"As a big Scorpions fan i was very interested in hearing how they sounded before they hit it big. I had heard that their early stuff was as good or even better than the material released on the Mercury Label, i'm not sure that i'd agree with that comment, but this album does feature many solid songs including 3 live ones. Also, they seemed to have a bit more energy & faster riffs, largely due to Uli Roth, who is wicked at guitar! I would definately recommend this album, not just to the die-hard Scorps fan, but to any rock fan!I don't think it's necessary to buy all of their RCA albums, as long as you buy this and their first Best Of album. Some of the better songs on this Best of Vol. 2 are: "Speedy's Coming" (Live), "They Need A Million", "Longing For Fire", "Top Of The Bill", "Catch Your Train", "Sun In My Hand", "Crying Days", & "We'll Burn The Sky" (Live)"
An easy winner at a bargain price...nice remaster too
orange2001 | 01/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're interested in pre-Mercury Scorpions music, all you really need are Best Of and this. What makes this disc particularly worthwhile is that it culls several live songs from the stunning "Virgin Killer,""Taken by Force," and "Tokyo Tapes." For twelve bucks you can get a nice package which includes many of the best cuts from those albums...BUT don't think this "best of" has anything to do with their mainstream hits, as the pro review at the top points out. For that you want "Deadly Sting" not any of these "bests.""
This CD is aimed directly at the older Scorpions fans.
orange2001 | 02/05/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you are a true Scorpions fan,then you may want to give this one a try. This CD contains some classic sounds from the Scorpions earlier recordings, such as "Speedy's Coming"(live),"Catch Your Train",and my personal all time favorite Scorp's tune "We'll Burn The Sky"(live).The only complaint I have with this album is that my favorite song(We'll Burn The Sky) is not the studio version.All in all,though,this is an excellent mix of they're earlier efforts.If you like the Scorpions, you need this one!!!"
Before They Hit Paydirt , or, When They Were Good
El Kabong | 02/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I have no idea who all these people are who've been buying Scorpions albums the last 20 years, but in case you're too young to remember or never noticed at the time, the ONLY good Scorpions is OLD (RCA-era) Scorpions, a/k/a The Uli Roth Era. The early model of the band delivered salvo after salvo of blistering, ram-it-down-your-throat heavy metal,70s style, with the aforementioned Herr Roth cranking out tortured leads, fills and justplainsquawk like his hair was on fire and setting a new standard in heavy-rock guitar that hundreds of young players would emulate (to this day). By the time they'd switched to Mercury and begun their world domination, Roth had left the fold and the result was the same uninteresting mix of midtempo chug and syrupy ballads they've paid the bills with the last two decades. I suppose most of the fans they've made over this period wouldn't care for this early stuff for the VERY reason it's great - its raw, immediate, uncompromising urgency and excitement! But like the man said, if you're a connosieur of hard'n'heavy, the only Scorpions you need are these two RCA best-ofs. Uli, you STILL da man!"