Review of Heavy Rock Masterpieces: The Ultimate Anthology

Introduction

For those about to Rock - I salute you! This title boasts of being the `ultimate anthology` of heavy rock - and to a degree it lives up to the hype, as long as you accept that it`s the best of what could be licensed on a budget, and not `best rock ever, money no object` which really would be quite something. What you get here are 14 Tracks spread across 70 minutes or so, and like all compilations, it`s a mixed bag. It kicks off with Black Sabbath`s `Paranoid`; certainly a seminal Rock Classic if ever there was one. But sadly this is an Ozzy free zone and is therefore gravely (geddit?!) disappointing. But before you reach for the remote, next up, to save the day, is an early clip of `Thin Lizzy` with their hit, `Whiskey in the Jar`. It`s a fine run-through, and has added interest for Lizzy fans as Phil Lynott is seen here sans moustache, and playing rhythm guitar rather than trademark bass. Uriah Heep are next with `Gypsy`; a rousing performance from the nineties that sees these ancient rockers still aping Spinal Tap without any sense of irony. Not for everyone - and certainly not for me. Next is a great curio; Deep Purple running through a version of their classic `Child in Time` which has Blackmore torturing a Gibson rather than his trademark choice of axe, the Strat. We hear some fine and earnest vocals, and whilst `Prog` has not aged well, it`s a good indication of why this band were leaders of the pack. Next is Saxon, a band I could never take seriously at the time (mid-80`s) as there was so much more to take seriously in the musical world of the time, playing through their standard, `747 - Strangers in the Night`. It`s an infectious number with more than a hint of `The Darkness` to it, and who amongst us can resist their considerable charms! We then get treated to a very lame blues number from UFO in the form of `Boogie`, a track off their first album dating back to the early seventies- though the psychedelic visuals are a lot of fun. Poison come across as a the missing link between rock and punk, and are rousing enough if that`s your …well, poison. They`re not mine. Magnum are up next and it`s time to put the kettle on … and you may as well take your time because the Ozzyless Sabbath squeeze in an additional track at this point (Headless Cross) that is well worth missing too. Actually, may as well sit down in the kitchen and drink it and with any luck you`ll miss Uriah Heep`s `Easy Livin`` too. But don`t fall asleep! The best is yet to come. Deep Purple back with a blistering version of their finest track, `Highway Star`. This is crackling with electrical energy from start to finish and really is a great reminder of what great rock can be. How cruel to some of the contenders to include it as a yardstick here. Watch it and weep! For many Purple fans, the two tracks included here will be enough of a return on the price of the disc. It`s great stuff!
Free`s `Alright Now` is next. It`s also a great track - though a little dry here, recorded in a TV studio with the sound straight off the desk. It all picks up a pace when Kossof starts on the solo, which is predictably sheer bliss! (It`s worth noting that there`s some overlap here with other `Ultimate Anthology` releases from Ragnarock, which may be a disappointment to those buying more than one. Check out the track-listings before you buy.) Now that things have picked up, that`s where they stay with a superb rendition of Delilah by the Sensational Alex Harvey Band. SAHB were always a difficult one to classify - many of their songs had more in common with the theatrical works of Brecht and Weill, but I guess the inclusion of some `big guitars` gets them on this disc. This is a rousing and entertaining rendition in front of disinterested TV audience, but it still sounds and feels wonderful. And then we get to the last track. An awesome workout of `Freebird` by the original line-up Lynyrd Skynrd, looking pale, young and charisma free, but rocking like mothers - this is perhaps the discs finest moment amongst some very fine moments.

Video

The visuals here are from such a wide variety of sources that it`s impossible to give clear guidance. It`s all standard 4:3, and there`s nothing here to alarm those who understand what they`re buying - a bunch of archive recordings.

Audio

The DTS audio is fair here in most cases, and exceptional on occasion and the Dolby Digital Tracks are perfectly good too. The variance in source recording though is unavoidable on compilations like these.

Features

Well, you can play all - or pick your track order. And that`s about it. But to be fair, on a compilation of this type, what else would you be looking for?

Conclusion

This `Ultimate Anthology` is a mixed bag, ranging from the faintly ridiculous (Uriah Heep, Magnum and an Ozzy-free Sabbath) to the great and the glorious (Free, Deep Purple, Lynyrd Skynrd, SAHB, Thin Lizzy). Visual and audio content are wildly variable, but there are some rare and little-seen moments that may well be cherished by die-hard Rock fans. Whatever the case, and whatever your tastes, it provides a diverting and entertaining collection - perhaps worth the outlay if you`re particularly fond of any of the bands on offer. Probably not for the unconverted though.