This is a fine representation of Big Country's output on the Mercury label. Songs from The Crossing, the Wonderland EP, Steeltown, and The Seer are included, with two songs, "All Fall Together" and "The Crossing," making their first appearance on a domestic BC CD.

Nothing new for hardcore fans herein (except perhaps for the newly released songs mentioned above), but for the BC neophyte who isn't aware that the band's output goes far beyond "In a Big Country" and "Fields of Fire (400 Miles)," it will serve as an excellent introduction to a band who, to many people, redefined the concept of the "guitar band."

Songs such as "One Great Thing" from The Seer put Big Country's philosophy in a nutshell -- sing about a commitment to peace and justice for all people ("If there's one great thing/To happen in my life/Let it be the time of peace/Let it be the time of right"), sing about it uncompromisingly, and play their guitars as if their very lives depended on it.

A new listener will probably be struck by the power of the band's rhythm section, bassist Tony Butler and drummer Mark Brzezicki, as they lay the foundation for guitarists Stuart Adamson and Bruce Watson to work their magic over. The anti-war "Where the Rose is Sown" from Steeltown is a perfect example of what I'm talking about. The interplay between the guitars as well as the hard beauty of the bass guitar and drum parts will take one's breath away. Stuart Adamson's vocal performance on the song is about as impassioned as one could get within the confines of a recording studio. For that song in itself, the CD is worth picking up. Add classics like "Look Away" and "Wonderland" and you have a Big Country dream disc on your hands.

All the songs included are first-rate and deserve to be heard by many, many more people than were upon their initial release. Buy this disc, especially if you are an unsuspecting American music lover who has only heard of Big Country passingly, and be prepared to be inspired by music played with a commitment and passion unmatched by any band who's come around in the past 20 years.

I bought this collection to hear my favorite tracks from "The Crossing," plus some that I'd never heard before. But be forewarned; "In A Big Country" is not the same version as the 1983 original. It lacks the memorable drum intro and it's hard to tell if it was trimmed or redone altogether. Another favorite track, "Chance" sounds fully intact. With the exception of catchy guitar riffs in "The Crossing" and "The Teacher," the other hits on this CD sound fairly generic and repetitive to me.

This isn't the most comprehensive collection around but it is concise and the sound is much improved, especially on "Wonderland", a wonderful track from an early EP. This collection takes a few cuts from their glorious debut but leaves out "1000 Stars". It does include the two best songs from their second album. Otherwise, you can't beat the price and sound quality!

Godspeed, Stuart. The music of you and your mates will always be in our blood.