Travers ROCKS!!!!!!!!
L. Tucker | NY | 04/01/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Man oh Man can this guy rip it up! Anyone familiar with Pat Travers knows exactly what I'm talking about. For the uninformed, this is a great place to start. CD Now would be wise to provide sound samples for these songs. After that, do pick up his "Live-Go For What You Know" and "Crash & Burn" discs. Which are both available here on CD Now and elsewhere.
This very extensive collection of 32 songs, digs deep from Pat's nine Polydor albums. The songs are in chronological order (always a plus in my book). Unlike the review above, I feel the song selection does a great job of representing Pat's tenure on Polydor Records (although I would have liked a few more songs from Heat In The Street and Radio Active and had this collection fully utilized the 80 minute capacity per disc, this could have been achieved).
The sound quality of this collection is simply awesome. They did a fine job of remastering these songs (unlike the Majestic Rock reissues of Pat's 1st 4 Polydor albums -of which Majestic has promised me that they are in the process of obtaining new DAT masters to re-manufacture these titles).
The packaging is also simply stunning! A tri-fold digi-pak and 16 page booklet loaded with pictures (many of which I have never seen before) and very informative linear notes.
Oh, and as I said before;
CD Now would be wise to provide sound samples for these songs."
2 Disk Compilation of Polydor Material from Guitar Hero!
J. E FELL | Carterville, Illinois United States | 04/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Rock Solid: The Essential Collection" is a 2 disk compilation of Pat Travers' material from his 9 Polydor albums. For the uninitiated Travers was a Canadian born guitar hero from the seventies. His blues influenced playing can be perhaps compared best with players such as Robin Trower or Frank Marino. Travers while not a shredder always provided tasteful seventies era soloing. During part of his career he utilized the power trio format for his band. Among the musicians who passed through Travers' bands during this period were second guitarist Pat Thrall and drummers Michael Shrieve, Tommy Aldridge and Nicko McBrain. Glenn Hughes from Deep Purple provides guest vocals on "Stevie" and Thin Lizzy guitarists Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham also make guest appearances along the way. While the set contains no previously unissued material is does contain most of his best material. It contains his best known cut a live cover of Little Walter's "Boom Boom Out Go The Lights" from his "Go For What You Know Live" album. It is unfortunate that the set does not contain more live material as Travers always seemed to be more energized in concert. It also contains the concert favorite "Snortin' Whiskey". Other standout cuts include "Makin' Magic", "Rock 'N' Roll Susie", "Life In London" and "Go All Night". Travers was not adverse to covering other people's material such Blind Willie McTell's "Statesboro Blues" and J.J Cale's "Magnolia". However, two of his best known covers, Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign" and Bob Marley's "Is This Love" were omitted for some strange reason. Since the disks do not utilize the full 80 minutes a few more tracks could have been added to the set. In addition, some of the material on the second disk does not hold up to the standards established on the first disk. The set might have been better served with less material from his last 3 albums from and more from his first 6. This is probably going to be the best summary of Pat Travers' career to be released and fans of gritty blues influenced seventies guitar playing will be overjoyed with this anthology. Those well-worn lps can now be replaced with this new remastered compilation of Travers' classic tracks!"
This is the one...
Mark Gatzke | Plant City, FL USA | 09/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The remastering job alone makes this worth the price, but the collection of material is stellar as well. If you're a serious Travers fan, consider this a must have. If you're a casual fan, this may be a little more than you are looking for, but the quality of sound and the track choices still make it dollar for dollar the best and most comprehensive compilation out there."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1