The Greatest Hits
	Previously released material (Track 1 produced by Richie Zito and Cheap Trick)
	Released on October 1, 1991
	US CHART POSITION #174 . . . PLATINUM RECORD (7/15/98)
	Find it at GEMM
WET 48681 cover

I want you to buy me. That’s what they should have called it. These may be their greatest hits, but it ain’t the best of by a long shot. I mean, really, the live version of Ain’t That A Shame? The Flame? Ugh, the injustice. In case you haven’t heard, their first three records are the best things they’ve ever done. Actually, everything up to and including Dream Police is fine. From there it gets a little shaky. So what does Epic do but shake the post-Police tree, rake up the hits and call it a day. Oh, and they include a version of Magical Mystery Tour as a bonus. Already heard it. By The Beatles. Didn’t anybody tell them? In my tattered little Cheap Trick book, only three of these songs get the nod: Dream Police, Voices (I’m a softie at heart) and Surrender. Maybe If You Want My Love too (see my earlier softie comment). The rest of it’s just gilded junk compared to the inspired snarling of their early records. The trick to appreciating their later work is to be buoyed by the loyalty fostered in the beginning. There’s no loyalty here. Even the wonderful studio version of I Want You To Want Me is denied at the gate. Only the hits, the purple parodies, the treacly product. So if The Flame feeds your achy breaky heart and She’s Tight your sweaty acts of subversion, you’ll have a great time. The rest of us will be listening to Cry, Cry and Downed and feeling better for it.

WET 48681 picture sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR    (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)
2. DREAM POLICE    (Rick Nielsen)
3. DON'T BE CRUEL    (Otis Blackwell/Elvis Presley)
4. TONIGHT IT'S YOU    (Rick Nielsen/Robin Zander/Jon Brant/Mark Radice)
5. SHE'S TIGHT    (Rick Nielsen)
6. I WANT YOU TO WANT ME (LIVE)    (Rick Nielsen)
7. IF YOU WANT MY LOVE    (Rick Nielsen)
8. AIN'T THAT A SHAME (LIVE)    (Antoine "Fats" Domino/Dave Bartholomew)
9. SURRENDER    (Rick Nielsen)
10. THE FLAME    (Bob Mitchell/Nick Graham)
11. I CAN'T TAKE IT    (Robin Zander)
12. CAN'T STOP FALLIN' INTO LOVE    (Rick Nielsen/Robin Zander/Tom Petersson)
13. VOICES    (Rick Nielsen)

CREDITS

BUN E. CARLOS --
RICK NIELSEN --
TOM PETERSSON --
ROBIN ZANDER --
Risa Zaitschek -- art direction
Caroline Greyshock -- photography

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