The holiday season is upon us once again, and music is always a welcome gift.
Here are reviews of some of the latest, greatest hits and multi-CD box sets that are now on store shelves.
Box sets range from AC/DC to Hank Williams Sr., and they feature rare tracks and outtakes.
The greatest-hits discs, including everything from a new Bee Gees package to a "Weird Al" Yankovic collection, are a nice, convenient way to have many of the artists' popular songs in one place.
Take a look. There's sure to be something for family or friends on your holiday gift list.
e-mail: scott@desnews.com
Box sets
AC/DC; "Backtracks" (Columbia) ★★★
"Backtracks" is a treasure trove for AC/DC fans. Packaged in a guitar-amp box, this three-disc set — two CDs and one DVD — is rife with rarities that were scattered here, there and everywhere. Not only do the CDs feature the Australian-only release of "Stick Around," "R.I.P. (Rock in Peac)" and "Love Song," but also "Big Gun" from the "Last Action Hero" soundtrack and the song "Cold Hearted Man" from the B-side of "Rock 'N' Roll Damnation." The set also contains the live versions of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap," "Dog Eat Dog" and "Live Wire," which were recorded in the late '70s. The DVD is the latest installment of the "Family Jewels" series, featuring "Big Gun" and other bonus vids of "Jailbreak," "Highway to Hell" and the making of "Hard as a Rock" and "Rock 'N' Roll Train." — Scott Iwasaki
BIG STAR; "Keep an Eye on the Day" (Rhino) ★★★★
This four-disc boxed set contains almost all of the quartet's proper recorded work, as well as demos and alternate versions of songs. "In the Street" (better known as the theme song for TV's "That '70s Show"), "September Gurls"and "Way Out West" are some of the highlights. The collection also boasts some of the pre-band and later solo efforts by singer/songwriters Chris Bell and Alex Chilton. And of special note to fans is the fourth disc, which consists of songs culled from a rarely heard, 1973 concert recorded the band's stomping grounds (in Memphis). — Jeff Vice
ERASURE; "Total Pop! Deluxe Box: The First 40 Hits" (Mute/Sire/Rhino) ★★★½
The difference between "Total Pop!" and "Total Pop! Deluxe Box" is that not only do fans get the two-CD hits collection but also a live CD, a DVD and a rare-photo booklet. All of the British-pop duo's hits, including "Oh, L'Amour," "Chains of Love" and "A Little Respect," have been remastered for the set. Some of the songs on the live CD date back to 1987 with "Spiralling" and end in 2007 with "Oh, L'Amour." The DVD, documenting the duo's live BBC tapings, gets the nostalgia working with live tapings of "Sometimes," "Chains of Love" and "Ship of Fools," but also spotlights "Salsbury Hill" from 2003 and "Breathe" from 2005. — S.I.
GENESIS; "1973-2007 Live" (Atlantic/Rhino) ★★★
The first thing fans will notice when they open this box set is an open slot. A card in that slot reads: "This space reserved for your copy of 'Live Over Europe 2007,' which was released in Nov. 2007..." Not that it matters, because the remaining eight CDs and three DVDs that are included in this exciting and dynamic set is an impressive live package that starts with the Peter Gabriel-fronted band (featuring guitarist Steve Hackett) and ends with the Phil Collins-fronted incarnation with drummers Chester Thompson and Bill Bruford). — S.I.
GRATEFUL DEAD; "Winterland, June 1977, the Complete Recordings" (Grateful Dead Productions/Rhino) ★★★★
In June 1977, the Grateful Dead played a three-night stand at the Winterland Arena in San Francisco. It was the Dead's homecoming for its critically acclaimed tour in support of "Terrapin Station." This nine-CD collection, packed in sleeves that form a colorful poster montage, contains all three concerts in their entirety and feature hiss-less classics "Scarlet Begonias," "Bertha," "Jack Straw" and the sprawling "Terrapin Station." The package also includes a bonus CD that contains cuts from the show taped at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago a few weeks earlier. — S.I.
DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES; "Do What You Want, Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall/John Oates" (RCA/Legacy) ★★★
This four-CD career retrospective contains all 28 Top 40 hits, including "Sara Smile," "Rich Girl," "How Does It Feel to Be Back," "Kiss on My List," "You Make My Dreams," "Private Eyes," "One on One," "Maneater" and "Adult Education." In addition, disc 1 kicks off with early recordings of the pair's pre-collaboration groups. There are also oodles of previously unreleased demos and live tracks and a booklet filled with rare photos, press photos and extensive liner notes. — S.I.
