Search - Nils Lofgren :: Classics

Best Compilation Of Lofgren's Earliest Solo Years

Eric R. Last | San Bruno, CA United States | 10/25/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There have been a number of collections issued over the years that have attempted to compile the best tracks from Nils Lofgren's earliest years. The problem is that between the 4 GRIN albums, and the first 4 solo studio albums, there is just too much great stuff to fit all the highlights onto a single disc. So the various collections always seem favor either the GRIN material at the expense of the solo material, or vice versa. This collection is very light on GRIN songs, but it is the only album that truly does justice to covering the first 4 solo albums, so I would recommend getting this album and also getting "The Very Best Of Grin". However, if you really must have only one CD to cover these years, I'd go with "Soft Fun, Tough Tears", but that collection leaves out "Shine Silently", a huge omission. On the other hand, "Ultimate Collection" has 20 songs, 5 more than this collection, but it gives a live version of the essential "No Mercy" which is not nearly as good as the studio version. "Ultimate Collection" does have the advantage of also including a few tracks from Lofgren's 5th studio album, 1981's "Night Fades Away", and his 6th, 1983's "Wonderland", but those two albums were not particularly strong. There is also an import collection called "The Best Of Nils Lofgren And Grin: The A&M Years" which I wouldn't recommend because it leaves out "No Mercy", "Cry Tough", and "I Came To Dance". I realize that everybody is going to have their own favorite songs, and there is no way to pick the best and please everyone, but "Shine Silently" and "No Mercy" are truly career highlights that should not be missed."