Here are two more compilation albums in the Rolling Stone Presents series. Rhino Records released these two CDs in 2001. After listening to Rolling Stone Presents Classic Rock and Rolling Stone Presents The 70s California Sound, I slightly preferred Classic Rock.
However, I totally disagree that the songs on Classic Rock are “monumental classic rock hits from ’68 to ’83”. Sure, there are some classic songs–“The Weight” and “Smoke On the Water”–but most of the “hits” on this CD are middle-of-the-road Rock songs.
I’m even less enthused by The 70s California Sound CD. When I think of the 70s California Sound, I’m thinking about Linda Ronstadt, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and Jackson Browne. None of them are represented on this disc.
Do you remember these songs? Any favorites? GRADE: C (for both CDs)
ROLLING STONE PRESENTS CLASSIC ROCK TRACK LIST:
- DEEP PURPLE — “Smoke On the Water”
2. BAD COMPANY — “Can’t Get Enough”
3. THE BAND — “The Weight”
4. ZZ TOP — “Legs”
5. PETER FRAMPTON — “Do You Feel Like We Do (Live)
6. JEFFERSON STARSHIP — “Ride the Tiger”
7. FOREIGNER — “Hot Blooded”
8. PAT BENATAR — “Heartbreaker”
9. GENESIS — “Turn It On Again”
10. JOE WALSH — “Life’s Been Good”
ROLLING STONE PRESENTS THE 70s CALIFORNIA SOUND Tracklist:
| 1 | Fleetwood Mac– | You Make Loving Fun |
| 2 | America (2)– | Ventura Highway |
| 3 | Ambrosia (2)– | How Much I Feel |
| 4 | The Grateful Dead– | Truckin’ |
| 5 | Orleans– | Still The One |
| 6 | Firefall– | You Are The Woman |
| 7 | Pure Prairie League– | Amie |
| 8 | Seals & Crofts– | Summer Breeze |
| 9 | England Dan & John Ford Coley– | I’d Really Love To See You Tonight |
| 10 | Jo Jo Gunne– | Run Run Run |
What terrible collections. The only song I like on the first cd is The Weight by The Band. On the second CD the only song I would agree with would be The Grateful Dead and that would be a stretch. I usually associate the California sound with the Los Angeles area. I would also include besides what you mention Buffalo Springfield, Warren Zevon and Love. D- for both.
Yes though what the ROLLING STONEs of the world mean by California Sound is definitely ’70s stuff, more boring than Buffalo Springfield or Love, such as the Eagles…and Firefall and Poco.
Steve, of the ROLLING STONE PRESENTS series, these two CDs are the bottom of the barrel.
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OK, it’s not letting me post anything more than a sentence. But it’s suggesting I’ve already posted longer comments.
Todd, WORDPRESS can be extremely quirky. Sorry it’s limiting you to a mere sentence!
Weirdly something I haven’t encountered before…and I guess it’s not doing what it has in the past, or usually does to Bob Napier, of putting my longer comments on in-need-of-moderation. Obviously, I’m getting two or three sentences in…
Clearly what they mean by “the California sound” is any ’70s soft-rock hits. I remember most of what’s on both albums. Though, of course, if asked if a given song beyond those two was by Seals and Crofts or by England Dan and John Ford Coley, I would likely be stumped.
Todd, you’re right about “soft-rock” hits. I have some TIME-LIFE CDs that feature songs like this.
I imagine a number of Deadheads were annoyed by their inclusion in this, as much as they were aware of it. Yeah, Poco would be The California Sound as it was usually cited a lot more than these would be, except I guess Firefall.
Todd, I would have preferred FIREFALL over POCO.
Yes, but would you sit through an album by either more than once? At least it wasn’t Leo Sayer, I guess…Foreigner rather than Journey…ZZ Top rather than KISS.
I love Poco, had most of the albums, still listen to them today.
Rick, I have some POCO CDs, too. But I like FIREFALL better.
You’ve had worse compilations than either of these up, but few which are so pleasantly uninspiring. I’d agree to Cs.
