5 comments about My Winter Storm (U.S Version).

1. Personal Review: I will say I am no music critic, or professional. I am however a writer and artist, one who has used the power of Nightwish's music for some time for emotional and spiritual inspiration. I first discovered the band due to the recommendation of a friend and from the first time I heard Nemo, to the Walt Disney tribute Fantasmic, every word and sound had me hooked like a drug. But naturally, it did not last and Tarja was fired from the band. Now comes the debate.
   
   Critics and 'loyalists' to Nightwish say that the true fans stay with the band even with their new lead singer. And I am sorry but Annette is not Tarja. Her high pitched squeaky voice does nothing to capture the power and emotion previously given to us and if anything is out of place in that style of music. Something akin to Brittney Spears singing with Korn. Not pretty. In fact it is at the point where I cannot listen to their new cd due to Annette butchering the sound, despite my hope they MIGHT save the album. In my personal opinion, they will not last.
   
   Tarja's new cd came as a saving grace to me and I was more then eager to get it. I will say I believe any actual Nightwish fan will be more compelled to check out this album then Dark Passion Play and the like.
   
   Technical Review: Bottom line, Tarja's voice is just as powerful and emotional as always, and upon hearing even just the first few songs I was taken back. Musically some of the songs lack the power of previous Nightwish albums like Once, but then again that is hard to top. Many of the songs from My Winter Storm carry a more sorrowful tone, which does not lack. So my final review is just this, while it is not as powerful as Tarja's former works with Nightwish, it certainly is a remarkable improvement from Dark Passion Play. And I hope this review encourages Nightwish fans to at least give this album a chance, regardless of what Nightwish's 'true fans' say.



2. I don't write many reviews, but wanted to add one here because this album deserves the support. I love this album! I was pleasantly surprised by how well-produced this CD is, the excellent musicians and how many great songs there are. I was a big Nightwish fan up until the new vocalist and album which lost me. But unlike some reviewers I do not miss the faster, heavy songs that this album only has a couple of. The symphonic passages, chorus backgrounds and beautiful melodies are all here. The album has a really nice flow to it, and almost every song is really good... and there are alot of songs! I also have to say that Tarja's voice is better than ever, and sings with such feeling.
   
   I will continue to buy Tarja's music based on this album. Great work!



3. Gave this as a Christmas gift. Recipient wanted this specifically, said it is a great CD. Former lead singer from Nightwish.



4. A little different that NightWish, but if you are a NightWish fan, you will like this.



5. At least for those of us who don't appreciate those thin little twelve-year old girl squeaks Sarah ejects into the air, and prefer a womanly voice. Way more pleasing to the ear.
   
   This album blends a mild metallica sound with an epic, creepy, opera sound. Nice and moody. I love it! I also love those sharp industrial roars, clacks, creaks, and booms used in the background of several tracks here. The track Ciaren's Well goes a little too into the metallica side for my taste, while You Would Have Loved This and Calling Grace were too slow. But I would not take a star off for them. The only track that I really don't like is My Little Pheonix--it emulates Sarah's childish style too much. I Walk Alone and Poison have a fun, yet haunting, whimsical pop to them. Damned and Divine (Live - Bouns Track) is dark and groovy. Oasis is downright breathtaking.
   
   I'm glad this artist split from that other group. I listened to them to see what the fuss is about, and found them abrasive and boring. Her talent was wasted with them. This though, this is amazing. I hope her future holds more of this kind of music.

5 comments about BUDOKAN!(30th Anniversary DVD+3CDs).

1. I was really sorry to hear all the problems others were having with this box set and was hesitant to buy it. So instead of getting it from Amazon I went to a local bookstore and got it there. I figured it was much easier to drive 10 mins. to return it instead of boxing it up and waiting for a refund. I must be one of the lucky ones as the disks are all perfect with no scratches. However I can see how they could be easily damaged and agree the packaging could have been done much better. Now, having said that, I think it's one of the best box sets I have bought in a long time. This is truly a classic and belongs in every music lovers collection. With the exception of Queen's Live at Wembley, I have never seen a band so tight in a live performance. The boys were right on that night and feeding off the energy from the crowd. It's a real treat to be able to see the show and the CD's are equally enjoyable. I also liked the book that came along with it. It was fun to read how the guys reacted to their sudden rise to rock god status and some of the close calls they had with the adoring fans who literally want a piece of them. The poster is nice too, but I think I'll just keep that in the box. All in all I think this is worth the price and it's a very nice bit of music history. If you are worried about getting a damanged copy, then I would buy it locally as it's easier to return that way, but really worth getting it!



