Search - Rick Springfield :: Written in Rock: The Rick Springfield Anthology

Surprisingly Solid Collection, Will Change Your Opinion of R

Todd and In Charge | Miami, FL | 10/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe I'm writing this -- Rick's early, charged version of "Eleanor Rigby" may be one of the most creative covers of that song I've ever heard.



After leading off with that spectacular cover, this collection just gets better and better. I really enjoyed his pre-fame work, including "Speak to the Sky," but he of course hits his stride with an amazingly catchy string of guitar-based power pop that to my ears sound like a more poppy version of Todd Rungren and Utopia. Really good stuff.



Ok sure, Rick like so many others fell under the spell of mid-80's studio technology, which apparently required the use of loud electronic drums, bombastic screeches, and syncopated synth lines that make you want to tear out your speakers ("Rock of Life") and the album drags a bit there. But there are even gems during this relatively fallow period -- "Honeymoon in Beirut" should have been a big hit, and "State of the Heart" is as catchy as anything from Working Class Dog.



In the end Rick comes through beautifully, listen to "Beautiful You" or his lovely take on "For No One" and see if you don't agree. I've been pretty much playing these two cds straight through for the last two weeks in my car, and my opinion of Rick Springfield has entirely changed.



This guy seriously deserves a second look."