Rags To Riches - David Whitfield

Advantages: 15 great songs, 16 if you include Dude ... twice.
Disadvantages: None I can think of

...Released in 1994 Big Ones is a compilation of the best songs from Permanent Vacation, Pump and Get A Grip along with a song from The Beavis And Butthead Experience and two new recordings. For those unaware Aerosmith are an American rock band that have been together for over 30 years (if you forget about a five year absence of two members in the early 80's). Perhaps that's an understatement, they are THE American rock band. The band comprises of Steve Tyler (Vocals and enormous lips), Joe Perry (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Brad Whitfield (Guitar), Tom Hamilton (Bass) and Joey Kramer (Drums). From their drug infested beginnings in the seventies to their "clean" revival in the eighties they have been at the forefront of rock music for 3 decades. This album encapsulates some of their best work from the late 80's and early 90's. During this time... Read review

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Advantages: The superb Ball Of Confusion and the sublime Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Disadvantages: None

.... They also made renowned classics such as the jamming, Get Ready and Ain't Too Proud To Beg. The alternating lead vocals between the forceful, aggressive delivery of David Ruffin and the sweet, sensual falsetto of Eddie Kendricks marked an interesting transistion in their work. David Ruffins voice mostly sounded seemingly angst ridden especially on the magnificent, (I Know) I'm Losing You. Other than Smokey Robinson, a large portion of their work was produced by Norman Whitfield. What Whitfield encapsulated with his work with The Temptations was blending late 60's trends of Pop and Funk into this groups output, giving it a healthy balance and therefore making The Temoptations strong innovators with their music. In 1968, David Ruffin was eventually fired and after an unsuccesful solo career, got caught up in a hazadous whirlwind of drugs... Read review

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Advantages: good mix of popular & distant tracks, nicely packaged
Disadvantages: none to speak of

...Taken from the film of the same name this CD covers some of Tina's most moving & dramatic years of her rags-to-riches-to-rags-to-riches story including some of the old classics such as Disco Inferno, Nutbush City Lights, A Fool for Love and of course, What's Love Got to Do With it All in all there's 14 tracks on the CD along with a mildly interesting inner sleeve. Some of the songs are a little vague and probably don't trip off the tongue as her more populist offerings. But I think they've got the mix just right. After all there's quite a few "Best of" compilations of Tina's work already, so at least this charts the more realistic times of her life when things weren't quite so great as they are now. My personal favourite would have to be the moving ballad, I Don't wanna fight, which is kind of poetic for a woman like Tina who spent... Read review

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