SirAlex's Full Review: Aerosmith's Greatest Hits by Aerosmith
Edited 5-11-00
I have mixed feelings about this album. Aerosmith is my favorite group. I own all of their albums, but this is the one I listen to the least. At this point in their history, Aerosmith had released 6 albums. Only nine songs from those albums and a cover of the Beatles' "Come Together" are included. I think there are a lot of songs that were overlooked. However, I realize that this album was released before CDs were around, and there were space limitations. Essentially, Greatest Hits was released only because the band's record label thought the band was over.
The faults of this collection lie not in a bad song selection, by any means. But, here's my biggest complaint. "Same Old Song and Dance" had 52 seconds edited out. It's missing most of the intro and some of the middle section (as well as having some more radio friendly lyrics that aren't on the album). One of my favorite Aerosmith songs, "Kings and Queens", was edited a full minute and eight seconds! I think that most people have only heard this song from the "Greatest Hits" album and not the full version. They don't know what they are missing! If that wasn't bad enough, a minute and 22 seconds was cut one of their most popular songs, “Sweet Emotion”! The cool rolling bass line intro is cut, and so is the entire guitar solo! What were they thinking?
But I realize that back in the days of LPs that songs were often edited to be a single. Believe me when I say that these edits do great injustice to their original versions. However, not all is bad with this album. I don’t want to give you that impression. The incredible ballad, “Dream On” is the opening track here. The funky “Walk This Way” also makes an appearance. Two great rocking songs from 1976, “Back in the Saddle” and “Last Child” are sure to get you pumped. The ratty “Draw the Line” represents the Draw the Line album. I’ve always loved this song’s cranked guitars. You’ll also find the bluesy “Remember (Walking in the Sand)”.
This album gets four stars because of the three edited tracks. But all of these songs are good and this album is an excellent starting point to build an Aerosmith collection. Another compilation of their 70s material is available, Gems. Both releases are essential listening.
Song Selection:
1. Dream On (from Aerosmith)
2. Same Old Song and Dance (from Get Your Wings)
3. Sweet Emotion (from Toys in the Attic)
4. Walk This Way (from Toys in the Attic)
5. Last Child (from Rocks)
6. Back in the Saddle (from Rocks)
7. Draw the Line (from Draw the Line)
8. Kings and Queens (from Draw the Line)
9. Come Together (originally released as a single)
10. Remember (Walking in the Sand) (from Night in the Ruts)
Top picks (ignoring all edited tracks out of protest): Dream On, Walk This Way, Last Child, Remember (Walking in the Sand)
Band Members:
Steven Tyler: vocals, keyboards, wood flute
Joe Perry: guitars, vocals
Brad Whitford: guitars
Tom Hamilton: bass
Joey Kramer: drums
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