Todd, THE ROLLING STONE PRESENTS series went on to assemble better compilations.
And, as others have noted, Rhino did, usually, as well…though they could be top of the head at times as well. I’d say these albums were more Pickwick-speed. On a dull day. Nothing hateful about “Still the One”, but it was disposably bland enough to be ABC television’s ad jingle for a season or so.
Generally, any collection with 10 songs is a bargain basement job. Few songs, no pricey selections. Some of the other Rolling Stone collections you’ve covered recently have been the high-end ones.
How long is the Peter Frampton track? I’m sure it’s not the 14-minute album version; is it the 7-minute single version, or did they cut it even further?
Jeff, the credits don’t give any timings of the songs, but it does say this selection is from the PETER FRAMPTON COMES ALIVE! (1976) album. I’ll listen to the track later today–I have to do some snowplowing right now–time it.
Jeff, I’m back from snowblowing. We have an all-day event. I just snowblowed the driveway and sidewalks and some neighbors’ sidewalks. But another 6-10 inches are supposed to fall between now and tomorrow morning. Anyway, I timed “Do You Feel Like We Do” from ROLLING STONE PRESENTS CLASS ROCK and it came to 6:44. So, it’s the single version.
“Uninspired” is the first word that comes to mind.
Deb, I only picked up these CDs because I had other ROLLING STONE PRESENTS compilations…and they cost me under a dollar.
Glad to hear these choices are not the best because I don’t recognize many of them.
Patti, you’re right. Not many of these songs stand out.
I was surprised that these were Rhino releases since they typically excelled at compilations. Then I noticed the Borders logo, which was the kiss of death, on the bottom of the cover art. These probably were offered as impulse items on the counter of their coffee shops much as Starbucks used to do. Theses were also released in 2001 when CD sales were in freefall and no one had a clue how to respond other than to try to cling lamprey-like to the nostalgic hides of boomers. I suspect you got these cheap. Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.
Bottom of the ad, anyway.
Byron, you’re right on both counts. Record companies were pumping out compilation CDs and GREATEST HITS collections around 2001 as the music market shifted to online streaming services. And I paid less than a dollar for these two CDs.
These two CDs cover what is probably the greatest period of American rock, yet I actually own albums by only two of the artists represented–The Band and Fleetwood Mac. That says all I need to say about these collections.
Late to the party, so this is before reading the other comments.
Disc 1 – WTF? Not for me. The ones I like are “The Weight” and “Life’s Been Good.” By the way, I hope some of you saw Joe Walsh’s appearance on THE CONNERS last week, where he acted (in a way), played the guitar and backed up John Goodman’s singing. Fun.
I’d definitely take Disc 2 over Disc 1 overall, though I agree on the omissions.
Jeff, CLASS ROCK’s “monumental hits” description is far off the mark. More marketing hype!
I LOVE the California one. Only 1 song I don’t recognize by name (by Ambrosia) They included Run Run Run by JoJo gunn, and I have their album. I’d swap Ambrosia for Joe Walsh (loved him in the James Gang and after) Walsh is from Wichita KS, near where my family in KS lives. I do agree that they could have included others –
where are the Beach Boys???
Maggie, I wondered where THE BEACH BOYS were, too. Maybe they cost too much.
Though the other commenters all seem to agree, in a race to get on the bandwagon, that these are lousy, I have to disagree. Since I lived in California at the time, the California sound CD sound about right to me, though Poco should be there, and CSN for sure, maybe Elton John, maybe Santana, Doobie Brothers, The other CD is okay too.
Rick, these ROLLING STONE PRESENTS CDs aren’t lousy, just “uninspired.” Too many better groups and singers are missing.
Elton John? California sound? The one no one has mentioned are The Mamas and the Papas.
Steve, The Mamas and the Papas were big from 1965-1968. The group broke up and Mama Cass died in 1974.
Steve, Elton John was all over the radio in So Cal in the 70s, as were, as you say, the Mammas and Papas, and Simon and Garfunkel.
Of the two, I prefer the California Sounds more!