2. i waited about a year to buy this at a more reasonable price. i paid $20.
   
   this would be a 5 star set, but i knocked off one star because of the faulty packaging where the cardboard slots for the 4 discs did leave a friction line on the discs, but luckily my discs played thru. i've put my discs in cd sleeves with cut corners & loosely stuck them back in the slots to prevent further wear. however, the box & booklet are really nice looking.
   
   the dvd itself is spectacular. the video & sound is excellent given the age of the source material. it's great to have a video image now to go with these familiar tracks.
   
   the bonus disc 2 cd of the alternate Friday show is an added plus. it's great to have an alternate version of the beloved original concert. makes it fresh again & it's fun to hear the differences.
   
   the 2 discs of the Complete Concert is the same remaster as the 1998 remaster. it's the same date listed in the booklet & by my ear too, it sounds the same.
   
   all in all, a most enjoyable set. would have been 5 stars if it held the discs better & a lower list price given the redundancy of 2 of the discs.



3. I read the reviews and decided to take a chance anyway...but the discs are scratched.



4. This DVD/CD set is over priced, first of all, considering that the original record came out in 1978, even though it didn't contain the complete concert. Also, the film footage, is not filmed all that well. The CD's are the best part, because they sound better, and contain the complete concert. Also, the packaging is bad, it damaged my discs as well.



5. I was confused by the necessity of the 3CDs, along with the DVD. When I read the booklet included, it all made sense. Let me explain...
   
   First off, there were 3 concerts in Japan in 1978...the first one was in Osaka on April 27th, 1978, then TWO at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, the first on April 28th then the second on April 30th...only the first show was filmed for Japanese TV, with 3 songs left out for time constraints or changing reels, I don't know, but I doubt they were filmed at all. The SECOND, though, was the show that was recorded and released as "Live At Budokan"...condensed for the original 10-track CD, 9 leftovers released as "Budokan II" in 1993 (along with tracks from shows a year later, expanding it to a complete album), and expanded for the 1998 2CD set "The Complete Concert"...one track from the Osaka concert, "Lookout", made it onto a 6-track "Budokan" promo sampler, issued to promote the 2CD set.
   
   Now we have this release in a pretty cool boxset...I have no problem with the packaging at all...the discs are all secure...I hope we don't see any more versions in the future...unless the DVD is on Blu-Ray, haha...nah really, this should be it...both Budokan concerts in full and the 1st one from the Japanese TV show on DVD...too bad we can't see a video counterpart to the famous intros from the second show that were the hit versions of "I Want You To Want Me" and "Surrender", as that show was not filmed, just audio recorded...unless there are bootlegs from that second concert. I figured out that the reason the 1st show made it onto 1 disc (CD2) while the famous second one was still on 2, identical to the 1998 release...meticulously remastered by JD and BD and CT, I'm not sure...is because the 1st show was 79 minutes and change, while the 2nd was 82 minutes, so it still had to be split up...it's cool to have both...the DVD is very fun...the interview was cool but short, 15 minutes, and the bonus 2008 performances were nice but they pale next to the 1978 TV show in their prime...I didn't notice much screaming from fans though...still, I hope this is it for "Budokan"...leave it alone, it's just a concert, albeit a great one.
   
   Cheap Trick rules...now on to "The Latest".

5 comments about Girlfriend.

1. I say that because you will never hear this excellent gem of an album on commercial radio. Actually, radio has sucked since the late 80's. Since this is not a review of radio all I can say is follow amazon's reviews by fellow music lovers and trust them. Buy this album and then try Under The Covers with Suzanne Hoffs. And please turn off your radio as it is filled with what the music industry wants you to hear, not this great stuff.



2. I own over five thousand CDs, Tapes and Records. This is my all time absolute favorite. I was in my early twenties when this came out. I don't know how many cracks I put on the steering wheel of my 74 Chevy Nova banging my fists to this album. The title track is great and gets you right into the record. He just plays great down home, grass roots rock and roll. No extra crap. Some of the songs are quite sad like You Dont Love Me and Winona. They could downright make you cry. Thank God for Matthew Sweet, as he tried to singlehandedly save us all from the deeply mired heavy Seattle Sound of the early nineties.



