Five stars is barely enough
Iain Murray | Holder, ACT Australia | 04/14/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If I ever mention the name "Be Bop Deluxe" to friends during a music discussion, I'm generally greeted with blank looks. Sadly, this seems to be the fate of arguably Britain's best group of the 1970s. This collection draws together an excellent sample of their studio output, originally released between 1974 and 1978. Group leader Bill Nelson stands out as one of the most gifted rock guitarists of his, or any, era, and the songs themselves are nothing short of sublime. From the pure pop mastery of "Maid In Heaven", to the concert favourite "Sister Seagull", this compilation contains all the Be Bop Deluxe you really need, but it leaves you wanting it all. For me, the standout track on this collection is 1974's "Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape", an evocative track conjuring up images of Nelson's native county amid gentle acoustic strumming followed by a electric guitar solo that never threatens to overwhelm the track (something of a rarity for its time). A five-star review is barely adequate to describe how wonderful this music is - it simply *must* be heard."