This is the first cd I ever bought bearing the legendary metal name "Judas Priest". It gave me a real insight on just how great and different-sounding the band could be. First, listen to all of the tracks, then determine which era suits you best, and finally collect those albums. However, since then I've been purchasing every album (because the band is THAT good!!)

The collection takes about 1 to 2 tracks from each album, starting with 'Hell Bent For Leather' and proceeding all the way to the last Halford album 'Painkiller'. I took off one star because now I realize that this collection isn't as complete as 'Metal Works '77-'93'. But for the beginner, this offers some (hence the word "some") of the greatest classics such as 'Green Manalishi', 'Hot Rockin', 'Electric Eye', 'You've Got Another Thing Comin', 'Freewheel Burning', etc.

Oh, and one thing I need to point out: Don't listen to the "Iron Maiden-crazy-reviewer" who says that this sounds like soft, light 70's rock. I'm also a big fan of those metal legends, too, but let's be honest here. The track 'Metal Meltdown' is HEAVIER than anything I've ever heard from Iron Maiden. Just Listen to 'Turbo Lover' and tell me that it doesn't sound 80's. You can't. Some of the songs do have that 70's rock sound to them, but listen to the two tracks from the '84 era. It was an example of some of the greatest metal in existence.

The albums I recommend the most are: 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'(1976), Stained Class'(1978), 'Hell Bent For Leather'(1979), 'Unleashed In The East'(1979), 'British Steel'(1980), 'Screaming For Vengeance'(1982), 'Defenders Of The Faith'(1984), 'Ram It Down'(1988), and 'Painkiller'(1990). You can't go wrong with any of these!

I think this greatest hits compilation by Judas Priest is the perfect place to start if you're new to band. It's a good mix of older songs (Victim Of Changes, Tyrant, Green Manalishi) classic hits (Living After Midnight, You've Got Another Thing Coming) and newer stuff (Freewheel Burning, Turbo Lover). It shows their growth and evolution as a band, and every song rocks. There's a reason singer Ron Halford is referred to as the metal god. If you already own most of Priest's albums, there's nothing new here. But if you don't own much of their work and you're looking for a great mix of awesome songs, you found it!

Okay, first thing is first I HATE "best of" albums. I think honestly if you're going to do a best of to do a live album instead. You get more passion in it and if you want studio tracks, just get the albums by themselves. However, I understand people wanting best of albums because they are only casual fans or just wanting to get into the band.

Now, with this said, I will repeat my headline and say that this is a weird compilation. While they are right on with some of their best songs such as "breaking the law", "Green Manalishi" and "Hellion/Electric Eye" they are WAY off in other track selections. No "Exciter", "Sinner", "Screaming for Vengeance" or "Riding on the Wind"? Huh? What were these people on? What puzzles me even more is why in the world would you put "Metal Meltdown" on here and not put on "Painkiller" or "Touch of Evil" for that matter. Those two tracks were the best from the Painkiller album. And, while I actually do like "Turbo Lover" it doesn't belong because it is not as good as countless other tracks. It is the best off of the Turbo album but let's be honest here, that album only had "Turbo Lover" and "Out in the Cold" while the rest of the album was just plain bad.

If you seriously want a taste of Judas Priest I've got three better suggestions for you. 1. Metalworks. Metalworks is the best Priest compilation; it honestly has ALL of their best for the most part and isn't short changing you and in fact puts some underrated stuff on there as well. So my suggestion is to get that. 2. Unleashed in the East. Like I said, I don't like "best of" albums and instead think if you want something like that, to buy a live album instead. If you want the best live performance out of the Priest I would suggest this album. Yes, it is early in their career but you get the idea of who they are at this point. 3. Metalogy. For this you either have to have a steady income or you are fairly comfortable that you like Priest but you don't want to shell out all the cash for the albums. This has 4 lengthy discs of music by Priest plus a DVD and this you for sure get everything you want.

However, at the end of the day my true recommendation is to acquire all of Priest's albums because they are the best metal band out there. Period. But, I understand financially this may be difficult since they do have a lot of albums. So, I honestly say stick with Metal Works to start. For albums to start, I would do Screaming for Vengeance, Sad Wings of Destiny, British Steel and Painkiller to get a good diversity of their sound. I would definitely recommend though to get Turbo and Ram it Down last because they are their only weak albums but they do have some classic stuff on each.

Bottom line though, get some Priest. If you love metal or good music in general, you can't go wrong. They are the best metal has to offer with only Sabbath and maybe Maiden coming close.

This covers a percentage of thier best songs. such as living after midnight, breaking the law, turbo lover, u got another thing commin, heading out to the highway. here's my review for each song.

1.Green Manilishi 10/10. great intro type song, very fun song, and i like the lyrics.

2.Living After Midnight 10/10. Classic song no doubt, awsome in every aspect, one of my personal favs.easily thier most popular song.

3.Breaking the law (live) 10/10. another perfect song, very rebellious. another popular song.

4.Hot Rocking 8/10. not a great enough song. shouldnt really be here.its still a cool song just not legendary.

5.Heading Out To The Highway (live) 10/10. awsome song, very catchy song. Not much more to say.

6.The Hellion 9/10. an short instromental that leads into the next song, electric eye.

7.Electric Eye 10/10. rob's vocals are sorta wierd in this one, but it adds a cool feeling to the song. the lyrics are interesting in this song.

8.You Got Another Thing Coming 10/10. who doesnt like this song? its lyrics are perfect, and rob's voice works hear great.

9.Turbo Lover 10/10. cool song, thts all i can say for this one.

10.Freewheel Burning 9/10. good song, rob's voice is incredible in this song! this is one of the two songs on this cd were rob halford has his high pitched type voice for the main part of the song.

11.Some Heads Are Gonna Roll 7/10. this one shouldnt be here its not great enough, dont get me wrong its a good song but its sorta mediocore.

12.Metal Meltdown 10/10. this is the other song with the high pitched halford voice. the intro is awsome.the corus is kool in this one.

13.Ram It Down 10/10. others may disagree but i think this is an awsome song. it has an awsome halford shriek at the begining. and the rest just gets better.

14.Diamonds And Dust (live) 10/10. the next three including this song are from the same show. oh yeah, and the songs kool.

15.Victim Of Changes (live) 9/10. not as great but still a great song.

16.Tyrant (live) 10/10. incredible song, i love the chorus, its just plain catchy.

well thts my review, this is a great intro to new priest fan's (like me). it would have been great to hear hell bent for leather.

I agree with the criticisms leveled at this compilation. To have live tracks on a Best Of is a crime, and raises the question "why?" Maybe someone decided the casual purchaser needed a few samples of Priest strutting their stuff in the live arena, but to me it makes the CD look like a cheap cop out. It's like saying the originals were weak when they most certainly weren't. How about giving people a decent package of a studio disc and a live disc? That would have made a good package. I also agree that the tracks on offer here are too radio freindly, and not a fair reflection of this great band's career.