Little River Band Greatest Hits CD

Recorded between 1975 & 1982. Includes liner notes by Simon Glickman.

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Evren Goknar (Capitol Mastering).

With 11 hit songs breaking the Top 40, Australia's Little River Band was one of the most successful groups to emerge from down under. With the perfect sound via Glenn Shorrock's relaxed voice alongside the smooth flow of the guitar and keyboard work, LRB's polished style was draped all over radio throughout the late '70s and early '80s. This compilation from their most lucrative years contains all their chart hits, plus the sneaky-sounding "Down on the Border." Blending rock elegance with catchy, full-flavored harmonies, each of the songs on this album contains an element of gracious musical craft, whether it's a romantic ballad like "Lady" or an up-tempo rock song like "The Night Owls." The quirky verses of "Lonesome Loser" come out colorful and sleek, and the horns in "Reminiscing" emphasize the swagger and swoop of its debonair sound. Shorrock's voice can be fully appreciated on the beautiful "Cool Change," one of music's prettiest slow songs. As a compilation, this album truly is a "greatest hits." ~ Mike DeGagne

A group like Little River Band is the epitome of a fine singles act. The band had two gold and two platinum albums in its late-'70s, early-'80s prime, but it's no surprise that its biggest seller is 1982's double-platinum Greatest Hits. In 2000, a 24-bit digitally remastered expanded edition was released and it's simply excellent. It adds six songs to the original's dozen, and these include the rest of LRB's charted singles. The 2000 version polishes the Australian band's smooth, irresistibly catchy brand of pop/rock. The sound quality is crisp and clean. All the instruments jump out. LRB -- which featured an unusual-for-pop three-guitar lineup -- was kind of faceless, so its many personnel changes didn't necessarily alienate fans. Glenn Shorrock sang most of the signature hits like "Lonesome Loser," "Reminiscing," "Cool Change," "Help Is on Its Way," "Take It Easy on Me," "Man on Your Mind," and "Happy Anniversary." Bassist Wayne Nelson sang "The Night Owls," one of LRB's most rock-oriented numbers. All the previously mentioned songs are included, of course, but the newly added ones help provide a clearer picture of the band's career. The most notable were LRB's last two Top 40 hits, "We Two" and the funky, horns-based "You're Driving Me Out of My Mind," both sung by Shorrock's replacement, John Farnham. Another Farnham track, "Playing to Win," is a surprising burst of hard rock with hyperactive synthesizer. The Shorrock-era extras are "I'll Always Call Your Name" and "It's Not a Wonder." The latter in particular is a welcome addition. 2000's Greatest Hits, which features a bare-bones essay by Simon Glickman, unquestionably supersedes its predecessor. It's a mid-line-priced gem for casual fans. Collectors should note that early copies of Greatest Hits mistakenly included alternate versions of some hits. ~ Bret Adams

Australia's first real breakthrough act into the American market was Little River Band, an unassuming but extremely talented outfit fronted by the amazing vocals of Glenn Shorrock. This album is an update of the very popular 1982 Greatest Hits release featuring six bonus track. 'Down on the Border', 'Happy Anniversary', 'Playing to Win', 'It's Not a Wonder', 'You're Driving Me Out of My Mind' and 'It's a Long Way There'. 18 tracks including the big hits 'Lonesome Loser', 'Help Is On It's Way', 'Reminiscing' and more. 2005.

Compilation producer: Cheryl Pawelski.

Liner Note Author: Simon Glickman.

Photographer: Jeffrey Mayer.

Little River Band: Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble (vocals, guitar); Wayne Nelson (vocals, bass); Glenn Shorrock, John Farnham (vocals); Rick Formosa (guitar, strings); David Briggs, Stephen Housden (guitar); Bill Harrower (saxophone, trumpet); Peter Jones (piano, synthesizer, strings); Peter Sullivan, David Herschfelder (piano)