BIG BRASH BAND WITH BIG BALLADS

Those loud and brash bands with big hairdos from the eighties really took a while before I could connect with them. It's a clear case of judging a book by it's covers but then I do try to listen to them now and then trying to connect with them and below are a few of those loud bands that I have in my collections.

AEROSMITH : BIG ONES : Initially, regarded as a clone of Mike Jagger, Steve Tyler, he does look a tab like Mick, the large mouth notwithstanding, he gradually grew out of Mick Jagger's shadow and became a star in his own right. I bought this CD, expecting something nice but unfortunately that was not to be, I find nothing here that would make me press the repeat button nor any tracks that could stick on my mind. Tracks includes 'Walk On Water', 'Love In An Elevator', 'Dude ( Looks Like A Lady)'  and 'Janie's Got A Gun'. None of them rang any bells with me. The only tracks of theirs that I quite like was a cover version which was not included here. Yeah, you've guess it, 'I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing'  DOP : 2nd July 1995.

DEF LEPPARD : VAULT : Another band that I took a chance on based on one song that I like, 'Two Step Behind'. Afraid that was the only song that I like. I didn't really play this CD as much as I should given the money that I've spend on it. Think I will give it another spin in the near future to get better acquaintance with it. DOP : Unknown

DEF LEPPARD : YEAH ! : Got this at a discount. The songs selections here isn't too bad but it could be better seeing the wealth of materials they can have at their disposal. My favorite and probably  the most familiar track here is Badfinger's 'No Matter What'. The rest of the songs like 'Rock On', 'Hanging On The Telephone', 'Waterloo Sunset' and 'Hell raiser' is not too bad either. DOP : 9th May 2012.






GUNS N' ROSES : GREATEST HITS : Time really have changed me. Twenty years ago, I wouldn't have accepted this CD if you have given it to me and here I am now actually paying good money for it. The only song that I am familiar with when I bought this was of course the iconic 'Sweet Chile Of Mine', a song that you just can't help grooving to. Compared to other groups of the genre, Guns N' Roses sings more covers than their own compositions. My favorites are mostly covers such as ''Knockin' On Heaven's Door', 'Live And Let Die' and 'Since I Don't Have You'. And yes, they are loud too. Way too loud. DOP : 12th April 2005.

CROSSROAD : THE BEST OF BON JOVI :  Like those before him, I used to loathe Bon Jovi. They were way too loud for me. But one day, I happened to chance upon one of their song 'Someday I'll Be Saturday Night', on the radio. I like it and I was impressed enough to go digging for their other songs. Finally I bought this CD. Though not all of them agreed with me, the few that does are really good. My all time favorites would be 'I'll Be There For You', and 'Blaze Of Glory'. Just these two songs alone would convinced me to get the whole CD. The rest of the tracks though not exactly my cup of tea are not too bad either. DOP : 29th October 1994.

FIT TO BE TIED : GREAT HITS BY JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS : The rose among the thorns but Joan Jett can absolutely holds her own against the giant of rocks. Not for nothing was she proclaimed the female Chuck Berry by famed music writer Dave Marsh for nothing. Her first big hit was the classic ' I Love Rock 'n' Roll' followed by a few covers which in my opinion were even better than the originals. Her version of Tommy James And The Shondells' Crimson And Clover' was my introduction to this fantastic song as well as Gary Glitter's 'Do You Wanna Touch Me' ( Oh Yeah ). And then there was the party favorite 'I Hate Myself For Loving You'. Her version of CCR's 'Have You Ever Seen The Rain' was out of this world and I am fuming that it was not included here. It would be swelled to have her do a cover versions of all the old rock 'n' roll songs of the past. DOP : 1st March 1998.

THE PRETENDERS : GREATEST HITS : I've heard of Chrissie Hynde and I've heard of The Pretenders. But I have not really heard any of their songs. I was watching a video of Paul McCartney & Friends at The Peta Concerts for Party Animals. Towards the end, Chrissie Hynde came on and sang her signature song 'I'll Stand By You' and it blew me away. From that moment on I knew I have to have that song. I've have it on MP3 till I came upon this discounted CD. So based on that song alone, I got this CD. As I am typing this, I am listening to it. All I can say is it's well worth my money even at full price. Two songs stands out for me and that's 'Don't Get Me Wrong' and 'Hymn To Her'. Her version of Bob Dylan's 'Forever Young' and Sonny & Cher's "I Got You, Babe' are interesting to say the least. I didn't realized it's a Bob Dylan's song till she got to the chorus. DOP : 28th December 2012.

KIM WILE ESSENTIAL : Got this at the ridiculous price of $9.90. Consisting of 20 tracks, the songs suffered from the sameness of all coming from the same composers, namely her father and her brother Martin and Ricky Wilde all except ' Dancing In The Dark' written by 70's ht making machine Nicky Chinn & Gurvitz 'Kids In America,' ' Chequered Love,' '26580,' are nice but not great. 'Cambodia' and 'Sing It Out For Love,' which is a kind of acoustic kind of song that does reminds you of Smokie, are the others tracks that I liked. Honestly, if there was a thread linking all the songs together, I wouldn't have really noticed. DOP : 9th June 2013.