Customer Reviews

Hits (Exp)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This title was originally issued in 1980 as a 10-track LP, and reissued verbatim on CD in 1990. The album's intent was to provide a hits-oriented overview of Scaggs' 1970s solo work, focusing on the years surrounding his 1976 multi-platinum breakthrough LP, "Silk Degrees." This reworking of the "Hits!" title expands upon the original theme with six additional tracks gathered from late '70s releases, and drops the song "You Can Have Me Anytime."

As with the original ten-track release, this fifteen-track reissue picks up Scaggs' story in 1972 with the Muscle Shoals styled "Dinah Flo" and 1974's Motown influenced "You Make it So Hard (to Say No)." The expanded track lineup adds the string-lined title ballad of 1974's "Slow Dancer," which helps show that the transition from 1974 to 1976 was more evolution than reinvention. U.S. radio listeners will remember the disco-tinged soul and jazz of 1976's "Silk Degrees" LP as a key part of the bicentennial soundtrack. The original "Hits!" lineup of "We're All Alone," "Lowdown" and "Lido Shuffle" is augmented here with "What Can I Say," "It's Over," and "Harbor Lights." And with 60% of the original album now included here, listeners may start to think (quite correctly) that "Silk Degrees" is a greatest-hits package in and of itself.

Scaggs' follow-up LP, "Down Two Then Left" was enough of a commercial disappointment to have been ignored on the original "Hits!" release; here it's represented by the soulful "Hard Times." The collection is filled out with a healthy dose of Scaggs' decade-end work, including "Jo Jo" and "Breakdown Dead Ahead" from his 1980 release "Middle Man," and his contribution to the "Urban Cowboy" soundtrack, "Look What You've Done to Me." The remaining new addition to the original track lineup is "Heart of Mine," taken from Scaggs' 1988 return to recording, "Other Roads."

At 64-minutes this is a generous single disc, but not nearly as comprehensive as 1998's 2-CD set "My Time: The Anthology (1969-1997)." This is perfect for those who (1) want more breadth than they'll get by buying "Silk Degrees," (2) need less depth than the 2-CD anthology, and (3) are fans of the hits rather than Scaggs and his individual albums. If a few of the titles here grab you, this (or "Silk Degrees") are the way to go. If the '70s focus is too narrow, look up the anthology for early classics ("Someone Loan Me a Dime") and material from the '90s. 4-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2006 hyperbolium dot com]

When I was a little kid and VH-1 still played music videos, Boz Scaggs hit it big in the late eighties with "Heart of Mine", which I still believe is the best pop ballad of the decade. Years would pass and I would pick up albums he would release, the best which was last year's domestic release of "Fade Into Light".

One thing I never aquired was some of his earlier work. I don't even own a copy of "Silk Degrees"! But when I was at the record store and I stumbled upon "Hits!", I found it impossible not to pick it up. It is a refreshing album for a fall afternoon drive. Scaggs is truly one of the great voices of modern times and this collection is proof.

This upgraded version of the previously released "Hits!" is certainly an improvement over the one released in 1980. There are more songs to show the talent of Boz Scaggs, which is needed in a single disc. The sound is great and it has added songs from "Silk Degrees", which is a treat. I, personally think it's a good overview of his early years. If you are a fan of Boz Scaggs' early work, get this, it has many of the songs that you'll want, especially if you are more of a casual fan.

I know that Bob Ludwig at Gateway tends to overaccentuate the high end on his remastering endeavors, but when "Jo Jo" bursted into my speakers on track #2, i was BLOWN away; it was as if the Summer of 1980 blew my way like a big beautiful gust of wind. It sounded GREAT! I've ended up enjoying this collection much more than i anticipated, and am glad i waited until the remastered/expanded edition came out to finally purchase "Hits"! Was also glad to see Sony/Legacy remaster Silk Degrees earlier this year as well, finally. If you're also a Toto fan (which i admit i am--they played on both Silk Degrees and Middle Man), you'll love this collection. I haven't been able to get Jo Jo out of my head all week! Thanks for reading!

Boz Scaggs always had some cuts back in the day that stayed on a Groove. this collection is very well represented. "Lowdown" was always my Jam as is Miss Sun. his vocals are cool and the Overall Production and Instrumentation compliment his range.very laid back and cool Jams on this compilation.

This album does encompassed the mainstream hits by Scaggs. It gives you a wonderful range of materials done by the artist since his first hit.
I highly recomended. you will enjoyed and sing along as much as I did.

I purchased this CD for a friend who is a big fan of Boz. It has all Boz's best songs & takes you back to that time period when these songs were new. If you want to get nostalgic or just want to experience the music from the 1970s I highly this CD.

Good stuff from a mid-tempo rocker and smoothly laid back balladeer. This expanded Hits collection has 15 tracks which I love listening to. The only thing that would make it better was if it could have included some Scaggs songs from his 'Dig', Some Change, and 'Down Home' CD releases, but those are on a different music label (Virgin Music) than this collection from Columbia records. Even so, this 'Hits' CD is a solid package of Boz's pop, rock, and blue eyed soul. Get this CD and then down load your chosen digital tracks from Scaggs' Virgin CD releases for your own personal best of Boz !

Even Tho I am a big, big Boz Scaggs fan, I have to say this collection is a waste of money. It's the repetition of the Original Hits! compilation, released in 1980, without "You Can Have Me Anytime" and adding "Heart Of Mine" and "Hard Times." Boz deserves better and no wonder he left Sony music if they're gonna treat his material this way. Go for the masterpieces: "My Time: Anthology 1969-1997," and his albums "Silk Degrees," "Slow Dancer" and, of course, his debut album. Collections like this one are just filler.

Boz Scaggs / Hits! : I always enjoyed his songs when they came on the radio but he never caused enough interest to make me want one of his albums. Years later, I bought this Hits album and my feelings have not changed much. This is a pleasant CD but it doesn't cause much excitement, and I still enjoy those few hits that made the radio. Three Stars (3 ½)