Soft Rock Pop Music

This collection of Wings/Paul McCartney tracks gives the listener a thorough overview of McCartney's post-Beatles material from 1970-84, and with 40 songs, gives you a lot of bang for the buck. The theme of 'Hits and History' works very well also, with one disc concentrating mostly on singles and the second one on album tracks. The only issue I have with the 'History' disc is that it failed to include unreleased McCartney & Wings gems like Cage and Waterspout-- which would have been much better choices than Bip Bop/Hey Diddle and the playout version of No More Lonely Nights. Nevertheless, this is a disc that will satisfy the casual listener as well as those like myself, who have followed Paul's post-Beatles career from the beginning. The colorful booklet includes liner notes and some nice pictures of the various Wings line-ups.

This CD brings back all of those great memories of listening to Paul McCartney and the Wings in the 70's! It has all the hits and some. Enjoy!!

"Wingspan" does a pretty good job of presenting hits and "History" as McCartney refers to the second disc of album tracks, singles and b-sides that he felt were overlooked previously.

The first disc focuses on McCartney's singles as both solo artist and in Wings duplicating most of "Wings Greatest" but it does offer a more generous and comprehensive overview of McCartney's career post-Beatles. Fans should be warned, however, that some of these are the single edits NOT the original full length songs (for example "Junior's Farm" is about a minute shorter than the original single).

The selections on the second disc are a bit more problematic. This disc allows McCartney to highlight some really good songs that were buried on crap albums or highlighting an album track that might have been overlooked on an outstanding album. Some are brilliant inclusions ("Heart of the Country", "Every Night") while others are a bit odd ("No More Lonely Nights"-Playout Version recorded for the closing credits of "Give My Regards to Broadstreet", "The Lovely Linda" which is charming but little more than a fragment McCartney made up on the spot to test his recording equipment).


The sound is pretty decent on this compilation although it doesn't sound quite as good as "Wings Greatest". The mastering here is more compressed and louder lacking the dynamic range of the earlier CDs but it is the only place to get some of the single edits and other rarities. Nevertheless this is a solid anthology and if you only want one McCartney anthology with a healthy collection of hits and some album tracks, this would be the one to get.


The two CD set also has a booklet with information on the recordings, photos, etc. The first edition comes with a lenticular cover and with the CDs housed on a cardboard hardcover cover. As other reviewers mentioned it is missing some key tracks but with only two CDs to cover a 31 year solo/Wings career, that's to be expected I suppose. There are some odd choices though on the "History" portion of the set but more often than not the McCartney gets it right as to key album/single tracks that were important to his career.

This is a pretty good compilation if all you're looking for is the hits along with key album track but if you want something with better fidelity I would go with "Wings Greatest" (for his career through 1978)and/or "All The Best" (which has its own flaws as well)first and expand from there.

Some people may regard this as a missed opportunity, as it collects together many of Paul's hits since the break-up of the Beatles (whether solo or with Wings) but includes a selection of album tracks at the expense of several minor hits. I don't mind this approach as most of the hits that really matter are here. The most notable omissions are the duets with Stevie Wonder (Ebony and ivory) and Michael Jackson (Say say say, The girl is mine), the novelty song with the frog chorus (We all stand together) that became a a British top three hit and two other British top ten hits (Wonderful Christmastime, Once upon a long ago). With the exception of The girl is mine (a track from Thriller that has never appeared on any Paul McCartney album) and Wonderful Christmastime (which can be found on multi-artist Christmas compilations and is in any case better heard that way), all those tracks can be found on the Brithish version of an earlier compilation (All the best). The American version of that compilation only includes two of the missing tracks (Say say say, Ebony and ivory).

Given the decision to include some album tracks that were never released as singles, it would have been interesting to read Paul's explanation as to his choice of album tracks. Sadly, the booklet contains no such explanation although it contains plenty of pictures. We are therefore left to speculate as to the reason's for Paul's choices although I understand that they just happen to be Paul's favorites among the songs that weren't big hits.

With such a diverse range of material to choose from, anything other than a straight greatest hits compilation was likely to provoke fierce debate among fans and so it has proved as you can see by looking at other reviews here and elsewhere. Even a straight greatest hits isn't so simple because Paul, whether solo or as the leader of Wings, sometimes had different hits in different countries. The most extreme examples are Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey (an American number one that didn't chart in Britain) and Mull of Kintyre (a British number one that was a huge hit in many other counties but a flop in America). These tracks sit next to each other on the hits CD here. It would have been unthinkable to leave either off a set like this, though each was only included on one version of the single CD All the best, where the British track listing differed from the American version. When it comes to other hits that only charted in one country, there would be plenty of scope to argue about which ones should be included and which omitted.

