Strictly Commercial: The Best Of Frank Zappa Review

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Strictly Commercial: The Best Of Frank Zappa ReviewThis collection can be hit or miss. I gave it five stars, but it isn't a five star cd. The five stars are there because this cd changed my life. It opened a whole new door to me, and for that I'll always be thankful for this cd. This collection may not have the same effect on you, but you never know. To those unfamiliar, yet curious about Zappa, I'm sure it must be frustrating standing in the record store staring down hundreds of Zappa albums and thinking, "My God, which one do I get?" Well, this collection(one of the first Zappa collections to come out) is a good place to start, but be forewarned: It is misleading. Trying to cram 60 albums' worth of music on one cd is an impossible task, especially from an artist who experimented with so many sounds. This compilation exists in a fantasy world where all the songs on the disc would be Frank Zappa's hit singles. As we all know, he didn't have hit singles, but if he did, these would be it. That's where it's misleading coz Zappa's music goes way beyond what you'll hear on this cd. Most of the tunes here are kept to 4 minute, humorous, catchy rock tunes that make Zappa sound like Weird Al with much better guitar playing ability. Gone are the modern classical pieces, the free jazz, the ten minute guitar solos and the crude humor. Yes folks, you won't hear it on Strictly Commercial, but Zappa said things that would make The Insane Clown Posse blush. So, I would suggest this compilation just to get a fair idea of what Zappa's about, though many compilations have been released since(ones that include the offensive stuff). So, if you like what you hear on this cd, this can open the door to the Zappa Universe(and it's a huge one) for you, and you'll be quite surprised at all the wonderful things you'll find there. Then, once you get some albums, you probably won't ever listen to this disc again, but you'll be forever thankful that you took the gamble and bought it.Strictly Commercial: The Best Of Frank Zappa OverviewLimited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2008.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Best Of: Legends of Country Music (W/Book) Review

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Best Of: Legends of Country Music (W/Book) ReviewBorn to a poor family in Limestone County, Texas, Bob Wills (the undisputed "King of Western Swing") has become synonymous with that style of music. In 2006, this 4-disc release in Columbia "Legends of Country Music" series is a great way to celebrate his centennial! Wills had learned to play the fiddle by age ten. By the late 1920s, he and Herman Arnspiger were performing in the Fort Worth area as The Wills Fiddle Band. In 1931, they were joined by Milton & Durwood Brown and called themselves Aladdin's Laddies. Disc #1 in this set begins in 1932 with recordings of The Light Crust Doughboys, the band formed after the Light Crust Flour Co. hired the band for radio broadcasts. Because of a trademark, Victor Records called them The Fort Worth Doughboys. By 1934, Wills had formed his own band, moved to Tulsa, and signed with Okeh Records. Disc #2 covers 1937-1940, and disc #3 spans 1941-45. Disc #4 begins with 1946 and ends with Bob Wills' final session (1973 in Dallas).
It's important for such compilations to include a musician's big hits, as well as a sampling of their entire repertoire and influential pieces. We hear many favorites like "Big Ball in Cowtown," "Bubbles In My Beer," "Roly Poly," "Take Me Back to Tulsa" and "Stay A Little Longer." "San Antonio Rose" and "New San Antonio Rose" are both included, the former written in just 30 minutes when Wills needed another number at a recording session. Pandhandle Rag was a top ten hit in 1949. We're given the 1969 version here. Leon McAuliffe's influential "Steel Guitar Rag" appears on disc #1. In the 1960, Wills made the charts with "Shape Up or Ship Out" and "I Don't Love Nobody." Unfortunately, these songs are not provided. And how in the heck could they not have included "Across the Alley from the Alamo"? Oh well ... can't have everything.
With 105 tracks in total, this compilation certainly tells the musical story with both old-time fiddling (e.g. Osage Stomp) and country-styled jazz (e.g. Trouble in Mind, Basin Street Blues) well represented. But don't forget about the times that Bob Wills lived and played his music in, just after the Depression. Many of his fans were poor, the working folks in need of a charismatic performer to look up to. Somewhat of a folk hero, Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys traveled the backroads to rural areas in a large bus with a big longhorn steer head on the front. With heavy emphasis on the backbeat and guitar chords played over a moving bass line, the music was infectious an designed for dancing. And then there were the great lyrics, often sung by the great Tommy Duncan. Excellent notes, in a booklet with many excellent historic photographs, are an added bonus in this legends series. All I can say, is that it's a moving tribute to a great musician. So, to quote Bob Wills, "Aaaaa-haaaa!" (Joe Ross, Roseburg, OR.)
Best Of: Legends of Country Music (W/Book) OverviewThis collection includes 105 tracks in 4 CD's and is a breathtaking, in-depth overviewof Willis' career in one package starting with his first recordings with the Fort Worth Doughboys in 1932.It explores the Playboys' epochal 1937-1947 ARC and Columbia recordings including "Steel Guitar Rad," "Twin Guitar Special," and his signature tune "New San Antonio Rose," as well as post-Columbia highlights like "Bubbles In My Beer" and the now-classic "Faded Love." It ends with selections from Wills' final session in 1973.

