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Classic Masters
Barnes and Noble
Classic Masters
Current price: $16.99
Barnes and Noble
Classic Masters
Current price: $16.99
Size: OS
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The
entry in
' midline-priced
series is a reasonable best-of culled from the group's tenure at
from the late '70s to the mid-'80s. It includes all six of the band's U.S. singles chart entries between 1979 and 1984,
and
(Of course, the 1972 Top 40 hit
released in the U.S. on
, is not included, nor are any of
's pre- or post-
recordings.) The collection is weakened by the compiler's decision to fill out the rest of the disc by including tracks from all six of the
studio albums, even the commercially negligible contractual-obligation LP
, and to balance the choices among them; there are only two selections from million-selling masterwork
, for instance. Further weakening the set is the decision to use songs that happen to have been released as singles, such as
even though they had no chart action, in place of album tracks like
that enjoyed measurable AOR radio play. Covers of
'
's
indicate the group's influences even if they are not among its finer moments. But maybe this just means that
is a representative survey of
period, rather than a presentation of all the highlights. The 24-bit digitally remastered sound is excellent, and the price is attractive, so the album can be recommended to fans of '70s and '80s
who may have missed this band during its heyday. ~ William Ruhlmann