3. Thank God. I heard Girlfriend, the single, on the radio one day about a year or two ago. That lead to a download and the purchase of the album a few days later.
   What seemed impulsive was overpowered by the feeling that a masterpiece had been uncovered. I hate the superlative language thrown around for these sorts of things, but this has proven to be no flight of fancy.
   This guy, Matthew Sweet, writes songs that connect. You can feel it.
   The twin guitar virtuosos who appear here deserve big credit. Big drive. Big. It sounds great. Gritty and foot stompin'.
   And, what a recording.
   Near 49 now. Sometimes its raw. Sometimes its ennui. This recording captures both ends.
   It also rocks.
   randolph wish



4. Hard to believe, but this album is just as fresh as the day I first opened it 15 years ago. I keep finding new ways to enjoy it. In the 90's it was with the top down in the car, in rotation with Mazzy Star, Nirvana, the Chili Peppers and whatever was playing on K-USF.
   
   A few years ago, when I went to the gym, I had it in the walkman and discovered that IT IS THE PERFECT WORKOUT CD OF ALL TIME on any kind of step, treadmill or orbital-type machine. NO KIDDING. 'Divine Intervention' is the perfect warm-up, 'I've Been Waiting' picks up the tempo, 'Girlfriend' is a great fat-blaster. Just watch it or you'll find yourself singing out loud - at the gym. Anyhow, you'll be groovin' and rockin' out, up and down. Turns out the ups and down's of a break-up are an ideal pace for a work-out. Cooling down to 'Nothing Lasts' is bliss. By now, I must have listened to it over a hundred times just working out alone.
   
   So now I'm forty, mom to a 2-year-old, wife to a guy who was six years old when I snuck out with my friend Jeff's big sister's friends to see the Sex Pistols when they were in SF. Seen a lot of bands and listened to a lot of different albums since and have to say, this album is as fresh as the day it was minted. Buy the album, and form your own relationship with it - you won't regret it.



5. This record was a revelation when it came out, and remains as vibrant and bracing today. It is one of the absolute best power pop records of the 90s, a decade in which that genre experienced something of a renaissance (Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Velvet Crush, Jellyfish etc.)
   
   Sweet had made a couple of unremarkable records before this one. I think two things made it leap out of the CD player and into our collective conscious. One was the sublime twin guitar work of Richard Lloyd (Television) and Robert Quine (NYC downtown guitar hero and notably on some of Lou Reed's most powerful work.) These two guys blaze and smolder throughout these melodic, harmonic songs, providing more bite and panache than most records you will hear in any genre. The performances of Quine and Lloyd in service to Sweet's catchy numbers creates the illusion of two tigers tamed; you can feel the excitement of their ferociousness on every track, even the soft, cotton-candy-sweet "Your Sweet Voice."
   
   The second thing that makes this record stand apart is the fact that it is a break-up record, and a great one. From the optimistic second tune, the infectious "I've Been Waiting," through to the desolate "Nothing Lasts," you can hear Sweet laying bare the gamut of emotions involved in a relationship and its dissolution. Like Paul Simon's Hearts and Bones or Richard and Linda Thompson's Shoot Out the Lights-or perhaps most aptly, Fleetwood Mac's Rumours-a good break-up record transcends time and trends and endures.
   
   Every subsequent Mathew Sweet record has a few gems, and some folks will even argue that the follow-up, Dinosaur Act, is the better album. It is a good one, but this is where the Mathew Sweet legend begins and reaches its fullest heights.

5 comments about Cheap Trick.

1. I recently purchased the first 5 re-mastered Cheap Trick cd's so nows a good time to review them all. My introdution to the band was Dream Police and that was my favorite for many years- but I never even listened to the first one for a long time after its release. Aint that a shame- 'cuz this one is probably my favorite album by them. It definitly has a different vibe than anything that came after- much more raw and edgier. In fact, it may take a CT fan of thier later stuff a few listens to get into, but once you do you're in for a treat!
   
   One thing that always annoys me is when people say CT do not write very deep lyrics. Well if you really pay attention, Rick Neilson's lyrics can be taken any number of ways- though most of the ones on this record are pretty well laid out. Songs about Suicide, pediophiles, drug addictions, serial killers and the like is not what i would consider lite pop rock that many people seem to view them as. Definitly a true classic album- even without a well known song!



