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"Best Of" Albums
a very odd list... philosophically speaking
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obscure co-star #1
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Subject: "Best Of" Albums
I just contributed a good cleansing rant, over in the DAP section.  So I thought I'd better post something slightly more positive.

I found this list:  http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/37394/the-25…

It just seems to me that "Best Of" Albums are such an odd thing.  I've got a few.  I also have an odd liking for compilations, even though I frequently end up with multiple copies of the exact same track (on different ones). 

This list has such odd demographics.  There are no Jazz, Blues, Country (if you exclude Elvis) or R&B albums.  James Brown & Black Sabbath seem a bit out of place too.  Maybe Hip-Hop has not been around long enough for "best of?"  I think it's partly because the whole concept of "the list" just makes my skin crawl for some reason.  I don't think it is specific choices...  Maybe it's just that I like the original (or at least remastered original) albums & the hidden jewels you find there.

I'm always interested in lists of the best in movies, or music.  I can normally rattle off a fairly long list of what should not have been left out.  There's just no point in adding to this one.  It's depressing.  Although, Phil Spector and Motown belong on a totally different list.  That's like having a "Best of Atlantic Records" for a given decade.  There are dozens of these.

[from here on I'm OT in my own thread --just to outline my musical tastes, feel free to skip]

If you wonder:  I grew up in the Van Halen--Nirvana phase of the history of American Music.  As Rock/Alternative music has gone out of fashion, I've been expanding my music collection back in time.  You won't see me post in the "what new music are you listening to," threads.  Although it's tempting to post: "I kinda like the Big Chill Soundtrack." 

I know flattop100 says he's bored by the repetitive riffs used by Blues trained guitarists.  I happen to love the way Eric Clapton & Keith Richards can play the same song:  you recognize the song, but the quality and feel of it can be totally different.  It's why artists do covers (besides unoriginality).  I have to admit though, sometimes one version is so good --the other renditions are just aggravating.

I also have almost a fetish about the sound/quality of a woman's singing.  I can't stand Country Music (lived 3 tortured years in Texas), but I have songs by Faith Hill & Patsy Cline.  I know, I'm weird as hell.   :blush:   I don't think of myself as an Audiophile, but I think my reaction to women singing gives me a pretty good basis to relate. 

I also think Eddie Vedder whines like his heroin is portioned by number of minutes singing, and have just about the same reaction to folk music John Belushi does in "Animal House."

I do sympathize, with not liking Blues players.  AC/DC is good in small doses, but listening to 10 or more songs, you can feel too much blood rushing to your head.  My Karma is almost always on random.   :-D
Dude!  There's no WAY that's your daughter's favorite song!
oh, uh-oh --wait, wait... Is she in a coma???
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Nordburgh #2
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Great post obscure.

I agree, I prefer to listen to the original album work, and with CD-R's and portable audio, the "Best of" album is pretty much pointless at this point as everybody can create their own "Best of" genre/artist/decade mix based on the CD's they already own. But people love to blog about their own best of lists to justify their said lists. And they'll always be subject to debate.

Best of's are basically a marketing vehicle anyway. Everyone can spin a best of to be relevant. Ultimately the final authority of an artists best of should be the artist. "This is our best of CD because we wrote and played the fucking songs". Generally the released "Best of" albums the artist has absolutely no say in the selection.

But I love women singers of bands. Veruca Salt, Flyleaf, Hole, I just really love hard rock/alternative bands that feature female lead singers. I don't know why.

And I'll always be listening to new music. I think I inherited this from my mother. She's like 70 and loves today's music. She still loves her oldies but she also likes music of today and that's how I am. I love oldies through today. I'll mostly listen to new music, but I also like to listen to music from the '60's and '70's. Yardbirds, Cream, Everly Brothers, Black Sabbath, Beatles, Jeff Beck Group, Chuck Mangione, Mountain, etc.
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flattop100 #3
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I have to say, I do like "Best of" albums when I only want the band's most popular songs. Sometimes I hate wading through shitty deep tracks.
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obscure co-star #4
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I suppose, like reunion tours & most things, it's about the $$.

I know that some of the Beach Boys (as an extreme example) were flat broke, before they released Endless Summer, in the '70s.

The Beatles Number 1's, was totally pointless and about the cash... except I think they should have got some new fans out of it.  I don't remember who actually got most of the $$ from that one, I suspect the actual band members didn't get much.  (I happen to love the Beatles... their catalog is like every kind/style of music I've ever liked.)

If you can stand Duran Duran, I happen to think Thank you,  Is a very interesting album (all covers of other people's stuff).

Oh, and I like Elvis's Golden Records, too --it has some original Sun recordings ---no Las Vegas style.  I just got Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (kept away by "Last Dance with Mary Jane").   They are good for rounding out your collection, without buying 1 at a time on-line or getting stuck with Elvis's gospel B-sides.

The ones that are a Producer, or the Record company putting out a collection, just seem a bit insulting, to me. 

Thinking about Producers just brought Christopher Walken saying "More Cow-bell," to mind... :)
  
Anyway, I wouldn't have brought it up, because I came across that stupid list.  I'm totally in love with the idea of having my 10,000 or so tunes playing on continuous random, in my Karma.  I like going from a ZZtop song or "Ride of the Valkyries," to "Squirrels" or the "Salivexx" commercial from the Grand Theft Auto Vice City sound track.
Dude!  There's no WAY that's your daughter's favorite song!
oh, uh-oh --wait, wait... Is she in a coma???
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