Best Of: Songs From the Ancient Furnace

The Radiators | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 27, 1997)
• Original Release Date: May 27, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AFY
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #169,788 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Nail Your Heart to Mine [#]

2. Like Dreamers Do

3. Confidential

4. Little Paradise [*]

5. Zigzagging Through Ghostland

6. Doctor Doctor

7. My Whole World Flies Apart [#][*]

8. Join the Circus

9. Let the Red Wine Flow

10. Fluid Drive [#][*]

11. End of Your Rope [#][*]

12. Molasses

13. Moving Day [#][*]

14. Love Is a Tangle [Live][#][*]

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars pedestrian my foot, December 19, 2007

By 

R. Demirjian "Rick D" (Delran, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Best Of: Songs From the Ancient Furnace (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer's characterization of the Radiators obviously reflects one simple fact: he has never seen them live. Much like the Dead- and he called that number, not me- one can only truly appreciate The Radiators in a live setting, especially their typical venue: a small club. The Rads are a groove band and a greatest hits compilation will never do their sound justice; yes, like the Dead. They also play completely different shows every night drawing from an extensive catalogue of songs; like the Dead. But this band sounds nothing like the Dead so all comparisons stop there. While this disc does offer some catchy tunes that I remember go for a live album.
I attended over 70 Dead shows "back in the day" so I have a fair take on live jam bands. One of my best friends got turned on to the Rads as a college student in the late '80s and wound up seeing them in New Orleans during Mardi Gras. I went to see them with he and his school buddies at the old Chestnut Cabaret in Philly and loved them. These guys laid down a great funky groove and the two guitarists absolutely smoked. I continued checking them out every time they came to town for quite a few years. Small rooms packed with dancing college girls is not a bad thing.
They are a good time party band and well worth seeing live. Those concerned with the re-hashing of musical tropes had best stay home; its not music for snobs. However, employing that logic we had best all stop listening to anything blues, huh? For those who want to have a good time, check out the Rads. Start with a live album, though, or maybe Law of the Fish. Fishhead music is fun stuff. They're not the Allman Brothers, but who is? Pedestrian, my foot. Four stars for the band, not a greatest hits selection.

Best,
Rick D

7 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pedestrian rock 'n' funk from a pedestrian band, May 9, 2000

By 

mark eastman (Chapel Hill, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best Of: Songs From the Ancient Furnace (Audio CD)

Reading the liner notes of this album - the Radz formed in New Orleans circa 1978, developed a cult following around Tulane U. who reveled in their live performances, went on the road to follow and encourage the band when they started touring, spread the word in their home towns... and the Radz encouraged their legions of fans to record their concerts so bootlegs were numerous and plentiful, you'd thing these notes were talking about........hey, you guessed it, The Grateful Dead. But we're not... and so very far from it. Actually, the notes say that the Radiators brand of rock 'n' roll is steeped in funk with a gumbo of blues, country, folk, jazz and gospel and they imply that Professor Longhair, The Meters and Earl King are influences. I just don't see it at all. If you want New Orleans, get those artists and Dr. John, The Nevilles, Fats, Smiley Lewis, Huey 'Piano' Smith, the Minit Compilations with artists like Benny Spellman, etc. Avoid this lp. The vocals lack soul, the songs sound like copies of records you've heard before (Doctor, Doctor comes to mind - didn't Robert Palmer use that line?). I've only rated this as high as I did to show some respect to their faithful.