2. In the mid 70's Cheap Trick emerged from Illinois, a band that were huge fans of 60's rock and pop, particulary the Beatles and British power house band The Move. Their debut album (the first in a triology of brilliantly crafted melodic heavy rocking pop classics) was easily one of the best albums of it's time. However as most of CT's legacy has declined in the mainstream conscious in recent years, its hard to understand that these guys were really ahead of their time, so much in fact that only Japan really 'got' these early albums. The band were superstars there and didn't even know it. However this first album album finds the band creating top notch hooky riffs courtesy of guitarist Rick Neilsen. The vicious opener Elo Kiddies is a breath of fresh air when comparing it to what was going on in '77. Robin Zander has that charismatic "pretty guy" frontman look, as does bass player Tom Peterson but guitarist Neilsen and (awesomely simplistic) drummer Bun E. Carlos were the "weird" looking guys that always gave CT a unique image, the album cover alone confused many spectators. 'Daddy Should've Stayed In High School' is about pedophilia, 'Oh Candy' is about suicide, and The Ballad Of TV Violence' speaks for itself. This is a dark album lyrically indeed, but of course delivered with a devilish sense of humor, a twisted one indeed, and that was the purpose here. Without magnifying the lyrics though, this is brilliantly executed, packed with hooks, lots of melodicism yet also heavy, and sludgy rock n roll. It's a campy yet poetic combination of metal, pop, and new wave mixed with edgy nostaligia. Neilsen is a great guitar player, the sound of the riffs themselves are delivered with such a threatning yet still somewhat friendly tone. Peterson's interesting bass style as well as Bun E's amazingly primitive yet somehow never ever boring drumming style rounds out everything. Every member makes a name of themselves here on the debut. There isnt much more than can be said about this that hasnt already been said, but if you're still not convinced to get this or any of CT's pre Dream Police era albums...it's an essential...key tracks include ELO Kiddes, Speak Now, Oh Candy, He's A Whore, Daddy Should've Stayed In High School, and Cry Cry.



3. When this first came out, it took a few listens, to really appreciate it. In any case, a unique band, with a unique sound had emerged, and the rest is history. Like the Ramones, or even Devo, for that matter, Cheap Trick's appearance, as well as some of the subject matter of the lyrics, it seemed like they were a joke at first. This was not the case, they were dead serious about the music.



4. Well..in my humble opinion..the Trick never really surpassed themselves after this. Probably because i'm all about the raw..aggressive..guitar driven style of rock the 70's were famous for..and this delivers in aces! They were never as balls-out as they were here...yet retaining the pop sensebilities they are famous for. Saw them shortly after this was released at a small club..they played 2 sets..and i came away a fan. 'Daddy".."Elo".."Whore"..and 'Speak Now" are all classics that hold up along side anything they've done since. And with Ricks perfect "trash guitar" salvos..and Robins amazing vocals..they were a formidable band in their time. Don't get me wrong..they still exhibit an occasional flash of brilliance..but these days..they concentrate too much on ballads and sappy love songs for my taste. This is the pure undiluted Trick!!!



5. This is cheap tricks first album. Its got some really good songs on it. there are a couple that are not quite as good, but they arent bad either.

5 comments about Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 3.

1. Enjoy hearing those old songs from when I was 11-13 and listened to the radio (am then). This is the org."Love Grows where my Rosemary Goes" - in 7th grade (Jr High in MI), we cheerleaders had a routine for! Also like "Hitching a Ride" (not a cool or safe thing to do now).



2. Boy, did I get excited when I saw this CD. Back in 1990, Rhino released five volumes called "Have a Nice Day: Super Hits of the Seventies". I didn't know at the time if there were going to be more. So, with five CD's having 12 songs each, it was a very exciting day for me to bring home 60 songs from the era of 1969 to 1971. Each volume had over 75% of the songs I loved as a kid. I never expected to ever see or hear them again until Rhino invented this concept of put together a music collection of (generally forgotten) one hit wonders. How could we have ever expected to see and hear these songs again? Most of them were not even worthy of having their own greatest hits album. And as diverse as they all are, they still all belong to each other. And for the one hit wonders, and the artists that only had a few memorable charted singles (none really able to sell a whole album), Rhino managed to create 25 volumes of "Have a Nice Day" and then followed up with 20 volumes of an obscurity collection of rhythm and blues and soulful pop hits of the seventies, called "Didn't It Blow your Mind?"
   
   Anyway, check out the lost 45's on this collection. My favorites starting with "Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom (I wish this was shortened like my old 45, I don't like how it ends here), "Indiana Wants Me" by R. Dean Taylor, "Lay Down" by Melanie, "I Think I love You" by The Partridge Family, and "Julie Do You Love Me?" by Bobby Sherman.
   
   The Partridge Family and Bobby Sherman had many other hits but Rhino only gave us one each with this "Have a Nice Day" series. There are three rather silly novelty tuines on this volume. "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry, "Amos Moses" by Jerry Reed, and my personal favorite "Neanderthal Man" by Hotlegs. Hotlegs is actually Godley and Crème who are the original members of the up and coming group 10cc.
   
   "Tighter, Tighter" still has a fresh pop feel. I'm surprised that radio doesn't play this gem anymore. The one track here that I wasn't familiar with at all back then was "Fallin' Lady" by Punch. Did that song even chart? There's nothing wrong with it, but it just feels out of place because I know everything else here so fondly.
   
