The late legendary Cardinal/White Sox/Cub announcer Harry Caray was an orphan, as was the deceased founder of Wendy’s hamburgers, Dave Thomas. I don’t know if any of these orphans live up to their reputations, but here we go:
Thin Lizzy: The Definitive Collection (Mercury/Universal) The consumer world is bloated with multiple best-of and greatest hits collections. This disc contains 16 tracks – as opposed to the 1991 Dedication album which contained 18 tracks – with very little difference in song selection. The live version of “Rosale/Cowgirls’s Song” on the new disc is a very cool addition, but if you have Dedication and the 1978’s Live and Dangerous, this is an unnecessary purchase.
Various Artists: We Got the Funk (Time Life/Universal)
This is a nicely done collection of ‘70s funk with a disco track or two. I don’t think I would have included “Get Down Tonight” by KC and the Sunshine band on the same disc with “Get the Funk Out Ma Face” by the Brothers Johnson, but that is splitting hairs. The mix seemed to be low, for those burning to your iPod. Put on those platforms and bell bottoms and funk your butt off.
Less Than Jake: In with the Out Crowd (Sire)
This record is less ska and more rock. A decent effort with standout cuts like “Overrated (Everything Is)” which sounds a lot like Bowling for Soup and “A Still Life Franchise,” which features the ska horns before ripping into the Everclear rock chorus. “Mostly Memories,” “Let Her Go,” and “P.S. Shock the World” are dipped in their ska past and are the best part of the record besides “Overrated.”
Eighteen Visions: Eighteen Visions (Trustkill/Epic)
Every time I listen to this obnoxious, bombastic, arena rock-aspiring record, I like it more and more. A bit of Goth, a ton of metal guitar crunching, intelligible singing and screaming vocals from James Hart and overproduced background vocals make this a really fun and irresistible piece of metal. “Victim” and the metal ballad “Broken Hearted” are the standout tracks from a very strong record.
Cactus: V (Escape)
Just because they were once called “The American Led Zeppelin” doesn’t mean it was accurate. This is a solid but pedestrian effort of blues based rock featuring the drumming prowess of the legendary Carmen Appice. However, the choice of Jimmy Kunes (ex-Savoy Brown) on vocals for the late Rusty Day (Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes) was a bad one. His bland, bluesy vocals are flat out irritating, especially since the disc clocks in at just over 62 minutes.
Thuderbirds Are Now!: Make History (French Kiss)
This is 37:04 of full out new wave/punk energy in which the boys from Detroit produce a Killers-like record. The keyboard/synthesizer use against those sizzling guitars definitely is the star of the record.
Various Artists: Hef’s Favorites (Playboy Jazz/Concord)
This is a wonderful collection of classic jazz artists with a fabulous mellow vibe. Tony Bennett recorded in 1975 is golden. The liner notes written by Hef are informative, concise and extremely well done. This and Eighteen Visions are my two favorite discs on this list.
