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Music

Mix

by

gregg shapiro

Heap of

Hits

Compact disc technology, now approaching its 20th year of domestic existence, has been a blessing for the world of the greatest hits collection. It affords record labels with bulging vaults of old music to package (and repackage) the work of artists both still affiliated with said label, and those who are no longer on the roster.

Although the original Led Zeppelin line-up is no longer in existence (drummer John Bonham died in the early 1980s), Jimmy Page and Robert Plant continue to record for Atlantic Records, which was also home to their band Led Zeppelin. Early Days The Best of Led Zeppelin Volume One (Atlantic) collects 13 tracks (many of which were bona fide hits) from 1969-'73, including "Good Times, Bad Times," "Dazed And Confused," "Communication Breakdown," "Whole Lotta Love," "Immigrant Song," "Black Dog," "Rock And Roll," and "Stairway To Heaven."

Also focusing primarily on the early 1970s, The Best of Marvin Gaye Volume 2 The '70s (Motown) contains such beloved Gaye classics as "What's Going On," "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)," "Trouble Man," and "Let's Get It On." Gaye's mid-1970s hits, such as "I Want You" (remade a few years ago by Madonna) and "Got To Give It Up, Part 1" (which has been showing up on a number of recent movie soundtracks), also make this collection worth owning.

The 1970s are also the main focus of The Best of The Temptations Volume 2

Where it's @

compiled by Gregg Shapiro

@A-Zone 773/394-0615: Ember Swift and Miranda Stone 3.19

@Abbey Pub 773/478-4408: Fruit 2.26

@Allstate Arena 312/559-1212 (TM): Judds 3.10 / Korn 3.16/

Britney Spears 3.22 & 23 / Tina Turner 3.25

@Arie Crown 312/791-6000: D'Angelo 3.31 & 4.1

@Auditorium Theater 312/922-2110: The Chieftains 3.6

@ A-Zone: Ember Swift and Miranda Stone 3.19

@Beat Kitchen 773/281-4444: Ember Swift and Miranda Stone 3.18

@Beverly Arts Center Theater 312/344-6245: Chicago Jazz Ensemble 3.5

@ Baton 773/275-7294 (CGMC): Chicago Gay Men's Chorus 2.28

@Center For Performing Arts-Governors State University 708/487-7774: Salsa Concerto 3.18

@ Centre East 847/673-6300: Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2.26/ Chicago Jazz Ensemble 3.4 / The Babes (Sally Fingerett, Megon McDonough, Debi Smith, Camille West) 3.25

@Chicago Cultural Center 312/346-3278: Tom Waits tribute (w/Dag Juhlin, The Blacks, Liam Davis, Nora O'Connor, Catherine Smitko, Justin Roberts, The Plunging Necklines and The Blue Meanies) 3.2 / Genesis at the Crossroads (Middle Eastern music and dance) 3.26 @Chicago Theater

Station 3.24

312/443-1130: Alison Krauss and Union

@Cubby Bear Wrigleyville 773/327-1662: Flaming Lips 2.26/ The Bad Example 3.4/ Bumpus 3.25

@ Double Door 773/489-3160: Motorhome and Ruth Buzzy 2.24 / Waco Brothers and Devil In A Woodpile 2.25/Tommy Keene 2.29/ The Bottle Rockets 3.2 / Kelly Hogan & The Pine Valley

The '70s, '80s, '90s (Motown). Unlike other '60s groups, The Temptations made a stunning transition into the '70s with such unforgettable hits as "Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)," "Psychedelic Shack," and especially "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and "Papa Was A Rolling Stone."

It's hard to believe that only a few years before The Temptations and Marvin Gaye began topping the charts with their groundbreaking '60s songs, a novelty act such as Alvin and the Chipmunks were dominating the radio waves. However, the fact is, they were. Greatest Hits Still Squeaky After All These Years (Capitol) illustrates that fact. Songs such as "Witch Doctor"with its giddily infectious "ooo eee ooo aaa aaa ting tang walla walla bing bang" chorus-and "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)," paved the way for a number of full-length albums.

