Alannah Myles is one of the most underrated, underappreciated singers of the last decade. I can never say enough about her. I've been a fan right from the start. Surely everyone knows the classic grammy-winning "Black Velvet". Her style is I guess a bluesy rock&roll. However, it's different from other music. Alannah is really an original artist with original songs. Sorry, but Britney fans will be disappointed. Alannah possesses a truly unique voice too...sexy, velvety yet unexpectedly powerful. You just can't compare her, noone comes to mind. She sings sweetly in balads yet growls in the rockers...a great rock vocalist. If only everyone heard her other songs that of course were not played on the radio, but are luckily included here. "Love Is" ,"Still Got This Thing" are full of attitude and rythym. Perfect road/party songs!! She is a master of delivery. Listen to the beautiful powerballad "Lover of Mine" and you'll be hooked. All her songs are memorable although some may require a listen or two...but I've always found that songs that are not "obvious" right away are the songs that turn out to be the best. And if you're into the visual, Alannah is as beautiful and sexy as her voice. She is an extremely talented WOMAN, not a teenybopper. I hear in her collection here too that she sticks to her guns...she sings what she believes in, not just what will be a fast radio hit. It's a shame that not more people are aware of her music. It is honest, melodic and heartfelt. Pick up a copy and discover this overlooked gem, you won't regret it!

Alannah Myles is the woman who gave us one of the most wonderful bluesrockers/powerballads of all time, "Black Velvet". Yup, this is the song she is famous for. But what a shame! She got more music worth listening too, and thats why this greatest hits cd was released.

***NOTE***
Either this release on Amazon is an old one, Amazon made a mistake or I got a special version, because this version only have 12 songs, while the one I own have 15 songs. Its the same cover, same name, its the same cd, but different versions. Could be different releases in US and Europe.
The songs lacking on this release is: "Great Divide", "What are we waiting for" and "You love who you love". I`ll mark them with a (*).

I choose to review the version I got, since it contains all the songs on this, plus the 3 above.
***NOTE END***

It was no surprise that "Black Velvet" is numero uno on the record, but hey, its her best!
Two medicore songs follow, "Breaking the Silence" and the directly bad "Everybody`s breaking up".
"Love is" is a catchy song which sounds both fresh and rocky. Great!
Then one of the sweet ballads comes, "Song instead of a Kiss", this is one of her best ballads, and you will be surprised of what you missed when you hear this. I dont know what to compare it too, it sounds so typical her, yet alike someone else. Wonderful song....which makes way to an even better song,
"Sonny Say you will" This could have been a Cher song, and it does really have that haunting feeling, a wonderful beat, just crank up the volume and float on the bass.
"Our World Our time" is a fast, upbeat and moody rocker. I love the chorus, perfect driving music.
"Long, Long time" is a sweet ballad, is sounds sad. The unusal use of drums makes it seem strange, but it is neverthless pretty good.
"Great Divide"(*) An Accustic song, the blues shines thru here. A less good song, nothing to be sad if you missed.
"Family Secret" It sounds like Tina Turner style! R&B combined with an unusual text.
"Lover of Mine" Ah the ballad of all times. Alannah`s best ballad, often used on Power Ballad collections if "Black Velvet" is already used. This had all the thing it needed to be a smash-hit. The melody is dead on, the chorus is wonderful and the text is beautiful. Love it.
"Bad 4 you" This song is so sweet, its impossible not to love it! Co-written with one of my favoriteproducers, Desmond Child, its the second best song on the record after "Black Velvet". Catchy, accustic feel, with a sing along chorus.
"What are we waiting for"(*) A Duet with a male singer, although I havent found his name. The song is pretty good!
"You love who you love"(*) A relaxed song, its hard to say anything special about it. There is nothing wrong with it, but there is nothing special either.
"Still got this Thing" The last song on the album. It had the potential of being great, and it isnt that bad. A decent rocker where Alannah has great voice.

Although she doesnt have any other major hits than Black Velvet, this compilation clearly shows that she deserves more radioplay. Bad 4 you, Lover of Mine and Sonny Say you will should make quite a few more fans of her, as they are really great songs. Otherwise this cd does only contain one really bad song, and that`s "Everybody`s breaking Up". It just doesnt fit. But look past it, and love Alannah Myles. Maybe one day she will return. Lets pray for her, and keep asking ourselves, Why do stars like her....fall?

Last night I had the rare priveledge of seeing Alannah Myles Live as she brought her successful European Acoustic Club tour home to Toronto. And WOW!!!
Let there be no doubt that this woman is a STAR! In every sense of the word. She virtually radiates confidence, sexuality, and charisma.

As a Rock Vocalist, Alannah Myles is in a league of her own. There were no "Backing tracks" or "powerhouse backup Singers". It was just Alannah and she was FLAWLESS. On every song this woman demonstrated exactly why the Industry honored her with a Grammy for Best Rock Vocalist (she won out over heavyweights Melissa Etheridge, Tina Turner, and Janet Jackson) .

She opened her set with a Cover of Neil Young's "After the Goldrush" and seguewayed into her own "Honesty" from her last studio CD 1997's "Arival". Highlights were her Marlene Dietrich inspired "Dance of Love" and of course, "Black Velvet".

Her acting background and flair for theatrics really shone through in the show. When performing her Canadian #1 "Lover of Mine" she really played the part, complete with tears streaming down her face. One could only wonder whether she was thinking of Robert Plant (her former lover, whom she later mentioned) as she sang. During the second half of the show, the lights were turned way down low and she made her way from the back of the club under a veil, her path lit by a large candle which she was carrying. This as the opening chords of "Song Instead of a Kiss" were played.

Alannah also debuted a New Track from her forthcoming "85bpm" CD. Watch for the Lead Single "Comment Ca Va" to hit in 2005.

Recommended:
Alannah Myles - Very Best of
and
AMBER - My Kind of World (www.Amber-MCC.com)

"Alannah Myles demonstrates upfront sexuality and rock chick balls that's served usurpers like Morissette and Brooks so well..." How true this sentence is ! The proof is there with this brief "resume" of her previous albums. Everybody knows "Black Velvet", now listen to "Our World Our Times" or any of the ten marvelous other tracks on this cd. ALANNAH is back : Buy, Listen, Enjoy...and Fall in Love with her !

The songs listed on this "Very Best Of" CD is a good start, but it does a disservice in trying to summarize the talents of one of the best rock/blues vocalists of this generation. This album is a good start for anyone trying to break away from the faint of heart Top 40 crowd. I would recommend getting the individual albums in addition to this selection to truly round out your overall music collection.

If pressed for my choice of Alannah Myles' essential titles for a Best OF collection, here are my picks.
From 'Allanah Myles'--Black Velvet (of course!!), Love Is, Still Got This Thing, and Lover of Mine.
From 'Rockinghorse'--Tumbleweed (exxccellent road trip song!), The Last Time I Saw William, Love in the Big Town, and Rockinghorse.
From 'Allannah'--Keeper of My Heart (Gonna play that at my wedding reception), Blow Wind Blow, and Irish Rain.
From 'Arival'--Bad 4 You, What Am I Gonna Do With You?, and one of the best unrequited love songs ever-Yellow Rose.

I was hooked the second I first heard 'Black Velvet' on the radio lo these may years ago. The quality of her work deserves, and I say demands, more airplay than just 'Black Velvet'. I genuinely hope more great music is made by a truly talented woman.