   The only track that really keeps this volume from getting five stars is having the 45 edit of "Green Eyed Lady" by Sugarloaf. I know it's wrong to expect the full album version since this collection is based on rare AM radio pop ditties and I'm sure the 45 version was always played more often than the album version. It's just that, over the years, I have been listening to "Green-Eyed Lady" in its full album version so have a lower tolerance to hear it shortened like this now. So, with "Green Eyed Lady" and "Montego Bay" being great tunes but compromised, and having Jerry Reed, Mungo Jerry, and Punch being not-so-wonderful to me, this collection loses two stars.



3. Music is crystal clear bringing back my favorite Artist Ive enjoyed and oh yeah the best part is the memories this cd has brought to me!



4. Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 3 is a solid installment in this series of CDs with music from the `70s; we get some good tunes and the quality of the sound is excellent.
   
   "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" by Melanie starts the album with a rock and gospel flavored tune; the tune rocks and the gospel style choir harmonizes to perfection. I like this number a lot. "Tighter, Tighter" by Alive & Kicking brings back a lot of fond memories; they sing this tune with some great percussion, and guitar. Moreover, listen for a very funky and thoroughly enjoyable "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry. I really enjoy "In The Summertime" by Mungo Jerry as they perform this timeless number about how a man's mind turns to women in the summertime.
   
   "Green-Eyed Lady" by Sugarloaf is another rockin' number with great use of the organ and guitars; and I enjoy The Partridge Family singing "I Think I Love You," which, of course, was a huge bit for them.
   
   "Montego Bay" by Bobby Bloom is another funky number with an irresistible, catchy melody; and "Julie, Do Ya Love Me" is a catchy pop tune from Bobby Sherman. The album ends strong with "Fallin' Lady" by Punch. Love that tune!
   
   The artwork is great; love that phone on the cover of the artwork!
   
   Overall, Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day, Vol. 3 may have its critics; but the rarely found numbers on this disc make it all the more valuable. I do have a problem with the CD being a mere twelve songs. They could have and should have added at least one or two songs more. Nevertheless, I still recommend this album for people who love that `70s music to remember how we were back in the day.



5. Entry #3 in Rhino's 70s pop series is a strong contender in chart terms with #1 song "I Think I Love You" from the Partridge Family and 6 Top 10 tunes squeezed in.
   
   Unfortunately, some of them don't hold up all that well. Alive and Kicking's Tommy James produced "Tighter, Tighter" is limp..the sort of song you'll listen to after you've punched ALL the radio buttons first but nothing you'd ever turn up. Likewise mid-tempo "Gypsy Woman" from Bryan Hyland.
   
   In fact, some of the best tunes here didn't score all that well in the Top 40. Mungo Jerry only cracked the Top 40 once but "In the Summertime" became a warm weather classic, revived every time the mercury climbs. The faux reggae "Montego Bay" ensured Bobby Bloom a spot on oldies radio with its lilting drums and buoyant whistling. And Sugarloaf's "Green Eyed Lady" still sizzles out of speakers.
   
   BOTTOM LINE:
   It'll do but this isn't one of the first discs from the series I'd pick up if cash is limited.

5 comments about Healing.

1. Todd Rundgren has, as a rock genius, been known as an egotist. But on this album and on "Almost Human," he embraces the grace of humility and gratitude for the experience of a "higher power" that is in all of us. The chord progressions, lyrics, and the brilliant singing and lyrics, should not be missed. Buy this album!



2. I ordered "Healing" by Todd Rundgren. Instead, I received a CD from a 1950s blues artist whose name I do not recall. I sent the CD back and have not received the item I purchased, NOR have I received so much as an acknowledgement that an error occurred. I reported this online via customer service. The response: Nothing.
   
   To add insult to injury, the "postage paid" return envelope was invalid and I had to pay postage to return the item. To repeat: I HAD TO PAY POSTAGE TO RETURN THE ITEM I DID NOT ORDER -- AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE ITEM I ORDERED -- NOR HAVE I RECEIVED ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT AN ERROR OCCURRED.
   
   Please help.
   
   Thank you.
   
   Harry Baldauf



3. Healing is the most subtle and sensitive side of Todd.
   
   There are catchy melodies and creative arrangements. But there is a subtle presence of Todd's highest self throughout.
   
   From the opening confession, "I had a vision in my sleep last night; something was calling to me from a blinding light; saying not to fear it; hear it" to the hypnotic, trance, new age, healing melodies of side two, this is perhaps Todd's most sincere and highest expression of who he is.
   
