5 comments about In the Spirit of Things.

1. This is probably Kansas weakest album and it is really too band as I think it had potential for greatness. The album follows a loose concept about a flood that wiped out the small Kansas town of Neosho Falls in 1951. When I found out Kansas was working on a concept album I really had high hopes as I thought they were one band that really could pull off something special. Unfortunately due to record company pressure for a hit they pulled in outside songwriters for about a third of the material on the album and the results are a mish-mash that only vaguely stuck to the concept and provided a whole cadre of mediocre songs. The single "Stand Beside Me" was obviously written specifically for radio airplay and Kansas fans rejected it in droves as it sank down the charts soon after release. All of the outside written songs are throwaways. If you cut them out what you have is a decent Kansas album that loosely sticks to the theme of the small town flood and history scenario. All that being said there are 4 tracks on this album that are excellent and make it worth owning. The opening track "Ghosts" sets the stage for the concept and is a great moody piece with Steve Walsh sounding better than ever with great lyrics and vocals. The song really sets up the concept well, but alas it get abandoned fairly quickly. "The Preacher" is another great Walsh tune telling the tale of a gospel preacher in all his fire and brimstone glory. I always wondered if this was some kind of a reaction to Kerry Livgren's Christian oriented writing on earlier albums. Either way this is a great song. "Rainmaker" is another story teller song and the most progressive rock oriented piece on the disc. The middle instrumental section is prime Kansas with Walsh's keys and Morse's guitar tearing it up. "Bells Of St James" is the album closer and another great tune about a soldier who gets a "Dear John" letter from his girlfriend back home while he is off to war. It is another great tune. There are two other songs that are worth noting, neither are great, but both "One Big Sky" and "House On Fire" are pretty good tunes as well. "Spirit" would prove to be the album that broke the band once again. It did not sell very well and the tour was conducted in clubs instead of theaters. The band's sold out arena days were long behind them and in the end Steve Morse moved completely out of music for a while before eventually replacing Richie Blackmore in Deep Purple. The band would not release another new studio album for close to a decade. "Spirit Of Things" is not essential Kansas, but there are 4 great songs that make it worth owning.



2. The five star rating system used on Amazon is not adequate sometimes to express the value and quality of a given album and this is definitely one of those recordings."In the Spirit of Things" is more than just ok it is actually pretty good. It is somewhat underrated in that it is not your typical "bargain bin" item although it seems to be treated as such. I prefer a 1 to 10 rating system with decimal points which gives a person more subtlety and flexibility. I would give this cd a 6.8 based on the following loose criteria:
   production 5 out of 10, Song Writing overall 6.5, overall performance 9.
   
   The production is no better than average due largely to an excessive amount of reverb which tends to blurr the sound of especially the lead guitar. The quality of the songs varies. On the low end I rate "I Counted on Love"(track no.8) a 5.5 due to a chorus that is mildly monotonous in melody and a little grating due to that and somewhat harsh sounding vocals
   (probably due in part to the relatively bad production.]
   
   On the high end is the opening track "Ghosts." With its mellow and thoughtful opening it becomes more powerful about a third of the way through with the entry of drums and guitars including an almost blistering
   lead run by Steve Morse. I rate this track an 8.5. It is a sort of sophistcated power ballad.
   
   There are two other songs of pretty high quality. "Rain maker" (track 10)
   which I rate an 8 may be the most "KANSAS" in spirit, although it sounds quite different from classic 70's Kansas. It begins with Steve Walsh speaking dramatically telling the story behind the song continuing with a section which is truly unique in Kansas output in that it includes a gospel choir that also returns with each chorus. In the middle there is a musical depiction of a rain storm and flash flood including powerful arpeggiated keyboards and some truly blistering guitar work by Steve Morse. "Bells of Saint James" which I also rate an 8 is apparently about a soldier in Vietnam who receives a "dear John letter" from his wife and wondering why he asks "Are the bells Saint James still ringing" apparently the church at which they were married. It features cool sound effects and pleading, passionate, and powerful vocals by Steve Walsh in a powerful arrangement.
   
   "House on Fire"(track 5) is a fun rocking number featuring some fun screamy vocal efects by Walsh."The Preacher" (track 9) also rocks and features some really classic rock organ from Walsh.
   
   "One Big Sky"(track 2) is rythmically driving and puts Walsh's unique vocal qualities to good use in an interesting arrangement. It speaks of the seeming absurdity of trying to find peace and love in a hateful world.
   
