Icon Icon 2

Icon 2, the 24-track big brother to the single-disc Icon, expertly chronicles the Scorpions from their late-'70s and early-'80s heydays through their 2010 farewell release, Sting in the Tail…

The only three-time Rock `n' Roll Hall Of Fame inductee (The Yardbirds, Cream & as a solo artist), Eric Clapton is one of the very few artists whose enormous popularity is equaled by the respect given him by critics and peers alike. And rightly so, as demonstrated by these two new collections. The single ICON focuses on Clapton's career from the landmark Derek & The Dominos recordings through the remarkable hits that established "Slowhand" as the important solo artist he continues to be. The double CD ICON expands upon that vision to include key tracks from Cream and Blind Faith, while digging further into his massively successful career from Derek & The Dominos onward.

Universal’s 2010 collection Icon 2 expands the simultaneously released 12-track Icon by another 12-track CD that covers the group’s '80s hits. Although this material isn’t quite as well regarded as the ‘70s hits that make up the first disc, this does make for a good overview of the band’s peak and includes such latter-day staples as “I Love It Loud,” “Lick It Up,” “Heaven’s on Fire,” “Crazy Crazy Nights,” and “God Gave Rock 'n' Roll to You II.”

This svelte yet meaty 12-track collection of singles dutifully serves up the German metal legends’ most recognizable cuts, from the classic rock radio hits (“Rock You Like a Hurricane,” “No One Like You,” “Big City Nights”) to the “lighters/cell phones in the air” arena ballads ( “Still Loving You,” “Wind of Change”)…

Universal's double-disc Icon doubles the size of their single-disc set of the same name and covers the same ground only in greater detail, adding a few more live tracks and studio staples to draw a greater picture of his ABC and MCA recordings of the late ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond. It’s a bit shorter than 2006’s Gold and not quite as rounded, yet it’s still a very good sampler of B.B. King at his latter-day best.

Chopin pieces enjoyed a prominent place in the early concerts of this French pianist-and when he began his recording career, Chopin once again dominated his attention. A longtime lover of jazz, Francois lent an almost improvisational quality to his interpretations; his performances, in particular, of the ballades and nocturnes are not quite like any other on record.

From Monteverdi to Brahms via French Baroque rarities: the Decca Gold (US) legacy of a complete musician, newly remastered and issued complete for the first time, with fascinating liner notes by Nigel Simeone. Original Jackets, Limited Edition.