Advantages: All the best songs in one place Disadvantages: Not worthwhile for the aged-old fan
channels and maybe it does get the odd bit of 'extra' airtime. (E.g. "Close To Me" being on a BBC Three programme...it's name escapes me, but it may have been the 'Smoking Room'? Answers on a postcard...)
Their 'greatesthits' album, released in 2001 through Fiction Records and only done so on the basis that Smith could choose the tracks himself is 19 tracks that show a chronological tale of the band and their music through the years. (Although two of the tracks are brand new!)
Opening track "Boys Don't Cry" was released in June 1979, eight years before I was born. Yet with it's instantly recognisable guitar riff it's something that the countless bands since then that have idolised and 'taken influence' from the Cure could take the rest of time to improve on. I believe the saying is along the lines of put some monkeys in a room ...
Advantages: Amazing vocals, guitar playing, strong melodies Disadvantages: Sadly a tendency towards blandness
to the Warner label and released his first mainstream hit, "Breezin", an instrumental, before finding his voice and a chart run that lasted for 10 years in the US and UK. Ever the jazz performer, Benson frequently used scat vocals in his songs and his vocals would frequently echo his guitar playing, a feat I personally found particularly impressive.
The Album
"The GreatestHits of All" is the definitive George Benson collection, and one that features songs that still receive a fair amount of airplay today. Not everything Benson did was jazz however, as this review will show, but I felt that his best work had more than a hint of it within.
"Give Me The Night"
The closest to a disco song Benson ever did, this was released in 1980 and was a top 10 hit on both sides of the Atlantic. Produced by Rod Temperton, you can hear echos ...
Advantages: Great tracks old and new Disadvantages: None
I am a big fan of Whitney Houston, I think she has a beautiful, moving voice that has not been beaten since. I have already done a review on her first album, Whitney Houston but by far my favourite album of hers has to be Whitney, The GreatestHits!
Just a little background on the queen of pop herself incase you haven't heard of her:
Whitney Houston was born on August 9th, 1963 and is an extremely successful recording artist and actress. She comes from a very successful family and upbringing, her aunt is Dionne Warwick and her godmother is Aretha Franklin. Music was in the blood and she starting singing gospel music in her local church at aged 11. In the words of Clive Davis, written on one of the booklets that comes with the CD's, "For the next generation, there's a singer that combines the fiery gospel of Aretha Franklin ...