   The rest of the tracks are semi-forgetable Survivor/Journey like power ballads.
   
   This album was not only the victim of less than great production but of interference of record company execs who brought in outsiders to write "hits" for the group amongst other things. This interference was the beginning of what eventually lead to Steve Morse's departure from Kansas and almost from music altogether. If the group had been left more to their own devices it may have become the treasure that some think it is forgotten or not. As it is "In the Spirit of Things" is an enjoyable product that Kansas should not be ashamed of, it is not a black mark on their output. It takes a mixture of Survivor, Journey, and traditional Kansas-like elements along with newer unique ones to create a better than average album. If it were a little better I would round it up to 4 stars.
   
   -Steven O. Hemenway



3. This album doesn't even merit a full, detailed review. Two songs, "Stand Beside Me" and "I Counted On Love" are actually good. "Bells Of Saint James" is decent as well. The rest is pretty much not good, with some songs being in fact difficult to listen to.
   
   And this is the same Kansas that put out "Song for America", "Dust in the Wind", "Carry On Wayward Son", "Point of Know Return", and "Questions of My Childhood"? Seriously?
   
   In fact, a lot of the songs mark a blatant surrender to power balladry. From a band like Kansas, nearly all of these attempts fall flat - this territory's already been covered, and much more effectively, by bands like Journey, REO Speedwagon, Boston, and Styx. The composition of the songs and the instrumentation used on them makes most of the album sound badly dated; the warmth of the violin used so effectively in the '70s and on 2000's Somewhere to Elsewhere is nonpresent. This is, simply put, a different Kansas.
   
   Unless you're either a diehard Kansas fan who worships anything they do or quite the opposite - someone who doesn't care for the classic material of Kansas and prefers bands like Foreigner, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Survivor, Toto, and Air Supply - don't even bother picking this one up.



4. I was floored when this album came out in 1988. I remember taking a trip to England and this was the only cassette I played on my walkman. I frequently put the cd on when I'm driving and am still amazed by "Ghosts", "The Preacher" and "Rainmaker". The emotion put into this album was incredible. If you have avoided this Kansas album, I would definitely reconsider. This ranks second only to "Leftoverture" to me in terms of best albums.



5. This record could have been really big. When you have former Pink Floyd The Wall co-producer, Bob Ezrin, involved in a project that starts off with a very powerful song as "ghosts" you have to think that what's coming next is rock and roll history in the making. Unfortunately it's not the case. One have to think that "Spirit" was meant as a concept album, but strangely enough it contains up to 3 songs that were not written by any Kansas member or Ezrin, and what follows after "Ghosts" is a collection of forgettable songs, some catchy I admit, some not even catchy, that drift away from the mood that the first songs gets you in.
   I bought this album in vinyl when it first came out, and I was very disappointed with it except for 4 themes : "ghosts", the rocker "The Preacher", the very powerfull "Rainmaker" , and the very short instrumental "T.O. Witcher" ,and I just bought the CD thinking of how much I liked them and also because after all this time it seemed fair to me to give the whole album another try, well , I can assure anyone that this album is not under rated, and it is not a hidden gem or anything in that regard...it could have been, it started off to be...but it fell very far away from greatness.
   And again, after 16 years, I still can't recommend it to anyone for anything but those 4 tunes, but I can honestly say they are very much worth it.

5 comments about The Renaissance Album (Windham Hill).

1. If you're just "getting into" Renaissance, Ancient, or Celtic music, you should add this one to your collection. It was one of the first I bought, and I still listen to it frequently. One of my very favorites is "Si Je Perdais Mon Ami" by George Winston...it's the haunting theme-music to the great Masterpiece Theatre "Elizabeth R" starring Glenda Jackson. And of course the bawdy final song about remaining chaste ("My Thing is My Own" by Nancy Wilson) is terrific. All in all, it is a CD with great variety and quality and it will "spur you on to" more Ancient/Celtic/Renaissance music, helping you "decide what you like" so you can start building your collection.



2. I had a few qualms about picking this one up. Being a Windham Hill release, I was wondering if I was going get a lot of synthesized New Age mush. But this is a wonderful album. Some of the pieces are played pretty straight on traditional instruments, while others stretch the boundaries (Hawaiian guitar, Peruvian flutes). Even when a synthesizer makes an occasional appearance, it doesn't intrude. Although purists may disagree, the performers very much capture the spirit of Renaissance music.
   
