Mercy, Mercy, Mercy: A Collection
Artist: The Buckinghams

Although they never had a hit album, the Buckinghams sold more records in 1967 than any American group other than the Monkees. This collection includes every Buckinghams song you'd want to hear, and more. The disc opens with "Kind of a Drag," the number one single in the U.S. in February 1967. The band's other pop hits are here as well: "Don't... Read More

Shooting Gallery
Artist: Shooting Gallery

The search always seemed to be on for a new Kiss, though I'm not sure why anyone would really want to bother (leaving aside the question of money, of course.) Shooting Gallery, short-lived as they were, did a good variation on mindless chug boogie without being musically distinctive; their big problem was the vocals -- strained and clumsy,... Read More

The Essential
Artist: John Waite
Anthology, 1964-1977
Artist: Johnny Rivers

The 36 songs here, spread over two CDs, don't cover Johnny Rivers' early, pre-Liberty Records career, but they do represent the broadest cross section of his hits for that label and beyond, B-sides, and superior album tracks assembled to date in one place. As revealed here, Rivers is a very versatile, somewhat underrated talent whose range... Read More

Unplugged (The Official Bootleg)
Artist: Paul McCartney
Epic Anthology
Artist: The Hollies

The Hollies' Epic Anthology offers the best of their late-'60s to mid-'70s output for the label, ranging from the soaring "Carrie Anne" to the swaggering "Long Cool Woman (in a Black Dress)" to "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and all points in between. The collection reaffirms the Hollies' gifts as synthesists; "Dear Eloise" distills the... Read More

The Vegetarians of Love
Artist: Bob Geldof

Geldof returns after a four-year absence with his second solo release, The Vegetarians of Love. Again, there are some high-profile guests including Paul Carrack, Kevin Godley, and Dave Stewart, but this Rupert Hine-produced affair has a low-key feel to it. Geldof applies his Dylanesque croak to a set that is very heavy on Irish-folk influences... Read More

Amused to Death
Artist: Roger Waters
Community Score: 8.78

Amused to Death is a solid album both conceptually and musically, showcasing Waters as an artist who, like his work with Pink Floyd, conveys his thoughts and ideals with pinpoint accuracy so that they are engraved within his audience's mind. With this album, Waters touches heavily on the dangers of capitalism, the insensitivity of the human... Read More