Customer Reviews

Best of Rockers & Ballads

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We used to call this music heavy metal, but the stuff they call heavy metal today is so unlistenable that I don't know if the Scorpions still fall in that category. Anyway, it's still hard rock -- with melody. It's not just power chords, which sets it above mediocre to poor rockers like Motley Crue. It's not just wild guitar solos (I don't think that these guys could play as fast as Eddie Van Halen). But the Scorpions rank high on the metal food chain. And if you disagree, that's okay, but I don't recommend that you express that opinion in Germany, where the Scorpions reign like Bruce Springsteen in the U.S.A. or U2 in Ireland.

The Scorpions have been knocking out hits for years. This album highlights a great deal of their work all in one killer album. Even people who are not especially familiar with the Scorpions but listen to "Hard Rock/Heavy Metal" have probably heard such hits as "Rock You Like A Hurricane", "Holiday", "Rhythm Of Love", and "I Can't Explain". If you love the Scorpions you'll love this album! If you are in to "Hard Rock/Heavy Metal" at all you'll want to add this album to your collection! The Scorpions are pretty straight forward with this album. They did not put in anything new or unusual, just bona fide hits! What more could you ask for from a legendary band? As for other albums you may like if you like this band, well, starting in 1998 and moving forward into early this year there has been a phenomenal amount of activity within bands of this genre. Being incredibly curious I started cross referencing and came up with some great news! A lot of bands bailed out because of all the "grunge" (obviously that isn't the great news). Three that came up frequently in cross referencing that are out of commission are Skid Row, White Lion and Winger. White Lion's last release was 1992. Winger gave up and Kip Winger has released a new album but it sort of has a Bruce Springsteen flavor to it. Skid Row booted their vocalist Sebastian Bach and that was the end of that. I am happy to report that Sebastian Bach has released his first solo album, and to date it is one I personally would rate as a five star album. Sleeze Beez (sort of a Skid Row meets Warrant sound) has re-released a killer album. Unfortunately, for those of us who love this genre, they have split into two bands, neither of which would fall into this category. I would still say that their singer, Andrew Elt, has vocals worth checking out in his half of the split (with fellow Beez member Don van Spall) in a band called The Moon. Lizzy Borden's last release was 1995, Poison's and Quiet Riot's were 1996, and Whitesnake "broke up" again only to re-release a title in 1999. I wouldn't count any of these folks out yet. As for the rest...prepare to be surprised. The rest of these bands have new or re-released titles between 1998 and early 1999. AC/DC, Accept, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Bang Tango, Baton Rouge, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, Danger Danger, Dangerous Toys, Def Leppard, Dokken, FireHouse, Great White, Guns 'N Roses, Heavens Edge, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Kane Roberts, Kiss, Kix, L.A. Guns, Metallica, Motley Crue, Mr. Big, Ozzy Osbourne, Ratt, Saigon Kick, Scorpions, Slaughter, Steelheart, Twisted Sister, Tyketto, Van Halen, and Warrant. I personally haven't heard all of these records yet, so I have to admit that it's possible some of thes folks, like Kip Winger, have gone much more "Pop" than "Rock". I will say that of those I've heard that hasn't been the case. So, to quote Quiet Riot, "Cum On Feel The Noize". (For those who are unfamiliar, that's how they spelled it on the album!) You can start right here with this album, "Scorpions-Best Of Rockers 'N' Ballads"

While 'The Best of Rockers n' Ballads' is the original Mercury-years compilation of the Scorpions, it is by no means the best one. There are tons of Scorps comps better than this one, most notably 'Gold' and 'Big City Nights.'

If you want a quick look at some of the Scorps' biggest hits, most of them are here. 'Rock You Like A Hurricane,' 'No One Like You,' 'Blackout' 'The Zoo' and even an awesome remix of 'Holiday' find their way on this compilation.

And album tracks get represented to. 'Hey You' is a great Scorps song that should have been a hit. I'm glad to see it here.

But, why aren't there more album tracks? 'Can't Live Without You,' 'Arizona,' 'Animal Magnetism' and 'Make It Real' all would fit perfectly here on this Scorps comp.

Overall, unless you are a new or casual Scorps fan, just ignore this one, because there are far better Scorps sets out there. If you want a single disc Scorpions comp, check out 'Bad For Good.' Or if you want a two CD set, 'Gold' is the way to go.

Recommended, but only for very casual Scorps fans.

THIS IS VINTAGE ROCK OF THE AGES. ROCK ME LIKE A HURRICANE, STILL LOVING YOU, NO ONE LIKE YOU AND THE ZOO ARE SCORPION SOUNDS THAT ROCK TO THE INFLUENCE OF LED ZEPLIN AND EVEN, YES, THE GREAT ONE, TED NUGENT ALONG WITH HIMSELF, ALICE COOPER. BEST OF ROCKERS 'N' BALLADS IS A DEFINITE MUST. CAUSE THIS TRACK NOT ONLY BITES...... IT STINGS!!!

