Customer Reviews

Greatest Hits

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Wesley Willis is hard core
He sings like no one's ever heard
He is a cool dude
I like his music
People get down to his music

Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis

He is from Chicago
So is his cool band
I drive my wife crazy with his music
She does not understand the point of his music
I really dig his choice music

Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis, Wesley Willis

He whooped up on Superman
He tells you to cut your mullet
He don't dig McDonald's

He thinks Oprah is a beautiful flower

Roll over London, Rock on Chicago, Camel - Walk a mile to smoke one

Well, I suppose that, yes, these 3-minute performances are music, but only in the most literal sense. What Wesley Willis brought to us all was not the beauty of a Beethoven symphony, but the beauty of a man willing to share with the world the workings of his innermost mind. Such painful honesty can only be described as courageous, and while his works are amusing and sometimes even insightful when heard one at a time, the true value of Wesley's art can be seen when it is viewed as a whole.

The schizophrenic delusions and his battles with those inner demons, his struggles with his weight problem, his deep love for his friends, his personal opinions - all of these are laid out for the listener in the most intimate way. Yes, the repetitive music is terrible, but that very repetition is descriptive of the way a schizophrenic mind functions. Yes, some of his lyrics are unbelievably vulgar, but even that has a beauty in its honesty; the songs are not meant to shock, but to siphon off some of the darker emotions and thoughts brought about by his mental condition. Some of his musical elements are undecipherable, such as his reasoning behind using a corporate slogan as the outro for each of his tunes. But like any true work of art, that paradox is revealing in terms of what thoughts it evokes in the listener. In particular, I marvel at the pervasiveness of advertising in our culture that in his dozens of albums, Wesley never ran out of so many catch phrases, most of which I already knew.

Wesley's music can be fun, and it can be offensive. It is at one appalling and endearing. But above all, remember that his is not necessarily music to be enjoyed, but art to be experienced.

Wesley Willis was a chronic schizophrenic from the streets of Chicago. In addition to being an artist (drawing almost exclusively buses and skyscrapers), he was a self-proclaimed "rock star". Using programmed melodies on a keyboard (all of which sound very similar), he recorded literally hundreds of songs. Almost all of his songs followed a formula of four spoken lines, the title sung four times, four more spoken lines, the title sung four times, four more spoken lines, the title sung four times. Oh, and he would add a tag of "Rock over London! Rock on, Chicago!" and a commercial slogan. While this may sound repetetive, and it is, I find it quite entertaining. It may not be right to laugh at the handicapped, but Wesley's music is very funny to me. This CD is a very well selected sampler of Wesley's music, chosen so that it doesn't get too repetitive, as some of his albums tend to do. It even includes three songs with Wesley singing with a live band, which sounds quite different than his solo work. I highly recommend this CD as the first Wesley Willis CD you should get, if you want to sample his work.

Rock over, London!
Rock on, Chicago!
CD Now! Never miss a beat!

This music really whips my behind with a belt. I actually dont have this cd, but i've heard something like 25 of his songs and i have a fair idea of what this cd would be like. Wesley rocks my world. I haven't been able to listen to "real" music since i discovered wesley, because he puts me in the best moods. this is the most feel good music ever, dont listen to the 1 star people.

Wesley really whips a camel's behind with a belt.
He is a good person to the max.
He is a recording artist and a good man.
He sings about McDonald's and Batman.

Wesley willis (4x)

Wesley Willis is a good musician
He played in Lincoln, Nebraska
Wesley likes to play the rock and roll music
I said hi to him and he shook my head

Rock over London! Rock on Chicago! Blockbuster Video. Wow, what a difference!

He grows on you if you give him time. Maybe it's that hypnotic, repetitive electronic backbeat, maybe it's the hypnotic, repetitive lyrics, maybe it's the end result of over 50 years of water fluoridation, I just don't know. What I do know is that Wesley Willis' music is flat-out fun. All you need to do is put on one of his CDs and a magical transformation will occur. Any negative personalities present will leave the room (you will almost certainly have to endure their complaints, but perservere and they will go), and those who remain will have a great time.

If, after listening to a few samples, you're still not sure about plunking down your hard-earned $$$, I suggest starting out with a used CD... Personally, I was lucky enough to have a friend who gave me his copy of "Feel the Power" after his girlfriend ordered it out the door. He has since (and sensibly) left the Philistine. The first time I tried it out, I made it through the first half of the first track before my wife begged me to stop. I could tell right away that this was hot stuff...that either you'll love Wesley or you'll hate him (or rather his music. I hope you wouldn't bear a grudge against him personally). If after listening to the first CD... a few times, you can't stand it anymore, sell it. If instead you want more, no sweat--he's got dozens of CDs out...I suggest "Feel the Power" as a sentimental favorite. It captures the raw, hungry (and boy, do I mean hungry) Wesley, before he got fat. Greatest Hits 1 & 2 are also good. Other than that, check out the track titles for ones that seem interesting. Anything that involves getting whupped or kicked is a good bet...

A few years ago, a friend of mine introduced me to Wesley Willis via this album. Recently, I lost my (highly valued) copy of Greatest Hits and it left me a lesser human being. I still enjoy my copy of Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, but the original Greatest Hits album is still his best in my book. I eagerly await the delivery of my replacement copy! Some people may recognize "Rock and Roll McDonald's" from a few years ago when it hit the college charts, and some people have just heard of the legend of Wesley Willis. His songs tell the story of his life -- his friends, his trials, and his battle with chronic schizophrenia. Wesley tells it like it is, and doesn't mind telling you to cut your mullet or what you should do to an exotic member of the animal kingdom with what condiment; especially if you're Saddam Hussein. Contrary to what some say, other Wesley albums ARE worth investigating... "Feel the Power," "Black Light Diner," and "Shake Your Piggy Bank" all have great songs, and his live performances are awesssome. A lot of rock fans get to meet the rock band. Now, you may not see Wesley Willis at Carnegie Hall, but I'll bet you anything he'll keep rocking harder like a magic kiss. He is my friend in the long run.

Wesley Willis is pure genius- and listening to his music from a psychological standpoint is really very interesting....not to mention the most hilarrious moments of my life. Yes, he is a very large schizophrenic black man who headbutts people that he meets. In fact, a close friend of mine met him in a record store in Chicago- he had the bruise on his forehead to prove it. But actually he's a nice guy.....until his medication wears off. Wesley Willis is a one man riot unmedicated. But still, he can really whip a zebra's @ss.

And I don't say that very often. I don't think I've ever posted a 5-star review on Amazon, and you have the honor of being my first. I will never get tired of listening to this. (Well, that's probably not true, but I'll listen to it for a LOT longer than I've been able to listen to any other CD of popular music). Keep on rocking, Wesley. Come to Portland sometime soon!

Wesley Willis is a rock star to the max. He has soul to the max.
This CD includes some of Wesley's best, including the superlative
"Rock & Roll McDonald's." Sure Wesley is a 300-lb paranoid schizophrenic who is obsessed with the Chicago Transit System.
Sure Wesley's songs all utilize a cheap Casio keyboard.
But how can you turn down the man who points out that a Big Mac has 26 grams of fat, while a Quarter Pounder has 28
grams of fat? And all his songs end with "Rock over London, Rock on Chicago" and ends with a random advertisement such as
"Becks is the number one imported German beer." END