Customer Reviews

Very Best of Grin

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I never heard of Grin until three years ago, though of course I knew Nils Lofgren from his work with Neil Young. When my brother sent me this CD and I put it on, I couldn't figure out why Grin hadn't been more successful. Some of Lofgren's songs (White Lies, Moon Tears, We All Sung Together) should have been big hits. Maybe he needed a better publicist, or a better record company. The loss was mine, because I spent the first 30 years of my life unaware of this creative and enjoyable music. Lofgren was only in his teens when he recorded some of these songs, but they hold up incredibly well. Now I listen often, to make up for lost time. Highly recommended for all.

Grin was a fantastic band in the early 1970's, but they never achieved the artistic success they so deserved. Nils Lofgren went on to a solo career that has been only slightly more successful, but this disc showcases the fantastic music that Grin produced. While Nils' guitar work sizzles (listen to "Moontears" or "White Lies"), it can also be very sweet (listen to "Rusty Gun" and be awed).

This CD has all of the Grin classics save one: "Direction," and if that song was included it would be perfect. Even with that omission the disc deserves 5 stars and it deserves a listen.

My first rock concert was in 1970 at Walter Johnson High School in Bethesda, Maryland where Nils went to school (I was 11 years old). Grin played in the school gym and I sat on the stage in front of a PA. He was unbelievable and I was addicted to rock & roll forever. Thanks Nils - songs like Moon Tears, Like Rain and Slipper Fingers are just great music.

I'm extremely happy to find CD recordings to "spare" the life of my LP's. This collection of early recordings is one I had never hoped to find. All the songs are Nils at his best, only writing for himself and those of us who can't get enough. My collection is not complete, but this one fills a BIG gap. Don't pass it up. It may not always be available. I just gotta have it.

Had a couple of Lofgren's solo records in the 70's and rather liked them, and will always hold him in high esteem for his work with Neil, but had never gotten around to listening to Grin, though they've been in my field of view for close to 40 years now. Finally got around to buying this and must admit to being underwhelmed on the first couple of listens. Pleasant, competent, but it took several car trips for me to come around to the rather laid-back, platonic charms of this music. Still can't exactly rave about it, Look What Love Can Do is really the only really killer song, but it continues to grow on me and is certainly a keeper. I'll water it and see if it keeps growing.

Strongly recommend this CD, has both rocking and softer songs from a great talent Nils Lofgren in his early years 17-21. He also did some work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse at this time, so his abilities were obvious.

Imagine walking into your High School Gym and hearing these songs performed by a high school senior band, or just graduated 18 year olds. The reaction then and now is OMG, who is this guy. My 10 year old heard this album and loved it, when she heard that these were high school kids, she was in disbelief, OMG.

Lofgren has been with Springsteen's band for approx 20 yeas now and in a way let his solo career go on the back burner; understandable, but also regrettable if you liked Nils' music.

Nils Lofgren and Grin is a band that should have been a major commercial success. The good news is that Nils is doing quite well as Springsteen's lead guitarist. The bad news is that it probably should have been the other way around.

This is a very thorough compilation of his early stuff.

Long live Nils!

We who lived around the DC area knew what we had, even if the rest of the nation or world did not see it or appreciate it at the time. Danny Gatton. Roy Roy Buchanan. Eva Cassidy. Chuck Brown. David Grohl. Those are just a few of the names from DC. And a number of great Rock groups, one of them Grin. I had just moved from Japan in 1969 to the Northern Virginia area outside DC. My first concert was the James Gang at the Baltimore Civic Center, but the shows I remember the best were at the Falls Church Community Center where I got to see Nils Lofgren and Grin a number of times. We heard the story of how Nils met Neil Young at the Cellar Door on M Street, and how Grin got signed to Spindizzy Records, and Nils ended up at one point recording with Crazy Horse and invited to join them. It didn't escape my attention at the time there were local groups with guitarists attempting to emulate Nil's style.
I also search for CD versions of Grin's music to save my LP collection that includes the 4 original Grin LPs. It wasn't for lack of effort on the group's part they didn't make it big. Those first 3 LPs were strong.
I plan to buy this soon. I recommend it to those new to Grin, who maybe didn't realize this talented guitarist has had a different life before the E Street Band with Grin and as a solo artist.

To show you how old I am these guys played a concert at my high school back in 1974, and Nils being a local fella it was a packed concert. Great music and I agree with the other reviewer that this guy merits a lot more attention.

I'd recommend Grin's "1+1" cd ahead of this greatest hits cd.
If you can find it in print yet, I think that you'll be happier
with it as it also includes "Sometimes" and "End Unkind."
"End Unkind" has some phenomenal guitar work. "1+1" also
includes "White Lies," "Lost A Number," and "Hi, Hello Home" -
all of which are excellent. "1+1" also includes the studio
(and original) version of "Moon Tears," which is also available
on at least one of Nils' live albums.

The songs on "1+1" vary according to speed and edge, with some
being soft and slow while others are full-throttle. But its all
good, basic rock and roll. Good, melodic guitar, and some good
lyrics. If you like Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak" cd, you will find
a lot to like on "1+1."

One other thing: the mp3's, above, are not the ones that I would
have chosen in order to sell Grin. The songs I have named in my
review are what I would have used. "Moon Tears" is the song
that you are most likely to have heard on the radio.