A. M. Shine

Spectrum Music, a British division of PolyGram devoted to budget-priced compilations of material from the major label's vaults, is responsible for this CD-length collection drawn from the fourth Grin album, 1973's Gone Crazy (the other three were on Spindizzy and now are owned by Sony), and bandleader Nils Lofgren's first five solo albums: Nils Lofgren (1975), Cry Tough (1976), I Came to Dance (1977), the live Night After Night (1977), and Nils (1979), all of which were released originally on A&M Records. Since no chart singles emerged from these LPs, there isn't any objective criterion for what might constitute the best of them, though a subjective consensus of Grin/Lofgren fans no doubt would agree with the inclusion of the Keith Richards tribute "Keith Don't Go (Ode to the Glimmer Twin)," "Back It Up," and "The Sun Hasn't Set on This Boy Yet," all from Nils Lofgren.

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary of their initial issue, Collectors Choice is pleased to present, for the first time ever, the CD debut of Liza Minnelli s entire catalog for A&M Records restored and remastered for this new collection, in 24-bit digital splendor, directly from the original master tapes! Originally released from 1968 through 1972, these four albums represent a unique period in Liza s legacy, a time when she was already past the stage of being an unknown or new artist, but not quite the superstar she would become just as her association with A&M would end, and the avalanche of awards began in earnest (including an Oscar for her starring role in the movie Cabaret, and an Emmy for her TV special Liza With a Z ).

Monster is indeed R.E.M.'s long-promised "rock" album; it just doesn't rock in the way one might expect. Instead of R.E.M.'s trademark anthemic bashers, Monster offers a set of murky sludge powered by the heavily distorted and delayed guitar of Peter Buck. Michael Stipe's vocals have been pushed to the back of the mix, along with Bill Berry's drums, which accentuates the muscular pulse of Buck's chords…