   There's a little humor sprinkled throughout ("Tiny Demons" and "Golden Goose"), and even with Todd's seemingly infinite overdubs, there is a lot of silence on this album. A lot of healing.



4. Artist Dimthingshineon recently did a cover of Todd Rundgren song: "Flesh" on his latest 4 CD project called "Nostalgia" released in 2009. Check out http://www.myspace.com/dimthingshineon
   or http://www.geocities.com/dimthingshineon



5. I was a college drop out when this album first came out and had taken a nowhere job working overnight as a maintanance man for McDonalds. Part of the "charm" at that time was that I was able to bring a boom box to work with me and listen to what ever I wanted while I scrubbed the floors, rest rooms, etc.
   
   I was very down and wondering what life had ahead of me. During one day off, I purchased this album and created an additional copy on cassette to play at work. The atmospheric music was mesmerizing at 3 or 4 in the morning and almost made me dizzy with the instrumentation. As the album came to a close, with its third part of the title track, the sun started coming up and had sprayed a ray of light just in front of me. I found that with the solitude of a lonely night's work, the power of Todd's music and lyrics, I was moved to get the heck out of that job, earn enough money to finish school and get out of this dead end job.
   
   I am now a college professor with a family of my own and still play this on the CD version. I once met Todd's manager, a very nice woman in Woodstock NY, and told her the story above. I wonder if she ever passed that message on.....
   
   Very uplifting album.

5 comments about The Definitive Collection.

1. A lot of nonsense that is written here. If you didn't like 70's pop or most likely didn't live through them, you should know that BCR had more hits in the US than just one. They had during a period of two years four Singles in the Top 10 (Saturday Night, Money Honey, I only want to be with you and You made me believe in Magic.) They also had smaller hits such as Rockn'roll Love letter and They way I feel tonight which made the Top 30. About the success they had over here in Europe, or in Australia and Asia we could even write a whole book. This band deserves a lot more respect, especially considering all the crap we have to endure today. They might not have been everyone's darling in the 70's but they certainly had a uniqueness that is completely lacking from todays boy bands. They also wrote several of their own songs and certainly knew how to play live (listen to the Live CD at the Budokan in Tokyo). No, their songs certainly did not set the World on fire, it was simply refreshing Pop Music, and I still enjoy it today.



2. The tartan answer to the Osmond Brothers finally landed on American Shores thanks to none other than Howard Cosell. Sweet faced boys with cheery harmonies, tartan fringed clothes and the catchy chant S-A-TUR-DAY-NIGHT! After being teen sensations in the UK for a couple of years, Rollersmania hit number one in the US in 1974.
   
   Despite the hype, much of the best of the Roller's music was composed by the band. The top ten "Money Honey" was self-composed, and so was their disco-hit "Can't Stop The Music." The band was chomping at the bit to escape the teeny-tag, and had they not been yoked to a weird deal with Arista (forcing the band to have 50% of the songs per album covers chosen by the label), they might have managed to be contemporaries of - while listening the toughened sound on "Yesterday's Heroes" - perhaps The Sweet. However, the bulk of this best of still sounds slick and solid. Even the covers ("Rock and Roll Love Letter" and "I Only Want to Be With You" being two bests here) still sounds confident and catchy. Not earth-shattering, but still powerful fun. Even the songs most of us did not hear, like "Turn On The Radio," could have been big.



3. IT IS A WONDERFUL CD OF THEIR BEST IM A BAY CITY ROLLER FANATIC AND ITS A MUST FOR EVERY BAY CITY ROLLER FAN I LOVE IT



4. Unless you are a rabid fan, save your money.
   
   This "Collection" is no more "Definitve" than I am.
   
   The sellers (and Amazon) don't bother to mention that most of the tracks are not even in stereo.
   
   This CD is not worth the money.
   
   I'm sorry I bought it.



5. Bought this CD as a gift for my sister. When we were little and camping with our family, we'd sing and dance to these songs on our cassette tape. Recently I searched high & low for this cassette and couldn't find it. I was so happy to see it on CD! The day after Christmas my sister called me while she was listening to the CD and for a half hour we reminisced about the songs together. I'm so happy I found this! Thank you Amazon!

5 comments about ...But the Little Girls Understand.

1. Um, if you like the knack then Baby Talks Dirty and Mr. Handleman are right up there with the rest of the great songs....Not to be tossed aside....WTF ?