   Among the highlights are the previously mentioned piece using Native American and Indian flutes, "O Vos Omnes", by Barry Stramp; the Hawaiian guitar piece, "If My Complaints Could Passions Move"; George Winston playing guitar instead of his usual piano on the French "Villanelle"; and the late Michael Hedges's "Fantasia", which gets a slightly harsh, jazz-rock feel which actually works.
   
   There are only two vocal numbers. David Arkenstone and his wife provide some absolutely stunning vocal harmonies to Claudio Monteverdi's devotional prayer "Domine ad Adjuvandum". The concluding track, the baudy "My Thing is My Own", is arguably the weakest thing here. Performed by Ann and Nancy Wilson, the vocal melody is a bit outside of Ann's singing range. But it's fun.
   
   A relaxing, entertaining CD recommended for everyone.



3. When I first saw this CD in the New Age rack of a local bookstore, I thought it had been mis-filed from the Classical section. Then I took a look at the combination of modern and early music performers listed in the credits and realized I had discovered something delightfully new. For centuries musicians have been drawing inspiration from Renaissance and medieval music, reinventing it to suit their own eras. And today, ensembles seeking to authentically recreate early music sometimes choose to stretch their boundaries as well, exercising their own creativity and appealing to modern sensibilities. So why not combine the two on one recording? Windham Hill's "Renaissance Album" brings together "straight" early music offerings from esteemed groups like Piffaro and the Baltimore Consort with whimsically inventive modern interpretations from New Age artists like the Angels of Venice, Lisa Lynne, Liz Story and David and Diane Arkenstone. The selections fit quite well together, weaving a tapestry across the centuries that is quaint, courtly, delicate and at times lively and even humorous. Lovers of both ends of the spectrum will find something to enjoy here, and will have a chance to discover a variety of artists whose work they may wish to explore further. If you enjoy Windham Hill's "Rennaissance Album", you may also like another of their compilation albums, "Celtic Christmas 3"; not necessarily either Christmassy or Celtic in tone, it nonetheless features some of the same artists as "The Renaissance Album", and in some ways sets a similar tone.



4. I listen to this CD at work A LOT! It seems to transport me to another time and place. The music is light and upbeat. There is a wonderful vocal that concludes the CD by Ann Wilson from Heart. Simply awesome!



5. Fans of any kind of music or literature often have an evangelical bent. "Come on! Just try this one little bit of theater of the absurd/Captain Beefheart/cyberpunk/whatever..." we say to people. I'm that way about early music. In the old days, there was an inexpensive vinyl compilation that I'd always urge on people as an introduction to early music.

   With this CD I think I've found a more recent replacement for that vinyl disc. It has some very well-known names in the early music field (e.g. Piffaro, the Baltimore Consort), various performers who tend to get the "new age" label, whether they want it or not :), and some people who, with all due respect, one wouldn't at all expect to see on an early music collection, such as Ann and Nancy Wilson, formerly of Heart, or slack key virtuoso Keola Beamer.

   If you're hard core about authentic instrumentation, much of this album will set your teeth on edge--but IMHO, all the performers here acquit themselves very well indeed. High points for me were Lisa Lynne's performance of Monteverdi's "Si dolce e'l tormento," Michael Hedge's sprightly take on a de Mudarra fantasia, and Keola Beamer's breathtaking performance of Dowland's "If My Complaints Could Passions Move."

   The CD's irritants for me are few: "My Thing Is My Own" is a one-joke song that way overstays its welcome, and the graphic artists at Windham Hill must've been trying to make the insert just as hard to read as they possibly could have!

   If you're new to early music, give this CD a try. If you're heavily into it, you'll most likely still enjoy it, and you'll have something you can lend out to spread the habit to your friends--if we get enough people started, we can have the Waverly Consort playing stadiums instead of the latest boy band! :)

5 comments about Get Nervous.

1. I was very satisfied. Product came in a timely manner and as descirbed from the seller.



2. Pat Benatar continued her successful career into the 80's, but as a result, the decline was beginning to creep in.
   
   Side one of Get Nervous is pretty good, though. In fact, it gives me the same level of enjoyment that her previous albums did. You have the radio hit "Shadows of the Night", the exciting upbeat "Anxiety (Get Nervous") and the energetic and underrated classic "The Victim".
   