Perhaps the strangest thing about this collection, given that it is not a straight greatest hits compilation, is that it contains nothing recorded after 1984. I'll admit that I haven't followed Paul's career closely since then but he has had plenty of minor hits (at least in the UK) since then and one might have expected that one or two of his later recordings would have featured on the History CD. Still, this is an interesting collection that includes most of Paul's really obvious post-Beatles hits in Britain and America.

I was a Paul Fan back in the day. Thought I would marry him one day. Hey hey hey!

Stop that madness. Paul married well the second time. I'm so glad. Not only does he pay tribute to the late Linda McCartney in the second song ("The Lovely Linda") on the second CD, but he provides happiness to his fans both old and new in this Wings compilation. Seven years after its release, it is just now playing in my car. Actually, I intended to purchase Venus and Mars, one of my all-time favorite albums (which vinyl version I have not replaced). Because the music store did not have it, I bought "Wingspan" instead.

The two CDs in the set are so different. The first CD is a selection of some of Wings greatest hits, while the second is surprises (for me). This disc is more ballads and love songs and blues with a couple of hits mixed in.

The liner notes tell us that Paul struggled to find his niche after the Beatles breakup, both alone and in a group. During that time I remember the negative reaction to Linda's inclusion in the band (I was one of the voices). Her addition seemed out of kilter for a master singer and songwriter. But as I have been listening recently, I hear Linda with "fresh" ears--as a retrospective. Whatever her contribution, Paul apparently wanted her there. That's a real tribute to a marriage in a fishbowl.

There is absolutely no reason to list any songs. A Paul fan knows them. Maybe a Paul-fan-in-the-making might like a rehash, but there are better reviews for that. However, THE song that jumps out at me is "Mull of Kintrye." I didn't even know what he was saying until I read it, then got out a map and discovered it is in Ireland. The other song I will mention is "Live and Let Die," my favorite James Bond theme song. The discordance fits perfectly with the evil always present in a Bond story. "Band on the Run" and "Jet" are two other excellent Wings songs.

On the second CD the two that stand out are "Venus and Mars/Rockshow" and "Maybe I'm Amazed."

Overall, it was truly interesting to hear the songs that Paul calls "some of our best work."

The unhurried pace of `When We Dance', the opener to a decade's anthology of Sting's best work, could serve as an icon for the artist's contribution to serious popular music. Pensive, elegant, emotionally resurgent, the song captures the burden of the man's music. Perhaps the highest compliment this reviewer can pay the collection and the reservoir from which it was drawn is just this: unlike the figures in Sting's balladic poetry, the music refuses to grow old.

The title track, `Fields of Gold', is another of Sting's story-spinning masterpieces. Elevating his and his lover's bond to mythic levels by contrast to the `jealous sun', Sting writes the poetry of love song better than any of his contemporaries. The musical phrasing plays its role flawlessly as well, brief instrumental interlude occuring at exactly the right moment and without overstaying its welcome.

`All This Time' is perhaps the closest thing to a creed that one will find in Sting's repertoire. Brilliantly written, cunningly skeptical, deeply individualist, resonant almost of Emerson, it turns a phrase as well as any. Speaking of two priests who've turned up to administer last rites to a dying man, Sting sees them, unsympathetically, `Fussing and flapping in priestly black // Like a murder of crows'. The entire song deserves quotation:

I looked out across
The river today
I saw a city in the fog and an old church tower
Where the seagulls play
I saw the sad shire horses walking home
In the sodium light
I saw two priests on the ferry
October geese on a cold winter's night

And all this time, the river flowed
Endlessly to the sea

Two priests came round our house tonight
One young, one old, to offer prayers for the dying
To serve the final rite
One to learn, one to teach
Which was the cold wind blows
Fussing and flapping in priestly black
Like a murder of crows

And all this time, the river flowed
Endlessly to the sea
If I had my way I'd take a boat from the river
And I'd bury the old man,
I'd bury him at sea

Blessed are the poor, for they shall inherit the earth
Better to be poor than a fat man in the eye of a needle
And as these words were spoken I swore I hear
The old man laughing
'What good is a used up world and how could it be
Worth having'

And all this time the river flowed
Endlessly like a silent tear
And all this time the river flowed
Father, if Jesus exists,
Then how come he never lived here

The teachers told us, the Romans built this place
They built a wall and a temple, an edge of the empire
Garrison town,
They lived and they died, they prayed to their gods
But the stone gods did not make a sound
And their empire crumbled, 'til all that was left
Were the stones the workmen found

And all this time the river flowed
In the falling light of a northern sun
If I had my way I'd take a boat from the river
Men go crazy in congregations
But they only get better
One by one
One by one...

