Greatest Hits
re-release 2000

1. Lonesome Loser (D. Briggs) 3:54
2. Help Is On Its Way (G. Shorrock) 4:02
3. Cool Change (G. Shorrock) 5:08
4. Take It Easy On Me ++ (G. Goble) 3:48
5. Face In The Crowd ° (G. Goble) 4:38
6. Reminiscing (G. Goble) 4:13
7. The Night Owls ++ (G. Goble) 5:09
8. Lady (G. Goble) 4:56
9. We Two +++ (G. Goble) 4:33
10. The Other Guy +++ (G. Goble) 2:49
11. Man On Your Mind (G. Shorrock/K. Tolhurst) 4:17
12. I'll Always Call Your Name (B. Birtles) 4:48
13. Down On The Border +++ (G. Goble) 2:56
14. Happy Anniversary (B. Birtles/D. Briggs) 4:03
15. Playing To Win (J. Farnham/G. Goble/LRB/S. Proffer) °° 4:03
16. It's Not A Wonder (G. Goble) 3:58
17. You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind (B. Birtles/G. Goble) 5:11
18. It's A Long Way There + (G. Goble) 4:12

The original LRB greatest hits release contained 12 songs, two of which were new at the time: The hit The Other Guy and a fine album cut, Down On The Border. The other ten smashes (Lady, Reminiscing, It's A Long Way There, Cool Change, The Night Owls, etc), were excellent and made for a five-star release with no filler whatsoever.

The remastering on this package makes the songs sound better, and the aforementioned hits are still here. However, the six songs from the mid- and late-1980's are scattered through this collection and don't hold the standard - personnel shifts and a lack of focus hurt the sound of this band... We Two and Playing To Win just don't have the same feel as LRB had in their moment. It's hard not to recommend this, but you're better off looking for a used copy of the original Greatest Hits.

Finally, a record label understands what it means to update their old vinyl/cassette catalog onto CD. When 'Greatest Hits' first came out in 1982, it contained 12 tracks and nearly fifty minutes of music (fairly generous for the time). This 2000 update 'Greatest Hits' has been expanded to 18 tracks and nearly eighty minutes of music. [Are you paying attention, MCA, with your pared down Millennium series?]

This new release adds the hits since the 1982 edition: We Two (#22), You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind (#35) and Playing To Win (#60), which featured John Farnham, who replaced original vocalist Glenn Shorrock in 1983 when he left to go solo. [Shorrock would return in 1988 when Farnham left to pursue a solo career.] You also get another Farnham vocal Face In the Crowd from the album No Reins. In addition you get their second U.S. single I'll Always Call Your Name (#62) from 1977 and It's Not a Wonder (#51) from 1980.

This is infectious MOR pop. The Little River Band specialized in catchy hooks, lush vocals, and understated guitar leads to create a unique and wonderful sound on such lovely ballads as Lady, Reminiscing, Cool Change, as well as mid-tempo rockers as Help Is On the Way and Man On Your Mind. Sure, you could spring for the 2-disc anthology Reminiscing, but this has all the hits at less than half the price. RECOMMENDED

If you've ever heard and liked a song by the Little River Band, then this really is a must-have CD. I originally owned the previous version of the GH, but it was swiped by a friend. Yes, the previous Greatest Hits had less filler, but You're Driving Me Out Of My Mind IMHO doesn't qualify as filler. There are at least 10 songs on this album that are worth owning. The disc sounds great and is a fantastic bargain at this price. Buy it ... listen to it ... you won't regret it.

If you thought the original 'Little River Band' album was a strong opener from a new rock band and marked a stand against the oncoming drone of disco in the 70's, steer clear of this album. I lost track of this band after their first couple of albums. This compilation demonstrates that some bands will alter their music to stay commercial whatever the cost. Following their legitimate hit of It's a Long Way There and facing the disco onslaught, LRB molded their songs into generally forgettable middle of road odes to love and even bordered on being termed a disco band. And don't buy it for a remastered It's a Long Way There; the version on the CD is some truncated short version.

I started listening to the Little River Band in the 70's when I was a kid. My oldest brother loved them and he had several 8 tracks. Then my oldest brother moved out and my middle brother started listening to them in the early 80's and I liked them even more. I bought this greatest hits back in 1994 and I really loved it, but then I lost that version and I bought this new version of the greatest hits. I AM VERY DISSAPOINTED IN IT!!!!! THEY HAVE CHANGED THE SOUND OF THE BAND ON SONGS LIKE MAN ON YOUR MIND, LADY JUST TO NAME A FEW. Well this is not okay with me, and I don't even want this CD anymore. Can anyone tell me how to get a copy of the old Greatest Hits. You know, the ones that haven't been touched. Please tell me there is such a version out there ... In the meantime, don't waste your money on this album if you like how the band sounded years ago.
David

I was very excited when I first discovered this collection in the store. When I first played it, I noticed how great the 24-bit digital remastering sounded. In the 70's, I really loved Cool Change, The Night Owls, Lady, and my favorite was Take It Easy On Me. When Take It Easy On Me came on, I was really disappointed to hear that it was a 'live' version of the song, and not the ORIGINAL studio recording. I immediately searched the liner notes, but there was no indication that this recording should be anything but the original. I feel that this was false advertising. I did not get what I thought I was purchasing. The first greatest hits featured the ORIGINAL recording, so why is it not here? Sure, the rest of it is good, but it is my FAVORITE LRB song!! What's the deal guys? I want my money back.