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A pretty nice collection of Quiet Riot's 80's work

William Matson | Maine | 07/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of many Quiet Riot compilations out there, and probably the best one to get if you were looking for a greatest hits collection from the band. All of Quiet Riot's major label albums from the 1980's are represented, including the album without Kevin DuBrow.



The 1983 "Metal Health" album is represented with 'Cum on feel the noize' (a Slade song), 'Slick Black Cadillac' and the title track. You can't argue with that song selection. Granted, another song or two could have been considered but those three rate as the best from the album. "Condition Critical" from 1984 is highlighted by 'Mama weer all crazee now' (another Slade song), along with 'Party all night.' There could have been consideration given to 'Sign of the times' or 'Winners take all' but "Condition Critical" did not fare as well on the charts as "Metal Health" anyway.



The "QRIII" album is represented by 'The Wild and the Young', which is the only one you really need, although the second single, 'Twilight Hotel' wouldn't have been a bad inclusion, either. The self-titled album, also referred to as "QR", is represented with a couple songs, 'The Joker' and 'Stay with me tonight.' This is an album that Quiet Riot did with Paul Shortino on lead vocals, instead of Kevin DuBrow who sung on every other album. Some other Quiet Riot hits compilations use 'King of the hill' or 'Empty promises' from the "QR" album, but 'The Joker' is probably the best song off of there, my personal favorite. The song selection from this album was perfect.



All of these tracks I've mentioned so far are previously released and the albums are still in print, so you can find them elsewhere. However, a couple of live tracks were tacked on here at the very end, and these are the true gems from the cd. There are live versions of 'Metal Health' and 'Let's get crazy' from the early 80's to close out this greatest hits album. Granted, these are available on bootleg live releases of Quiet Riot (which I own), but this is a much easier way to obtain them. Other than the bootlegs, these were never been released in the US. The original studio versions of the songs, of course, are from "Metal Health."



While the band had a lot of material from the 90's up through 2001 that wasn't represented, it was all on independent labels so it is understandable that it wouldn't be included here. The major label albums are the only ones that the label releasing this had the rights to, so you shouldn't go in expecting music from 1993's "Terrified", 1999's "Alive and well," etc. The song selection from the albums represented here was pretty good. The live tracks are also a bonus for the casual fan who wouldn't search Ebay for live bootlegs, so that is a plus.



I give the album four stars, since it's hard to find a better Quiet Riot compilation. It's good for a casual fan who wants nothing but radio hits. Personally, though, I recommend that fans looking for more get the original studio albums and also checking out Quiet Riot's independent/hard to find releases.



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Quiet Riot's Greatest Hits

Jon Harlson | Naperville, IL USA | 07/08/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well, here is the first "official" greatest hits album from Quiet Riot. There have been many "bargain" versions, but here is the first official one. For a band that only has 2 songs well known to the general public (Cum on Feel the Noize and Metal Health) these songs are guarenteed to be on this collection, so there is no real point in talking about them. On to the other songs. I find it VERY strange that they chose to have three songs from their 1988 self-titled album with Paul Shortino taking over the vocal duties. Don't get me wrong, I really like that album and there are some great songs on it, but that album was their weakest selling of the 4 records represented on this collection. I also wonder why they put the live versions of Metal Health and Let's Go Crazy. I mean the studio version of Metal Health is already on here, and I feel that it woudl have been more fitting to release a full live Quiet Riot album instead of just putting 2 songs on the end of a best of collection. I think this collection would ahve been a lot better if tracks like Thunderbird, Condition Critical, Sign of the Times, Put up or Shut Up, etc were on this collection. Despite my complaints I stil find this a very good album and a great introduction to Quiet Riot"

A hit and miss attempt

Johny Bottom | Jacksonville, NC | 03/25/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, this is nowhere near a 'complete' greatest hits package. This CD only covers four albums and two live songs from their first album. There is no Terrified, Alive and Well, or guilty Pleasures represented.



Three songs from Metal Health, two songs from Condition Critical, one song from QRIII, and three songs from Quiet Riot. Like other reviewers, I can't understand why Sign of the Times is not on here.



Unfortunately, this is just another way the suits make money be rehashing and reissuing old material. I mean c'mon how many copies of Cum on Feel the Noize do you really need to buy?"