The enigmatic `Be Still, My Beating Heart' brings artistic and emotional discernment to the task of sorting out the opportunity cost of speaking, of understanding, of opening up, of choosing to love or to flee the prospect of being loved.

The anthology includes Sting's most potent political statement, one that demonstrates the power of art to change minds. `They Dance Alone' tells the story of bereaved Chilean mothers whose children have been `disappeared' under the Pinochet regime. Weaving the story of these sad-eyed women who `dance alone' because their men have gone into a slow dance suffused with hope transposes Sting's gift for chronicling love and love's loss into a new key.

`If I Ever Lose My Faith in You' is Sting's iconic declaration of this love for this woman a thing that eclipses Everything Else. It is vintage Sting, without which no compilation of his work would deserve the name.

`Fragile' is an act of the most intelligent brooding. Spare orchestration befits its single, gloomy thought:

If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are

FIELDS OF GOLD reminds Sting fans that it was indeed a remarkable decade. Sting lifted our hearts and filled our minds inimitably or--as the artist himself might have it--in my fashion.

Sunday afternoon. 91st and Second on the 36th floor with a south and west view. Distant sound of tires turning on wet asphalt. Sun breaking through the clouds after a spring rain.

Little Miss Bright Eyes (who never needed makeup in her entire life) is curled up on the couch in a French tee and her undies studying Laing's Knots. You're in a -different- mood. You put -this- on.

A half hour later everyone's knots have come... unraveled. Copious research has demonstrated conclusively that "Fields of Gold" is dead on-target for sophisticated beauties who like their romance multi-sensory.

There's a reason this guy has sold more than 45 millions copies of his work (and who knows how many more that were burned in Guangzhau without paying him), and the reason is evident right here. Clever lyrics, hook-saturated melodies, uptown arrangements, consistent mood.

Enya meets Paul Simon to go ska-ing on a finger lick of MDA.

Good as The Police were (and evidently still are), this is quite a ways up the road from "Message in a Bottle" or "Roxane." That said, those arrested by The Police in the '80s will have little trouble moving up from that snarling Porsche to this purring Mercedes.

"Fields of Gold" may be one of the best compilations of the '90s because it plays like an original album. Sophisticated girls like a mood, ya know.

A disc that I previously had but must have sold or lost it..
Great to get it back, and though used it is in great shape as
expected. Just love this disc, total satisfaction, thankyou very
much for your help. Aloha.

Throughout all the different phases of Sting's career (with the Police and solo), I have to say this complilation is my favorite...something I
have listened to over and over and never get tired of.

Sting left the Police and had a tremendously successful solo career. Lots of great songs are on this cd, I just wish a couple more had made it like "It's Probably Me", "Shape of My Heart", "Love is the 7th Wave", "Seven Days" and "Soul Cages". The songs on here are great so I want to give it 5 stars but Sting has released so many more good songs and albums since this that we really need a volume 2 and soon. But as far as the period that this compilation covers, it is a fine way to pick up his best material from those albums.

This was not only the best price for the CD, it came so soon I wasn't expecting it. Came in perfect and sealed condition. That's important to me.

Great Album from a great artist. Highlights include The Title Track , "Rosie " , " Nothin' But Time " , " The Load Out / Stay ", " Love Needs a Heart " and " Cocaine " . I reccommend the DVD Audio version if you have a player . It features 2 Bonus tracks , " Cocaine Revisited " and an instrumental . Nice CD to pop in when taking a road trip . Not a weak track on it.

Love this album. Love Jackson Browne's music. He is a musical poet.
All of his music is top notch. Deep!!

Jackson Browne's Grammy-nominated life-on-tour documentary album, Running on Empty (1977), is a unique and entertaining collection of previously unreleased songs that were recorded live on stage, backstage, on the tour bus and in hotel rooms during a concert tour in America. Everything is perfectly engineered and produced so that none of the recordings sound cheap or homemade. The onstage performances are lively and professional, and the offstage acoustic jams are engaging and authentic. You do get a documentary feel here of what it was like to tour with Jackson Browne in 1977.

The title song, which was a hit single (#11), opens the album from the Merriweather Post Pavillion stage in Columbia, MD. It's an autobiographical rocker that chronicles Jackson's time on the road and how it has been a factor in his life. It's an energetic beginning, and the song perfectly sets the tone for Running on Empty.

