5 comments about Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997.

1. I purchased this for my mom who is a huge Billy Joel fan! She has seen him in concert so many times throughout her life (I've seen him a few times along with her). I know that every one of Billy's albums are her favorite, but I wanted to buy her a cd with most of his greatest hits so she could keep them in her car. She is very happy with this set. She loves the information in the booklet/sleeve. Her only complaint was that her all-time favorite song was missing from this collection..."You're My Home". But, luckily she has that song on another cd. :) I plan on buying this set for myself in the near future.



2. I always loved Billy Joel and was looking for a collection of his greatest hits. From what I see on this compilation, there is no need to purchase additional CD's to "fill in the gaps." I am quite pleased with the sound quality as well.



3. I purchased this collection to prepare for seeing Billy Joel in his 1st appearance at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.Despite monsoon conditions THE PIANO Man proved to be quite THE ENTERTAINER!
   Now I can listen to Captain Jack whenever.......



4. 1973-97-Complete Hits CollectionIf one is "searching" for a Good Sampling of Billy Joel songs, one need look no further. THIS Compilation features ALL "his hits"; and THEN SOME. I 'recommend' A Matter Of Trust, All About Soul AND The Stranger. These are "my" favorites; exemplifying Mr. Joel AT HIS BEST. "Live" material ALSO is included 'in this compilation' (including Billys' take on the Beatles "A Hard Days' Night".) BUY; and ENJOY !!!



5. I previously wrote reviews for the three greatest hits discs so I won't elaborate on them(see my reviews for the individual albums). The fourth disc contains some non-musical storytelling with some live performances and demos. This collection does span a quarter-century(calendar years 1973-97) of Bronx,New York native and Grammy-winner Billy Joel's career. To date,he has sold over 110 million albums worldwide and I guarantee you,over the next quarter-century,that number will be doubled. Not only does Joel hold a place in the Rock 'n Roll Hall Of Fame,he holds a place in the Songwriters' Hall Of Fame since he has written almost every song he has ever recorded.

5 comments about In a Word: Yes (1969 - ).

1. This boxset is a very good complete set for someone like myself, who has enjoyed Yes over the years, but is not an obsessive collector of their work. I have owned the Yes Album, and I have borrowed other albums from friends over the years, and taped or burnt copies of them. I have always wanted a more complete set of their work on CD, such as with the Led Zeppelin box set - but was not compelled to purchase many CDs of individual albums. Due to the length of many of the songs, a two disc best of would not work for me, I don't want the single versions or edited tracks. The book and the packaging are terrific, and the sound is incredible.
   
   If you are a completeist or obsessive, this is NOT for you. I hope (and am sure) that someday there will be a boxset of rarities or even better live shows from over the years for you.



2. I'm suprised more people here aren't mentioning the absolutely puzzling omission of what are considered some of the greatest Yes tracks--"The Fish", "And You And I" and "Awaken". Tracks like "Release Release", "Clap" and "Hold On" could have easily been cleared for these. "On The Silent Wings Of Freedom" and "Hearts" are two other big tracks missing here, which is a shame since the remastering is the best so far for the Yes catalogue. With 5 discs spanning their entire career and an excellent overview of the post-YesYears period right up to their last studio release "Magnification", they had a chance to really get it perfect, but the set falls short. As mentioned by a few others, some live versions of the tracks would also have been nice, although I suppose we have the three-disc live box for that. You can't really go wrong with the music--Yes are *the* definitive prog band, and their evolution and metamorphosis from album to album is good to hear in chronological order. Only the late 80s/early 90s period sags, but they came back strong with "The Ladder" and "Magnification".
   
   I suppose if you're already a Yes fan it's just best to get the remastered albums with bonus tracks, especially from the 1971-77 period, and "90125, "Keys To Ascension, "The Ladder" and "Magnification" afterwards. The bonus cuts on the earlier albums, especially "Relayer" and "Going For The One", are quite good. But they had a chance here to really put everything together in one box so fans and newcomers wouldn't have to do that, and they botched it a bit. I got it anyway, but ended up burning my own 5-disc compilation from this one, deleting a few of the lesser tracks (five cuts from "Time And A Word"? C'mon...) and adding "Fish", "And You And I", "Awaken", "On The Silent Wings Of Freedom", "Hearts" and replacing "The Revealing Science Of God" with "Ritual".



