Little River Band - Greatest Hits [Extra tracks, Import, Original recording reissued]

Little River Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording reissued
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000040OJ6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,606 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #40 in Music > World Music > Australia & New Zealand
  • #86 in Music > Imports > Pop

Editorial Reviews

Digitally remastered and expanded edition of this 1982 collection from Australia's first real breakthrough act into the American market. Little River Band was an unassuming but extremely talented outfit fronted by the amazing vocals of Glenn Shorrock. This updated edition features six additional tracks: 'Down On The Border', 'Happy Anniversary', 'Playing To Win', 'It's Not A Wonder', 'You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind' and 'It's A Long Way There'. 18 tracks total including the big hits 'Lonesome Loser', 'Help Is On It's Way', 'Reminiscing' and more. Capitol. 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars + 1/2 Stars...Let's Hope Capitol Records Starts a Trend, May 30, 2000

By 

Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little River Band - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

Finally, a record label understands what it means to update their old vinyl/cassette catalog onto CD. When "Greatest Hits" first came out in 1982, it contained 12 tracks and nearly fifty minutes of music (fairly generous for the time). This 2000 update "Greatest Hits" has been expanded to 18 tracks and nearly eighty minutes of music. [Are you paying attention, MCA, with your pared down Millennium series?]

This new release adds the hits since the 1982 edition: "We Two" (#22), "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind" (#35) and "Playing To Win" (#60), which featured John Farnham, who replaced original vocalist Glenn Shorrock in 1983 when he left to go solo. [Shorrock would return in 1988 when Farnham left to pursue a solo career.] You also get another Farnham vocal "Face In the Crowd" from the album No Reins. In addition you get their second U.S. single "I'll Always Call Your Name" (#62) from 1977 and "It's Not a Wonder" (#51) from 1980.

This is infectious MOR pop. The Little River Band specialized in catchy hooks, lush vocals, and understated guitar leads to create a unique and wonderful sound on such lovely ballads as "Lady," "Reminiscing," "Cool Change," as well as mid-tempo rockers as "Help Is On the Way" and "Man On Your Mind." Sure, You could spring for the 2-disc anthology Reminiscing, but this has all the hits at less than half the price. RECOMMENDED

36 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What happened to the original cut?, August 9, 2002

By 

David (Baton Rouge, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Little River Band - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

I started listening to the Little River Band in the 70's when I was a kid. My oldest brother loved them and he had several 8 tracks. Then my oldest brother moved out and my middle brother started listening to them in the early 80's and I liked them even more. I bought this greatest hits back in 1994 and I really loved it, but then I lost that version and I bought this new version of the greatest hits. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN IT!!!!! THEY HAVE CHANGED THE SOUND OF THE BAND ON SONGS LIKE "MAN ON YOUR MIND", "LADY" JUST TO NAME A FEW. Well this is not okay with me, and I don't even want this cd anymore. Can anyone tell me how to get a copy of the old greatest hits. You know, the ones that haven't been touched. Please tell me there is such a version out there........In the meantime, don't waste your money on this album if you like how the band sounded years ago.

David

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best single disc compilation (now that is has been "fixed"), March 26, 2010

By 

John O'Neill (Alpharetta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Little River Band - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

If you're making your decision on whether or not to pick up this CD based on all the 1* reviews out there, please note that Capitol fixed the "error" and now "Man on Your Mind", "Night Owls", and "Take It Easy on Me" are the versions that appeared on the original "Time Exposure" LP. The ONLY track that differs from its LP format is "Playing to Win" which rocks even harder than the original and, for me, represents the career misstep that resulted in the atypical, hard-rocking album of the same name. If they wanted to include a track from "Playing..." I would have picked a more LRB-ish one: "Piece of the Dream", "Don't Blame Me", and "Blind Eyes" come to mind.

Now that it has been "fixed", the 18-track "Greatest Hits" becomes the best single-disc compilation available getting the nod over 2002's Definitive Collection in terms of covering the hits. "Definitive" is one track longer and includes the full length version of "It's A Long Way There" but by including several '70s-era "album tracks" (Curiosity Killed The Cat, Emma, Everyday Of My Life, Home On Monday, Shut Down Turn Off) omits several singles: "Face In The Crowd" (from '86s "No Reins") and "You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind", LRB's last Top 40 hit ('83s "The Net") both of which feature strong lead vocals from John Farnham. Also missing on "Definitive" are '77s "I'll Always Call You Name" (from the debut) and "It's Not A Wonder" (from 1980s "First Under the Wire"): singles which failed to make it into the top 40. The biggest hits are present on both so it's really a matter of preference and in either case you get a generous sampling of outstanding music and performances (especially those incredible harmonies).

You also might want to seriously consider springing for the 2-disc, out of print Reminiscing: The 20th Anniversary Collection which features 22 of the 23 tracks contained on "Greatest Hits" and "Definitive" (Face in the Crowd is not included) PLUS an additional 12 songs including early album tracks like "Statue of Liberty", "Sweet Old Fashioned Man", "Days on the Road", non-LP single "Long Jumping Jeweler", and later-LRB tracks such as "Time for Us", "It's Cold Out Tonight", "Love Is A Bridge", "Son of a Famous Man", "Soul Searching", "I Dream Alone", the last five featuring Glenn Shorrock and his return to the band in the late '80s for the two MCA label releases "Monsoon" (a wonderful return to form) and "Get Lucky", neither of which are covered on "Greatest Hits" or "Definitive". Just about everything on the 2-disc set is classic LRB and with so much of LRB's catalog out of print this may be the easiest (certainly the least expensive) way to get it.