Warren Zevon 1976

It may not be the "ultimate" collection of hits from the 1970's, but this ten disc set does indeed offer 198 of the songs that helped define the decade. Happily, they are all original recordings by the original artists, as they were heard on the radio. True, in a few cases that means the selections are "radio edits" (Rod Stewart's 1971 hit "Maggie May", for example, is missing the 30 second instrumental introduction that was included on the original album, but rarely played over the airwaves), but why quibble? The songs, though not necessarily remastered, all sound great, and the set includes some genuine treasures that have not (yet) been offered on other compilations. Highly recommended!

This set combines five of Linda Ronstadt's albums for Asylum Records released between 1975 and 1980 and all produced by Peter Asher, 1975's Prisoner in Disguise, 1976's Hasten Down the Wind, 1977's Simple Dreams, 1978's Living in the U.S.A., and 1980's Mad Love, which means one gets Ronstadt's fine versions of Neil Young's "Love Is a Rose," Buddy Holly's "That'll Be the Day," Roy Orbison's "Blue Bayou," and many other covers done while she was at the peak of her radio success…