Top 8 Classic Rock "Best Of" Releases - Spring 2007

1. The Very Best Of The Doobie Brothers

The difference between The Doobie Brothers with Tom Johnston as lead vocalist and The Doobie Brothers fronted by Michael McDonald is the difference between "China Grove" and "Minute By Minute"; between electric guitar-driven rock and keyboard/horn-driven jazz-R&B.

The beauty of The Very Best of The Doobie Brothers is that is captures the essence of both stylistic incarnations. The two-CD set starts with cuts from 1972's Toulouse Street and ends a cut from Sibling Rivalry, released in 2000. It's an entertaining study of the evolution of the band's sound over its first 30 years.

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2. Out Of The Blue and Balance of Power

Over the past year, Epic Records has been celebrating Electric Light Orchestra's 35th anniversary by completing the release of expanded editions of the band's catalog of studio albums released between 1971 and 1986.

ELO was one of the first groups to successfully introduce horns and strings into rock music. Their success is attested to by the fact that there were more compilations of ELO hits than there were original studio albums.

1977's Out of the Blue and 1986's Balance Of Power put the middle and end phases of the band's 20th century success on display very effectively.

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3. Crystal Visions ... The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks

Stevie Nicks is one of those rare few artists who have managed to have a successful solo career while also a member of a successful band. Her work has included six original solo studio albums and eight with Fleetwood Mac. She has also won awards for her songwriting.

Crystal Visions ... The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks features 16 of her solo hits on a CD, and a DVD containing her 13 music videos and some rare behind the scenes footage.

This collection is a good "starter package" for Nicks newbies, and an essential addition to serious Stevie fans' collections.

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4. Rocket Man - Number Ones

Elton John has been celebrating his 60th birthday in a variety of ways: his 60th performance at Madison Square Garden, the release of his entire catalog for digital downloading, and a compilation of the chief among his many signature songs.

Rocket Man - Number Ones, is a CD-DVD package that includes digitally remastered versions of 17 of his best known songs, and video of performances from his Red Piano tour.

This collection is a nice birthday tribute, best suited for new or casual fans. There's nothing new for serious fans to add to their collections.

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5. The Envoy, Excitable Boy, Stand In The Fire

From his first album in 1969 to his death at age 56 from cancer in 2003, Warren Zevon stayed in the mainstream but constantly tested where its banks were.

Zevon's albums were full of offbeat, sometimes dark, though usually humorous themes. Titles like "Jeannie Needs A Shooter," "Mohammed's Radio" and "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" give strong hints that we're not talking about perky pop puff here.

Expanded and remastered versions of his mid-70s and early-80s work provide good examples of Zevon's vocal ability, sense of humor, intelligence, and live stage presence.

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6. The Essential Alan Parsons Project

Between 1976 and 1987, Alan Parsons Project combined progressive rock and pop in ten concept albums.

Parsons and singer-songwriter Eric Woolfson recruited a different set of vocalists and musicians for each album, and the band existed only in the studio.

Nonetheless, APP achieved three gold and two platinum albums, and received 11 GRAMMY nominations. The Essential Alan Parsons Project is a two-CD set containing 34 tracks culled from the APP catalog, offering an interesting and entertaining APP 101.

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7. Listen My Friends! The Best Of Moby Grape

In the mid-60s promoters and record labels knew that rock bands were the next big thing, but for the most part they didn't have a clue how to manage or market them. Moby Grape is one of those bands best remembered for what might have been, had it not been for this unintentional mismanagement.

Tracks from their self-titled debut album and from Wow, Moby Grape '69 and Truly Fine Citizen are included in this compilation, which showcases the talents of one of the best representatives of the late-60s San Francisco Sound.

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8. The Remains

The Remains accomplished a lot in a short time in the mid-60s. They built their popularity as a Boston garage rock band into a recording deal with Epic Records and a spot as an opening act for The Beatles on the Fab Four's final U.S. tour in 1966.

The one and only Epic album by The Remains was released just a few days after the group disbanded. The remastered reissue of 1966's The Remains showcases the band's blend of Merseybeat and hard rock.

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