JANE'S ADDICTION; "A Cabinet of Curiosities" (Warner Bros./Rhino) ★★★
The demos and rehearsal recordings on this three-CD/one-DVD box set show the brilliant vision of Jane's Addiciton founder Perry Farrell. If you're a fan, you will eat this up and demand more. In fact, there is a limited-edition bonus disc for this set that's only available at Best Buy while supplies last. At any rate, the standard issue collection, which comes neatly packaged in a mini-wooden curio cabinet, is chock-full of demos and rehearsals and a remix version of "Been Caught Stealing." The rough demos are exactly what the title refers — curiosities, albeit solid ones. The 14 tracks of disc three were recorded live at the Hollywood Palladium during the band's heyday in 1990. The DVD contains videos for "Had a Dad," "Ocean Size," "Stop!" "Been Caught Stealing," "Classic Girl" and "Ain't No Right." — S.I.
ALAN LOMAX; "Alan Lomax in Haiti: Recordings From the Library of Congress" (Harte Recordings) ★★★★
The late folklorist and ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax and his wife, Elizabeth, recorded more than 500 hours of music while living in Haiti for four months — December 1936 through April 1937. Those recordings were preserved on aluminum discs and stored away for more than 70 years. In addition, Lomax authored a two-volume field journal. Harte Recordings, Lomax's estate, the Library of Congress and the Association for Cultural Equity have teamed to bring some of these items, and Lomax's black & white and color film footage, to the public in this 10-CD box set. Raw recordings of music, singing and rituals have been meticulously remastered. Each disc contains a category of songs — "Meringues & Urban Music," "Music Under the Arbor: Haiti's Rustic Troubadour Music," "Mardi Gras & Carnival," "Rara: Vodou in Motion," "Children Songs," "European Son/Romances," "Francillia," "Kraze Gato," "Work Birgadesand Worship" and "Zondo Ceremony/Sosyete Workbook." In some cases, the music on these discs have been forgotten by the Haitian culture. — S.I.
DOLLY PARTON; "Dolly" (RCA/Legacy) ★★★★
With a career that includes award-winning singing, songwriting, producing, acting, educating and philanthropy, the question remains: What's next for Dolly Parton? Well, if the past is any indication, she still has a lot to do. But looking back, it's amazing to see all she's done. This four-CD box set is one-song shy of an even 100. However, that doesn't matter. All of Parton's hits — including her time with the Merry Melody Singers — are here. And so are the standout works with Porter Wagoner, Kenny Rogers and Ricky Van Shelton. The song list includes "Dumb Blonde," "Holdin' on to Nothin' " and "Coat of Many Colors" to "Islands in the Stream," "9 to 5" and "I Will Always Love You." Her first No. 1 "Joshua" and her 26th No. 1 "Rockin' Years" and literally everything in between have all been fit together like a 5,000-piece puzzle of the ever-so-dynamic-and-energetic Parton. Also included is a booklet that contains rare photos and a comprehensive liner notes by music writer/producer Holly George-Warren and friends and fans. — S.I.
ELVIS PRESLEY; "Elvis 75: Good Rockin' Tonight" (RCA/Legacy) ★★★★
This year marks the King of Rock 'n' Roll's 75th birthday. And RCA/Legacy celebrated with this four-CD box set that musically narrates the king's career from his humble beginnings ("My Happiness," "That's All Right") to his final days ("Unchained Melody" and "Way Downz"). Make note, his live version of "My Way" isn't included on this set, but that really doesn't make a lot of difference because "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender," "How Great Thou Art," "Viva Las Vegas," "An American Trilogy" and "In the Ghetto" among the songs in the collection. While many Elvis fans will have these songs in another form, it's always nice to have a new Elvis product in time for the holidays. — S.I.
KENNY ROGERS; "The First 50 Years," (TimeLife/EMI) ★★★★
Kenny Rogers has entertained his fans for more than 50 years, and this three-CD box set shows why. This set is divided into three-comprehensive categories — duets, story songs and love songs. Disc one tackles the duets — "Islands in the Stream" with Dolly Parton, "We've Got Tonight" with Sheena Easton, "Every Time Two Fools Collide" with Dottie West, "If I Ever Fall in Love Again" with Anne Murray, "Don't Fall in Love with a Dreamer" with Kim Carnes and "If I Knew Then What I Know Now" with Gladys Knight are some of those songs. Disc two highlights Rogers' trademark storytelling with "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town," "The Gambler," "Coward of the County," "Lucille" and "Reuben James," among others. The love songs on disc three are highlighted by "She Believes in Me," "You Decorated My Life" "Love the World Away" and "Lady." Three new songs are tacked on to the lists — the duet "Tell Me That You Love Me" with Dolly Parton; the story song "Goodbye" and the love song "Loving You Is a Natural Thing to Do." — S.I.