3. There were other Yes box sets, but I like this "In a Word: Yes (1969 - ) the best. This box set is not for a Yes fanatic, but this box set is a nice introduction piece to a beginneer Yes fan. Pristinely remastered these cds sound great. A few unreleased tracks thrown in are good additions but a few more familiar Yes tracks such as "The Fish", "And You And I", would have been better. "In a Word: Yes (1969 - )" is a nice well rounded 5 cd box set with a nice expansive literature book. If the missing tracks bother the more serious Yes fan, then by all means try to get all the Yes remastered cds. For the beginner Yes fan "In a Word: Yes (1969 - )" is a nice introduction. Serious Yes fans will get this box set set as only a completist would. I got "In a Word: Yes (1969 - )" at a nice price, so it was worth it, I did'nt have to break the bank to buy it. "In a Word: Yes (1969 - )" has its negatives but it is worthwhile listen, to a rock group that helped define progressive rock. This box set covers the career of Yes very well despite some omitted songs. If the omitted songs bother you, buy all the Rhino remasters. The Rhino remasters are worth it, because the remastered sound is great sounding and the linear notes are very interesting.



4. It's hard to find anything I don't like about "In a Word: Yes (1969- )", the 5-disc box set from prog-rock veterans, Yes. It's beautifully packaged in a compact long box digi-book (with Roger Dean artwork) that includes a spine-bound book with over 90 pages of photos, facts, and two essays (or is it Yessays?) on the band's 30+ year history. All of the songs have been digitally remastered to sound crisp, tight, and better than ever.
   
   Disc 1 starts with the surprisingly good and Yes sounding early recordings, and ends with five songs from the hugely popular "The Yes Album".
   
   Discs 2 and 3 feature music from the "classic years". This is the Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Bill Bruford/Alan White era. I would have liked to have seen the majestic "And You and I" from "Close to the Edge" included, but that it wasn't is forgivable, because these two discs still deliver the goods from the classic years, including the other two-thirds of "Close to the Edge", the biggies from "Fragile", their fantastic eleven-minute version of Simon and Garfunkel's "America", "The Revealing Science of God" from "Topographic Oceans", and "The Gates of Delirium" from "Relayer".
   
   Disc 4 includes selections from "Drama" and the commercially sucessful "90125", including "Owner Of A Lonely Heart". The songs are in order and they all sound great.
   
   Disc 5 includes their most recent 1990's and 21st century recordings, and surprisingly is the disc I listen to most. Being a fan of the classic years, I had never heard any of these songs before. This stuff is great! It's as good as anything they have ever done. This disc, and the set, ends perfectly with the uplifting "In the Presence Of" from 2001's "Magnification". WOW! What a song that is!
   
   You won't be disappointed at all with "In a Word: Yes (1969- )". In fact, you'll be pleasantly surprised, especially if you haven't heard from Yes since "90125".



5. Along with Pink Floyd, Yes defined the prog rock era of the late 1960s' and early 1970s', and along with Led Zeppelin, The Who, Jethro Tull and a select few others, they were one of the reigning classic rock bands of the era.
   
   Unlike those aforementioned counterparts, Yes never quite had the impact that they had, despite being just as good as them. It's a shame, because in their prime, Yes were brilliant. And even once they fell from their artistic as well as commercial crest, they still produced solid music.
   
   For proof of this, look no further than the 5 cd boxed set "In A Word: Yes (1969). Complete with many Yes classics, lesser known album tracks and a rarity or two, this is the ideal Yes compilation, regardless of price. The sound quality on every song is astonishing (for those who can't stand hearing "Roundabout" for the millionth time, just give it one more spin just to hear it sound better than ever), and the liner notes, complete with excellent essays by Cameron Crowe (who used two classic Yes tunes in my favorite movie, "Almost Famous"), Chris Welch and Bill Martin, are a dream come true for Yes fans.
   
   This boxed set is definitely bar none the finest Yes collection on the market, and should appeal to both die hards and new fans. Should you buy this set? In a word: YES!

1 comments about The Collection: Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J./The Wild, the Innocent &....

1. You have probably owned these volumes separately on LP, 8 Track and cassette, but if you haven't bought them yet on CD, get them all together. It all sounds as fantastic as you remember.

3 comments about Reformation.

