To Nowhere (Early Version)
And She Was (Early Version)
Television Man (Extended Mix)

Tracks:

Love For Sale
Puzzlin' Evidence
Hey Now
Papa Legba
Wild Wild Life
Radio Head
Dream Operator
People Like Us
City Of Dreams
Wild Wild Life (Extended Mix)
Papa Legba (Pops Staples Vocal Version)
Radio Head (Tito Larriva Vocal Version)

Tracks:

Blind
Mr. Jones
Totally Nude
Ruby Dear
(Nothing But) Flowers
The Democratic Circus
The Facts Of Life
Mommy Daddy You And I
Big Daddy
Bill
Cool Water
Sax And Violins

Amazon.com

Talking Heads' 30th anniversary is commemorated in typically artful style here, sonically upgrading their eight, era-defining albums via bonus-packed Dual Discs and encasing them in a molded white plastic box intricately embossed with the band's song titles. Each disc contains complete album tracks and bonus cuts remastered in High Resolution Stereo on its CD side, while the DVD programming on the flip offers up the audio tracks in expansive new 5.1 Surround Sound mixes, with all of the sonic upgrading personally supervised by Heads drummer Jerry Harrison. Those long overdue audio improvements alone would make it an attractive set, but fans of the band will find its wealth of bonus music (various B-sides and previously unreleased outtakes) and video (including a number of rare live clips seeing their first release here) supplements equally intriguing.

Bonus musical highlights include four rhythmically-charged, unfinished Remain in Light outtakes (including one that eventually evolved into the band's signature "Once in a Lifetime") that allow insightful glimpses into Eno's innovative production techniques on the album, alternate versions of "Cities," "Life During Wartime" and "Mind" from Fear of Music, a countrified version of "Thank You For Sending Me an Angel" from More Songs About.. and a strangely muted early version of another Heads staple, Speaking in Tongue's "Burning Down the House." An early demo of "And She Was" from Little Creatures demostrates that the whole of a glorius pop song can be the assembly of its simple parts. While the additional visual materials (especially the raw early performance clips) are a welcome addition to the Heads' canon, they're also something of a tradeoff: a few of the band's videos are conspicuously absent, including Remain in Light's "Once in a Lifetime." But overlooking a couple of the band's better known promotional moments in favor of revealing new musical treasures and vastly improved, state-of-the-art audio scarcely blunts the appeal of this rewarding career overview. -- Jerry McCulley

Album Description

Formed in the mid-70's by art school chums David Byrne, Chris Franz, and Tina Weymouth-and ex-Modern lover Jerry Harrison-Talking Heads rose out of the CBGB punk crucible and proved themselves one of the most artistically adventurous and influential bands ever. Their visionary, polyrhyhmic sound fused elements including rock, funk, and punk with diverse world beats, avant-garde minimalism, and pure pop genius. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002, the band and their groundbreaking repertoire are celebrated in Rhino's deluxe DualDisc upgrade of their catalog. Now their critically praised recordings can be reexperienced as never before, with new DVD-A Surround mixes personally supervised by Jerry Harrison.

Customer Reviews:

Content excellent but hard to rip.......2007-07-09

The music is awesome, the bonus tracks are great, and the dvd features are pretty cool- HOWEVER, Duel Discs are excruciatingly difficult to rip to your computer. Some take hours per disc and you'll get skips in the tracks occasionally but some computers can't even rip them at all. BE WARNED!

excellent (and much needed) reissue set.......2007-06-19

I am beyond satisfied with the Talking Heads' Brick. While some complain of compatibility problems with their standard cd players and dual discs, I haven't experienced anything of the sort (but clearly it pays to check these things before making this purchase).

I'll also say that I do not have a 5.1 DVD system, so I'm only able to comment on the CD audio of this set.

That said, I was immediately taken aback by how good these discs sound. The clarity and depth of the recordings on the remastered cds far surpasses their predecessors, even more so than I anticipated. And I'm not much of an audiophile, but the difference is immediately noticeable, and certainly welcome.

The bonus video content is interesting and enjoyable. Admittedly it would have been more convenient to have a separate DVD disc with all of the video content, but it's not a big deal. The omission of the music video for "Once in a Lifetime" is indeed curious. All of the other promo videos are present (that I know of anyway), and the "Once in a Lifetime" video was a landmark for the group. There is a great live performance of the song included, but I can't imagine why the video was left off.