2. After their excellent debut album, the Knack releasd "But the Little Girls Understand". The band plays with energy but the songs are just not that good. Aside from Baby Talks Dirty which is catchy but sounds a lot like My Sharona, the other songs are mostly uninspiring. The reissued version from 2002 includes two live tracks with Ray Manzarek from the Doors. Ray does his thing with the Knack playing backing up and the songs plod along and bring nothing refreshing to this album. All in all, a disappointing release from a very talented and fun band. BnB Beatles Depot



3. Their initial release, "Get the Knack," far overshadows everything else they recorded, but if you liked "My Sharona" and "Good Girls Don't" you'll probably enjoy this release, too. It's pretty much more of the same.



4. While Doug Feiger may boast that "But The Little Girls Understand" was made up of the songs originally slated to be "Get The Knack's" second half of a double album, there is no escaping the fact that these songs are lesser than those of the debut. Recorded at the same breakneck pace as the debut (a mere two weeks, and only 8 months after "Get the Knack"), this time, the expediency doesn't benefit. If "Get The Knack" was a sugary eclair with a tart filling, "But The Little Girls Understand" was the same eclair after the creamy filling had gone rancid.
   
   The problems are evident as soon as "Baby Talks Dirty" kicks in. Essentially the "My Sharona" riff inverted with yet another lyric about slutty girls, it was still catchy and propulsive enough to hit the top 20. I can't fault the band for trying, as the songs are slavish to style. The Beatles dominate, but so does Buddy Holly pop ("Having A Rave Up"), to even covering an obscurity from The Kinks ("The Hard Way"). The songs that seem to push the envelope are even weirder. "Mr Handleman" sports an island riff as the protagonist offers to pimp out his wife.
   
   The backlash had already been in force, and "But The Little Girls Understand" fed the fires. Lacking the cohesion of the debut and, frankly, all that many memorable songs, The Knack was already shooting themselves in the feet. It took them two years after this to create the sophisticated "Round Trip," but this was the seal of doom for The Knack. They were already getting into substance problems, media disasters (they were a notoriously prickly interview on the occasion they even did speak to media), and both Feiger and producer Mike Chapman were not too fond of each other by the album's completion.
   
   It's a shame, because the bonus material on "But The Little Girls Understand" showcases why The Knack were such a sought-after group in the label-bidding wars. Ray Manzarek of The Doors is featured jamming on a pair of live cuts, "Soul Kitchen" and "The Alabama Song/Whiskey Bar." They swing though each with verve, and the Del Shannon tribute "Daughter Of The Law" sounds like a great lost single. The Knack had it, lost it, and never got it back.



5. In the world of 20th century rock music, bands usually had about two albums worth of material worked up from club work by the time they landed a recording contract. As a result, the first two albums tended to be close reflections of each other, and substantial development of the band's sound was not expected before the third release. Music critics who knew this perfectly well still gave the Knack a hard time for the close duplication in this album of the band's initial, explosively successful "Get the Knack." Well, they gave the Knack a hard time about just about everything, and hounded the band to a premature (and thankfully temporary) extinction. Little known until now was just how closely related the songs of "But the Little Girls Understand" were to those of "Get the Knack." Doug Fieger and company originally proposed to Capitol Records a double album debut (!), nothing less than a concept album of suburban 70s teenage angst. The executives predictably balked at the idea, and the Knack sliced their concept into two separate discs, releasing them a mere eight months apart. The two albums should be seen as a single, marvelous moment in rock history, and a fine extended set of raw power pop.
   
   It is understandable that "But the Little Girls Understand" did not get quite an even share of tight little masterpieces that the Knack packed into their debut. But it holds up remarkably well, flying forward at full throttle from the opening track, the top-40 hit "Baby Talks Dirty," through a dozen focused statements of desire, frustration, and fatalism. If one accepts the frequent comparison of the Knack to the early Beatles, then it is to the earliest Beatles of the Hamburg scene, blistering out tracks with a speed-enhanced fury. As for criticisms of the limitations of formula and musicianship -- that's rock'n'roll, man, and the Knack knew this genre far better than most.
   
   I think one of the main reasons "But the Little Girls Understand" leaves the listener a little disappointed in the end is a misstep in deciding how the album should end. Someone made the decision to show off the band's ability to imitate a number of varied rock styles, including the fine Spectoresque "The Feeling I Get," the rockabilly "Havin' a Rave Up," and the fully orchestrated ballad, "How Can Love Hurt So Much." The latter two tracks are not really up to snuff, and a better solution is sitting right there among the bonus material on this CD: an incredible six minute opus called "Revenge" that has to rank among the most perfect encapsulations of the rock ethos ever put on tape. If this had been the closing track on the album, I think it would have been a much stronger finale. In addition to "Revenge," the bonus material on this CD release includes another lost early effort, "Daughter of the Law," and two live tracks from before the band hit it big, with guest Ray Manzarek of the Doors (Knack bassist Prescott Niles had worked in a post-Doors band with Manzarek).
   
