Various - Classic Rock Gold: 8.5 (high A-)

I stupidly de-shelved this for some reason and then realized I'd made a mistake. So I rescued it. Melomania. Anyway, Christgau said it best, as usual: "Yes, children, there really was a time when whole radio stations were devoted entirely to brawny-sounding [hairy] white guys bellowing, moaning, and even singing over electric guitars, electric guitars, and electric guitars."

The Clovers - Down in the Alley: X (X)

I don't even know anymore if what I have by these early vocal groups (the Clovers, the Drifters, the Coasters, etc.) is rational. But I have what I have I guess.

The Drifters - The Very Best of the Drifters: X (X)

Rescued this from the de-shelve pile. This contains all of Golden Hits.

Ray Charles - Ultimate Hits Collection: X (X)

Such a great collection. Superb. It came to my attention because Christgau called it the "budget alternative" to the titanic, five-CD, 102-track Genius and Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection [1997] box set. I also have Rhino's Anthology [1998] for some reason. That one appears to be a single-disc, 20-track amalgamation of their vinyl-only Greatest Hits albums issued that same year in two volumes, each with 13 tracks. So I guess it has six less tracks than those two.

Tammy Wynette - Greatest Hits: X (X)

I probably should be able to grade this. I just don't have the courage of my convictions.

The Marvelettes - Greatest Hits: X (X)

Please see post re: The Temptations Greatest Hits. Same thing, with the major exception being when they remastered the Temptations one in 1998, they did not appear to do the same for this, unfortunately.

First Generation CD-Era Compilations De-shelved

At some point, I made the determination that these are the kinds of things that don't make sense to keep hanging around in the streaming era. They are essentially singles artists and/or these are just early CD-era comps that no longer hold their allure for some reason. Maybe one day I will reconsider or regret this.

Jerry Lee Lewis - 18 Original Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Little Richard - 18 Greatest Hits (Rhino)

Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers - The Best of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers (Rhino)

The Coasters - 50 Coastin’ Classics (Rhino)

The Rascals - Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits (Atlantic)

Jimmy Reed - Bright Lights, Big City (Chameleon)

Bobby Bland - Greatest Hits Volume One: The Duke Recordings (MCA)

Various - Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974 (Volume 3:1955-1958) (Atlantic)

Dionne Warwick [Warwicke] - Anthology 1962-1971: notation

Extreme overlap between this (which I think might have a different tracklist and year range in the title in different versions) and The Dionne Warwick Collection: Her All-Time Greatest Hits. I de-shelved the latter anyway at some point, so I'm not going to belabor this further. Then I did a dumb thing: I realized that Rhino's third comp: The Very Best of -- is not only upgraded in sound, its 0:48, instead of 1:12 like these other two, which means, to me, it's the ultimate, and selling for cheap, so I got a copy of that. Yes, I'm actually excited because it has less music. Sometimes less is more, and better sound....

The Impressions - Greatest Hits [1989]: 9 (A)

Rostam [Batmanglij] - Changephobia: 9 (A)

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Anthology: X (X)

See immediately prior post re: matching set for Diana Ross & the Supremes.

Diana Ross & the Supremes - Anthology: X (X)

Dreaded fatbox, early CD-era format. Can't even find a good cover image. But you have to have it, obviously.

Merle Haggard - More of the Best: 8 (A-)

Merle Haggard - The Capitol Collector's Series: 8 (A-)

Merle Haggard - The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years: 8 (A-)

Merle Haggard - Working in Tennessee: 8 (A-)

Merle Haggard - If I Could Only Fly: 8 (A-)

Merle Haggard and the Strangers - Songs I'll Always Sing: 8 (A-)

I've got this on vinyl. Obviously, since it was never reissued on CD as far as I can tell.

Lee Dorsey - Holy Cow! The Best of Lee Dorsey [Arista, 1985]: notation

All songs on this are on the later collection Wheelin' and Dealin' except:

"People Gonna Talk"

"Yes We Can"

"Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley"

I listened to those three thrice, and deshelved the later collection at some point. I am also evaluating the Music Club comp from 2001 entitled The Very Best of Lee Dorsey: Working in a Coal Mine.