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The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboy's Vulgar Hits Review

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The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboy's Vulgar Hits ReviewLike many Pantera fans are saying on here, this compilation is missing some essential Pantera songs (especially "F*cking Hostile") in favor of some surprise appearances (i.e. "I'll Cast a Shadow") and rarities ("Cat Scratch Fever", "Hole in the Sky" and a live version of "Where You Come From".)
In addition, some songs are on here that probably shouldn't be. Take "Planet Caravan", for instance. Though it's a single, it wasn't written by Pantera (it's a Black Sabbath cover) and it doesn't sound like what Pantera normally sound like (it isn't a good representation of the band.)
Also, "The Great Southern Trendkill" (a very overlooked album) is only represented by one song on here. "TGST" was as good of an album as "Reinventing the Steel", thus it deserves more than one song (maybe "Floods" and/or the Grammy nominated acoustic ballad "Suicide Note Pt. 1".)
But, most of the Pantera classics are here ("Cowboys From Hell", "Mouth For War", "Walk", "Revolution is My Name".) Plus, most of the songs that ARE here are pure gold, and, "Planet Caravan" aside, no Pantera greatest hits collection would be complete without any of these songs.

"Cowboys from Hell" is an instant classic that defined Pantera.
"Cemetery Gates" is sort of a morbid power ballad, but it does have it's heavy points. Plus, near the end, Phil yells in a falsetto voice.
"Mouth for War", "Vulgar"'s lead single, begins with a great opening guitar riff and drum work, which speed up as the song progresses, before falling into a groove.
"Walk" has a famous and mighty catch staccato riff which runs throughout the whole song, and pauses (only briefly) for a speaker shredding guitar solo.
"This love" has melodic verses, which lead in nicely to the still brutal choruses.
"I'm Broken" has chunky, meaty, catchy riffs and a good guitar solo.
"Becoming" opens with machine gun riffs and drums, "boom ba boom" sound. Towards the end, Vinnie Paul drives the beat with fast double-bass work. "
"5 Minutes Alone" boasts bobbing, grinding riffs, and Phil's howl will stick in your head for hours.
"Planet Caravan" is as aforementioned, a Black Sabbath Cover. Probably the most melodic song Pantera ever recorded, with a spacey atmosphere and vocals and soft percussion. It is distinguishable from but also remains true to the original.
"Drag the Waters" layers "chug chug" riffs on top of each other, and the drum's have a cowbell, which is a clever inclusion.
"I'll cast a shadow" a shadow begins as a brutal and pounding song that smacks you around, but after the midpoint, it goes downhill.
"Goddamn electric" has a bobbing beat with pounding drums and another good guitar solo.
"Revolution is My Name" is probably the catchiest song from "Reinventing the Steel", and is a hit single. It has crunchy guitars, catchy drum beats, and two winding guitar solos. Phil howls throughout most of this song, but near the end he says one spoken word: "Revolution".

The DVD is a nice touch. It could have included a brief history of the band (like the C.D. booklet does), but for those of you who like Pantera's music videos (and are tired of waiting for MTV to play a Pantera music video) won't be disappointed with this DVD.
So, this compilation has it's ups and downs, but it's--overall-- a good selection and representation of Pantera. You might want to get this just for the aforementioned rarities, because Pantera only has five C.D.'s, and five isn't that many. So, my advice to you is why not get all of them? If you insist on not getting all five, just get "Vulgar Display of Power" and "Far Beyond Driven". These albums are almost greatest hits albums in themselves.The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboy's Vulgar Hits Overview

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Very Best of Dwight Yoakam Review

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Very Best of Dwight Yoakam ReviewDwight Yoakam is the reason I'm not embarrased to say I like country music. When he broke onto the national scene with his debut album GUITARS, CADILLACS, ETC., ETC., he gave the country music establishment a much needed kick in the butt. This twenty track collection hits most of the highlights of Yoakam's nearly two decades as a performer. Starting with the Johnny Horton cover of "Honky Tonk Man" from his debut through two tracks from his 2003 release POPULATION: ME, Yoakam has had a major impact on country music. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative to Rhino's 2002 box set REPRISE PLEASE BABY, this is a winner from beginning to end. The only disappointment is that with a running time of just under 70 minutes, they could have added the only two top 10 singles missing from this set: "Always Late With Your Kisses (from 1987's HILLBILLY DELUXE) and "I Got You" (from 1988's BUENAS NOCHES FROM A LONELY ROOM). VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDEDVery Best of Dwight Yoakam Overview"Your stuff is so hard, they're gonna think it's rock 'n' roll," a friend once told Dwight Yoakam. Twisting strains of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Merle Haggard, and Gram Parsons into a stripped-down sound wholly his own, Yoakam is one of music's true mavericks, and his body of work is one of the most innovative in all of country. Rooted in the purest country traditions, and wrapped in raw rock 'n' roll attitude, Yoakam's art rivets fans of both genres and remains as utterly original today as when it started burning up the charts in the '80s.