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to, to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running, too

Other songs on Running on Empty also follow the album's life-on-the-road theme. The Road, Rosie, Shaky Town and The Load-Out are all about the touring life. There's a lonely sadness and uncertain regret in some of these songs, too, and sometimes it seems that even Jackson himself isn't really sure if he's living his dream or living in a dream. The first part of The Road was recorded in Room 301 at the Cross Keys Inn in Baltimore, MD and the second part onstage at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ. Jackson sings:

Blues in old motel rooms
Girls in daddy's car
You sing about the nights
You laugh about the scars

It's an almost cruel irony that Running on Empty is Jackson Browne's best selling album. He is mostly famous for his outstanding songwriting talent, but on this album he only wrote two songs alone (Running On Empty, You Love The Thunder), and just contributed to five others. That really doesn't matter much because all of the songs here have the same world-weary and lovelorn tone that any Jackson Browne song might have, and they're a natural fit for him. On Love Needs A Heart, which he wrote with Valerie Carter and Lowell George, Browne sings:

Love won't come near me, she don't even hear me
She walks past my vacancy sign
Love needs a heart, trusting and blind
I wish that heart was mine

In the end, Running on Empty comes full circle and closes with another performance on the Merriweather Post Pavillion stage in Columbia, MD. This time it's the album's other hit single (#20), The Load-Out/Stay medley. It's over nine minutes long and features vocal performances by Browne, Rosemary Butler and David Lindley. Jackson sits alone at his piano and sings a tribute to the roadies, the audience and to life on the road during the Load-Out.

But when that last guitar's been packed away
You know that I still want to play
So just make sure you got it all set to go
Before you come for my piano...

First things first: "Running On Empty" and "The Load-Out / Stay" are probably deserving of their ubiquity on classic-rock radio. They're the closest this record comes to the standards Browne set on his earliest albums.

The rest of Running On Empty is slight, and goes down easy, and that's both a good thing and a bad one. With its well-known bookends and its easy-to-comprehend thematic threads, it's a great record to recommend to a Jackson Browne novice. After all, everything - the melodies, the singing, the playing - is solid. It's a completely accessible record. If you like it, you'll probably check out more of his work, and you'll either find yourself stunned by the considerably greater depth of some of it, or put off by the fact that those other records deal with grey areas rather than black and white.

(I started off in the latter camp. Running On Empty was the first Jackson Browne album I ever heard, back when I was fourteen or so. I listened to it constantly, and really liked it, but it took me a long, long time to get into any of his other music. Isolated songs from Saturate Before Using and Late For the Sky made some impact, but I might've been too young to understand how truly adult those records were. Running On Empty, however, never confused me one bit.)

Running On Empty was recorded on the road - at concerts, on buses, in hotel rooms - and captures that ambience well. The snatches of dialogue, the intimacy of "Cocaine" and the first half of "The Road," and most of all the shouted requests for familiar older tunes that precede the title track all speak to the weariness, the repetitiveness of being constantly in motion. But Neil Young beat him to the punch several years earlier with Time Fades Away, a frustrating, messy record that nevertheless runs rings around Running On Empty precisely because it's uncomfortable and requires that it be listened to with an open mind. Running On Empty, on the other hand, requires ears and nothing more.

Some critics have pointed to the songwriting credits on Running On Empty as evidence that Browne was living the title phrase to the extreme - only the title track and "You Love the Thunder" are solo efforts, and four of the songs don't bear Browne's name at all. This is often seen as laziness or exhaustion rearing its head, but it may have simply been a natural collaborative outgrowth of being on tour. Who knows. Even giving Browne the benefit of the doubt and chalking up his less-than-impressive compositional record on Running On Empty to a desire to work well with others, it's pretty hard to ignore the fact that most of these songs are simply not that great. Comfortable, catchy, and even mostly memorable, perhaps, but just not up to Browne's earlier standard.

Naturally, Running On Empty became Browne's biggest success, closing one chapter of his career and starting a new, less thrilling one through which he could simply coast, rather than have to navigate.

I love the Doobie Brothers and lost my one and only "greatest" CD in my travels (along with my CD player - I know, old school but it worked). Anyway, it has some of the best The Doobies released. I received it in great condition from the seller and within the time stated.

It's a great driving CD or one to crank while doing projects or cleaning. Gets the blood pumping!

I heard this CD on tape and purchased it so that I could enjoy an improved audio version. I have been enjoying it very much.

I am old enough to remember listening to these songs on the
radio regularily, so thoroghly enjoy hearing them now.

This CD is a reissue of BEST OF THE DOOBIES. It improves upon its predecessor with warm, crisp remastering, and, like the earlier version, focuses primarily on the more rock-oriented material featuring Tom Johnston, only including two cuts with Michael McDonald. This CD is an excellent replacement for the older version, unless you want to spring for all five of the early albums, when the group were California's answer to the Allman Brothers Band and Grand Funk Railroad.

i was not happy with the sent product. overall, this product was in good condition, but the case was cracked when i received it. i thought this was poor service on the business' part because the item i ordered was suppose to be new.

