lambchops's Full Review: Greatest Hits by Great White
Amidst the seemingly endless supply of hair bands in the mid and late 1980’s, Great White managed to carve out a fan base. But, unless you were a fan of that kind of music during that era, it’s pretty unlikely that you don’t specifically remember the band by name.
Great White actually originated pre-hair band era. They released their first album, On Your Knees, in 1982. Few people enjoyed the music and even fewer bought the Enigma-released LP. The southern California band returned two years later with their self-titled major label debut (EMI). Once again, listeners didn’t pick up on Great White.
It really took until 1987’s Once Bitten… for radio and MTV audiences finally connected with the band’s heavy blues-rock sound. Most important for the band were the successes of Rock Me and Save Your Love. Two years later, the so-Cal band hit double platinum with the LP …Twice Shy. The album spawned multiple hits, but the most notable was Once Bitten, Twice Shy…a song that earned the band a Grammy nomination for Best Hard Rock Performance. The Angel Song was also a popular track for Great White.
Following the success of their 1989 album, Great White embarked on the huge European Monsters of Rock tour. But, with the new decade came some problems. Namely, grunge music. Fans tuned out of hair bands and into grungy acts. Great White continued plugging away. Although, they were never able to come close to the success of …Twice Shy. Over five albums later, the band is still touring in support of their music. The lineup has changed over time, but vocalist Jack Russell is still the focus of much of the band’s attention.
Before I continue on to the songs, I want to note that Great White is by no means going to be remembered in the same light as contemporaries like Guns n’ Roses. A small group of rock fans will remember them for making let-loose rock and roll. Besides that, Great White has already faded into oblivion. Don’t expect these guys to ever put together another hit.
Greatest Hits is a typical example of an album of hits released just to capitalize on people unwilling to shell out $15 for each of 4 or 5 albums from bands like Great White. With fourteen songs, this album is a good buy for people who remember Great White. If you don’t remember them or didn’t enjoy ‘em over a decade ago, don’t expect anything more out of the music today. There is little substance here aside from the credo “sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” Of course, the main focus seemed to be on sex.
This 2001 release is a relatively complete retrospective of Great White’s recordings from 1984 through 1992. Released by Capitol, most of the songs on this album are the original recordings. It’s the first ‘true’ greatest hits album from the band. There have been some shoddy efforts in the past. This is the best of five albums devoted to bringing fans a compilation of Great White hits.
Both Rock Me and The Angel Songs are probably my favorites. Rock Me is a bluesy almost Aerosmith-esque track. It begins quietly with simple drums and bass. As the song progresses it gets louder and more intense. I like the emotion and for that matter Russell’s Robert Plant-like vocal talents. He really screeches like the best rock vocalists. It’s too bad his material isn’t as good as that from Led Zeppelin. The Angel Song is the typical rock ballad. Not that it’s a bad thing per se. In fact, I’m always partial to pseudo-delicate tracks like this.
There are other notable tracks. Of course there’s the rock-blues fun of Rock Me and the honkytonk high school dance hit Once Bitten Twice Shy. The latter is actually one of the best hair metal tracks of the era. Even if you aren’t a fan of the genre, you’ll clearly recall this classic track. This, in fact, is the only song from Great White that has any real staying power. Also the tense and almost melodic Save Your Love is a highlight.
The last song worthy of mention is a rather impressive remake of the Led Zeppelin classic Babe I’m Gonna Leave You originally recorded for an early MTV Unplugged session. As I already mentioned, Russell sounds strikingly like Plant. This song was a great choice to highlight the similarity. I’d challenge any novice Zepp fan to figure out whether this was Plant or Russell singing. Quite amazing, especially considering how few people took hair metal and Great White seriously.
In all, this is an album that needs to be part of any hair-metal collection. It’s great for people like me who really couldn’t care less about owning an entire Great White album. If only for the amazing remake of the Zepp track or even for Once Bitten Twice Shy this album is worth owning and listening to…and sharing with friends (though, be warned, they may laugh a little at you owning a Great White CD). I can’t exactly give the CD five stars. There are some live tracks I despise in addition to songs that even I hadn’t heard before my exposure to this album. Therefore, I’ll give it a very strong 3/5 stars on the merits of the songs I’ve already mentioned.
Track Listing:
1. Stick It
2. Rock Me
3. Face The Day
4. Save You Love
5. Once Bitten Twice Shy
6. Wasted Rock Ranger
7. Mista Bone
8. The Angel Song
9. House of Broken Love
10. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
11. Desert Moon
12. Call It Rock & Roll
13. Old Rose Motel
14. Big Goodbye
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