A couple weeks ago I posted a review of Arista: A 15 Year History of Rock (you can read it here) and said I had another Arista anthology around here somewhere. I found 25 Years of #1 Hits: Arista and I also found Atlantic Records: 50 Years.
Arista: A 15 Year History of Rock was a mediocre collection of hits. My favorite song on 25 Years of #1 Hits: Arista is Annie Lennox’s haunting “Why.” I love everything Sarah McLachlan sings. It’s hard to believe “A Rose is Still a Rose” was a #1 hit.
Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” dominated the local radio stations back in 1999. Houston won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for this song.
Atlantic Records: 50 Years is a much superior compilation of songs. From Sixties classics like Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour” to Seventies songs like The Rolling Stones’ “Brown Sugar” to Eighties songs like “Stop Dragging’ My Hear Around” by Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty these 2 CDs are full of hits most of us will recognize. Clearly Atlantic Records outperforms Arista!
How many of these songs do you remember? Any favorites here? GRADES: ARISTA: C, ATLANTIC: A
| 1 | Santana– | Maria Maria (Spanglish Version) | 4:17 |
| 2 | Whitney Houston– | It’s Not Right But It’s Okay (Club 69 Mix) Remix – Club 69 | 4:19 |
| 3 | Annie Lennox– | Why | 4:54 |
| 4 | Sarah McLachlan– | Adia (Live) | 3:55 |
| 5 | Aretha Franklin– | A Rose Is Still A Rose (Love To Infinity Rhythm Mix) Remix – Love To Infinity | 4:01 |
| 6 | Monica– | For You I Will (Exclusive Live Track) | 4:01 |
| 7 | LFO*– | Summer Girls (Exclusive Live Track) | 3:21 |
| 8 | Deborah Cox– | Nobody’s Supposed To Be Here (Exclusive Live Track) | 3:51 |
| 9 | Westlife– | Swear It Again (Exclusive Live Track) | 2:57 |
| 1-1 | The Coasters– | Yakety Yak | 1:50 |
| 1-2 | Ray Charles– | What’d I Say | 6:28 |
| 1-3 | Bobby Darin– | Mack The Knife | 3:06 |
| 1-4 | Ben E. King– | Stand By Me | 2:55 |
| 1-5 | Wilson Pickett– | In The Midnight Hour | 2:38 |
| 1-6 | Sonny & Cher– | I Got You Babe | 3:09 |
| 1-7 | Percy Sledge– | When A Man Loves A Woman | 2:52 |
| 1-8 | Aretha Franklin– | Respect | 2:23 |
| 1-9 | Sam & Dave– | Soul Man | 2:41 |
| 1-10 | Otis Redding– | (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay | 2:41 |
| 1-11 | Cream (2)– | Sunshine Of Your Love | 4:12 |
| 1-12 | Crosby, Stills & Nash– | Suite: Judy Blue Eyes | 7:25 |
| 1-13 | Led Zeppelin– | Whole Lotta Love | 6:09 |
| 1-14 | The Rolling Stones– | Brown Sugar | 3:49 |
| 2-1 | Derek & The Dominos– | Layla | 7:06 |
| 2-2 | Yes– | Roundabout | 8:31 |
| 2-3 | Chic– | Le Freak | 3:34 |
| 2-4 | Sister Sledge– | We Are Family | 3:35 |
| 2-5 | Stevie Nicks With Tom Petty– | Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around | 4:02 |
| 2-6 | Phil Collins– | In The Air Tonight | 4:58 |
| 2-7 | Foreigner– | I Want To Know What Love Is | 5:04 |
| 2-8 | Bette Midler– | Wind Beneath My Wings | 4:19 |
| 2-9 | Tori Amos– | Silent All These Years | 4:12 |
| 2-10 | Brandy (2)– | Baby | 5:13 |
| 2-11 | Hootie & The Blowfish– | Hold My Hand | 4:16 |
| 2-12 | Jewel– | Who Will Save Your Soul | 4:03 |
Looking at the Arista album, I’m channeling Dany glover in the LETHAL WEAPON films: “I’m too old for this [stuff].”
The Atlantic set is much better. The first album is pure gold, and I recognize half the songs on the second. Maybe I’m not too old for some of this [stuff].
Oldster that I am, I don’t recognize any of the Arista tracks. The Atlantic CD has several nostalgic favourites from my high school and college days–Sonny & Cher, Sam & Dave, Otis, CSN, Derek & the Dominoes. If you know where to find a Time Machine to go back to 1965-71 and escape Trump II, I’ll buy a ticket. If there is a god, I’ll never hear any Hootie & the Blowfish ever again.