This CD rules. Has great up tempo songs like, "Rock You Like a Hurricane", "No One Like You", "The Zoo" and good ballads like, "Still Loving You" and "Holiday".Just pure metal hits.

This album is missing a couple good songs, like Send Me An Angel, And Loving Sunday Morning. But a good CD nonetheless...
Here's my 2 Cents:

Rock You Like A Hurricane - A Scorps Classic!!! It'll make you wanna' stand up and shout!!! Very electrifying. 5/5

I Can't Explain - Simular to Blackout. Sounds like somthing you'd hear from Judas Priest. 4.75/5

Still Loving You - A slow ballad. Very sullen. MAkes you want to break down and cry. *sniff* 5/5

Big City Nights - It's like Rock You Like A Hurricane pt. 2. They both have that great neon Jaming feeling. 5/5

Lovedrive - Not a weak song... Just sounds like somthing you'd hear from Loverboy *Blaughh* 3.75/5

Holiday - My friend DJ's favorite Scorps song EVER. I love the intro and overall statistics of the song. 5/5

Blackout - An up-and-go-go feeling song! Good chorus. 5/5

Rhythem Of Love - A sweet love ballad. The Scorps make love ballads so NOT sickeningly sweet. There all just so damn powerful!!! 5/5

No One Like You - MY FAVORITE SCORPIONS SONG EVER!!! The chords are very Jamin'. 6/5

You Give Me All I Need - Awsome... Need I say more? 5/5

Hey You - My least favorite on the CD. Still good though. 3.5/5

The Zoo - Great pick for an outro, one of the Scorps best! 5/5

In Conclusion... Get it if you are into Old School, like Judas Priest, Ozzy, Dio, and all that. If your into nu-metal, This may be too old for your tastes. Personally I love it!!!

Great way to get the best of Scorpions on one cd.But,I only wish it would have came out 1 or 2 years later so Wind of Change would've been on it.

The Best of the Rockers and Ballads (1989) is a 14 song compilation that draws mainly from The Scorpions five studio albums released on Mercury Records between 1979 and 1988. This includes Lovedrive (1979), Animal Magnetism (1980), Blackout (1982), Love At First Sting (1984), and Savage Amusement (1988).

After creative differences led to the departure of guitarist Ulrich Roth in 1978, The Scorpions' sound began to evolve in the more commercial direction preferred by vocalist Klaus Meine, and rhythm guitarist Rudolph Schenker. With guitarist Mathias Jabs aboard, and some significant songwriting contributions from drummer Herman Rarebell, the Scorpions achieved the commercial success they were seeking, becoming part of the explosion in the popularity of metal in the early 1980's.

This compilation contains some material that was not previously available at the time. This includes a rocking cover of The Who's Can't Explain, which features a wild solo from Mathias Jabs. The hypnotic Hey You, is another new song from the Animal Magnetism sessions. There are also alternate versions of Still Loving You, and Holiday, while Can't Live Without You, has the glass breaking sound effect at the beginning removed.

Rock You Like A Hurricane, and No One Like You, are essential listening. The melodic Big City Nights is a perfect stadium rock anthem, and The Zoo has traditionally been a fan favorite. Lovedrive, perhaps isn't essential, as Coast To Coast, Another Piece Of Meat, or Loving You Sunday Morning might serve just as well. Another questionable selection is You Give Me All I Need from Blackout. Either Dynamite, or Now! might have been a better choice. Savage Amusement is under represented, with only The Rhythm Of Love being included, while Passion Rules The Game and Don't Stop At The Top, fail to make the cut. Other notable omissions are I'm Leaving You, Always Somewhere, Bad Boys Running Wild, and Can't Get Enough.

The Scorpions produced so many quality songs in just these five albums, that it's inevitable that fans will have issues with some of the selections. While it's impossible to satisfy everyone, this is a fairly good introduction to the early post-Roth Scorpions period.

This is the best but the vendor sent a scratched up cd that wouldn't play.

This disc got a fair bit of push at the time but when it was released prior their biggest international hit (Wind of Change) the validity of this '89 release comes into question for the latter day convert. No arguing with the tracks that are on the disc though. Have a squiz at the track listing and you'll see the quality. Rock You Like A Hurrican, Rhythm of Love, Big City Nights and Lovedrive all do the job as does their cover song Can't Explain which was also the bands contribution to the Stairway To Heaven, Highway to Hell compilation album. Some of the ballads don't work for me personally but a number of them were hits in certain territories like Still Loving You and No One Like You. The title gives fair warning, for every You Give Me All I Need ther is a rocker like Blackout and Another Piece of Meat.

I always get a good feeling about this album but that's probably because I bought it while on holiday in Switzerland so perhaps the good vibes of my trip are colouring my judgement a bit. But for me this is a four star release due to it's judicious blend of metal (Blackout/Another Piece of Meat), hard rock (Rock You Like A Hurricane), generic rock 'n' roll (Can't Explain) and ballads (No On Like You etc). But there are later and far more exhaustive best of packages out there nowadays, so despite the quality tunes this is a package of limited value for buyers today. Still, top wattage.