Various Artists [Soft Rock Anthems]I love these 2 disc slimline compilations, especially this one, it's got a great selection of very very good radio hits, packed full of a lot of my cherished favourites, in my mind this is a well chosen load of songs, even those that are less known to me are welcome, and only one real dud, 'Cocaine' by JJ Cale.
There are so many Groups / Artists that i just would not buy any of their albums from, even their greatest hits packages would only yield 3 or 4 worthy songs to collect, so this is where a compilation like this really comes into its own, a collection of the best songs of individual compilations of Artists, and the added benefit is a phenomenal variety if you play the disc on random / shuffle [like i always do], having the very best of each Artist deletes duds, of course there's always the skip button if the odd track isn't pleasing, also you have the option of playing a selection of favourites, say a dozen, a very versatile collection.
The front cover booklet is excellent, a great shot of the curvature of the earth, with the sun rising on the horizon, nice crisp visuals of the ocean and clouds.
On this listen, song after song hit me, it's like a box of chocolates, one after the other you're amazed by the sheer variety on offer, each delicious offering sets you up for the next, i was especially wowed by tracks 1, 7, 15, 17, 23, 31, 36 & 38, maybe i can pick two that especially hit a nerve this time, track 17 'Can't Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon, and track 23 'Black Betty' by Ram Jam.
The REO Speedwagon song meant a lot to me, with a girl that explained my situation perfectly, i wanted to find a home with her, the lyrics are meaningful,
And i can't fight this feeling anymore
I've forgotten what i started fighting for
It's time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars forever
There's a certain quiver in the voice on the words stronger [0:34], together [0:58], and following [2:58], towards the end of each of the verses, which i find just so touching, it's a lovely anthem, there's a funny discussion on a Classical music site i participate on, i mentioned this song when we talked about crying when listening to music, i'm reply 12, and reply 14 cries MEDIC!, i suppose you need to know the background to someone's experience with a song, but this particular track created a strong lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.
The Ram Jam song is a lot more funky and harder, certainly more repetitive [bam-ba-lam], it starts off with a huge cymbal / gong crash [and ends the same], and it has a bass drum beat that is constant, and the vocals are interspersed with guitar solos, and even the odd short drum solo here and there, the lyrics are deliciously rhyming,
Whoa black betty [bam-ba-lam]
Whoa black betty [bam-ba-lam]
She really gets me high [bam-ba-lam]
You know that's no lie [bam-ba-lam]
She's so rock steady [bam-ba-lam]
And she's always ready [bam-ba-lam]
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