Some hits compilations

These three albums are for those who grew up with the sound of these bands in the soundtrack of their lives, who have probably lost their copies of the originals and would now like to relive their youth through the music. Maybe they will also find out how a 40-year-old’s ears can relate to Welcome to the Jungle. These are also for the younger listeners who want to find out if Toto was named after Judy Garland’s dog in Wizard of Oz, if there is really a guy who calls himself W. Axl Rose or are surprised to find out that Carlos Santana was one of those guys at Woodstock in 1969.

The Essential Toto by Toto–Recent Manila visitors Toto has finally come up with its first hits compilation. These guys were not big with the critics but it can never be denied that they were one of the most successful pop bands of the ’80s. Toto came over for performances last Feb. 13 and 14 at the Aliw Theater and they found out that Pinoys are among their diehard fans. Their local followers eagerly followed every note, sang the lyrics along with them and gave every number their warmest approval.

Featured here are original members Bobby Kimball, Steve Lukather, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, David Hungate and Jeff Porcaro. Included are the first big seller, Hold the Line, Rosanna, the Grammy Record of the Year winner composed for actress Rosanna Arquette from the Album of the Year Toto IV in 1983, the number one hit Africa, 99, Make Believe, I’ll Supply the Love, Georgy Porgy, I Won’t Hold You Back, I’ll Be Over You, Without Your Love, Pamela, The Turning Point, Mindfields and a live recording of On the Run.

Guns ‘N’ Roses Greatest Hits by Guns ‘N’ Roses– This is another long-overdue collection. That does not mean that compilations like these are a must. It is just that I see these albums as an affirmation of the greatness of the artists, a proof for the ages that once upon a time this music played a big part in the lives of many and has now become the symbol of an era. And the late ’80s was certainly the time of W.Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin’, Duff "Rose" McKagan and Steve Adler. The membership later changed but the music remained young, strong and unique.

Tracks in the compilation include Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child O’Mine, and Paradise City, from the breakthrough album Appetite for Destruction, Patience, from GN’R Lies, November Rain, and Live and Let Die, from Use Your Illusion I, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Civil War, You Could be Mine, and Yesterdays, from Use Your Illusion II, Ain’t It Fun, and Since I Don’t Have You from The Spaghetti Incident, and the GNR version of the Rolling Stones classic Sympathy for the Devil from the soundtrack of the motion picture Interview with the Vampire and the original recording of Don’t Cry. All of the songs were composed by the group save for Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, Live and Let Die by Paul and Linda McCartney and Sympathy by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

Ceremony Remixes & Rarities by Santana–Okay this is not really a greatest hits package. Come to think of it though, a Santana compilation would be very welcome, think of all those hits from Evil Ways and Oye Como Va of the ’70s down to the recent Smooth and everything in between in a single CD. Wow! Since we do not have that at the moment, check out what Carlos and company offer in this new release. What we have in Ceremony are remixes and previously unreleased recordings we didn’t know the group had. Not bad, if you want to explore all those possibilities inherent in the music of Santana, how do they do this and certainly a must for all Santana fans.

Why Don’t You & I featuring Alex Band of The Calling, Smooth, the Chris Starpoli Remix, Maria Maria featuring the Product G&B, the Wyclef Remix, Foo Foo, the Sam "Sever" Citrin Remix, Manana, Truth Don Die, Let Me Love You Tonight, Curacion (Sunlight on Water), Victory is Won, Come to My World and Primavera featuring Jerry Rivera.