Customer Reviews

20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection

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Before this cd, there were a couple of other greatest hits compilations for L.A. Guns (in the US), both of which featured rerecordings or live versions of their hit songs. These were 'Greatest Hits and Black Beauties' (1999, Cleopatra) and 'Ultimate L.A. Guns' (2002, Cleopatra). While those albums had their moments, a lot of die-hard fans were very disappointed that neither of those collections featured original hit recordings.

The good news is that '20th Century Masters- The Millenium Collection: The Best of L.A. Guns' features original recordings of their hit songs. The first four full studio albums by the band (for Polygram) are all represented here. An ep called 'Cuts', which was a stop-gap release for L.A. Guns on Polygram, goes unrepresented but the majority of the buyers will barely notice.

Unlike most hits collections (pick a band), the track listing here is virtually flawless. The best songs of these albums are included. The selection borders heavier on the 'Hollywood Vampires' album (four songs in all), with the least amount of songs coming from the 'Vicious Circle' album. The other two albums covered, the self-titled debut and 'Cocked and Loaded' are each represented with three songs. The fact that the songs are listed in chronological order, based on the album they are taken from, is a nice touch.

"The Ballad of Jayne", "Face down", "Sex action" and "Over the edge" are four of the best on here. While not everything on this cd was a hit single, any L.A. Guns fan worth their salt will instantly recognize every last song on here. All the tracks, from one to twelve, either once were or still are concert staples in the L.A. Guns live set.

At this price, you won't find a better introduction to L.A. Guns. While there is nothing new or unreleased on here, the label did an extremely good job with the song selection. There isn't a weak track on here. Anybody who enjoys this would do well to try at least one or two of the original albums to see where the songs came from in the first place. There are good songs to be found that didn't make the cut here.

If you already have the original studio albums, you could probably skip this one. Nonetheless, this comes highly recommended to a new fan who will get the opportunity to hear L.A. Guns at their best and in their prime. '20th Century Masters' is a superior greatest hits collection to anything else out there for L.A. Guns. Unlike the other best-of's for L.A. Guns, these are the original versions that you remember and not cheap rerecordings.

It's kind of amusing that the too often criticized 20th Century Masters series has produced what is easily the best Greatest Hits package for the legendary Hollywood glam band L.A. Guns. This has a lot to do with the fact that even though there are umpteen different L.A. Guns compilations on the market, the 20th Century Masters collection is the only one to feature digitally remastered versions of the original songs. The others all seem to focus on live versions or remakes with later band lineups.

The 20th Century Masters: Best of L.A. Guns album gets right to the point, serving up a dozen tracks from the band's first three (and best known) albums. Radio/MTV staples Sex Action, Electric Gypsy, and the Ballad of Jayne are all present, as are some lesser known (but still great) tracks like Crystal Eyes and Over the Edge. The songs have all been digitally remastered and sound terrific, especially when you compare these tracks to the ones on the original albums. L.A. Guns was one of the Hollywood scene's quintessential bands, and this affordable compilation provides the band's biggest hits with the best sound at a low price. What are you waiting for?

THIS COLLECTION SERVES AS A GOOD INTRODUCTION TO THE BAND. RE-
MASTERED, THIS CD COVERS THEIR CAREER FROM 1987 TO 1995. THE 12
TRACKS ARE PULLED FROM FOUR ALBUMS- LA GUNS, COCKED & LOADED,
HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES, AND VICIOUS CIRCLE. I PREFER ORIGINAL SONGS
OVER RE-RECORDINGS, ON THAT OTHER BEST OF COLLECTION THAT IS ON
THE MARKET. THIS IS AN INEXPENSIVE INTRO TO THE BAND. SEX ACTION, RIP & TEAR, BALLAD OF JAYNE, OVER THE EDGE, LONG TIME
DEAD, ONE MORE REASON, IT'S OVER NOW, ARE ALL HERE ON ONE CD.

I've never owned an L.A. Guns CD but have loved the singles that were released back then. I have grown to like all of the songs on the CD, some of which I never even knew they sang. I will have to look into other CD's by them and maybe purchase.

The Millennium Collection Is Massive! LA GUNS is so very talented, Phil Lewis is truley a VAMPIRE as well as the other magnificiently talented music boys! All tracks Rock and really make u feel the music and the lyrics! I LOVE where it takes, ME!! (FACE DOWN) will make u beg for more --- great track! ALL tracks are going to please u,it's necessary to have this cd in your collection! CHEERS! Miss Kelly

Im a huge L.A.Guns fan and frankly im dissapointed with all of their recent "Greatest Hits" for 2 reasons.
1.Their are TOO MANY OF THEM
2.They're not original recordings
Now I understand that L.A.Guns were trying to "up" there original songs by re-recording them and I respect that, but they did it to many times, just look at how many they've came out with:
Golden Bullets
Greatest Hits & Black Beauties
The Very Best of...
Fully Loaded
Hollywood-a-go-go
ULTIMATE! L.A.Guns
and now this one...
the thing that makes this best of better then the rest is this one is all original recordings, and im sorry but id rather hear some kick-ass original recordings then hear a band keep trying and trying to re-recording them and not do a very good job, this is the greatest hits you should get!

I think the song selection and that fact that these are the original recordings remastered make this the best best of by LA Guns. The only other song i would have included here would be Magdalaine from Cocked & Loaded. Nice job 20th Century masters.

I have been a fan of LA Guns since that late 80's, and this is a great mix of there best hits. Phillip Lewis has a amazing voice. If your a fan of LA Guns you'll appreciate this CD.

This is the first LA GUNS CD I've ever listened, and wow! These guys totally ROCKED! Underrated but they werent bad, their songs sound cool like Electric Gypsy, One More Reason, and the anthemic Ballad of Jayne, Crystal Eyes and It's Over Now. For those who were fans of the 80's metal bands, this CD pretty fits your collection.