Disco de The Mavericks: “The Definitive Collection [Remaster]”

Descripción (en inglés) :

The Mavericks: Nick Kane, Paul Deakin, Raul Malo, Robert Reynolds, David Lee Holt. Additional personnel: Flaco Jimenez. Liner Note Author: Rich Kienzle. Recording information: 1992 - 1999. Emerging in the early 1990s, the Mavericks were a new breed of country band. They were schooled in the Bakersfield verities of Buck Owens and Merle Haggard, but equally influenced by pop/rock and soul of the '60s, and never as slick-sounding or overtly commercial as '80s crossover stars like Alabama or Eddie Rabbitt. Singer Raul Malo's soaring tenor garnered endless comparisons to Roy Orbison (a likeness furthered by some of the songs' arrangements), but he had just as much in common with Los Lobos' David Hidalgo. THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION documents the Miami band's career through 1998, spotlighting every aspect of the eclectic ensemble's sound. The admittedly Orbison-like acoustic ballad "Dream River" and a dreamy take on the standard "Blue Moon" sidle up alongside various rockabilly burners and honky-tonk romps, as well as covers of songs made popular by Buck Owens, Bruce Springsteen, and the Tremeloes. By painting with a wide palette of colors, the Mavericks create a broad, encompassing portrait of American music, captured in its many-hued glory on THE DEFINITIVE COLLECTION.

This outstanding retrospective takes a look at the music of the Mavericks, an excellent pop-country group from Florida. Presented in chronological order, the set opens with three tracks from their commercial debut, From hell to paradise (This broken heart, the title track and a cover of a Hank Williams classic). Their second album (What a crying shame) was a huge success in America, where it remains their most popular album. Understandably, five tracks are taken from that album for this compilation (the title track, I should have been true, There goes my heart, O what a thrill and a cover of All that heaven will allow, originally written and recorded by Bruce Springsteen).

While the Mavericks never again did as well in America, they built an international fan base that continued to grow. The follow-up album (Music for all occasions) remains my favorite album of theirs. The standard album is represented by four tracks (Missing you, Here comes the rain, All you ever do is bring me down, Writing on the wall) but their cover of Blue moon, which appeared on the UK version of the CD, is also included here. Personally, I wish they had found room for Something stupid, which they recorded with Trisha Yearwood and which surpasses the original Nancy and Frank Sinatra version, but if you want to hear it, you can find it on Music for all occasions.

The next track (I don't care if you don't love me anymore) comes from an album that the Mavericks released independently prior to securing a major label contract. Next come three tracks (Dance the night away, Dream river, To be with you) from Trampoline, their most popular album with British fans. After a live track (Rancho grande), the album is rounded off by two tracks (Think of me, Here comes my baby) originally recorded for an earlier greatest hits package.

This compilation provides a great introduction to the music of the Mavericks and is stronger overall than their earlier hits package - however, fans who have the original albums will find more to interest them in that earlier package (especially the European version) than this one. I generally prefer listening to their original albums than any hits package but if you only want one collection of their music, this is the best yet released.