Released in 1982, five years after the fatal plane crash that took the lives of Ronnie VanZant and Steve Gaines, 'Best of the Rest' is a compilation that includes the good songs that were not available on the semi-recently released "Gold & Platinum". This album also contains songs previously unreleased before this came out. "I've Been Your Fool" and "Gotta Go" were earlier Skynyrd recordings and at the time were not available on other albums. I think these songs should have been released on "Pronounced" but for one reason or another were not. "I'm a Country Boy" comes from the 1975 album "Nuthin' Fancy" and not really thought of as much of a hit. "Double Trouble" is the big hit from "Gimme Back My Bullets" and should have been included on "Gold & Platinum". To keep the tradition from "Gold & Platinum" of including live versions of big hits, this one has the live version of "Workin' For MCA", one of my all-time favorite songs. Next comes another hit that "Gold & Platinum" failed to include, "Call Me The Breeze", coming from their classic second album "Second Helping". "I Never Dreamed" from "Street Survivors" was originally not considered a hit but after this album was much more appreciated. Lastly, the only other CD inclusion of "T for Texas" besides "One More From The Road" and a very good southern blues song. Until recently, this album was very easy to find new, but for some reason, Amazon.com has stopped selling this item. I think that if MCA made this album out of print they should bring it back, or remaster it and make it sound even better. If you do find this album new, grab it because it's fading from the record store shelves. Overall, this is a very good album and you should buy it before it's gone forever

There is little reason for this CD to exist given all the compilations and live albums from Lynyrd Skynyrd released since "Best of the Rest" came out. The majority of the CD is studio tracks released on the regular LP's. "Workin for MCA" is an undistinguished live rendition. "T for Texas" is worth having but also can be found elsewhere. As far as I know, (but I'm no expert) "I've Been Your Fool" and "Gotta Go" are unique to this CD (except for the box set). The former is an good slide guitar number while the latter is an amazing southern rocker. "Gotta Go" is the ONE HUGE reason to buy this album if you are a fan of Skynyrd- it has all the elements a fan of this band loves: the Van Zant swagger, the triple axe attack, some serious licks. The recording of the song is a bit rough but I think it contributes to its appeal- "Gotta Go" is a hidden gem in the Skynyrd catalogue. This CD loses one star for repeating a bunch of material and 4 for "Gotta Go", "I've Been Your Fool", and "T for Texas."

Just wanted to correct another review I saw on "BEST OF THE REST". "I've Been Your Fool" & "Gotta Go" appear ONLY on this album. They are on no other box set or special edition. Both of these songs are from the 1971 Muscle Shoals Sound Studio recordings in Sheffield, Alabama. If you want all the LYNYRD you can ge your hands on, this is a must! Happy hunting, Brian

This CD has some really great material on it. If the only Skynyrd you have is Gold & Platinum, this CD would make a great companion. As a bonus, the CD includes "I've Been Your Fool" & "Gotta Go", which was Lynyrd Skynyrd's second single,which (like the previous single "Need All My Friends"/"Michelle) was released before the band was signed to MCA. Elsewhere on the CD is one of Skynyrd's most underrated songs, the beautiful "I Never Dreamed", the blues-rock jam fest "T For Texas", and 4 more classic tunes.

This is a great Skynyrd album. The songs, "I've Been Your Fool," and, "Gotta Go," are two of the best. This album contains some excellent guitar work and some of my favorite vocal work by Ronnie Van Zant. The song, "I Never Dreamed," is one of Skynyrd's all-time always underrated tunes. The guitar work is seamless on this timeless classic.