   Side two, however, is not as good. It's like the energy from Benatar's voice and the rest of the band members weren't giving it their all- some pretty weak moments can be found. "I'll Do It" doesn't belong on the album. It's a filler song for sure. "I Want Out" and "Silent Partner" are pretty good tunes, though. Mostly because of the vocal melodies which are above average, but not at the level of classic.
   
   I guess overall I get the feeling Pat Benatar was just going through the motions of being a successful pop star, and thought she could get away with releasing an album with weaker material. Either that, or the changing times of the music scene was starting to take its toll on her career. We also can't rule out the terrible production from the 80's decade overall. Something wasn't right.



3. Though this site declares this is a remastered version, the powers that be have yet to release such a thing and that's a crying shame as Get Nervous is Definitely my third favorite Benatar album of all her releases (right after the first two), for her fourth album Pat had a few new things up her leotard. Actually she dumped the leotard look all together by this time and opted for the new wave short skirts and mini dresses, she had also married her guitarist Neil Giraldo since her last album and one of her guitarists Scott Sheets left being replaced by Charlie Giardino, a keyboardist, and thus with a new found fervor, Pat released Get Nervous. From the minute you look at the awesome cover artwork you know you're in for a trip. Beginning with the lead off single "Shadows Of The Night" Pat was onto a new power pop kick, luckily while mixing up the song co-producer Neil felt the song needed something at the intro and accidentally had the vocal track playing by itself, and voila he had his beginning. Not until Whitney's "I Will Always Love You" cover did another song start acapella and actually still grab you so fiercely. From the rocking pop to a keyboard infused pseudo Motown revival in "Looking For A Stranger" Pat's voice sounds better and better with each track, the third track "Anxiety (Get Nervous)" is fuelled by a rounding guitar lick that was performed straight on for all 3 and a half minutes in the days before looping. The video is hilarious, the song is infectious and hilarious and actually quite rocking. Pat turns it down a notch (at least in the beginning) for the ballad "Fight It Out" before belting every single note she has in her little frame and then turning it up to Led Zeppelin-ish rock with one of my favs "The Victim" with Pat belting and belittling "your choice of love was never very bright/ you've got a burning desire to be the victim/ you're bleeding from the soul/ you're hurting from the heart" and then one of my all time Benatar singles "Little Too Late" with its drum rolls and keyboard infusions, it's classic 80's pop and full of that Benatar attitude I love. From here the songs go into even more of a new wavey vein with "I'll Do It" and "Tell It To Her" mixing the keyboard pop with Neil's rock guitar and Pat's anger at full throttle. Interesting to me is that her only co-write on this album is "Tell It To Her" and it's about the only time you'll find one of Pat's angst ridden songs actually talking about her lover having a girlfriend on the side. For the most part she's just usually pissed cause he doesn't treat her right or did her wrong but here she's dumping the bastage cuz he's got a chick on the side, then what was my fav Benatar song for years "I Want Out" with awesome guitar, awesome breaks and beats and Benatar full on voice. The whole thing ends with a strange little ditty "Silent Partner" that begins with a barrelling keyboard whirl before turning into a super fast paced rocker. An excellant way to end one of her most excellant albums. By the way, when i was but a wee boy, the Christmas of 1982 found under my tree was one of those black tape recorders and a brand new cassette to play in it - that's right Get Nervous. I wore that sucker out. Now I own the cassette, a few copies of the vinyl (looking for the mint edition) and on CD. Now if only Chrysalis/Capitol would remaster the sucker it'd be like Christmas 1982 all over again.



4. I ordered what I "thought" was Get Nervous Remastered and received the original cd. I don't believe this cd has been issued yet in remastered format as with "In the Heat of the Night", "Crimes of Passion" and "Precious Time". The format needs to be changed to "Original Recording Mastered".



5. Why does this listing of Get Nervous say original recording remastered when the release date still says October 25, 1990 ? There must be a misprint here - either the title should not say remastered or the album specs should be updated for the correct release date, etc.. I just purchased In the Heat of the Night, Crimes of Passion and Precious Time (finally as individually remastered albums) and the release date was April of 2006 for each of them; therefore, I would believe that if Get Nervous is TRULY REMASTERED then the release date should say April of 2006. Does anyone know anything about this ?

No comments about Christmas.

5 comments about Who Made Who.