The Clovers - Their Greatest Recordings: The Early Years: notation

Only two songs from this are not on the Down in the Alley comp:

"Love Potion Number Nine"

"Love, Love, Love"

I really want it, to have a matching set with the Drifters comp of the same title, but that is ridiculous. Then I would need the Coasters one too. :-) Update: I actually went for the Coasters one, because otherwise I would have nothing by them.

The Clovers - Five Cool Cats [Edsel, 1984]: notation

Only three songs from this are not on the Down in the Alley comp:

"Your Tender Lips"

"So Young"

"All About You"

The Drifters - Their Greatest Recordings: The Early Years: X (X)

This is what I have for the Drifters, on vinyl. Actually, I have one other CD-era comp, which I rescued from my de-shelve pile.

Willie Nelson - Nite Life: Greatest Hits & Rare Tracks (1959-1971) [Rhino, 1991]: X (X)

Not qualified to grade this, but I have it.

Willie Nelson - Night and Day: 8 (A-)

Willie Nelson & Hank Snow - Brand on My Heart/Willie Nelson & Webb Pierce - In the Jailhouse Now: 8 (A-)

Johnny Cash - Columbia Records 1958-1986 [Columbia, 1987]: notation

All songs, except for “Seasons of My Heart” and “The Baron” are on Essential. They’re good songs, but not essential.

The Jam - Greatest Hits: notation

I only listened to this twice to get the flow, since according to AllMusic all songs but one are on Snap. I listened to that one song (and the two versions which are alternate versions on this one per AllMusic) thrice. Nothing. In fact, I liked Snap better for some reason (programming?). I also listened to Compact Snap once. That would up it a notch, but not enough to get it. Still too much Jam for my taste. I’m thinking the 20th Century Masters comp, which is only 34 minutes and very concentrated, might be the way to go. As a huge plus, it omits “Eton Rifles,” which is one of the most annoying songs in rock history in my view.

The Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape: 7.5 (high B+)

Curtis Mayfield - The Very Best of Curtis Mayfield: notation

Six songs on this are not on Anthology, but they are all on People Get Ready: The Curtis Mayfield Story, which I now have and will evaluate in due course.

The Impressions - Greatest Hits [1982]: notation

Th only song not on Very Best (Rhino) is “I’m So Proud" (which is on Greatest Hits [1989] anyway), and the only songs on Very Best that are not on the Anthology are “Finally Got Myself Together,” “Sooner or Later” and “Same Thing It Took.” I played all of these numerous times and can do without them, although they are all good. The only additional song to all of these that is on Ultimate Collection, which gets five stars in the Rolling Stone guide, is “For Your Precious Love.” Ditto on that one.

Curtis Mayfield - Super Fly: 8.5 (high A-)

Curtis Mayfield & the Impressions - The Anthology 1961-1977: 9.5 (high A)

Various - Only Soul 1985-1989: 7.5 (high B+)

Starts out strong but really trails off noticeably in the second half. The series obviously wanted to stick to 20 tracks per installment, and there not surprisingly weren’t 20 tracks of the same quality as during 1970-1974, which was closer to the heyday of soul. # [multi-artist comp; r&b]

Kae Tempest - Self Titled: liked

No hyphen? Might be subconsciously docking this a notch for some undefined thing or other. Might need another listen to be sure.

Bill Withers - Menagerie: liked

:-)

Various - A World Out of Time: Henry Kaiser & David Lindley in Madagascar: 8 (A-)

Terry Garthwaite - Terry: 7.5 (high B+)

Normally, this would be # [folk; jazz-folk; singer-songwriter] or something like that, but I really wanted to hear it, given that I like Joy of Cooking, and it wasn't streaming, so when I saw a nice copy for less than $10 shipped (on vinyl - it doesn't appear to have been reissued domestically on CD, through official channels anyway), I went for it and will keep it now, since there's no other way to hear it again and it feels good to have.

B.B. King - 16 Original Big Hits: X (X)

This appears to be the very first B.B. King compilation, originally issued in 1963 by Galaxy and entitled 16 of the Best of B.B. King with a red cover. Then Galaxy re-issued it in 1968 with a different cover, with green details, and re-titled it B.B. King's 16 Greatest Hits (Galaxy 8208). Finally, Fantasy re-issued it in 1981 with the above cover and title. Same 16 songs each time. Great album, not qualified to grade.