1. In America, Spandau Ballet means "True", and that is a shame. This is a fantastic compilation of the bands work, from their days with Chrysalis Records. Give a listen to Coffee Club, Chant #1, Glow and the club mix of Gold, and you will see why this band was second to nobody across Europe and Asia in the 1980's.
   The live CD from the True tour is the icing on the cake, and you can feel the energy the crowd felt as the band knocked out song after song. This is a great deal since you get 3 CD's full of music, and a history of the best 80's band ever.



2. Immaculate remastering makes this release shine like a new car. The now old songs sound new and fresh, rattling my speakers with 80's white jive. Reformation 3 CD set is the best anthology I have every bought! Great pictures and short story is included to give you a better sense of the outpouring of creativity surrounding the band. Great demos, extended versions and a complete live show captures these new romantics at their peak! One minor con (very minor) is the remastering is almost too good. Though I would not want to listen to their demos or live show any other way, the glossy cleaning makes one lose the actual sound of the live show and probably misrepresent how the demos sounded at the time. But I am complaining about awesome fidelity? No. No complaints about Reformation, the best anthology I have ever bought.



3. The 80's have always been awfully associated with bad clothes, bad hair and to some...bad music. I, for one have always liked 80's stuff and I can see it more these days when people aren't able to come up with new lyrics and or new music but just remake good old stuff.

   REFORMATION is a reminder to us of the good old days when music was made to make you feel good,..(never mind their eye liner or their padded jackets)..no violent lyrics...no BIG BASS that would make you throw up...no electronica beats that either put you to sleep or worse, make you dizzy. Don't get me wrong...I can appreciate most of the different genres but the 80's seem to be closest to my heart.

   Spandau Ballet altho not as commercially popular as the ever-evolving Duran Duran, has made some really good music and it is in this worthy 3 CD Pack with their pictures during their younger years beautifully crafted by people behind Chrysalis Records...I can say that this THEIR collection to keep.

   Standout cuts for me are:
   *Updated version of True....altho the original will never be out of place at any time, it gives me shivers to hear TONY HADLEY's (brilliant vocals) crystal clear voice and it is evident why there really is no need for lyrics sheet, TONY HADLEY has the voice!

   *Heaven Is a Secret....an almost unnoticed song from the TRUE album but i reckon it is one of the gems...a very feel good song

   *With The Pride....another underappreciated ballad from Spandau showcasing Tony's emotional singing (hmmmm...Round and Round has been overlooked...)

   * ALL LIVE TRACKS ARE THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT THIS CD....I have been waiting for this for ages as this is the proof why Spandau Ballet is one of the best live artists and fares them far off from DURAN DURAN....

   * The remixes are fine specially the almost epic GOLD, uplifting LIFELINE,.., witty COMMUNICATION...my favorite- THAT OTHER VERSION (from the 12" LP) of HIGHLY STRUNG. This will make you think how far remixes have evolved from the 80's when people were just contented with 1 Extended version....perhaps a Dub Version or an instrumental version not like these days when one song will be remixed by a whole school of DJ's but I am not complaining...

   Let us also not undermine Gary Kemp's ever consistent writing and of course the whole bands efforts. I can also not imagine that these blokes were barely in their 20's when they started singing about life, love and everything in between. Those were the happy era of the 80's and it's just sad that they ceased to make the same music as before.

   Meantime, REFORMATION is a happy adventure back in time...buy it, try it and you'll thank CHRYSALIS for this new GEM to treasure....GOLD indeed.

1 comments about Malt Shop Memories.

1. This multiple CD set is a mixture of great hits. With the variety of artist songs it's a pleasure to pop in the car CD and sing-along. It will bring back fond memories for everyone that grew-up with parents from the 50's and 60's. My parents keep MY Malt Shop Memories in THEIR car. So great a set of music, I'll have to order a second set.

2 comments about The Best of the Big Bands.

1. I have to disagree with the previous reviewer. Great collection, yes, but NOT by Glenn Miller. Although there are some excellent Glenn Miller songs included, this collection has most of the Big Band theme songs played by the original artists, and a collection like this is hard to find. So if you have any interest in the music from this era, or want a bit of nostalgia, this is the set for you.



2. This is another awsome set of tracks by Gleen Miller. I loved listening to him and his band play the original jazz master pieces. This is a great addition to anyone's collection of fabulous jazz C.D.'s

No comments about At First Sight.

No comments about A Collection of Roxette Hits: Their 20 Greatest Songs!.

5 comments about Aerosmith/Get Your Wings/Toys in the Attic.