   The Knack began to falter after "But the Little Girls Understand," and broke up after only one more release, regrouping off and on over the years since and putting out three more albums, alas without high-powered drummer Brucy Gary, whose recent passing is much lamented. Of these later releases, only 1998's "Zoom" recaptures all that made the Knack the quintessential power pop band. Look for the touched-up re-release "Re-Zoom" out this year.

5 comments about Cheap Trick - Greatest Hits.

1. I saw them once in concert as they were the opening-act for Heart. These guys were great!!! Love their style of rock n roll! Some of my personal favorites are: Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love, The Flame, Voices, and I Want You To Want Me. They're all on this CD! I really like their sound of music. It's a more modern rock n' roll sound with some is fast, loud and wild, while other songs are slow and romantic like "The Flame". This CD is in my collection and I won't ever sell it or give it away! Enjoy the music while you can!



2. I've already worn out one copy of this CD so just HAD to get it again! One thing: there is an extra song on this one which isn't all that great, but at least all the others are still there!!



3. All their best songs and a few I had forgotten they sang. Definitely a great addition to my MP3 library of songs.



4. I agree with most of the reviews here. Cheap Trick- Greatest Hits gives you most of their chart hits but doesn't give you their best stuff. The fact that there are no studio tracks from either of their first two (and best albums) underlines the problem with this collection. To be fair, there is still a lot to love here. You have the excellent "Voices" and the awesome title track from Dream Police. You have their signature track in "Surrender" along with the two big singles from At Budokan ("I Want You to Want Me" and "Ain't That a Shame"). You also have some golden nuggets from their inconsistent `80s albums, most notably "Tonight It's You", "She's Tight", and "I Can't Take It." Then you get "The Flame", "Can't Stop Fallin' Into Love", and their mediocre version of Elvis Presley's "Don't Be Cruel." Big hits? Yes. Their best songs? Not even close. To top it off, you have the unnecessary cover of the Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour." Your best bet? Pay an extra 6 bucks and pick up The Essential Cheap Trick which gives you a generous portion of their great early stuff (the first four albums) as well as the aforementioned nuggets and even the schmaltzy big hits.



5. Cheap Trick was one of the finest rock bands of the late 70s. However, their best material is omitted on this CD and the greatest sin of all is that there is not one song pulled from their phenomenal, yet under recognized debut. Skip this CD and fork out the extra cash to buy either all of their first five albums or a compilation that presents Cheap Trick as they truly were in their golden years, prior to the embarrassing 80s tripe; you will not be disappointed.

5 comments about Everywhere at Once.

1. Originally released in 1983, who could honestly forget this fun-to-listen-to New Wave band? Guess they disbanded after this record came out. Never one of my favorites but I remember this lp on the turntable at several college parties I hung out at back then. Tunes here I found to my liking were "Shaky City", the catchy "Lie, Beg, Borrow And Steal", their unforgetable 'signature' song {if you care to call it that} "A Million Miles Away", "My Life Ain't Easy", "I'll Get Lucky" and the surf guitar-like closer "Hobo". Nice! Followers of the Romantics, Goo Goo Dolls, The dB's and The Knack should really enjoy this reissue.



2. The Plimsouls were one of those bands that came out with lots of good material, but never really made it big (save for the many hardcore fans). This album has so much good music on it that it makes up for them not putting out much more. "A Million Miles Away" is one of those songs that is quite simply a classic rock song. "How Long Will It Take" is another great cut from this album. A must for any 80's music lover.



3. A recent double live bill of the Plimsouls and the English Beat re-introduced me to this band. The Plimsould with their strong power pop dominated set blew the Beat off the stage. The worst thing about the show was that due to label issues the Plimsouls could not sell any of their own material at the show. Anyway i soon went out and purchased this gem. At first listen it did sound a little dated and uneven, however i am very pleased to say that after repeated listens the strength of this album begins to stand out. Shaky City, the oldest story, How long, a milion miles, everywhere at once are true stand out tracks and a joy to listen to.



4. But it still rocks, with a solid set of good pop-influenced rock songs. I could probably stand never hearing "A Million Miles Away" again, but I really love the rest of it. It's kind of like if the Blues Brothers were a new wave act, but with Peter Case's great lyrics instead of goofy blues covers. One of the decade's best non-punk offerings, and certainly better than the bombast of Journey, etc., that was also dominating the airwaves then.



5. Had this on vinyl for forever- it's awesome to find it on CD for so cheap!