The Grateful Dead - Skeletons From the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead: 8 (A-)

Docked a notch for inutility. Then re-upped a notch for being their best-selling album (quadruple platinum). It actually hangs together very nicely and is a great listen.

Johnny Cash - American VI: 8 (A-)

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - The Dust Blows Forward: An Anthology: 9 (A)

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - The Legendary A&M Sessions [EP]: 7 (B+)

Two of the five songs on this 12 minute EP are on The Dust Blows Forward, so I’m not springing for 3 songs and 7 minutes (basically a single).

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - Lick My Decals Off, Baby: 8 (A-)

I have this one on vinyl, where it will stay for the time being.

Tin Huey - Tin Huey [EP] [Clone, 1977]: 8.5 (high A-)

A lost classic proto-postpunk EP in my opinion. Also seems to be called Puppet Wipes by some. I also listened to their other two Clone singles. One is a titled single, which I don’t remember ever seeing before, called Breakfast With the Hueys. It contains “Robert Takes the Road to Lieber Nawash” and “Squirm You Worm.” I would rate this 7.5 (high B+) and picked up a copy, even though I almost never go for singles, because it’s Tin Huey and I like them, it has a picture sleeve, and they went so far as to name the single. I know that’s a weird reason, but it makes it seem more like a really short EP to me. The other single on Clone is “English Kids” b/w “Sister Rose,” to which I would say “liked.”

Justin Timberlake - Futuresex/Lovesounds: 8 (A-)

Slick Rick - Victory: 7.5 (high B+)

Digital-only

Derek & the Dominos - Layla: 9.5 (high A)

Black Box Recorder - The Facts of Life: 8 (A-)

With Luke Haines

Black Box Recorder - England Made Me: 8 (A-)

With Luke Haines

The Auteurs - Showgirl [EP]: neutral

In addition to the title track ("Show Girl" on New Wave), this EP/single contains the songs "Glad to Be Gone" and "Staying Power."

Audio Active - We Are Audio Active (Tokyo Space Cowboys) [On-U Sound, 1994]: 7 (B+)

I learned about these Japanese dub artists from the Spin album guide entry on "Adrian Sherwood" and could hardly find them cataloged elsewhere. (Did they name themselves after the 1986 Dennis Bovell album? I should give that one a spin, just in case.) This is the only release noted in that resource and is given an 8 (out of 10). I streamed the CD version (5 listens) which has two extra tracks: "Wanna-Na" and its dub version. Outstanding track: "Wanna-Na" (and its dub version). # [import]

The Jam - 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Jam: 8.5 (high A-)

I guess I'm not that big of a fan, because this 34:34 compilation beats all the other, longer ones for me by alot. In fact, I like it better than In the City, which makes it my favorite Jam album.

Luke Haines & Peter Buck - Going Down to the River... To Blow My Mind: neutral

:-|

Baader Meinhof - Baader Meinhof: 8 (A-)

I'm convinced that the main reason auteur/Auteur Luke Haines named this side project after the German terrorist group was to maximize the chance that it physically placed right after the Auteurs albums on a fan's shelves. I'm sure he also thought it served his political/artistic purposes.

Fela Kuti - The Best Best of Fela Kuti: 8 (A-)

Fela Kuti - Black President: notation

This got a 9 in the Spin guide. Two out of three songs are on Best Best or otherwise reviewed. The other one, "Colonial Mentality," is fine.

Mission of Burma - Signals, Calls, and Marches: 8 (A-)

Mission of Burma - Vs.: 8 (A-)

Sway & King Tech - This or That: 8 (A-)

Bill Withers - The Best of Bill Withers [Sussex, 1975]: 8 (A-)

I've been tempted to get one of the Lean on Me comps many times, but never upgraded from this vinyl classic.

Damily - Fihisa: 8 (A-)

# [import]

Andy Fairweather Low - Spider Jiving: 8 (A-)

Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band - Trout Mask Replica: 9 (A)

I think I'm going to get a copy of the vinyl remaster on Third Man.