1. Here in one box, someone managed to put together three of the greatest rock and roll albums ever made. Joined right in the center by THE greatest rock and roll album ever made.... I talk of course of Aerosmiths second album GET YOUR WINGS. Easily the most balls out, sleazy, rock and roll experience one could ever obtain.
   On the ends are two more A-smith albums worthy of high praise. The debut, and the third, a classic, TOYS IN THE ATTIC.
   It's funny, because back in the day, I bought a box from Columbia that included Aersomith albums 2-4, that included Rocks, another timeless... however, if you are new to the BBofB, I would definately recommend going for this box. Each one of the first three albums is the cats PeeJays.
   
   ALBUM ONE includes the killer track DREAM ON, which was mine and many others first glimpse of the band. The rest of this album showcases a knack for bluesy style jams, in a unique rock and roll voice.
   
   WINGS ups the anti a ton. And literally is one of the most important rock records ever made. Even the great Zep cannot match the style and attitude of this brilliance. Play loud and unrelentlessly.
   
   TOYS is the one that brought in the commercial success, but never slumps behind the first two. Many hail it as the bands best (some say Rocks-so check that out next...) but pretty much all the tunes that get replayed year after year come off of this one... WALK THIS WAY, SWEET EMOTION, NO MORE NO MORE and so forth...
   
   If I've done my math correctly I believe you get 28 tracks in all. Every one is killer, and these are most certainly albums that you should have in your collection. If you're cool. You know. If you're not cool, then go check out Wham! or something... ok. that's all from me. Later... Enjoy!



2. It was great to be able to replace 3 of my favorite aerosmith records in one fell swoop. I enjoyed listening to all the old stuff that hadn't been on radio for some time. Also, my 20 year old daughter told me that "Get Your Wings " was awesome, and she burned it into her ipod. High praise indeed!



3. The first Aerosmith album was extraordinary, exploding with an energy not unlike the early Rolling Stone or Who albums.
   Their second and third albums were just as strong.
   Having them all in one box set is a great. You'll never get tired of hearing these tracks.



4. I own each album seperatly, and each one is a 5 star album, and to get all three in one place for this price is a steal, this is Aerosmith's first three albums, and maybe their 3 best, you be the judge. I would recamend this to anyone a new or old Aerosmith fan or for anyone who just loves good ol' american Rock and Roll



5. As a companion for this boxset,you should really read"Walk This Way,the autobiography of Aerosmith" by Stephen Davis.As a long
   time fan,it gave me a lot of insight into the band and the music.If you`re new fans or not,you will be enthralled.

3 comments about The British Are Coming.

1. I purchased this cd because there were a lot of songs I wanted to have, and they were all on this disc.Every song sounded excellent. ( the quality and full length of each song ) The only thing missing, ( when you think about the British invasion ) were songs by the Who, the Stones,and of course,The Beatles.



2. This is an interesting little 3-disk collection that will fit nicely into most classic rock collections.

   The selections on these CDs cover most of the classic rock/pop era, but in a very haphazard manner. Several artists have multiple cuts included, like the Kinks, the Foundations, Donovan, the Status Quo, the Searchers and a few others. The casual fan of the 1960s music scene will likely not recognize many of these songs, but those who were a bit deeper into the music charts will be delighted by the inclusion of many second-tier hits and album tracks.

   As with most compilations, the major English acts are not included; specifically the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark 5. That shouldn't surprise anyone. The one disappointment, at least to me, was that the Hollies are represented by only a single cut, the hit "Bus Stop."

   These are all originals, and the quality is good. However, the buyer should remember that the original masters of these songs were on analog tape. There is a discernible hiss on the high-end of some tracks. That should be a small price to pay for many of these hard-to-find pieces.

   For a basic collection of British Invasion music, there are less expensive options available. However, for the true fan of this distinct sound, there are more than enough gems on these 3 CDs to make this set well worth the price. Highly recommended.




3. I was looking for a Kinks album and my search produced this box set - I took a look at it and thought that I would give it a try as I didnt have alot of British Invasion Music but had always wanted to give it a try and add the best of it to my collection some day. I was NOT dissappointed! - I feel like an expert on the British Invasion period now - It has informational booklets with pics of all the bands included not in the least to say that the music is incrediable. I was yet to be born when alot of this happened but it was all laid out for me perfectly so I could understand the whole era. I went online to get one for my dad for Christmas. He had most of the stuff on vinyl but I got one so he could listen to it in the car. A great deal!