That's really my only complaint about this set. There are few bands whose catalog I will repurchase without hesitation, and the Talking Heads are among that elite class. And it's well worth it.

Soooo close to being perfect, but no!.......2006-12-09

Since most people visiting this site are already probably familiar with Talking Heads' music, I'll skip the hyperbole. You know how good their music is. And before I say anything else, I have to mention that it's definitely worth owning every single one of the albums included in this box. But you should also know how alternately revelatory and frustrating this boxed set turns out to be.

Now, then...the Brick.

What a great idea. Remaster all the albums, both in 2.0 and 5.1 mixes, one mix on either side of each disc in the DualDisc format, and box them all together. The thing to remember is, this isn't in a regular 5.1 DVD format where you can stick the disc in your DVD player and let it go. You have to have a DVD-Audio compatible DVD player to play these, so be sure about this before you take the plunge. (I've read that other people may have had some luck hearing a 5.1 mix without using DVD-A, but I haven't.) DVD-Audio requires a cable going from each channel on the DVD player to the corresponding ones on your receiver, so it's an extremely pure sound, but I really wish for convenience's sake that they'd formatted it in regular ol' DTS or Dolby Digital 5.1 sound for those without. I'm sure they had the best intentions, but on my Harman/Kardon 31 DVD player this means that you have to hit "play" on your DVD player, then "pause", then hit the "6-Channel" button on your remote before hitting "play" again to listen to the disc. Whatever.

The 5.1 mixes are a revelation...I've been listening to this music for over 20 years and I'm hearing so many things for the first time that have previously been buried in the mix...really incredible. Almost all of the discs benefit from this depth and clarity - especially More Songs, Remain in Light, and Naked. However, these were remixed by Jerry Harrison...so the keyboards are jacked up really high in the mix. Which is cool in some cases as they were initially (unfairly) minimized on certain albums. But it also means that Speaking In Tongues is an entirely different listen. The keyboard parts have dated a little bit, so it becomes a true artifact of the 80's. Huge sound, swirling effects, and distracting stereo trickery. It's almost as if it were reproduced by Esquivel.

Now for the bonuses -- the extra tracks on each disc are fascinating. Not fascinating enough to warrant repeated listenings in most cases, but intriguing if you're a Talking Headsophile. The artifacts from the Fear of Music and Remain in Light sessions, especially, provide indications as to Eno's influence in their writing process at the time. They sound much like Eno songs backed by the Heads. The demos, alternate takes, and remixes of several songs are also very cool. There are also a handful of additional outtakes, such as "I Feel It In My Heart" from the 77 sessions (which was deservedly left off the album) and "Sax and Violins" from the Naked sessions (which would have provided a much-needed ray of hope to close out the oppressively bleak second half of that album). However, some of them are given the 5.1 treatment while others inexplicably are not.

Worse, they've neglected to include some of the outtakes they've released on other collections in the past. Where's "I Want to Live", "Popsicle", "In Asking Land", "Gangster of Love", and "Lifetime Piling Up"? Those last two or three songs are lame, but as long as they're being comprehensive here, what gives? Also missing are the alternate versions of "Uh-Oh, Love Comes to Town" and "New Feeling" previously released elsewhere. You can get some of this stuff on iTunes, by the way -- just not here. But that's not as unforgivable as the video omissions.

Although their last feeble collection, "Once in a Lifetime", was kind of a joke, it came boxed with the spectacular, expanded DVD version of their video collection "A Storytelling Giant". All of their videos were included with the original between-song vignettes intact. The Brick doesn't include this disc. Instead, they give us some early live stuff (admittedly, the shaky footage of "Warning Sign" gives me the shivers, it's so good) some Fear of Music-era live stuff (fine) and a smattering of their videos later on.

Excellent, but where's my favorite video of theirs, for "(Nothing But) Flowers"? How about "The Lady Don't Mind" or "Stay Up Late?" For god's sake, where are the original, revolutionary videos for "Crosseyed and Painless" and "Once in a Lifetime"!? They're shucked for live versions of both songs. This is shocking.

The packaging looks neat from the outside. Like everything else the band does, it's designed to fascinate. But it couldn't have killed them to have the names of the discs embossed on the spines. Likewise, it'd be great to be able to see exactly where the bonus songs are on the disc without digging through the CD insert to find the song titles. But now I'm nitpicking.