FRANK SINATRA: "New York" (Reprise) ★★★
OK, some of the songs in these live-in-concert performances are bound to be redundant with other Sinatra collections. Heck, some are redundant in THIS collection. But fans won't care. The bulk of these tracks are from the 1970s and early '80s, when the self-styled "saloon singer" was becoming a grand old statesman, keeping standards alive as rock 'n' roll was taking over. Onstage he was a singular talent, jovially bantering between songs, quick on his feet when a lyric was forgotten or a heckler got too noisy. But the biggest attraction is that singular phrasing of a lyric. Included are six concerts in various Manhattan venues, starting with a brief but chatty three-song set recorded when Sinatra reunited in 1955 with Tommy Dorsey. Then it's onto his signature tunes ("I've Got You Under My Skin," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "My Way"), along with a few contemporary tunes for the period ("Bad, Bad Leroy Brown," "If," "Send in the Clowns"). There's also a 48-page booklet and a fifth disc, a DVD of his 1980 Carnegie Hall concert, when he was 64 and still delivering. — Chris Hicks
ROD STEWART; "The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998" (Warner Bros.) ★★★
If anything, this four-CD box set shows Rod Stewart at his creative best. That is, the songs in this collection are comprised of early recordings, demos, alternate versions and even sketches of songs that would eventually hit the charts as the finished works, such as "Maggie May," "Tonight's the Night," "You're in My Heart," "Hot Legs" and S'carred & Scared." The alternate takes are a little more edgy and some contain lyrics that wouldn't have flown on the air in the '70s, but at the same time, the arrangements shows Stewart's musicalilty, especially on the piano version of the Beatles' "In My Life," and gives glimpses of his vision. — S.I.
THEE MIDNITERS; "Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm & Psychedelia!" (Microworks) ★★★
Thee Midniters is considered one of the premier Mexican-American bands of the 1960s. While it never had an album that charted on the Billboard 200, its single of "Land of a Thousand Dances (Part I)" was a hit in 1965. The band was a pioneer — some say founder — of Mexican-American rock. Los Lobos was directly influenced by Thee Midniters and its lead singer "Little Willie G." Garcia. The box set is the band's three studio albums — "Whittier Blvd.," "Thee Midniters Bring You Love Special Delivery" and "Unlimited" — and a compilation called "Giants," along with a handful of bonus tracks. While most of the songs on the first two CDs are mainly covers ("Land of A Thousand Dances," "Good Lovin'," "Gloria," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Strangers in the Night,"), the third CD finds the band and Garcia comfortable with originals such as "Cheatin' Woman," "Dreaming Casually" and "Making Ends Meet." "Giants" was put together after Garcia left the band, but included the gem, "Brother, Where Are You?" This is one for the collector and musicologist. — S.I.
VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Let Freedom Sing: the Music of the Civil Rights Movement" (TimeLife/Sony Music) ★★★★
This three-CD box set is not just music from the 1960s, the decade most people relate with the Civil Rights movement. This collection reaches back to 1939 with Billie Holiday's dark and haunting anti-lynching protest song "Strange Fruit." The songs run through the century with well-known tunes such as Nat "King" Cole's "We Are Americans Too," Harry Belafonte's "Oh Freedom" and the Impressions' "People Get Ready" to the lesser known works such as Brownie McGhee's "Black, Brown and White" and Bill Moss' "Sock It To 'Em, Soul Brother." More recent works include Solomon Burke's "None of Us Are Free," Mavis Staples' "Down in Mississippi' and the Blind Boys of Alabama's "Free at Last." The box also contains a booklet with liner notes by Chuck D. and snapshots of events and persons involved in the movement. For every song there is a story and a place and time in the struggle to find equality in the United States of America throughout the years. — S.I.
VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Let Them Know: The Story of Youth Brigade and BYO Records" (BYO Records) ★★★★
For a quarter of a century, Southern California punk label, BYO Records, established by Mark and Shawn Stern of the band Youth Brigade, has kept the punk movement, attitude and music alive. So, what better time than now to release a 31-track box set that includes a 90-minute documentary? This collection is not only grand in the scope of what it represents, but also is packaged as a collector's dream. With two red vinyl albums, a DVD and a hardcover book that contains essays and rare photos, this set documents BYO (Better Youth Organization) Records with tracks such as the Anti-Flag's cover of Unseen's "1,000 Miles," Pennywise taking on 7 Seconds' "We're Gonna Fight" and the Krum Bums' cover of the Alkaline Trio's "Hating Every Minute." Oh, yes. and Youth Brigade crankes out SNFU's "Misfortune." It's true that this set is big on covers, but it's more of a tribute to BYO Records than anything else. And the band that cover the songs are true to the arrangements and attitude. Also, the set is available in CD form as well. — S.I.
VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968" (Rhino) ★★★
Packaged in a picture-book format, this four-CD compilation attempts to capture the grooves and excitement of the Los Angeles club scene in the 1960s. In three years, the scene developed and helped bands like the Doors ("Take It As It Comes"), the Byrds ("You Movin' " and "Change Is Now"), Iron Butterfly ("Gentle As It May Seem") and Tim Buckley (the previous unreleased "Once Upon a Time"), all diverse in style and approach, find their outlet. Those artists are represented in this set, but there are also lesser-known groups, such as the Hysterics ("Everything's Here"), the Moon ("Mothers and Fathers") and the Seeds ("Tripmaker") that have their own quirky place as well. The booklet contains profiles on all the hot spots such as the Whiskey, the Troubador and the Ash Grove, to name a few. This is great walk down memory lane, whether you remember the mid-'60s or not. — S.I.
HANK WILLIAMS; "Revealed: The Unreleased Recordings" (TimeLife) ★★★★
Like the title of this three-CD box set refers, this may be the most intimate collection in Hank Sr.'s posthumous career. Comprised of a load of recently discovered tapes, this set, while featuring songs such as "Move It on Over" and "Hey, Good Lookin'," contains all new recordings. When Williams wasn't on the road, he recorded shows that would air on the radio during the "Mother's Best Show" concerts on WSM radio when he was out of town. Three of those concerts are represented in their entirety. The CDs also feature candid moments with Williams singing hymns, ballads and quoting poems. Oh, and for the record, "Revealed: the Unreleased Recordings" is fully endorsed by the Hank Williams Estate. — S.I.
Greatest hits
BEE GEES; "The Ultimate Bee Gees" (Reprise) ★★★★
Don't knock the Brothers Gibb — better known as the Bee Gees. The trio — Barry, Robin and the late Maurice — wrote some catchy songs, and those songs have been covered by the likes of Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers, Dionne Warwick and the Fugees. This two-CD/one DVD gathers all the group's important hits in their 50-year career, from the early works "New York Mining Disaster 1941," "Spicks and Specks," "I Started a Joke" and "Fanny (Be Tender with My Love)" to the disco blockbusters "Stayin' Alive," "You Should Be Dancing" and "Night Fever," to the ballads. "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Too Much Heaven." Rockers include "Tragedy," "Jive Talkin' " and "Nights of Broadway." The DVD is composed of unreleased videos that include "Spicks and Specks," "Night Fever," "One" and "Still Waters (Run Deep)." — Scott Iwasaki
MARIAH CAREY; "The Ballads" (Sony/Columbia) ★½
Mariah Carey sure could sing in the '90s. She was the next big rhythm & blues sensation. But then her popularity slipped and she became a caterwauling caricature between 2005 and 2008. She's clawed her way back to respectability with her hits "Touch My Body" and "Obsessed," but those songs aren't included on this compilation. While "The Ballads" may have looked good on paper, the monotony of the soulful slow-jams is boring. "Hero," "Vision of Love," "Love Takes Time" and "Without You" are still sung with heartfelt meaning, but they fall short without any balance. Even her duets — "One Sweet Day" with Boyz II Men, "Endless Love" with Luther Vandross, "I'll Be There" with Trey Lorenz, "How Much" with Usher, and "When You Believe" with Whitney Houston — may be the latest cure for insomnia. — S.I.
CARPENTERS; "40/40" (A&M/UMe) ★★★
During the '70s, siblings Richard and Karen Carpenter could be heard on the radio any time of the day. Richard's pop-savvy arrangements along with the late Karen's made-for-AM-radio alto was the perfect combination for No. 1 hits "(They Long to Be) Close to You," "Top of the World," "Please, Mr. Postman" and the Top 10 barrage of "We've Only Just Begun," "For All We Know," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "Superstar," "Hurting Each Other," "Sing," "Only Yesterday" and "Goodbye to Love." All of these and more have been remastered and remixed for this special two-CD set that has been released a few weeks prior to the duo's 40th anniversary in the music business. — S.I.
BIG PUN; "The Legacy: The Best of Big Pun" (Loud/Legacy) ★★★
"The Legacy: The Best of Big Pun" is actually the soundtrack to the Vlad Yudin 2008 documentary "Big Pun: The Legacy." Born Christopher Rios, Big Pun — short for Big Punisher — was an East-coast rapper, known for his heart-pounding flow, who died of a heart attack in 2000. The CD puts all the hits in one spot. "You Ain't a Killer," "Leather Face," "Capital Punishment," "Super Lyrical" and "It's So Hard" are interspersed with comment snippets from Raekwon, Snoop Dogg and Ghostface. Other tracks, such as the Beatnuts' "Off the Books," Fat Joe's "Fire Water' and Noreaga's "Banned from TV," are thrown onto the CD for good measure. — S.I.