The '60s began with singing Chipmunks and ended with exotic looking men in tight fitting clothes inducing women to throw their unmentionables on stage during their live performances. Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck filled the gap for women (and men) who thought they were too old to listen to the Beatles, but perhaps too young to listen to Lawrence Welk. Engelbert Humperdinck The Ultimate Collection (Hip-O) compiles 17 tracks by Humperdinck (born Arnold George Dorsey) and reminds us of what an innocent and melancholy time the '60s also were. Humperdinck's songs had a Europop quality to them, making that genre of music more acceptable and accessible. "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)," "A Man Without Love (Quando M'Innamoro)," "Winter World Of Love," and "Les Bicyclettes De Belsize," among others capture a moment in time. Finally, the inclusion of Humperdinck's 1976 comeback hit "After The Lovin'," makes this collection essential.

They say that if you can remember the '60s, then you probably weren't there. I spent most of the '60s in my single digits, and have a vague recollection of the decade. My love of music began in the '60s, and while I thought I remembered

the songs of Paul Revere & The Raiders (maybe it was just their white tights I remember), I was wrong. I discovered this fact when I listened to their reissued and expanded Greatest Hits (Columbia/Legacy). The only song that sounded familiar was "Kicks." But my friend Joel, who considers himself to be something of a PR&R fan, says that songs such as "Hungry," "Steppin' Out," "The Great Airplane Strike," and "Him Or Me-What's It Gonna Be?", to name a few, are all bona finde hits.

A pre-plastic-surgery-enhanced Cher began the '70s as both a solo performer and as a member of a duo (Sonny & Cher). The Best of Cher: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection (MCA) collects the hits from her Kapp, MCA and Casablanca years, beginning with "Gypsies, Tramps And Thieves," and continuing through "The Way Of Love," "Living In A House Divided," "Half-Breed," "Dark Lady," "Train Of Thought," and her first foray into disco, 1979's "Take Me Home." "All I Ever Need Is You," the ironic Sonny & Cher duet from 1971, is also included here.

I always found it fascinating that a band such as Blue Oyster Cult, who had one of the defining hit singles of the '70s rock era, 1976's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," would have to wait five years for their next big hits (1981's "Burnin' For You" and "Joan Crawford"). Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best Of Blue Oyster Cult (Columbia/Legacy) collects 12 years of the band's "best." "Joan Crawford" (with the chorus "Joan Crawford has risen from the grave") would be a great cover tune for any queercore band with a sense of humor.

While Peter Gabriel was a member of Genesis, the British band was a highly regarded art-rock group that never achieved the kind of success they would experience after Gabriel's departure. To his credit, Gabriel experienced considerable success as a solo artist. Turn It On Again (Atlantic) is the long-awaited Genesis greatest hits collection that also includes a song performed by the briefly reunited band (including Gabriel) band. The song, "The Carpet Crawlers 1999," originally appeared on Genesis's 1974 The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway. The

Westenhoefer, March 3 at Mountain Moving.

Cosmonauts, Anna Fermin's Trigger Gospel and Cowlily 3.11/ Dovetail Joint (acoustic) 3.16/ Groove Armada 3.19 @Empty Bottle 773/276-3600: Elliott Smith 2.26/Jim O'Rourke 3.5/The Gunga Gin 3.9/ The Blacks 3.11@Fitzgerald's 708/788-2118: C. J. Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band 2.25 & 26/NRBQ 3.3/Mekons 3.25 / Beausoleil 4.14

@ Gentry of Chicago 312/836-0933: Open Mic with Beckie Menzie (every Sunday) / Job Christenson w/Beckie Menzie (Mondays) Ginger Tam w/Russ Long (Wednesdays & Saturdays)/Honey West w/Russ Long (Fridays) @Gunther Murphy's 773/472-5139: Torben Floor 3.25 @Heartland 773/465-8005: Vincent Truman 3.2 @House Of Blues 312/923-2000: X 2.23 & 24/ Vertical Horizon 2.29/The Fabulous Bacon Brothers 3.3

@Joe's 312/337-3486: Gertrude 2.25, 3.4 / The Drovers 3.11 @Martyr's 773/404-9494: Torben Floor 2.24 / Moxy Fruvous 2.25 & 26/ Freedy Johnston 3.24

@McAninch Arts Center 630/942-4000: Ellis Marsalis and Bobby Hutcherson 2.27/Irish Rovers 3.3/Mavis Staples 3.18/"Weird Al" Yankovic 4.30/Tom Paxton 5.13

@ Metro 773/549-0203: Apollo Four Forty 2.29/ Simple Simon

OUTLINES Feb. 23, 2000 V Page 17

post-Gabriel trio (Phil Collins, Banks and Steve Hackett) had their firs hit in 1978 with the song "Follow You, Follow Me." Several others followed, and many are included here.

