Customer Reviews

Written in Rock: The Rick Springfield Anthology

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My only complaint about there "not being enough memorable material" on this collection to warrant a double CD release is that there most ceratinly IS enough memorable material. The fact that several songs are missing from collection ("Bruce", a hilarious track about mistaken identity, is also a top notch rock & roll song in its own right)...and I fail to see Mr. Springfield's material as being the least bit bland. Listen to "Affair of the Heart" and "Love Somebody" on a really good car stereo or home theater system and I defy you to even think of the word "bland". Better yet, go see him in concert. This is a show full of energy and joy, one of the most self-effacing and funny, not to mention one of the most energetic performers in rock & roll to this day.

I do agree with the other reviwer who said Springfield doesn't get enough credit for what he's done over the years. Oprah herself is one of the guilty parties here...the story is that she was doing a show about "one-hit wonders" and gave Rick a call to ask if he'd do the show. Rick Springfield has had over 15 top 40 hits in his career, and to ignore all of them except "Jessie's Girl" is just plain ignorance, as is calling the man's music "bland and unmemorable". Rick deserves plenty of credit for making music that's made him a lot of friends and exploded out of a lot of radios over the past three decades.

This is a fine collection...but a three-disc collection (and there is definitely enough material for that) would tell the COMPLETE story with a few more B-sides and live or rare tracks. "Tripe"? I think NOT!

Rick Springfield doesn't get the credit he deserves. How do I know this? Well, being a frugal shopper, I always try to buy newly released CDs the week they come out because they are usually released at an introductory sale price significantly less than the regular retail price. Well, the Rick Springfield Anthology didn't receive such a release. I discovered the release of the CD accidentally (I forget exactly how) and I said to myself, "How did I miss this?" I missed it because it was relased with almost no fanfare. Well, I finally managed to pick it up the other day, and it was probably the first time in at least 5 years that I paid retail price for a CD. And it was well worth it.
The term "power pop" has been used to describe Rick Springfield's music, and that's an appropriate term. His songs are catchy, upbeat, and meticulously crafted, with choruses that you can't get out of your head. You probably remember more of his songs than you think. Everyone knows "Jessie's Girl" (his most popular and best song), but you most likely also know "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Human Touch"(IMHO his 2nd best song, brilliantly composed with a fantastic chorus), and "Love Somebody". Even the songs you probably don't know are fantastic, and will be stuck in your head for moths to come once you hear them for the first time. I am particularly fond of "Speak to the Sky", a folksy early 70s pop song than I never heard before I got this album. Now, it's permanently etched in my brain.
Rick's more recent stuff is more introspective and a bit more subdued, but the music is composed and arranged with the same quality and attention to detail as his earlier stuff. Overall, this is a fantastic compilation by a fantastic singer, songwriter, and composer who does not get the recognition he deserves for his contributions to rock music. Get this album TODAY. You won't be sorry.

With the success of his 1972 hit "Speak to the Sky," Capitol Records tried to market Rick Springfield as the next Donny Osmond. As a result, it would be nine years before his breakout hit--the million-selling chart topper "Jessie's Girl"--made him one of the most popular artists of the Eighties.

During that decade, Springfield would land sixteen songs in the Top 40, including hits like "I've Done Everything for You," "Don't Talk to Strangers," Affair of the Heart" and "Love Somebody." And he wrote nearly all of his own material. [The only hit he didn't write himself was the Sammy Hagar-penned "I've Done Everything for You."]

While nearly all of his hits were recorded for RCA, this anthology also includes his Capitol hit "Speak to the Sky," as well as material from his Columbia and Chelsea albums. There's even a cover of the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" from 1970 by his first band Zoot. Zoot also recorded "Speak to the Sky," which went to No. 1 in his native Australia, but he rerecorded the song for release in America. [The only missing hit is the 1985 novelty hit "Bruce" (recorded in 1978), where Springfield expresses his concerns about being mistaken for Bruce Springsteen.]

While forty-two tracks may seem excessive, it's necessary to adequately cover the career of an artist whose recording career spans over three decades. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Very strong album and it's great that RS was at the helm to make this retrospective album. He has had a great career and is vastly underated. Incredible sonwriter, guitar player and of course singer and not a bad actor as well. So it is a strong album that covers from the 70's thru the heyday 80's and into the present and his music has changed with the times. And that is the key to longevity.

Congrats Rick for a long career and keep on rocking.