4 stars given because there are actually a ton of hit included on this compilation. Disc 1 is very nearly perfect and I have no complaints with it but disc 2 has me scratching my head. A few songs are included for no good reason and some other, more popular and essential songs were left out. Again, for no good reason.

This set is not a bad deal for the price and isn't even a bad deal for disc 1 alone at the price. Still, it's hard to call something essential when it's missed the true essence.

I am A big Journey fan,and A fan of Steve Perry,so to me this collection is excellent.You get almost all the great hits from The Steve Perry era of Journey(1978-1996)including"Lights","Patiently","Anyway You Want It","Don't Stop Believin'","Open Arms","Faithfully","Separate Ways","Girl Can't Help It","Send Her My Love",and"Be Good To Yourself",amoung others.Also included is the grammy nominated"When You Love A Woman",and"Message of Love" from The 1996 album "Trial By Fire"(neither were featured on"Greatest Hits"or"Time 3)".And it's all Steve Perry's Journey(Nothing from Greg Rollie's lead vocal years,or The Steve Augeri/Arnel Pinada era).If you love Journey,and love Steve Perry,then this collection is for you.

This two disk set has almost all of the Journey songs you are looking for. There's no reason to "pick and choose" at iTunes when you can get them all on this disk for such a low price.

Do yourself a favor. If you want to hear some great Journey, get their first three recordings. This is when Journey was at their best. This post Perry stuff, I'll admit is OK. They are catchy tunes if your into that light weight girly pop stuff.

Speedy service. Quality product. Happy customer.
Had to get this Fleetwood Mac CD, not only because
it's classic but also for the song "Sugar Daddy",
which I can listen to over and over again. Stevie
Nicks is sexy. Christine McVie is awesome. And the
band just rocks! Enough said.

Before there was Rumours, Fleetwood Mac released their more unknown re-debute, which displayed their new-found pop style, in contrast to the blues rock of the Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac. While not as classic as their smash album, Rumours, this album stands on it's own, actually. It's hardly a developing relic of the sound of Rumours, it doesn't feel like a cheap prototype, nope, it's just more great music, different enough to stand on it's own from Rumours (I don't prefer the music as much as I do from Rumours, but that's not because of style, it's simply a matter of preference).

Aside from the very bland and boring Crystal, your looking at ten great tracks here, no bad songs, but nothing but great pop music. Like the smash hit Rumours, you can tell the different styles of each. As usual, Mcvie writes upbeat, a bit melancholy pop songs, and she still sings in that stunning voice she has. When she slows it down for Warm Ways and Over My Head, it's just as stunning as she is in songs like Say You Love Me. Stevie Nicks, actually gives her absolute best, as her smaller contributions make up for amazing songs. Buckingham is the master of making those bouncy pop songs, and with this album, throws the fantastic I'm So Afraid at the end of the album. While were on the subject of Buckingham, he plays some of his most passionate solos here, from bluesly licks, to sensual, scorching, I agree with the people who say that his playing is underrated (same goes for John's bass playing).

Monday Morning, starting the album, feels like a Monday song, and it does not disappoint with that, while the aforementioned Warm Ways breaks it up with early morning beauty, then is broken up with the emotional Blue Letter. Stevie Nicks gets her first spotlight with Rhiannon (a character from a novel), and she sings in the immortal witch voice that got her in trouble. Mcvie gets two songs in a row, the lovely, easy, gliding Over My Head, that gives the aura of a night carnival, at least for me (probably conjured by the Ferris Wheel simile or whatever), and the poppiest song on the album, Say That You Love Me.

While it might be a cliche to name it so, Landslide is arguably Nicks' best composition. The immortal lyrics, immortal, organic shimmering, the introspection, it's a masterpiece, especially for an acoustic song. World Turning features some of Buckingham's best playing. Scaling some of the tastiest blues licks, like a Jimmy Page but less sexual and bombast, it then goes into a thumping, pulsing beats that will make you move. It kind of fades into mediocrity during the final parts of it, but the first part is not to be mist. Mcvie gets her last song, the poppy Sugar Daddy, with soulful organ and piano. Sure, the lyrics are pretty pedestrian, but considering the marriage problems she was going through, it makes sense she wants a "Sugar Daddy". It's a great song, actually.

They, however, perhaps, save the best for the last. I don't know exactly why I get so much musical value from I'm So Afraid, but it's such a damn good song. Backed by tom-tom like pounding, the organ shimmers and conjures up a mood of melancholy, like Buckingham is singing in the desert, with the sunset in the distance, It seems to give the mood of that, and with absolutely wrenching guitar solos from Buckingham, it turns out to be quite a closer, and great touch with the gongs! Great way to bring this heck of an album home!