Seminal British punk rock band The Clash has been feted, by Epic Records with the reissuing of their five original studio albums. If your budget doesn't permit you to splurge on the whole set, you have options. Among them is The Singles (Epic/Legacy), an 18-track, single-disc collection that ranges from "White Riot" (1977) to "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" (1982). In between, there are plenty of gems, including "Complete Control," "Tommy Gun," "I Fought The Law," "Train In Vain," "Hitsville UK," and "Rock The Casbah." You should consider Super Black Market Clash (Epic/Legacy), the expanded CD of the previously released (on 10" vinyl) Black Market Clash. This remarkable 21-track is comprised of bsides, EP tracks and other rarities.

Of all the CDs reviewed here, the one that was the most educational for me was The Best Of Herbie Hancock: The Hits! (Columbia). Hancock's contributions to the world of jazz and jazz fusion are almost boundless, beginning with his work as a member of the Miles Davis Quintet and continuing through his groundbreaking solo work. The collection assembles early-'70s to mid-'80s hits, providing proof of his contributions to fusion, disco, and trendestting electronica, among other styles.

Teena Marie also experienced commercial success in the late '70s-'80s, in both the r&b and pop music worlds, and you will find 15 of her biggest hits on Ultimate Collection (Hip-O). Tracks such as "Lovergirl," the wonderful "Square Biz," and "I Need Your Lovin'," were just a few of the songs that helped to make Teena Marie a household name.

Slightly more obscure, but no less interesting is Karl Jenkins The Best of Adiemus The Journey (Omtown/ Virgin). Miriam Stockley, who released Miriam in 1999, was once a member of Adiemus, and you can hear the influence on her work. This would have once fallen under the new age category, but it is so enjoyable that it transcends the label.

3.3/Yo La Tengo 3.4/Showoff 3.7/Saw Doctors 3.11 / Stir 3.14 /Grooverider 3.17 / Respect Is Burning and Dimitri From Paris 3.18/Femi Kuti 3.31 / Rollins Band 4.1 / Sleater-Kinney 5.12 @ Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn & Children 312/409-0276, 1650 W. Foster: Lesbian comic Suzanne Westenhofer, 3.3, 7:30 p.m.

@Old Town School of Folk Music

773/728-6000: Maura O'Connell and Sons Of The Never Wrong 2.25/Joan Baez 3.3 @Park West 773/929-5959: Ladysmith Black Mambazo 2.24 / Gas Giants 2.25 Warren Zevon 3.4 Shannon Curfman and Marah 3.11 Aimee Mann and Michael Penn 3.14 / Matthew Sweet 3.16 &17 / Paula Cole Band and Wood 3.24/John Paul Jones 3.25/Dido 3.30 @Rialton Square Theater 815/726-7171: Davey Jones 3.25 / Neil Sedaka 5.19

@ Riviera Theater 773/275-6800: Pretenders and Gay Dad 2.25 & 26 / Static X and Dope 3.1 / Fiona Apple 3.11 / Peter Murphy 3.14/Third Eye Blind and Tonic 3.17 / Filter 3.22 @Rosemont Theater The Kids In The Hall 2.26 @Schuba's 773/525-2508: Radio Hour 491 2.23 / Rose Polenzani 2.27 Lou Barlow 2.29 Blue Dogs 3.4 Shivaree 3.11 / Bernstein aka Dan Bern 3.12 Hoot Nite: Plane, Trains & Automobiles 3.15/Grant Lee Phillips 3.16 & 17 / Sara Hickman 3.18 Michael McDermott 3.24 / Gorky's Zygotic Mynci 3.26/ David Gray 3.27 / Bad Livers 3.31 / Buddy & Julie Miller 4.1 &2 / Susan Werner 4.15 / Stan Ridgway 4.16 / Marty Wilson-Piper

4.21/SONIA 5.21

@ Three Arts Club 312/944-6250: Funny an evening devoted to women in comedy 4.6

@Thurston's 773/472-6900: Love Kit 2.26

@ United Center 312/559-1212 (TM): Crosby Stills Nash & Young 4.14 & 15

@Vic Theater 773/472-0449: Bruce Cockburn 3.3 / G. Love & Special Sauce 3.11 Luka Bloom 3.18 / Mary Black 3.19 / Pat Metheny 3.24/The Charlatans U.K. and Stereophonics 4.4 @ Women & Children First 773/769-9299: Voices 2.27