1. I bought this as a gift for my husband and one of his friends and they love it!



2. Great CD! With the tracks " Who made Who" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" you are going to rock! It also has the rock anthem "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)". Great album and a great price. The Free shipping was great also.



3. I missed out on a few ACDC albums on the Phase 1,2 and 3 releases, and this was one of I think three.Even with only Three new items from the Boys, its very worth it !!It rocks, and also it has a nice soft side ( Ride on) which makes it a listening pleasure ( as with all ACDC albums).
   I was hoping that the Disc would have extra video material on the Disc, but with this Connect-D disc, the pluses are, the Booklet, the packaging, and the extras you can get when you connect to the web side and see the Video for Who made Who, the Photos, Audio with Angus and Stephen King, and etc. A real treasure trove. My only wish is that they would make the material on the website available on a disc at some stage, just in case it "disappears" at some stage.
   All in all, whilst its not the top of the albums, its a must have for any ACDC fan.
   RIDE ON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



4. I used to have this album, but it got lost in a move several years ago. I haven't even received it yet, but the songs have been going through my head ever since I ordered it. Can't wait for it to arrive. I hope the quality is as good as the original.



5. AC/DC's 1986 album, Who Made Who, would help pave the way toward their commercial comeback in the early `90s. Released as the soundtrack for the Stephen King movie, Maximum Overdrive, Who Made Who works well as an introduction to the band. The tracks "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Hells Bells", and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)" are three of the most enduring tracks, still receiving steady airplay on album oriented rock radio. The track "Ride On" was as close as the band got to a ballad and is very good as are "Sink the Pink" and "Shake Your Foundations", two of the three best songs from their uneven 1985 release, Fly on the Wall. The three "new" tracks include the title song, arguably their best single since 1981's "Let's Get It Up", and two instrumentals, one very good ("Chase the Ace") and one that is just okay ("D.T."). All told, Who Made Who is a good purchase for an AC/DC fan since it has three of their best songs and a few great deep cuts that you'll never hear on the radio.

5 comments about Heart Greatest Hits: Live.

1. This was CBS' first compilation of Heart material, and the result is unique among the many 'greatest hits' releases that have come since. Maybe it was because of the digital remastering (a relatively new thing at that time). Maybe it was the running order: going from 'Silver Wheels' into 'Crazy On You' in the same manner as they were doing in their live shows really gives Nancy a showcase. Maybe it was the sheer power of 'Mistral Wind' which only increases in the live setting. Certainly it wasn't 'Hit Single' and 'Strange Euphoria' which were blessedly dropped when converted to CD. Maybe it was the original band (yes I know Roger isn't on the live tracks) at its height before the slide of 'Private Audition' and 'Passionworks' and the revamping of the band into 80's hair, cleavage, and power ballads. Whatever it is, nothing sounds like this disc, and it's worth having in your collection even if you've got all the discs that led up to it.



2. The description of this cd is very very misleading. I figured the title
   Heart "Greatest Hits:Live", would mean all songs were live but only a select few are and there not even great hits IMO



3. Don't get me wrong, they looked a lot better in the 80's with stilletos and all that make-up, and puffy hair that could raise any skyscraper, but old Heart is a hell of a lot better than their newer stuff. I thought they sounded like they meant it like: Crazy On You, Barracuda, Straight On, Heartless (my favorite from them). Yep these vixens who were compared to Led Zeppelin as a hell of a rock band, boy oh boy, pretty damn close I might add. Anyways this album kicks serious butt.



4. "Strange Euphoria" was the one of the "new" songs on this recording but it was deleted from the CD of this late 1980 release. Call Strange Euphoria" what you want, but it is a cool song and sounds like Ann and Nancy are on a LSD trip while singing. It was a great song which was not replicated on 1997's Whirlygig even though Heart tried.
   
   The cover sports one of my favorite photos of Ann Wilson with the stand-off-ish, jacked up, over-confident look.



5. Greatest Hits Live originally recorded in 1980 was one of my early CD purchases during early 90s but I happened to miss simply because it was dubbed as "Live" and I thought that was not I had been looking for. (At that time I was looking for Definitive collection of Heart including 80s hits). Time has changed and I happened to uncover this CD from the heap of my dusted CD collections.
   