It is tempting to label Fleetwood Mac with the rest of the forgettable AOR _______ that, if it disappeared off the face of the Earth, I wouldn't give a _____ (Boston, Journey, Peter Frampton, The Eagles, Styx, Foreigner, etc.), but considering these guys still sound incredibly fresh today, they deserve higher status.

8.5/10

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1RIHX5B5ENL5L My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!!

This album is really . Rumors imho, but sadly, Amazon has yet to rip it for download.

PLEASE PROVIDE THIS FOR DOWNLOAD

Thank you =^.^=

I bought this CD specifically for 'Monday Morning' and the original rendition of 'Rhiannon' and I was not dissapointed. While this isn't their *best* work in my opinion (See 'Rumours' for that!), the music is great...as I say in the title, a good additional for any true fans of Fleetwood Mac!

One of my Favorites , Love it . Madman Across the Water (Audio CD) ~ Elton John

Elton John's earlier albums are my favorites that he made. Though some of his later ones are okay, I found the older ones are the ones I like the most from start to finish. If I had to pick the albums, Tumbleweed Connection and Madman Across the Water are two at the very top.

Madman starts off with three of 4 songs that are some of his best (well known may be a better statement, though they are great spongs), Tiny Dancer, Levon and Madman Across The Water.

But the lesser known songs are also great, there are nods to the country stylish sounds of Tumbleweed but this record is more rocky/blusish. Razor Face, Holiday Inn and Rotten Peaches, with its infectious "big" chorus, and will capture you just as much as the other sounds. Probably the most TUnbleweed'ish song on the record.

Just a great record to have in your collection, though pretty much each record upto Captain Fantastic is worthwhile.

This is one of Elton's masterpieces. The combination of Elton's compositions, Bernie's lyrics, and Paul Buckmaster's well crafted arrangements make this an essential purchase for any Elton John fan. Much has already been said about "Levon" and "Tiny Dancer" (and Paul's efforts stand out on those two tracks) but two gems that deserve more attention are "Holiday Inn" and "Indian Sunset". "Holiday Inn has some nifty sitar on it, and "Indian Sunset" is one of Bernie's most intense lyrics of that era.

A side note here regarding Steve Gdula's review of this album: Although "Madman Across the Water" was first recorded at the time of the TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION sessions, (this was version #1) it was NOT included on that album for it's original vinyl release. In fact, that version did not even see the light of day until Elton put out the "Rare Masters" 2CD set in 1992. However, the track has been included on subsequent reissues of Tumbleweed Connection in 1995 and 2008. (Which may be the reason Steve thought it was on the original LP release). The title track of the Madman Across The Water LP released in 1971 is actually the 2nd version recorded.

The best three songs from this nine song collection are on the box set. Strip away those three and the rest of "Madman" ranges from album cuts that do no damage to rotten exercises in filler. Were I to pluck a fourth track for the box set it would probably be the album closer, "Goodbye".

That's not to say that the box set snaps up all desirable Elton John tracks. "Tumbleweed Connection" is an excellent album, much more consistent than this one, and is woefully underrepresented considering that the box is a 4CD set. And once you have the three choice cuts from "Madman" via the box set, the single album live set "11-17-70" would be a much stronger addition to your collection for this time period in Elton's career. That album of Elton raucously burning down the house back in his nightclub days is entirely unrepresented on the box set.

One gets the impression that after this album Elton, with or without the discreet advice of label execs, decided that he'd taken the singer-songwriter path about as far as he could. He wisely foresaw that the singer-songwriter fad would be running out of steam in the next year or so, and with his next album "Honky Chateau" he steered a course toward pop. Like "Madman", that album also was somewhat hit or miss, and its three best songs are also on the box set. This was a transitional time in Elton's career as he laid the groundwork for delivering some of the best pop singles and albums of the early-to-mid-70s.

Two words should do it: Classic Elton. But I'm a man of many words, so... The first album I ever bought - back when there was ONLY vinyl - was Elton's Honky Chateau. That started a love affair that I thought would never end. Unfortunately, it ended 15 or more years ago when Elton seemed to stop trying, but everything up to and including "Reg Strikes Back" has amazed me. As for this disc, there's a reason that "Tiny Dancer" and "Levon" still get constant radio play - they are totally awesome. But my favorite track is the title cut, a haunting song that Elton delivers with a passion I miss, but fortunately preserved for all time. Now remastered, it stands the test of time. "Goodbye Yellow Brick" may be Elton's career-defining disc, but this disc, although more raw, is a worthy addition to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the Great Sir Elton.

