This is just one cracker of a compilation, that simply made me hum all day long.Rarely we get an assorted album that has all the songs quite upto one’s satisfaction , but this one just hit the groove.This one, has a combination of grunge pop, blues , rock ’n roll , flavour of rock and some of ’em which can be considered as grammy classics.
The album , starts with the piano man Billy Joel’s most recent(??) contemplative, soulful Grammy hit ’’River of Dreams’’ , which is embellished with melodic smokey vocals .The next platinum hit song ’’Whats Up’’ by 4 Non Blondes truely lifts the mood by its raspy growls , uplifting and fun vibe and a very raucous voice by one song wonder Linda Perry , lead vocalist of this band.It’s said that this bohemian street rocker after this huge hit , was so disgusted by the commercial curbs ’n restrictions imposed by the recording companies that she stepped away from the limelight to pursue her passion in rock ’n roll bars rather than cut albums, just feels sorry to hear it.
’’Luv of the Common ppl’’ another greatest lovely hit from 80’s pop icon Paul Young , charecterised by peppy chorus ’n also a lovely video featuring him in some concert.Next song needs no intro, a Bryan adams signature tune, ’’Cant stop this thing we started’’ .Moving on to the next, is a song that was a huge commercial hit in India , ’’Dont Speak’’ , by a funky band ’’No Doubt’’ , who had also performed in B’lore a couple of years back.This infectious song taken from their sophomore album ’’Tragic kingdom’’ which talks of darker side of breakup is perfectly complimented by Gwens charismatic voice ’n charecterised by distorted guitar crunch ’n staggered beats.
The next one is one song in the album that u can give a miss viz, Sunny came home .The following is a Grammy clincher , from another artist Steve Winwood who made a vanishing act after this one called ’’Higher Love’’ , complimeting it with a sexy seductive video. The next soundtrack ’’2 princess’’ by ’’Spin Doctors’’ a chartbuster in early 90’s a fastpaced song is quite nice to hear after a long time.
The latter half of the album is a tribute to artists with some amazing voice, ’n is a pleasure to hear ’em no matter which song it is.The first one on the list, is the album title track, yes, that’s a classic tune, Dire Straits is always identified with ’’Heavy Fuel’’.This nicotine addictive song really takes u to a high, with sensous silkish voice of Knopfler ’n his trademark guitar sounds .The next voice may not be in the same league of Mark, but I like it very much .This Aussie band , Savage Garden’s ’’To the moon ’n back’’ is a smooth, radio-ready pop song, ’n the voice of lead singer Darren Hayes is really soothing.
This huge huge classic song ’’Free Falling’’ from Tom Petty ’n the Heartbreakers is another one of those ageless relaxing American kool blues. The next divine one is a really obscure one from a wierd R & B artist Joan Osborne, ’n is really a soul stirring ’n though provoking one called ’’One of Us’’.Another Grammy winning song (Best rock song if I ’m correct in early 90’s)’’Runaway Train’’ from Soul Asylum, with punching drums ’n a sing along chorus is a delight to hear with that 70’s touch. This country folkish rock kind of a song from Sheryl Crow which swept the Grammy’s sometime back, ’n no prizes for guesing this one right, yes, its ’’All I wanna do is just ’ve fun’’ , with crude happy go lyrics ’n solo guitar, is a treat .This is followed by a hit single from a controversial band ’’Oasis’’ , called ’’Wonderwall’’.
The album finally ends on a mellow romantic ballad ’’Heaven knows’’ leaving u yearning to hear more.This song by Rick Price is a personal fav of mine, ’n his heart rendering voice coupled with lyrics , simply moves me.
Surely this album is a steal......c’mon give this a shot.........