FREDDY CANNON; "Boom Boom Rock 'n' Roll: the Best of Freddy Cannon" (Shout Factory) ★★★★
Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon got his nickname from the prominent bass drum in his songs, and this "Best-of" collection is composed of those songs released from 1959-81. In fact, if you check out the Freddy Cannon entry in Billboard archives, the singles list and this CD's track list are one and the same. His breakthrough hits "Tallahassee Lassie" and "Way Down Younder in New Orleans," as well as "Okefenokee," get the motor running and rock all the way through "Palisades Park" and "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock 'n' Roll." The last track on the CD is a little known number called "Let Me Show You Where It's At," a tune that doesn't show up on the Billboard list — S.I.
CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL; "The Singles Collection" (Fantasy) ★★★★
This two-CD set of Creedence Clearwater Revival hits rocks. It is comprised of all the El Cerrito, Calif.-based band's bayou-inspired singles and hits. It even reaches back to the mono-mix works such as "Porterville," "Call It Pretending," "Walking on the Water," "I Put a Spell on You," "Proud Mary" and "Suzie Q" (Part 1 and Part 2), to name a few. There are 30 songs altogether and even incluses "Tearin' Up the Country" and "Swamp Rock." Also included is a four-song DVD that features vids of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Bootleg," "I Put a Spell on You" and "Lookin' Out My Back Door." — S.I.
CROSBY, STILLS & NASH: "Demos" (Atlantic/Rhino) ★★★½
David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Graham Nash had the perfect three-part harmonies and the street credibility when the joined forces in 1969. "Demo" is an intimate, 12-track look at the trio's creative process. The stripped-down and sometimes rough cuts of "Marrakesh Express," "Almost Cut My Hair," "Deja Vu," "Long Time Gone," "Love the One You're With," and one with sometime collaborator Neil Young — "Music Is Love," give a glimpse of what their hits sounded like before the production and layers. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" isn't here, which would have been really interesting. — S.I.
DRIVE BY TRUCKERS; "The Fine Print (A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008)" (New West) ★★★★
While not a greatest hits per se, "The Fine Print" is a great addition to any Drive By Truckers' fan collection. There are outtakes and covers that all have the DBT swagger, but they also run true to the originals. Tom Petty's "Rebels," Tom T. Hall's "Mama Bake a Pie (Daddy Kill a Chicken)," Warren Zevon's "Play It All Night Long" and Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" feel custom-written for vocalist/guitarist Patterson Hood and the boys. Add to that the original DBT B-sides, such as "George Jones Talkin' Cell Phone Blues," "The Great Car Dealer War," "Mrs. Claus' Kimono" and an alternate take of "Uncle Frank," and you have one cool little CD — S.I.
ENYA; "The Very Best of Enya" (Reprise) ★★★½
For more than 22 years, Enya (born Eithne Ni Bhraonain) has carried the New Age Celtic-music torch throughout the world, with her dreamlike, layered arrangements and soothing voice. "The Very Best of Enya" is a single-CD career retrospective that includes "Storms in Africa" and her breakthrough hit "Orinoco Flow." The CD also features "The Celts," "Book of Days," "Wild Child," "Amaratine," "A Day Without Rain" and two of her songs that were featured in the Peter Jackson film "Fellowship of the Ring" — "Aniron" and "May It Be." Also, just for the holiday season, the CD ends with a choral version of "Oiche Chiuin," known to us non-Gaelic speakers as "Silent Night." — S.I.
EVERCLEAR; "In a Different Light" (429 Records) ★★★
Everclear founder and sole original member Art Alexakis has decided to re-record all of his band's classic cuts with his new lineup. "In a Different Light" works because the songs feature Alexakis on the vocals and guitar, and the arrangements are the same. Still, there is something fresh and updated with the songs "Wonderful," "Santa Monica," "Father of Mine," "Here Comes the Darkness," "Rock Star" and "I Will Buy You a New Life." The sound is more immediate and full. Part of that is the fact that the original songs were recorded by a trio, and the new ones are redone by a quintet. — S.I.
FILTER; "The Very Best Things: 1995-2008" (Reprise/Rhino) ★★
Filter, also known as Richard Patrick, hit the national airwaves with the distorted metal single "Hey Man Nice Shot," his ode to the late Pennsylvania State Treasurer Bud Dwyer. That song was Filter's way of breaking into the mainstream. That song starts off this 14-track retrospective, although it would have been nice to place it in the middle of the mix instead of the first track. Still, the other singles, such as "Welcome to the Fold," "Take a Picture" and new songs, such as "Thanks Bro" and "The Only Way (Is the Wrong Way)," have that Filter sass but are lesser known. They're all here, even if they didn't hit the charts. — S.I.