He was an actor and a musician; how serious do you THINK the critics would take him? As such, Rick Springfield, despite several hits (including "Jessie's Girl" and "I've Done Everything For You," both of which you probably know even if you don't realize it), has been left to dust. This compilation comes out after his career has pretty much run its course (although a recent top-thirty hit on the Adult Contemporary charts is noteworthy), but it stands as a reminder that this guy was one of the best singer/songwriter/guitarists out there.

Starting from his earliest days, up through his most recent album of covers (the unfortunately bland THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW), WRITTEN IN ROCK is a CD for any rock fan. There's the rollickin' guitar/vocal styles of "I've Done Everything For You," "Jessie's Girl," "The Light of Love," "Calling All Girls," etc.; there're the sentimental ballads, such as "Souls," "Me & Johnny," "The Power Of Love," and others; there's the 80s "bop" of "Bob 'Til You Drop," "Don't Walk Away," and "Love Somebody." There're songs of reflection, songs of angst, songs of sex, songs of drugs, songs of fatherhood, songs of remorse, songs of happiness, and songs of...well, songs. It's all here, recorded over an impressive career that most artists would envy. Springfield has never really slowed down; he's always done it his way, and WRITTEN IN ROCK is a testimony to how far one man and a guitar can go...and the desire for a certain best friend's girlfriend...

I can't believe I'm writing this -- Rick's early, charged version of "Eleanor Rigby" may be one of the most creative covers of that song I've ever heard.

After leading off with that spectacular cover, this collection just gets better and better. I really enjoyed his pre-fame work, including "Speak to the Sky," but he of course hits his stride with an amazingly catchy string of guitar-based power pop that to my ears sound like a more poppy version of Todd Rungren and Utopia. Really good stuff.

Ok sure, Rick like so many others fell under the spell of mid-80's studio technology, which apparently required the use of loud electronic drums, bombastic screeches, and syncopated synth lines that make you want to tear out your speakers ("Rock of Life") and the album drags a bit there. But there are even gems during this relatively fallow period -- "Honeymoon in Beirut" should have been a big hit, and "State of the Heart" is as catchy as anything from Working Class Dog.

In the end Rick comes through beautifully, listen to "Beautiful You" or his lovely take on "For No One" and see if you don't agree. I've been pretty much playing these two cds straight through for the last two weeks in my car, and my opinion of Rick Springfield has entirely changed.

This guy seriously deserves a second look.

Past compilations were very lacking... This is a great collection of hits. Human Touch, Love Somebody, Affair of the Heart, Souls, Rock of Life & Free are faves of mine... I agree w/ Todd (a review below) that Bruce should have been included. It would have made this compilation truly complete.

This collection helps to show why he's been called the "Father of Power Pop" by some critics (inspiring other recording artists to this very day)... & why his music still connects to so many fans out there (who still attend his awesome, energetic concerts).

The man ROCKS!

Take care & God bless...
~Rox

This is a great collection of Rick Springfield hits for even a seasoned Rick Springfield collector. It even has some rare songs from his Zoot days! What a find... This his a rockin' CD and a must have for any serious Springfield music lover.

This Rick Springfield anthology is a great representation of more than just his multiple top 10 hits. Rick Springfield is often overlooked as an artist that helped shape the eighties pop music culture, but I think this CD will leave no doubt that his great songwriting was just that, great!

D. Getz
Sacramento, CA.

When I was 12 a friend introduced me to Rick when she played "Working Class Dog" for me on her record player. I have loved his music - and had a crush on him - ever since. All during my teenage years I listened to his songs over and over again.
Since I haven't owned a record player in years, I got rid of my Rick records long ago. I have a hits CD, but it's missing so many of the songs I loved.
This anthology CD has them all, plus many nice surprises. As others have said, the only song I miss is "Bruce."
I love that this CD includes some of his songs from the 70s. I had heard those albums but never owned them.
I loved all of the songs from the "Living in Oz" album when I was a teen, especially the title song. It may sound corny, but I nearly cried a couple of days ago when I heard that song for the first time in years. It's a great song, and it also brought back a flood of memories.
I love that Rick included explanations about his inspiration for writing each of the songs, plus about the production of each album. His candid notes are interesting, and often funny.
I think this anthology showcases Rick's talent, and is an explanation of why Rick has had a steady following beyond his success in the 80s.
If you like Rick's music, you'll enjoy this collection. If you love Rick's music, you must buy this collection.