Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the Whole Story., March 20, 2000
Though I don't own this greatest hits collection, I do own The Boomtown Rats and all three Geldof solo cds. I can tell just by looking at the track listing that the record company is at it again trying to make money off of unsuspecting consumers. If you like the Boomtown Rats, buy their greatest hits. If you like Bob Geldof, try getting his three solo cds. They're out of print in the U.S.A., but they are worth having. All three solo cds vary greatly in musical content as Bob is a musical connoisseur of sorts. The best reason to look into Bob's music is not his singing but his songwriting. He's witty, poignant, and in my opinion, a genius. I usually write reviews about what to buy, but occasionally I see something that people shouldn't buy. This compilations lacks scope and quality. A true compilation would be two or three discs in length and cover all the Boomtown Rats cds and Bob Geldof cds. This compilation fails. It's like getting a compilation of Billy Joel without "Piano Man", "Allentown", "We Didn't Start the Fire" and "Just The Way You Are" on it. Buy at your own risk.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Inadequate, October 18, 2001
By A Customer
There were 6 Rats albums and 3 or 4 solo albums. This album seeks to span the whole lot with the result that it is weak. I was so appalled by the track listing, I downloaded software from the net and recorded all 6 onto CD from the original vinyl. The biggest problem with this type of condensed album is that record companies think that this is enough and the original albums and b-sides are never heard of again. Ever heard the Rats version of "Barefootin"? Ever think you will? My own Rats compilation stretches to 2 CDs and there isn't a bad track on it. If you don't have access to the originals, go ahead and buy this. If you do have them, spend the money on software and record them onto CD.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Indifferently Inadequate Selection of a Great Band, October 15, 2003
The Boomtown Rats and Bob Geldof went from peppy youthful exuberance to downtrodden world on their shoulders rock stars in a fairly short amount of time. This collection chronicles that voyage, including Sir Bob's three solo albums prior to this disc. Frankly, his work post Rats isn't all that astounding, it seemed he needed them more than he cared to admit. Any of his solo tracks could have been replaced by The Rats' "Dave," "Never In A Million Years," "Joey's On The Street Again" or "Up All Night." But I guess since a 1987 ten track "Greatest Hits" (long gone out of print) had most of those, I figure CBS thought they needed to lure in those of us that still had that CD into making a fresh purchase of old material. Either way, if you have no other Boomtown Rats discs, this is a good primer. It has the controversial ballad "I Don't Like Mondays," the Springsteenish "Rat Trap," the Irish Reggae of "Banana Republic" and two hall of fame rockers with "Mary Of The Fourth Form" and "She's So Modern." Maybe we'll get all the original discs reissued someday (included a properly mastered "Mondo Bongo"!) with some of the great B-sides. Till then, this will do.
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by Bob Geldof & the Boomtown Rats 