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Boz Scaggs - Greatest Hits Live Review

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Boz Scaggs - Greatest Hits Live ReviewWhen my Boz Scaggs Greatest Hits Live DVD arrived from Amazon, it was Heaven on Earth for me. I now have Boz in my home in video anytime I want.
The performance and the audio and video quality are superb. The use of HD cameras clearly shows. Having both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 audio on the DVD is fantastic. I wish every DVD would do that. The DTS is clearly the winner. DTS puts you front row center with a presence that Dolby can't match.
This DVD is best experienced on a large-screen HDTV with DTS 5.1 audio. It's as close to being at a live Boz performance as you can get. Nothing can beat a live Boz performance, but the DVD is clearly the next best thing. However, whatever your TV and audio setup, you've got to have this DVD in your music video collection.
Boz just gets better with age, and seeing and hearing his greatest hits as he performs them "live" is like hearing them for the first time. It would be impossible for me to pick one song on the DVD as my favorite. They're all great.
Boz' voice is haunting, but it's not just his voice that makes him a unique jewel. His songs are original and magnificent in their lyrics and musicality. In today's world of sound-alike, interchangeable performers, there's no one else like Boz Scaggs.Boz Scaggs - Greatest Hits Live Overview* His first ever live DVD * Filmed in high definition video * Mixed in stereo and surround sound * Bonus features include extra track, 15 minute documentary, and photo gallery From his early days with the Steve Miller Band, to his smash hits as a solo performer, Boz Scaggs has been a respected musician for decades. Greatest Hits Live features Scaggs in concert at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and as Scaggs himself says, "It's not just any band that can pull off this song list." From the jazz-tinged "Harbor Lights," to the desperately blue "Loan Me a Dime," to hit songs including "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle," Greatest Hits Live provides a powerful overview of the artist's most recognized work. 1. Lowdown 2. Slow Dancer 3. Heart of Mine 4. It All Went Down the Drain 5. Harbor Lights 6. Jojo 7. Ask Me 'Bout Nothin' but the Blues 8. Breakdown Dead Ahead 9. Look What You've Done To Me 10. I Just Go 11. Georgia 12. Miss Sun 13. Lido Shuffle 14. Runnin' Blues 15. Loan Me a Dime 16. We're All Alone

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Complete Clapton Review

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Complete Clapton ReviewClapton's "Complete Clapton" is an outstanding double CD collection that I would give anyone who had heard of Eric Clapton, but didn't have any of his music. It is an economical collection that is fairly representative of his music, but it is nowhere near a comprehensive collection of his music. With music from his work with Cream, Blind Faith, Derek & the Dominos, and his solo work, including tracks with B.B. King and J.J. Cale, I found this a great CD to have in my car in addition to all the other Clapton CD's I have.
What I enjoy about it most of all is a sense that this is what "he" wanted out on the streets when his autobiography was published. Looking through my collection of Eric Clapton CD's, I am amazed by the sheer amount of work he has issued, with a copy of "Cream of Clapton" and "Clapton Chronicles" serving as chapter dividers around 1995 and 1999.
But, what if you are a true fan of Clapton and you really want to have a definitive collection of his work, what CD's can you purchase now that will give you a true sense of the groups he played with and how his music evolved over the years? Personally, I would have "CrossroadsCrossroads," a four CD Boxed-Set compilation of his earlier work with heavy doses of his work with the Yardbirds, Mayall, and Cream, and later solo work up to the mid 1980's. Another collection, that I don't have, but it has more of his earlier work with groups you never knew he performed with, and several tunes he played with Jimmy Page, is "Clapton is God," Clapton Is God: The Cream of Early Eric Clapton a four CD collection that is an import from England. A second box-set I would have would be the Derek and the Dominos 20th Anniversary one, The Layla Sessions : 20th Anniversary Edition that has an extra 2.5 hours of recordings that feature Eric playing along with Duane Allman. This is a great set of recordings. The third CD collection I would have to be representative of his work would be either the "Clapton Chronicles" Clapton Chronicles - The Best of Eric Claptonor "Complete Clapton" because they both have two of his better commercial successes, "Forever Man" and "It's In the Way You Use It" along with several of his "unplugged" work, "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven." All-in-all, "Complete Clapton" is a great double CD for someone who doesn't have any Clapton music, and I wouldn't hesitate buying it to have in my car or as a gift for those in your life who are musically challenged.Complete Clapton Overview

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