Huey Lewis & The News - Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: The Heart of Rock and Roll is Still Beating
Hit: 4 Stars
Before samplers, pitch correction and handlers kidnapped music and took it hostage to reality shows, stage parents and Paris Hilton albums, you could still form a band with your friends and get discovered the old fashioned way: By writing songs, woodshedding your act and getting discovered because crowds fell in love with you. Such is the case with Huey Lewis and The News. Fusing 80's new-wave energy to R'n'B pop/rock, they struck gold on their second album and then let off a barrage of feel-good hits that made them one of the biggest acts of the 80's. Having Huey Lewis as a frontman himself certainly didn't hurt, with square-jawed matinee idol good looks and an easy to like husky voice, he came across as a rock and roll everyman.
That is just what this new version of Huey Lewis and The News' greatest hits serves up. Deservedly wiping the inadequate "Time Flies: The Best of Huey Lewis & the News" off the table, this set spans all their major label gigs, the majority of their singles and some choice album cuts. All the top tens are here, including the inescapably catchy "Heart of Rock and Roll," "Heart and Soul," "The Power of Love" and "Hip to be Square." These were polished professional songs all, the 80's equivalent to yuppie rock. That the videos were clever enough to appeal to parents helped, and they were just edgy enough (Lewis was one of the few 80's superstars to back out of playing Live Aid - even with his contribution "Trouble In Paradise" included here - and there were actually stations that refused to play "I Want a New Drug") to hold some rock cred.
But the bottom line remains the music. The irony of a song like "Stuck With You" or "Couple Days Off" is that they maintain a bit of goofy innocence, the underlying message is that it really was hip to be square. Lionel Richie was singing "Stuck On You" about the same time, and his sappy ode was counter-weighted by Huey nonchalantly turning that sentiment sideways..."and your happy to be stuck with me..." These were populist songs, singing about love and work and being an average Joe. They deserved their place on the radio and MTV, and despite the occasional slagging that rock snobs dumped on great albums like "Fore!" or "Sports," these pop songs sound better than ever.
Quibbles: I miss "Bad is Bad," "Small World," "Give Me The Keys" and "Hit Me Like a Hammer." And couldn't someone had found room for one song from the "Plan B" reunion album? I guess that would have necessitated a double CD, but I think I'd have been willing. Don't let that stop you, though. In this age of pouting pretty boys and party princesses, "The Heart Of Rock and Roll" could use a little jump starting.
Free Music Review: Their Perfect World
Hit: 4 Stars
There are often times where I absolutely wonder why so many acts today like Britney Spears, Usher and Beyonce', seem to be more about the image over the music. It is definitely a sad case. That is why I would rather prefer listening to guilty pleasures of the past, because the music was a bit more organic back in the 80's. One of my favorites of course that still sticks in my head is Huey Lewis & The News. Since their 80's days, they have been gone but definitely not forgotten within their music and the appeal of a great song. They have also had a mostly good greatest hits record a decade ago with Time Flies in 1996, but that collection could've had more to offer. Now another record might take its place as a really better greatest hits record.
Huey Lewis & The News 2006 Greatest Hits record is a bit more than what the previously hits had to offer. The compilation does really showcase what made this 80's group had definitely delivered, great music and good appeal with pop, soul & R&B. The compilation is restored and remastered very well and includes a lot of the groups biggest 80's hits like I Want A New Drug, Heart And Soul, If This Is It, the #1 Back To The Future Track The Power Of Love, the bluesy Workin' For A Livin'. The album also adds on very well by including tracks surprisingly overlooked from the last greatest hits record like the upbeat Hip To Be Square, Jacob's Ladder and Perfect World. The album also delivers Huey's duet with Gwenyth Paltrow on the Smokey Robinson cover of Crusin'. Although the album overlooks a few minor tracks like Bad Is Bad, the collection is purely definitive.
All in all, there have been very few good records out there right now, but Huey Lewis & The News Greatest Hits is a definite buy for die hard fans of this 80's gem, or for anybody who hasn't heard the original heart of rock and roll. I absolutely suggest this record.
Album Cover: A-
Songs: A-
Price: B+
Remastering: A
Overall: B+
Free Music Review: + 1/2 stars...Solid Collection of Hits for the Neophyte Fan
Hit: 4 Stars
This much needed update of 1996's TIME FLIES... kicks off with "The Heart of Rock & Roll," one of five chart hits from their multi-platinum album SPORTS. [Curiously, "Walking on a Thin Line" didn't get included.] During the Eighties, Huey Lewis & The News were all over the radio and MTV. Their two most successful albums, SPORTS and FORE!, both hit No. 1 and nearly half of their hits on this collection are from those two albums.
How does GREATEST HITS differ from TIME FLIES...? For starters it drops the four tracks that were recorded specifically for TIME FLIES.... Moreover, they add the singles "Hope You Love Me Like You Say You Do" (from PICTURE THIS), "Hip To Be Square," "Jacob's Ladder" and "I Know What I Like," (all from FORE!), "Perfect World" and "Small World" (both from SMALL WORLD) and "Couple Days Off" (from HARD AT PLAY) along with the duet with Gwyneth Paltrow, "Cruisin'," from the movie "Duets." [The only missing hit--other than "Walking on a Thin Line--is 1991's "It Hit Me Like a Hammer," their final Top 40 hit.] All told, this is a very satisfying and enjoyable collection of hits. The only thing that would have made it better was if it was two discs.
A couple of years ago, Blender magazine placed "The Heart of Rock & Roll" No. 6 on the list of "50 Worst Songs Ever." Methinks the editors at Blender had their collective heads up their $#%@. While Huey Lewis & The News were never critis' darlings, they were popular for a reason--their music was good. Period. [Hardcore fans will want the CD/DVD collection which includes nine videos.] (Running Time - 79:19) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Free Music Review: Good compliation but couple of songs missing.
Hit: 4 Stars
Positives: remastered sound is excellent; contains a full version of "Small World; "Back in Time","Hip to be square" and "Couple o'days off" tracks are included
Negatives: cruisin' duet with Gwenneth Paltrow(why this is on here-its the worst song), the tracks "Bad is Bad","Sooner or Later(will you say I love you)" and "Walking on a Thin Line" have been left off.
Overall this is a just revamped & remastered version of "The Heart of rock & Roll-The Best of Huey Lewis" and the News(1992 release). Excellent collection overall from Huey and the boys.
Free Music Review: Sometimes music just makes you feel good
Hit: 4 Stars
Huey Lewis and the News have made as many feel good songs as any other band in popular music. Even when things are going wrong in their songs, like on "If This is It?" you can't help but sing-along and grin mindlessly. From the distinctive combination of roughness and melody of Lewis's vocals to the solid backing of his talented band (Whatever happened to those great sax breaks that were so common in the 80's?) Huey Lewis and The News rarely disappoints. This collection runs from the band's breakthrough second recording to the DUETS soundtrack. A few quibbles...I think they could have thrown in a cut from the debut album when the band was a little less polished and why the songs are not in chronological order just irritates me. (and that's probably just me!) This band won't change your life, but they definitely have the ability to brighten your mood; sometimes that's exactly what music should do.