Definitive Collection: Best of the Best Gold [Gold CD, Import, Limited Edition]

The Hooters | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 22, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Gold CD, Import, Limited Edition
• Label: Sony/Columbia
• ASIN: B00000I2OW
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,252 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Twenty-Five Hours a Day

2. Satellite

3. And We Danced

4. Day by Day

5. All You Zombies

6. Where Do the Children Go

7. Nervous Night

8. Johnny B.

9. Karla With a K

10. Fightin' on the Same Side

11. Brother, Don't You Walk Away

12. 500 Miles

13. Don't Know It 'Til You Try It

14. Give the Music Back

15. Mr. Big Baboon

16. Shadow of Jesus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puzzles me how this band never achieved Superstardom, January 20, 2005

By 

L.A. Scene (Indian Trail, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Definitive Collection (Audio CD)

Back in 1985 and 1986, a band called "The Hooters" appeared on the music scene that seemed to have the promise of a great future. They had a debut album, "Nervous Night" that was garnering a lot of attention in the music industry. Although it wasn't a Top 10 album and didn't produce a #1 single, most were in agreement that The Hooters were destined for Superstardom. Following "Nervous Night" - The Hooters were never able to capture the commercial success or critical acclaim they had back in 85 and 86. In a way to understand what went wrong, I managed to pick up this collection "Hooters - Definitive Collection". After listening to this, I'm still completely puzzled how this band crashed as hard as they did. They have some really good music and prove that founders Eric Bazilian and Rob Hyman are two of the best musicians in the business.

As for the collection, mine is actually a limited edition 2 CD collection. The first CD is exactly as listed with the tracks above. My version also contains the bonus tracks - "The House of Wolfgang", "Deliver Me", "Hanging on a Heartbeat", "Graveyard Waltz", and "Silent Night" (the Christmas song). Of the 21 tracks, they are pretty well divided among the first four releases of the band. The only drawback is that I prefer my songs ordered in chronological order on a greatest hits CD - this collection mixes them up.

"Definitive Collection" contains the four big hits by the band - that happen to be from 1985's "Nervous Night" album. These songs are the big hit "And We Danced", the follow-up "Day By Day", the classic Biblical themed song - "All You Zombies", and the duet with Patty Smyth - "Where Do The Children Go". Also from "Nervous Night" is the title track song - "Nervous Night". This track takes a little to grow on you. While not a blues song, this song almost gives you a feel of a song you would hear on a Mississippi River Riverboat. I was surprised that on the Bonus CD - "Hangin On a Heartbeat" was included. This was one of the weaker songs from "Nervous Night".

I personally thought the follow-up to "Nervous Night", 1987's "One Way Home" was not as strong overall - but it did show that the Hooters began to grow musically by experimenting in different areas. There are good selections included from this album. "Satellite" has a religious theme and a twist of the Nursery Rhyme "Hush Little Baby", but integrates a harder rock edge. "Johnny B" is an interesting track that almost has an Asian Sound to start and end the song. "Karla With a K" is one of the more popular songs among fans who stuck with Hooters past "Nervous Night". This song has an folk-Irish like sound to start the first 1+ minute of the song as well as in the middle of the song. This is a very catchy song with some great harmonies as well as some nice spoken words in the background. "Fightin On The Same Side" has an Old Tennessee-like sound to start gives it a nice effect. In this song, an analogy is drawn between a relationship and a Civil War - very interesting stuff. Finally "Graveyard Waltz" - contained on the Bonus CD starts out with a very folksy sound and then begins to transition to a more haunting sound to fit the title of the song. Again, interesting stuff - with some nice keyboard and guitar work. Powerful Chorus work.

On their third album "Zig Zag", I thought the Hooters really matured as a band. The songs included on this collection reflect that. "Brother, Don't You Walk Away" has a great acoustic guitar sound to it - especially at the beginning. The acoustic guitar plays a key role throughout most of the song. "500 Miles" takes a little while to get into - it also has a bit of a haunting quality, but a solid tune. Perhaps the best song from the album is "Give the Music Back". Lyrically - this is a strong tune as it critiques what happened to music in the 80s (Synthesizers, Videos, Mixes, etc). The melody to this song gives it a very powerful effect. "Don't Knock It Til You Try It" has more of a Synth-Pop feel to it - I don't think its a bad song, not one of the strongest. "Mr Big Baboon" is sort of a goofy song with a country-like jam - this song grows on you as well. Finally the Bonus CD includes the song "Deliver Me" from "Zig Zag".

1993's "Out of Body" was a weak effort, but it does include a very strong song that is contained on "Definitive Collection". "Twenty Five Hours a Day" is a great song. It features a fabolous Irish Beat that will have you clapping and moving. Also included from "Out of Body" is "Shadow of Jesus" - obviously from the title, this song has a religious theme.

There are two tracks on the Bonus CD that aren't on any of the albums. "The House of Wolfgang" is a terrific song. The melody almost sounds like Men at Work's "Down Under". The melody also has a haunting theme. This song has some great sax work. It also is real good how the last word of almost every line of the song is song boldly. Finally, if you haven't heard the Hooters version of "Silent Night", I'd advise trying to get this CD - great stuff.

I was debating whether this was a 4 star of 5 star CD. The decision that put me toward 5 stars was the material that was included on the second CD ("The House of Wolfgang" is amazing!) This collection will really make you appreciate this band - post "Nervous Night". I'm still puzzled why this band didn't hit superstardom - this collection is a testiment for why they should have.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pass on the Best Hits Collections, June 25, 2005

By 

retro-man-retro "Creative Juices" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Definitive Collection: Best of the Best Gold (Audio CD)

That's right! There's Too Many "Best Hits Collections" of these guys. At last count there were more collections of Hooter songs than original albums issued. That's just plain WAKED. I suggest buying "zig zag", "Nervous Night" and "One Way Home" via the used venue here on amazon. This way you own ALL of the great music & YOU decide what their best hits are for yourself, don't let some record industry suit do it for you.