Search - Texas :: Texas - Greatest Hits

Great Glaswegians

Craobh Rua | N. Ireland | 04/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fronted by Sharleen Spiteri, Texas were formed in Glasgow in 1986 by Johnny McElhone. McElhone was no stranger to the UK charts, having previously played bass with Hipsway and Altered Images.



Texas' Greatest Hits collection contains 18 tracks and looks back over the band's releases between 1989 and 2000. The album's first track, "I Don't Want A Lover", was the band's first hit. It features a distinctively catchy slide guitar riff and is still one of my favourite songs by the band. The second track, however, was one of the songs recorded especially for this album; "In Demand" is a mellow affair that charted well on its release in the UK and is one that I just can't help liking. However, it's another of the 'new' recordings - the lazily titled "Guitar Song" - that makes it as my favourite song on the album. Featuring a sample of Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin's hit "Je T'aime...Moi Non Plus", it's catchy, laid back and relaxing. (It also has me reaching for the repeat button quite a bit).



The hits from "White on Blonde" are obviously included - "Black Eyed Boy", "Insane", "Halo" and "Say What You Want" were the songs that saw the band return to the charts after a long absence. ("Black Eyed Boy" - which, I am reliably informed, had distinct Motown influences - was my favourite of the four). The CD also finishes off with a remixed version of "Say What You Want", which features Method Man from the Wu-Tang Clan. For me, it's the album's only real weakness - the original version is much better and the remix wouldn't be a reliable introduction to the band.



Three songs from "The Hush" - the album that followed "White on Blonde" - are also included. They also charted well, though I prefer the chime-tastic "Summer Son" and "When We Are Together" to "In Our Lifetime". Three songs from their third album, "Rick's Road", have also been included. However, for some reason, the excellent "So Called Friend", "So In Love With You" and the Al Green cover "Tired of Being Alone" have all been re-recorded for this release. I was a little disappointed that nothing at all from their second album, "Mother's Heaven", made the cut.



Still, if you've liked anything at all the band has released, this is an album you should pick up. Recommended."

A daily staple

Paul Kendall | Los Angeles | 10/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Poor Texas.



Cursed by terrible marketing in the US (Texas who?), not to mention a name that gets lumped in with everything from country music, the State, or the University. Honestly, why this band isn't wildly popular over here is downright criminal, although it's shamefully kind of nice to keep things quiet.



I find myself listening just about daily to this CD. In fact, the days need to be longer, so I could listen to it more. True, there is nothing from the underappreciated Mother's Heaven; and I think I could live without the Method Man and the RZA version of "Say What you Want".



Still, it's so rare to not really review a CD by individual songs (although I do think the rerecording of "So Called Friend" works better than the original version; and I find myself mashing the replay button on the superb version of Al Green's "Tired of Being Alone"). Things flow gracefully from one song to the next. You could basically pick any point in the CD, jump backwards or forwards and find yourself drawn into the music; different styles, different sounds, yet so very Texas.



An absolute pleasure."