FOREIGNER; "Can't Slow Down" (Atlantic/Rhino) ★★★
Guitarist Mick Jones has kept Foreigner alive throughout the decades. Even with the departure of original lead singer Lou Gramm, Jones found a replacement in Hurricane's Kelly Hansen. "Can't Slow Down" is a three-disc package that features remastered greatest hits, a new original studio CD and a DVD. Hansen's vocals sound quite close to Gramm, but there's an edge that brings Foreigner into a bigger rock sound. The remix CD brings out a more clean and intricate sound on the Gramm-fronted hits such as "Feels Like the First Time," "Cold as Ice," "Hot Blooded," "Juke Box Hero," "Double Vision," "Dirty White Boy," "Head Games," "Blue Morning, Blue Day," "Urgent," "Double Vision" and "I Want to Know What Love Is." However, "Waiting for a Girl Like You" is not included in the stack. The DVD is a mix of live songs, back-stage interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. And Hansen's live voice is very good. — S.I.
RORY GALLAGHER; "Crest of a Wave: The Best of Rory Gallagher" (Eagle Records/Capo) ★★★★
Nearly 15 years after guitarist Rory Gallagher's death, Eagle Records has released this two-CD career retrospective. The 24 tracks dip into the past with "In Your Town" and give a good representation of the guitarist's style and skill with "Bad Penny," "A Million Miles Away," "Moon Child" and, of course, the CD's title track. "Tattoo'd Lady," "Loanshark Blues," "Out on the Western Plain" and "Lonesome Highway" give more proof that Gallagher is still underappreciated. The musician's nephew, Daniel, wrote the liner note and explained how this CD also focuses on the late musician's compositions, which is a way to separate it from the other Gallagher collections. — S.I.
JANIS IAN; "The Essential Janis Ian" (Columbia/Legacy) ★★★
Singer/songwriter Janis Ian will be forever known for her No. 3 hit "At Seventeen," which she sang through the eyes of an "ugly duckling." Still others know her for social commentary on interracial romance, "Society's Child (I've Been Thinking)." However, Ian is more than just an angst-filled social-minded musician. She knows how to let loose, and this two-CD collection contains both serious and fun works. The fun side includes "My Tennessee Hills," which she sang with Dolly Parton, and the previously unreleased "Today You're Mine." Serious features include the aforementioned "Society's Child" and "At Seventeen" (album and single version) but also "My Autobiography" and "When Angels Cry." These different sides of Ian are touching no matter the tone. — S.I.
IRON AND WINE; "Around the Well" (SubPop) ★★★1/2
So-called "nu-folkie" Sam Beam has developed a strong following with three studio albums' worth of musical storytelling. "Around the Well," a two-disc collection of outtakes or "B-sides," though, argues that the material that was cut from Beam's Iron and Wine albums may be as good — if not better — than the material that made the final cut. Among the better songs are stripped-down, acoustic covers of "Love Vigilantes," by New Order, and "Such Great Heights," by the Postal Service, as well as the lovely "Dearest Forsaken." — Jeff Vice
ALAN JACKSON; "Songs of Love and Heartache" (Cracker Barrel) ★★★
"Songs of Love and Heartache" isn't really a greatest hits CD but a disc full of Alan Jackson's more contemplative pieces. "Here in the Real World" to "Remember When" and the earnest "You Can't Give Up on Love" are some of the standout works. — S.I.
MICHAEL JACKSON; "This Is It" (Epic/MJJ) ★★½
The two-CD soundtrack to the Michael Jackson documentary "This Is It" is essentially a greatest hits CD comprised of his heyday cream-of-the-crop hits — "Billie Jean," "Thriller," "Beat It" and "Smooth Criminal." Disc 2 features Jackson in an intimate setting with a cappella and unfinished, yet impressive versions of "Beat It" "She's Out of My Life" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin.' " — S.I.
AL JARREAU; "An Excellent Adventure: The Very Best of Al Jarreau" (Reprise/Rhino) ★★★★
"An Excellent Adventure" is a 15-song career retrospective that spotlights his trademark delivery. "We're in This Love Together," "We Got By," "Cold Duck" and "Boogie Down" zero in on some of his original works. The CD includes "Spain (I Can Recall)" — Jarreau's collaboration with Chick Corea and Artie Maren — and "Just to Be Loved," co-penned by former Chicago vocalist/guitarist Bill Champlin. Then there's the brand-new title track, "Excellent Adventure," which shows the 69-year-old can still sing like funky honey. — S.I.
THE JAYHAWKS; "Music From the North Country: The Jayhawks Anthology" (Sony Legacy) ★★★
"Music From the North Country," the long-awaited hit collection from beloved alt-country band the Jayhawks is too much of a good thing. The first of its three discs culls some of the better songs from the band's studio albums. But a second disc of the group's earliest material is, frankly, not very good. And the even sketchier third disc, a DVD that features music videos, is only notable for live versions of "Settled Down Like Rain" and "Take Me With You (When You Go)." — J.V.
GEORGE JONES; "A Collection of My Best Recollection" (Cracker Barrel) ★★★★
"A Collection of My Best Recollection" is comprised of Jones' most memorable hits. Listeners get the classic "The Race Is On," "Finally Friday," "I Don't Need Your Rockin' Chair," "You're Still on My Mind," "White Lightening," "The Windown Up Above," "Why Baby Why," "Achin' Breakin' Heart" (not to be confused with Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart") and "He Stopped Lovin' Her Today." As an added bonus, the CD contains two previously unreleased songs — "I Really Don't Want to Know" and "I'm a Long Gone Daddy." — S.I.
VERA LYNN; "The Very Best of Vera Lynn: We'll Meet Again" (Decca) ★★★
Dame Vera Lynn is now 92 and just published her autobiography, "Some Sunny Day," after the lyric from her hit song "We'll Meet Again" (probably more famous in the United States as the song that closes out "Dr. Strangelove"). An English singer during World War II, Lynn was dubbed "The Forces' Sweetheart" by virtue of her hit records and many personal appearances at a time when soldiers needed a boost. This lovely collection includes "As Time Goes By," "The White Cliffs of Dover," "Dream" and other familiar wartime tunes, 20 in all. — Chris Hicks
MORPHINE; "At Your Service" (Ryko/Rhino) ★★★
Morphine bassist/vocalist Mark Sandman died of a heart attack on stage in 1999. But his music and raspy delivery lives on. "At Your Service" isn't a typical two-CD greatest hits collection but is more of a stash of studio cuts and live gems. Listeners get an earful of low-fi grooves on "Come Over," "It's Not Like That Anymore," "Imaginary Song" and "Shadow (I Know You Part V)." The live tracks include "Scratch," "Put It Down (Wo-Oh)" and "Saddest Song," to name a few. This is a must for Morphine fans. — S.I.
WILLIE NELSON; "Naked Willie" (RCA Nashville) ★★★★
This is a 17-song compilation of Willie Nelson's songs recorded the way he originally wanted. The songs, including "Bring Me Sunshine," "Happiness Lives Next Door," "When We Live Again," "Sunday Morning Coming Down" and "Jimmy's Road" — all of which were released between 1966 and 1970, have all been stripped to the bone by Nelson and his harmonica player, Mickey Raphael. — S.I.
AR RAHMAN; "The Best of AR Rahman: Music and Magic from the Composer of 'Slumdog Millionaire' " (Legacy) ★★★★
Ar Rahman won two Academy Awards and a Golden Globe for his soundtrack score for "Slumdog Millionaire." The Indian composer has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, and "Slumdog Millionaire" was his U.S. mega breakthrough. While "The Best of Rahman …" doesn't include any tracks from "Slumdog," it does reach back to his early works from "Vande Mataram," "Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India," "Zubeidaa: Story of a Princess" and "Dil Hi Dil Mein." The 14 atmospheric tracks include works of Carnatic, Hindustani and Qawalli style that feature vocalists Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Chinmayee and Raza Jaffrey, to name a few. — S.I.
OTIS REDDING; "The Best: See + Hear" (Shout Factory) ★★★★
When Otis Redding died in a plane crash in 1967, he was only 26, and his tradmark single "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" hadn't been released. In fact, that song was recorded three days before his death, according to Billboard Magazine. When the song was released about a month after the crash, it immediately shot to No. 1. This CD/DVD release contains the audio remasters of the soul-and-blues works "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay," "Try a Little Tenderness,' "Respect," "I've Been Loving You Too Long (to Stop Now)," "Satisfaction," "Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)," "Tramp" recorded by Redding and Carla Thomas, "The Happy Song (Dum-Dum)" and "I've Got Dreams to Remember." The DVD is a collection of live performances during Redding's last tour, as well as cuts from the 1967 Stax/Volt tour that spotlights Booker T. & the MG's and Sam & Dave. — S.I.
VONDA SHEPARD: "The Best of Ally McBeal" (Epic/Legacy) ★★★
Shepard has her detractors, those who feel she's at best a mediocre singer/pianist who got lucky on the coattails of the "Ally McBeal" TV series in the late 1990s. I've enjoyed her warbling, although I'll admit that everything I've heard is associated with that show. And here we go again, another revised collection of songs from those other "Ally McBeal" albums, the two on which she soloed and the compilations that followed. There is also one never-before-released track, and one from a non-"Ally" album. And yes, her "Chances Are" duet with Robert Downey Jr. is here. Again. — C.H.
SIMPLY RED; "25: The Greatest Hits" (Razor & Tie) ★★★
Technically, Mick "Red" Hucknall's song-chart career didn't start until 1986 with the No. 1 smash "Holding Back the Years." But if you count the other two years he was working with his band before the hit, then it equals 25 years. Still, "The Greatest Hits" title is kind of a misnomer. Hucknall's major U.S. hits happened during the mid-'80s and early '90s. They included the Top 40 songs "Money's Too Tight (to Mention)," "The Right Thing" and "Something Got Me Started"; the Top 100 "It's Only Love" and "Stars," as well as his second No. 1 "If You Don't Know Me By Now." The 10 additional songs, which were released throughout the 25-year career on this CD didn't hit the U.S. charts but were hits in the U.K. They include "Sunrise," "For Your Babies," "So Not Over You" and a new one "Go Now." This is more of a career retrospective than just a mere "greatest hits" CD — S.I.
SNOW PATROL; "Up to Now" (Fiction/Geffen) ★★★
While this isn't a bona fide "greatest hits" or "best-of" collection, "Up to Now" is a two-CD, 15-year career retrospective of the Northern Irish band's favorite songs. There is also the inclusion of "You Are My Joy" and "Carthweel," by off-shoot band the Reindeer Section, formed by SP's lead singer Gary Lightbody, that features drummer Jonny Quinn. As for the SP songs, there are quite a few hits, such as "Starfighter Pilot," "Spitting Games," "Chocolate," "Open Your Eyes," "Shut Your Eyes" and "Signal Fire." There's also a live version of "Run" and some nonsingle tracks, such as "Making Enemies," "PPP" and "The Golden Floor." — S.I.
SWEET; "Action: The Sweet Anthology" (Shout Factory) ★★★
Sweet was an exciting English rock band in the '70s. The band's strut-and-glitter style caught rockers in its contagious hooks, riffs and harmonies. Those elements are illustrated in the classic and best known "Ballroom Blitz," "Fox on the Run," "Love Is Like Oxygen" and "Little Willy." Lesser known rock anthems "Co-Co," "Blockbuster," "Action," "Funk It Up (David's Song)" and "California Nights" all hit the Billboard charts between 1971 and 1978 and helped sustain the classic FM-radio lineup. All the aforementioned songs are available on this two-CD, 32-track anthology. And while other more obscure works, such as "The Six Teens" and "Fever of Love," are known to die-hard fans, the catchy arrangements and hooks will appeal to the casual fan — S.I.
SARAH VAUGHAN; "Every Thing I Have Is Yours" (Shout Factory) ★★★★
Sarah Vaughan, the Grammy Award-winning and National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters-winning vocalist, succumbed to lung cancer in 1990, but she left a legacy of music. "Every Thing I Have Is Yours" spotlights her early works with Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Kenny Clarke, Charlie Ventura and more. Her spellcasting voice touches the heart with "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else," "Penthouse Serenade," "Lover Man," "I Feel So Smoochie," "Trouble Is a Man" and "I'm Through With Love," to name a few. After hearing these songs, the listener will want more. — S.I.
ANDY WILLIAMS; "Moon River: the Best of Andy Williams" (Columbia/Legacy) ★★★
Crooner Andy Williams has released his autobiography "Moon River and Me: A Memoir" and this CD is an "audio companion" to the book. It's easy to see why. Some of his big hits — "Moon River," "Butterfly," "(Where Do I Begin) Love Story," "Born Free," "Can't Get Used to Losing You" and the holiday hit "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" — are included in this 18-track collection. However, "Canadian Sunset," "I Like Your Kind of Love," "Are You Sincere," "The Village of St. Bernadette" and "Lonely Street" are missing. Still, with the rare "One Day of Your Life" and the first stereo release of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (the original was recorded in high-fidelity), this CD is a comprehensive collection of Williams' work. — S.I.
"WEIRD AL" YANKOVIC; "The Essential 'Weird Al' Yankovic" (Volcano/Legacy) ★★★½
In the liner notes, Stephen Thompson, editor of NPR music, nominates "Weird Al" Yankovic for induction in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This two-CD career retrospective is proof that Thompson isn't crazy. From "Another One Rides the Bus" to the Rick Derrigner-produced "Eat It" and more recent quirky parodies "White & Nerdy" and "Canadian Idiot," Yankovic has spanned the decades and genres. The Grammy-winning Yankovic hand-picked the 38 songs on this set and included some of his style-mimicking originals — including, but not limited to, "The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota," "Albuquerque" and "You Don't Love Me Anymore." He's a genius and these songs prove it. — S.I.