Riaan Wolmarans CDs OFTHEWEEK Christmas always brings a glut of greatest-hits compilations as record companies cash in on the time of giving. Most actually boil down to three hit singles off the artist’s measly two albums plus a few others that received radio play, rather than a showcase of an accomplished career.
Two welcome exceptions hit the shelves recently: Texas fans can buy The Greatest Hits (Mercury), and Lenny Kravitz shows his worth on his own Greatest Hits (Virgin).
The Texas album opens with that inmistakable beat of I Don’t Want a Lover (off their debut album Southside)kicking in, the song that drew everyone’s attention to the Glaswegian band a decade ago. The band’s mix of pop, folk sounds and blues, with Sharleen Spiteri’s alluring vocals, created a worldwide fan base, leading to many more hits such as SayWhat You Want, Summer Son, Black Eyed Boy, Everyday Now and Put Your Arms around Me, all included on this 16-track CD. A bonus track is the funky mix of Say What You Want, featuring Method Man and The RZA.
Lenny Kravitz’s popularity in South Africa was evident when he performed here last year many rate his as one of the best shows of the year. His Greatest Hits will thrill almost as much as the man himself live on stage.
Rock to Are You Gonna Go My Way, American Woman and Black Velveteen; bump and grind seductively to It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over; marvel at Kravitz’s writing abilities on Mr Cab Driver. The one new track on the album, Again, is somewhat vapid, but as a whole the album is a crafty mix of songs that prove Kravitz’s talents as singer, writer and producer, deserving of its title.