All that aside, I've spent hours poring over this treasure trove. It's my favorite band, after all. But you shouldn't spend this much on a boxed set and not get everything they could feasibly have crammed into it. Was it a contract issue or some kind of rights agreement that kept these significant items off the set? Good thing it was a gift, or I'd feel a liiiiiiitle cheated. But I'm going to give the Brick four stars because the band's just about the best thing in the world and this is where you can find (almost) all of it.

Anything less than 5 stars is absurd.......2006-12-02

Good God this is the greatest set EVER!!!
I am a music lover with over 500 CDs and 600+ vinyl. I've got all the Heads on vinyl and always came back to 'em year after year.
So when I found out that Jerry Harrison himself was doing the surround mixes, I couldn't resist. Especially after hearing such good things about the results!
So I bought The Brick. 1st - the packaging is unique. A sturdy molded white plastic box with emboss/extruded song titles all over it. Okay the CD cases are just plain white, and you have to open up the booklet just to see the song titles...but really this is not bad at all, as you tend not to skip around so much and just listen to it even more!
The bonuses consist of DVD videos and live clips, 2 or 3 per disc reflecting each era. Of course they are not up to the quality of the studio stuff, but that's to be expected and really there's little way to 'spruce up' an old videotape from a live show. The bonuses are still really good, though. The only wish that went unfulfilled here is that they don't include either live albums - I would especially have loved to get TNOTBITH with this, but it's understandable since that double album is a compilation in it's own right.
Now for the MUSIC: Holy God, this is the best ever. No band ever grooved like The Heads! The mix goes waaaay beyond typical surround and you feel like you're in the middle of the band itself, with FULL VOLUME instruments all around! That's Dave upfront, Tina thumping underneath, Chris wide open l-r, Jerry popping up in the front, back and sides...Bernie over there somewhere...Eno freaking the rhythm section through the rear...Belew soaring over my shoulders...synths, congas and rhythm guitars pecking away through the sides and rear...it goes on and on. Albums that I always enjoyed but never dug far into before ('77 & Food) are given glorious new mixes and have a whole new freshness and power to them.
There are other essential 5.1 rock discs out there...Roxy Music AVALON and Floyd's DSOTM being two...but this is THE BEST OF ALL.
EVERY SINGLE ALBUM in TOTAL SURROUND!!!

Packaging? meh. Music? yeah!.......2006-10-04

So Talking Heads fans will be wondering whether this is worth it if they already have most or all of the above-mentioned releases, and the answer is YES. This is true for all of the albums, but especially for Remain in Light and Naked, which really sound like new albums. Listening to either one of these records on the DVD-side surround mixes on solid speakers is a life-altering experience. (And furthermore, thanks to some tweaks and editing, in many ways the DVD sides really are different from the CD sides.) Even without surround, the remastered CD sides are an instantly noticeable improvement. The unreleased material and B-sides are generally excellent, and often provide insight into how the album, or its songs, were made or put together. The video extras, while few in number, are surprisingly good and aren't dated, grainy, or cheesy. Given how wretched music videos from the 70s and 80s tend to be, this is a testament to the artistic skill of the Heads.

As mentioned above in the title of this review, the packaging on this, while it looks cool, was really poorly designed. The backs of the individual cases are white, so we don't get to see the rear cover art, and they're also white on the side, so you can't tell which CD you've got until you pull it out. The exterior case is creatively designed but the CDs fit in it rather tightly, which means their cases are prone to breaking when you take them out, and they're rather difficult to get out. Also, many have had problems with the Dualdisc format (on my computer, the DVD-side is finicky on several of the discs and sometimes doesn't want to play).

But the heck with that. You buy CDs for the music, not to look at the tracklist on the back. If you are a Heads fan then get this. Believe the hype.

Popular Favorites 1976-1992/Sand In the Vaseline

Average customer rating:

Not applicable
If They're Not In The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, Heads Should Roll!
Sounds great,sounds like they are right next to you.
Worthwhile; possibly obsolete
Strong compilation from a smart pop band

Popular Favorites 1976-1992/Sand In the Vaseline
Talking Heads
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

American Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Post-Punk | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Name of This Band is Talking Heads
Speaking in Tongues
Little Creatures
Time Capsule: Songs For A Future Generation
Remain in Light

ASIN: B000002LRK
Release Date: 1992-10-13

Tracks:

Sugar On My Tongue
I Want To Live
Love/Building On Fire
I Wish You Wouldn't Say That
Psycho Killer
Don't Worry About The Government
No Compassion
Warning Sign
The Big Country
Take Me To The River
Heaven
Memories Can't Wait
I Zimbra
Once In A Lifetime
Crosseyed And Painless
Burning Down The House
Swamp
This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

Tracks:

Life During Wartime (Live)
Girlfriend Is Better (Live)
And She Was
Stay Up Late
Road To Nowhere
Wild Wild Life
Love For Sale
City Of Dreams
Mr. Jones
Blind
(Nothing But) Flowers
Sax And Violins
Gangster Of Love
Lifetime Piling Up
Popsicle

Amazon.com

Released four years after the Talking Heads called it a day with 1988's Naked, Popular Favorites provides a thorough overview of one of the most important American bands of the '80s. From tightly wound early efforts such as "Psycho Killer" and "Don't Worry About the Government" to the seriously funky likes of "I Zimbra" and "Burning Down the House," David Byrne, Jerry Harrison, Tina Weymouth, and Chris Franz grew as musicians as they stretched the original concepts of the unit to the breaking point. Over the course of two discs and 32 selections, the anthology chronicles the Heads' development from Bowery art punks (albeit of the most civil stripe) to unlikely arena stars. A smattering of unreleased tracks and notes from the original quartet nicely flesh out the retrospective. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

Not applicable.......2007-07-08

Tried twice to purchase this CD. Both times only 1 of the 2 cds arrived in the package.

If They're Not In The Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Fame, Heads Should Roll!.......2007-03-20

I found it interesting being referred to in general in one of the spotlight reviews (I'm an evangelical Christian). There are some things I don't like about Talking Heads, and that is a leaning toward Nihlism (no meaning to anything). However, I applaud a band that makes you think, especially one this creative.

I won't make a list of favorite songs like I normally do; there are many good ones. I will say, though, that the band was strongest when more of the band collaborated together on the songs than in the latter years (most of disc 2) when Byrne wrote most of the songs solo.

Another thing that I consider negative, more present in the booklets, is the unnecessary cussing from Byrne. This did give me a negative point of view towards Byrne in general.

I saw "Stop Making Sense" first, and that converted me to being a fan of the group. Actually, the first time I heard this cooled me off, but re-listening helped make me a bit more of a fan again.

Sounds great,sounds like they are right next to you........2007-01-26

This cd has so many songs that you won't believe they squeezed it on the 2 cd set.David Byrne at his finest.

Worthwhile; possibly obsolete.......2006-10-10

This 2-disc set spans, somewhat uncomfortably, the boundary between a greatest-hits collection (targeted at the casual fan) and a retrospective box set (targeted at the completist). Nearly all of the band's well-known hits are here (with the odd exception of "Uh Oh, Love Comes to Town"), padded out to double-CD length with live cuts and non-album tracks. The result is completely listenable, as the boundary between the group's quirky art-rock days and their FM-radio heyday falls nicely between discs, but new fans might consider the later, single-disc hits collection a better value while fans wanting to go deeper will seek out the recent DualDisc re-releases which feature lots of bonus tracks.

It's all great stuff, however, with the first disc showcasing the band's uncanny ability to merge art tendencies with pop instinct even as they were mastering their instruments, and the second bringing key tracks from some of the less-heard later albums to light.

Of special note is the superb re-mastering job by Bob Ludwig, which gives the early songs a punch and presence missing from the prior releases.

Strong compilation from a smart pop band.......2006-09-16

Talking Heads is one of those rare bands with the distinction of making smart pop music accesible for the masses. The double disc "Sand in the Vaseline" is a good reflection of their career. I first became familar with them in the early eighties when songs like "Burning down the House" was all over FM radio and MTV. Disc 2 represents this era thoroughly, and includes some smaller hits that I forgot about until I bought the CD.

The pleasant surprise was Disc 1. Disc 1 focuses more on their earlier music from the late 70's, like "Life During Wartime." While I was familar with these hits as well, some of the more obscure songs on Disc 1 became my favorites on either disc. "Sugar on My Tongue" and "I Wish You Wouldn't Say That" stood out immediately as I was listening to them for the first time. I also liked some of the last songs on Disc 2 that they released before finally disbanding. "Sax and Violins" and especially "Lifetime Piling Up" come to mind. But that's what a good band does. Good bands produce timeless music throughout the decades that stand the test of time. This is a thorough compilation of a good band and a starting point for those becoming familiar with Talking Heads for the first time.

Track Listings: