Comments on: The Best, the Best, the Best of You http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/ News and Criticism on D.C. and Beyond Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:10:07 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Washington City Paper: Music: Blogs http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7903 Washington City Paper: Music: Blogs Fri, 06 Jun 2008 21:20:11 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-7903 [...] the thing about George Michael is he’s a classic Greatest Hits artist. George Michael’s deep cuts aren’t gonna get anyone anywhere. The last George Michael [...] [...] the thing about George Michael is he’s a classic Greatest Hits artist. George Michael’s deep cuts aren’t gonna get anyone anywhere. The last George Michael [...]

]]> By: Washington City Paper: Music: Blogs http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-506 Washington City Paper: Music: Blogs Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:54:47 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-506 [...] Andrew Beaujon will no doubt be delighted to learn that my wife is taking me to see Genesis’ “Turn it on Again” tour this Sunday at the Verizon Center. But, if you’re like the rest of the people I’ve told about this generosity, most of you are probably thinking one of two things: [...] [...] Andrew Beaujon will no doubt be delighted to learn that my wife is taking me to see Genesis’ “Turn it on Again” tour this Sunday at the Verizon Center. But, if you’re like the rest of the people I’ve told about this generosity, most of you are probably thinking one of two things: [...]

]]> By: H Sparks http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-48 H Sparks Thu, 19 Jul 2007 04:25:20 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-48 Don't know if it's still the case, but in the mid/late-'90s, the barrel-stirring mid-price CD compilations "Universal Masters" (not to be confused with "Global Dominators") squeezed out some "two-sided" two-band best-ofs. That's right: your "best" can't even fill a full disc, we figure. So you get a half. And a check you weren't expecting. Or your manager does. Of course they might as well have been programmed by the temporary secretary to an intern. "OK, Electric Prunes and Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds. Any Top 40 hits and fill in the rest. Let's say six . . . no, five tracks each. Running time: 49 minutes. Disc capacity: 80 minutes. Don't know if it's still the case, but in the mid/late-'90s, the barrel-stirring mid-price CD compilations "Universal Masters" (not to be confused with "Global Dominators") squeezed out some "two-sided" two-band best-ofs.

That's right: your "best" can't even fill a full disc, we figure. So you get a half. And a check you weren't expecting. Or your manager does.

Of course they might as well have been programmed by the temporary secretary to an intern. "OK, Electric Prunes and Hamilton Joe Frank & Reynolds. Any Top 40 hits and fill in the rest. Let's say six . . . no, five tracks each.

Running time: 49 minutes. Disc capacity: 80 minutes.

]]> By: Kelly http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Kelly Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:00:40 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-45 I just spent 15 minutes typing a witty reply that got ate by the ether. Take two. In any case AB, down with your trifecta of "Urgh" "Red/Blue" and "Kids" if you substitute (geddit?) "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy". As far as your suggested greatest hitters, take out Madness and Kool & the Gang and you'd be pressed to get a decent single disc out of the rest. Crue? Please. Now let's talk about a Diamond Dave specific VH........ I will keep mum on the Genesis/Journey thing, though I'm high fiving all the way, all the day. Well maybe more for one than the other. Is anybody listening? Mark, "Legend" is missing the live version of "No Woman, No Cry" making it a non starter. Plus if you live within 10 miles of a college campus you can still hear this gratis almost at will. I say that as a Marley fan. If you're of a mind "Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend" contains "Change". It's the whole reason I bought the damned double disc thing. Aaron, I have to say enough of the Heads stuff can stand on it's own that it's almost worth owing everything up to and including "Little Creatures". I've been knee deep in "Remain in Light" recently. I clapped my lugs on "the Great Curve" no less than four times in a row this very summer. Head meltingly delicious. KC, I happened to hear so PSB recently and was reminded that while the tunes that hit were nice (basically one single and one album track) the rest is mighty slim pickins. I just spent 15 minutes typing a witty reply that got ate by the ether. Take two.

In any case AB, down with your trifecta of "Urgh" "Red/Blue" and "Kids" if you substitute (geddit?) "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy". As far as your suggested greatest hitters, take out Madness and Kool & the Gang and you'd be pressed to get a decent single disc out of the rest. Crue? Please. Now let's talk about a Diamond Dave specific VH........

I will keep mum on the Genesis/Journey thing, though I'm high fiving all the way, all the day. Well maybe more for one than the other. Is anybody listening?

Mark, "Legend" is missing the live version of "No Woman, No Cry" making it a non starter. Plus if you live within 10 miles of a college campus you can still hear this gratis almost at will. I say that as a Marley fan.

If you're of a mind "Sam Cooke Portrait of a Legend" contains "Change". It's the whole reason I bought the damned double disc thing.

Aaron, I have to say enough of the Heads stuff can stand on it's own that it's almost worth owing everything up to and including "Little Creatures". I've been knee deep in "Remain in Light" recently. I clapped my lugs on "the Great Curve" no less than four times in a row this very summer. Head meltingly delicious.

KC, I happened to hear so PSB recently and was reminded that while the tunes that hit were nice (basically one single and one album track) the rest is mighty slim pickins.

]]> By: Kevin Church http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Kevin Church Wed, 18 Jul 2007 18:08:52 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-44 Pet Shop Boys are best-represented with <B><I>PopArt</B></I>, the fairly-recently-released-in-the-States retrospective. Their albums have had some spectacular highs, though: <B><I>Behaviour</B></I> is a great study in synthetic melancholy and their latest, <B><I>Fundamental</B></I> is a stunner. Pet Shop Boys are best-represented with PopArt, the fairly-recently-released-in-the-States retrospective. Their albums have had some spectacular highs, though: Behaviour is a great study in synthetic melancholy and their latest, Fundamental is a stunner.

]]> By: Leitko http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Leitko Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:42:45 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-43 I have to side with Mark on the "how many songs" issue. When presented with a similar Status Quo scenario (I just wanted Pictures of Matchstick Men) I decided against buying the greatest hits. I just couldn't imagine that the guys who put out an album called "Thirsty Work" had any other songs I wanted to hear. Maybe I was wrong. None the less. In high school I lived and died by greatest hits records. The Sly and The Family Stone greatest hits (which I bought solely on the strength of the cover), the sort of awkward but kinda good Grateful Dead comp "Skeletons in the Closet," and the Al Green greatest hits. I also really worked the Talking Heads "Sand in the Vaseline" set, but I think since that was two CDs it qualified as an anthology. I have to side with Mark on the "how many songs" issue. When presented with a similar Status Quo scenario (I just wanted Pictures of Matchstick Men) I decided against buying the greatest hits. I just couldn't imagine that the guys who put out an album called "Thirsty Work" had any other songs I wanted to hear. Maybe I was wrong.

None the less. In high school I lived and died by greatest hits records. The Sly and The Family Stone greatest hits (which I bought solely on the strength of the cover), the sort of awkward but kinda good Grateful Dead comp "Skeletons in the Closet," and the Al Green greatest hits. I also really worked the Talking Heads "Sand in the Vaseline" set, but I think since that was two CDs it qualified as an anthology.

]]> By: Mark Athitakis http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2007/07/18/the-best-the-best-the-best-of-you/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Mark Athitakis Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:11:22 +0000 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/blackplasticbag/?p=70#comment-42 Bob Marley's "Legend" is the quintessential only-disc-you-need greatest-hits album. So is Madonna's "The Immaculate Collection." You're wrong about the Pet Shop Boys, who are much better than "Discography," but I've been fighting that losing battle for years. A lot of 50s and 60s R & B singers are perfect for the format: Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Sam Cooke--though neither of the two big Cooke best-ofs seem to have "A Change Is Gonna Come"! Bob Marley's "Legend" is the quintessential only-disc-you-need greatest-hits album. So is Madonna's "The Immaculate Collection." You're wrong about the Pet Shop Boys, who are much better than "Discography," but I've been fighting that losing battle for years.

A lot of 50s and 60s R & B singers are perfect for the format: Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Sam Cooke--though neither of the two big Cooke best-ofs seem to have "A Change Is Gonna Come"!

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