   It has nine best tracks from their early works such as Dreamboat Annie(1976), Little Queen(1977), Magazine(1978), Dogs and Butterfly(1978), Bebe Le Strange(1980). On the back jacket name of the albums the each tracks are from are shown. Then the album become live recording collection during August and September 1980 tour. Live recording of BEBE LE STRANGE takes place at the stage side where the chat among members before the show can be heard. Interesting intrigue. TELL IT LIKE IT IS is unusually not live but studio recording and became single cut from this greatest CD. And then the ending live performance is LED ZEPPELIN classic ROCK'N ROLL. Alas, it shows their rock spirit.
   Yes, it misses PRIVATE AUDITION(1982) and PASSIONWORK material to be the early Heart collection. But the timing for the release was excellent because it was made when HEART was at their artistic height.
   
   Verdict: It is no doubt Heart fans' essential and 70s rock fans' paradise. Showing well how HEART had been during their early prime.
   Rating: 88 out of 100. Well-edited (particularly Silver Wheel and Crazy On You combination just as their live performance) and consistent. Transition from studio recording part and live recording part has been done excellently.
   Recommended for: Every Heart fan. Lots of 70s rock fans and the appreciators of recent Heart releases such as Desire Walks On(1993) and Jupiters Darling(2004).

5 comments about Road Apples.

1. By far my favorite Hip of all. Top to bottom very very good!



2. The Hip had enjoyed limited commercial success in their native country, but this is the album that made the USA sit up and take notice. Gordon Downie's quirky yet captivating vocal presence and lyrical whimsy is nicely balanced by the musicianship, although I'd expect nothing less from producer Don Smith. Strong commercial content in the form of "Cordelia", "Little Bones", "Twist My Arm", and "Three Pistols", yet enough Canadiana to keep the hardcore Hip fan from slinging accusations of "sell-out". Even after a slough of releases that has seen the Hip mature over two decades, this is still recognized by most Hip fans as their strongest work.
   
   One other reviewer had mentioned that the weak point on the album was "Fiddler's Green". I wholeheartedly disagree. It is a touching, soul-wrenching lament that will rip the heart out of anyone who has lost a child.



3. Great cd, by a Great band..Just was a major disappointment, the cd was transferred from Analog Tape to Cd format...Makes for muffled Vocals, and thats a shame, Downie is one of the most original ive heard in a long time...But for die hard "TH" fans, its a must have...!!



4. This band makes some of the best rock music ever. Road Apples has to be the best of a long list of best CDs You can play this CD to death....never get tired of it. Hope they keep churning out music

   I only heard of them last year, but I have a lot catching up to do.




5. My girlfriend is Canadian and a fan of the Hip. She took me to a live show here in Denver and now I'm hooked. This was the third album I've purchased of theirs and it's by far the best. Growing up on rock and roll this is one of the few complete albums without one bad song, well maybe Fiddler's Green, but the rest is fantastic. "On The Verge" is still my favorite. This IS rock and roll at it's best. I don't think you can play this one too loud.

5 comments about Queen - Greatest Hits Vol.1/UK Version.

1. 
   This album is the most popular in Rock, ever! They tried to pull it off the shelves but the cries were too loud. It is also re-mastered.



2. I love this CD as it contains all the best hits of the grpoup especially Bohemian Rhapsody.



3. The original Queen Greatest hits album , first released in 1981 , this was the album that first got me hooked on Queen when I was 12.
   It includes all of Queen's top 20 hits between 1974 and 1980.
   Personal favourites include:
   The classic rock opera masterpiece Bohemian Rhapsody (1975)
   The debonair Killer Queen (1974)
   The rollicking Fat Bottomed Girls (1978)
   The laidback You're My Best Friend (1975)
   The glam rock Seven Seas of Rhye (1974)
   The funky Don't Stop Me Now (1978)
   The hypnotic Somebody To Love (1976)
   and the whimsical Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy (1976)
   
   Songs that should have been included are Keep Yourself Alive (1973)
   Doin Allright (1973)
   and
   39 (1975).
   Still the best of Queen's compilation albums.
   If you haven't seriously explored Queen's earlier work this is a good place to start and should get you hooked on all their albums from the 1974 to 1980 period.



4. Queen rocked to stardom in the 1970s, with Freddie Mercury's (1946-91) silky voice leading. They produced many excellent songs, and were popular worldwide, right up until Freddie Mercury's death from AIDS in 1991. Throughout my youth, I loved Queen's sound, and their many wonderful songs - and now I have them again!
   