YEA,THE PICTURE,SOUND AND PLAYING DURING THE SHOW ARE TOP-NOTCH.ONLY DISBELIEF IS HOW YOU CAN'T HEAR THEM DURING THE TALKING SEGMENTS SOMETIMES AND YOU HAVE TO TURN IT UP!YOU'RE LIKE,WHAT IDIOT DID'NT MIX IT?DID THEY EVEN LISTEN TO IT BEFORE MASTERING?WER'E THEY FIRED AFTERWARD?!OCCASIONALLY I GET A DVD WHERE CERTAIN TITLES ARE MIXED WAY LOUDER OR WHATEVER BUT ITS NORMALLY DONE BY PEOPLE ON A WAY SMALLER BUDGET THAN THE DAN HAVE.THIS DVD IS STILL A GREAT PURCHASE THOUGH.

I had the privlidge of seeing the original Steely Dan band in Boston back in the seventies.This band had original members Denny Dias, Jim Hodder, and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter on stage that night. Also with the band was Mike McDonald and the late Jeff Porcaro also playing drums along side Jim Hodder( also deceased). The concert wasn't even sold out, but I had these guys early records and knew they were destined to greatness. The music on this DVD is about as flawless as can be, and the musicians assembled for this recording are top notch players.Another reason for me personally buying this DVD is that the drummer on this DVD, Ricky Lawson, was the original drummer of my favorite Jazz fusion group The Yellowjackets.So if you're a DAN fan this is a must buy. You won't be disappointed.

The only Steely Dan Live DVD worth owning. Sort of a strained definition of Live since this was recorded in front of a small audience in a TV sound stage. As good as it gets for fans of the Dan for now. Some day, we can hope that Walter and Donald will gift their long-suffering and very loyal fans with a full-length concert DVD with the kind of production values we've come to expect from their meticulous recording career. Til then, we have this disc to remind us of their absolute greatness. If you cannot see them live, this is the next best thing, and the best part is that you can watch this tight set list over and over.

Walter Becker and Donald Fagan have a certain charm that pervades not only their music but the dialogue that is strewn throughout this DVD performance. Here are two slightly nerdy, intellectual guys who because of their ability to write and play cool hit songs, have had the trappings of pop stardom bestowed upon them for most of their lives - e.g. surrounded by pretty backing singers who they covet from the younger and better looking members of the band. They treat the whole thing as a bit of a spoof and are more intent on doing a Seinfeld-like routine with other members of the band than talking about the songs. However when they do get around to playing, no-one comes close to them when they deliver wonderfully crafted songs - lyrics and music with such precision. The combination of an unmistakable voice, (Fagan) with syncopated Rhodes piano (Fagan again) and beautifully understated modal guitar lines (Becker) are the backbone of what has become one of the most recognisable sounds in pop music. After decades of hit songs, this DVD summarises where Fagan and Becker have been and where they are now. I saw their live show in Australia in 2007 and this DVD serves as a reminder of that show which was perfect. But what else would you expect from these guys?

A great concert from a fantastic bunch of musicians, and edited in just the goofy quirky way Don and Walt make me feel with their music. Very well done! And the little conversation in the limo at the end of the credits is just one example of why you have to see this! Priceless! My kids always make me slo-mo the part at the end of Pretzel Logic, where Don is nodding violently and his glasses fly off! Don't pass it up!

My favorite songs all on one CD!! What can I say except if you like Rod Stewart(and who doesn't) this is the CD to own and listen to. Can't go wrong, also a great gift!!!!

This Is A Great Rod Stewart Cd. The Remastering Is Great And The Songs Are Great. My Only Problem With This Is The Packaging. The Booklet Is Hard To Get Out And The Cd's Are Also Hard To Get Out. It Feels Like You Might Creak The Cd. But Overall A Great Collection.