   This fantastic album contains all of Queen's greatest songs, including Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Save Me, and of course We Will Rock You & We Are The Champions. Yes, that's right, this album has the greatest Queen hits, and does not include any song that is less than superb! If you are a fan of Queen then this is definitely an album you must get. Heck, even if you just love great rock `n' roll in general, you will love this CD.
   
   This is a great CD, one that I cherish and would not be without. I give this album my highest recommendations!



5. Darn when cd's first came out what you where looking for was hard to find. And Queen was at the top of my list to get something into my budding cd collection. I finally found this at our local record store as the vinyl was slowly circling its drain due to cd's. And yes the first Queen I saw on the shevles was this import. Darn glad I got it that day even though I considered the price steep due to it being an import it still took the cd industry some years to get all of the choices you have now days I do not need another queen this on did me fine though its play list is different from what they have here tracks 1 - 6 are the same the rest go like this
   7.Don't Stop Me Now
   8.Save Me
   9.Crazy Little Thing Called Love
   10.Somebody To Love
   11.Now I'm Here
   12.Good Old-Fashoned Lover Boy
   13.Play The Game
   14.Flash
   15.Seven Seas Of Rhye
   16.We Will Rock You
   17.We Are The Champions
   What can I say this order works for me. And if you want more Queen than this hey go for it I do not blame you good stuff from a great band that started in the 70's. No one else like them. I still remeber driving down the road to tapes I made from the vinyl I had of them.

5 comments about Pure Instinct.

1. The cover art for this album was replaced with an alternate cover for the U.S. release. The U.S. cover had a picture of the band with a red wave eminating from a guitar. Pure instinct it's a return to their roots in solid songwriting blending the better textures of their instruments and vocals.
   This is one of my favorite Scorpions albums behind Blackout & Love at First Sting. The songs are all great and have great hooks. It is what I call Hard Rock not Heavy Metal. If you like Scorpions this is a great album. The most amazing thing about this album is the complete lack of filler. Not that the Scorpions are known for writing filler songs, but this is their 13th full-length album. Most bands lose their creative energy after 5 or 6 albums, but that is not the case here. Every single song here is very well composed and structured, and they all have the kind of chorus that will have you singing along by the second time you listen to the album. The other great thing about this is that they haven't tried to modernize their sound at all. Stylistically, this album sounds very much like something from the 80s, but with a more modern production. It's classic Scorpions material, melodic catchy hard rock bordering on metal.



2. Been a Scorps fan most of my life (i'm 46 years young...still have full head of hair!), having gotten into them in the mid 70's when axe pioneer stylist/shredder Uli Roth mesmerized rock audiences the world over with his jaw-dropping fluid guitar wizardry. Having then followed their career throughout the Matthias Jabs years, i've always come to expect quality, memorable, riff-laden ballads, anthems, and outright 'ballsy' hard rock/metal masterpieces. 'Pure Instinct' is as good as the best of them, i'm happy to say! The 'album' contains a nice mix of flat out rockers, as well as some gorgeous ballads that showcase Klaus Meine's incredible, heartfelt, emotional vocals. The opening tune, 'Wild Child', is 'worth the price of admission' alone, with it's cool bagpipe effects mixed in with Jab's fat power chords and biting lead work! All in all, this release has something for everyone! LONG LIVE THE SCORPIONS!



3. THIS ROCKS. whoever said only wild child and stone in my shoe are the heavy one should listen to oh girl (I wanna be with you). thats my favorite. Also listen to Since you came into my life. I swear you'll think of still loving you or wind of change. this is a ballad thats DEFINITLY up there with those two. Overal This is an awesome album that is for rockers and people who want to relax.



4. Wow! This collection of songs "Are you the one," "Soul behind the face," and "When you came into my life" will have you reflecting on past memories and posibilities of the future.
   In my opinion these songs are classic. They have the ability to take you on an emotional roller ride... way better than any C/W song. More people should consider using "When you came into my life" as a wedding song choice. I love most everything the Scorpions have put out, but this is, by far, my favorite C/D!!!! If you have any sentimental strings this collection will touch your heart.



5. This Album is sweet, great album, unbreakable is sweet too, dont listen to the person who says it really sucks, cause it doesnt, check out songs off unbreakable like love em or leave em and deep and dark then tell if it sucks or not cause it doesnt. And I hope the scorpions will be putting out albums for many years to come.

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