Rod Stewart's new 2-CD compilation entitled The Definitive Rod Stewart lives up to its title and then some as it cobbles many of his Mercury Records and Warner Bros Records classics.
Singer/songwriter Rod Stewart (or as Rod the Mod as many call him) has been one of the most popular and prolific recording artists in a career that's spanned now for almost 45 years. Ever since his voice debuted on former Yardbird Jeff Beck's album Truth in 1968, he's tackled every genre in rock and pop (hard rock, folk, disco, ballads, pop standards). Nothing from his first two solo albums The Rod Stewart Album and Gasoline Alley are featured here, they were stepping stones towards his third solo album from 1971 Every Picture Tells A Story which launched him as a great singer/songwriter in his own right.
Every Picture Tells a Story's well represented here with "Maggie May", "Mandolin Wind" and the title cut ("Reason to Believe" is on disc two in its 1993 Unplugged version with Ron Wood). Some lament that his cover of "I Know I'm Losing You" is not here gives one a reason to own Every Picture Tells a Story. Then we have "Stay With Me" which was a track he did with the band he was in at the time called The Faces (which featured future Rolling Stones guitarist and Rod's close friend Ron Wood, former Small Faces and future Who drummer Kenney Jones) still a rock radio staple today. Next is "You Wear it Well" from 1972's Never a Dull Moment. After The Faces imploded and his solo effort Smiler didn't do as well as previous solo efforts, Rod signed to Warner Bros. Records (his label with The Faces) in 1975 and released Atlantic Crossing which is represented here by the hit "Sailing". Two other tracks "This Old Heart of Mine" and "I Don't Want to Talk About It" are featured in their 1989 re-recorded versions from the Storyteller box set (the former with Ronald Isley). 1976's A Night on the Town (which reached #2) is represented by the #1 hit ballad "Tonight's the Night", his superb cover of Cat Stevens' "The First Cut Is the Deepest" (later desecrated by Sheryl Crow IMHO) and Rod's ode to a good friend who was killed in a hate crime called "The Killing of Georgie" (proved Rod was a great songwriter). 1977's Footloose and Fancy Free (his best Warner Bros Records album) is represented by the smash hits "You're In My Heart" (a great ballad) and "Hot Legs" (one of his best rockers) plus the epic closer "I Was Only Joking". 1978's chart-topper Blondes Have More Fun is represented by the #1 rock-disco hit "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy". 1980's Foolish Behaviour is represented by "Passion" (a great rocker). Disc one closes with the monster hit "Young Turks" from 1981's Top 20 Platinum selling Tonight I'm Yours (his best 1980s effort).
Disc two begins with the title cut to Tonight I'm Yours. 1983's flop Body Wishes is represented by "Baby Jane" (the big hit from the album). 1984's Gold selling Camouflague is represented by the big hits "Infatuation" and "Some Guys Have All the Luck". His cover of "All Right Now" was left off but c'est la vie. His 1986 self-titled flop (though a great album) is represented by the hit "Love Touch" which appeared in the Robert Redford/Debra Winger film Legal Eagles. 1988's comeback Out of Order is represented by the classic "Forever Young" and "My Heart Can't Tell You No". The other two smashes on this album ("Lost in You" and "Crazy About Her") aren't here but c'est la vie. 1989's box set Storyteller is represented by the definitive version of Tom Waits' "Downtown Train" and the aforementioned re-makes of tracks from his 1975 album Atlantic Crossing. 1991's Vagabond Heart is represented by the monster smashes "Rhythm Of My Heart" and "The Motown Song" (with The Temptations). Sadly, "Broken Arrow" is absent due to time constraints. Another Tom Waits cover "Tom Traubert's Blues" appears and is a great number. 1993's Unplugged...And Seated is represented by his version of Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately" and the aforementioned "Reason to Believe". Nothing from 1995's A Spanner in the Works is featured nor is 1998's When We Were the New Boys but you get an outtake from the latter which is a Rod original called "Two Shades of Blue".
If one wants to buy a Rod Stewart best of to start their intro to Rod Stewart, this is the best bet.
Recommended!

This is an amazing album, esp. for those of you familiar only with his last three albums ... this is quit a histoory of his efforts & the two CDs neatly cover much of his music that we grew up with. Excellent collection.

Gotta say it, 'cause no one has said it so far, the previously unreleased track "Two Shades of Blue", makes this set worth buying if for just that one track. Gently swaying but percussive and with one of the most inventive and memorable orchestral backings ever, this song is just gorgeous. Rod wrote the lyrics, which cut write to the heart. Who says sad songs can't hurt so good? Just beautiful. Unbelievable that this was a leftover track from the 1998 sessions for the album "When We Were the New Boys".

I got the DVD + 2 CD version. I love all the songs and the remastering is gorgeous which makes the old songs come to life. The DVD has videos on it that were left off the "Storyteller" video set. And the videos on this set are more rare. Some I'd never seen before. Some of the videos are not very creative but it's still good to see them. One of my favorites is "If We Fall In Love Tonight" with Rod the studio photographer lovingly taking photos of many friends, families with babies and lovers. What really makes it for me as this is one my most favorite Rod songs. There are many faves, but "If We Fall In Love Tonight" has many unique textures - from the piano fills which sound like gentle rain, to the rhythmic scratching to the uniquely placed background vocals placed just ahead of the lead singer and which contrast nicely with Rod's vocal. The track is one of Jam and Lewis' finest productions ever.

After a hard week I come home some Friday nights, turn out the lights and blast the tunes "If We Fall In Love Tonight" and "This" (from Rod's "A Spanner In The Works"). All the while I sing my heart out. Sure beats the bar. "Two Shades of Blue" is bound to be added to my set list.