Eddie Money - Super Hits (1997)

Eddie Money arrived riding the same wave of power pop that introduced Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, and Rick Springfield. Although Money arrived slightly earlier, he still crafted the same Springsteen-meets-Styx rock that was popular on rock radio during the early '80s. On the value-priced Super Hits, ten of his biggest songs are meshed together in a retrospective celebrating his hottest years, from 1977 to 1988. All the hits are here, from the jangly "Baby Hold On" to his last big splash, "Walk on Water." It is easy to dismiss this kind of music, between the generic lyrics and his predictably raspy voice there is nothing groundbreaking going on here. But there is something endearing about these songs, whether it be the incredibly catchy melodies or the glossy production. Especially good is "Take Me Home Tonight/Be My Baby," a tribute to the legendary Phil Spector's "Wall of Sound" production style featuring a pleasant guest appearance by Ronnie Spector. The earlier songs might be preferable to modern audiences; they have an appealing guitar rock sound that would later disappear. In fact, his work in the late '80s is smothered in background singers, saxophones, keyboards, and guitar solos. These factors eventually dated his music to the point that he no longer held the attention of his audience the way Mellencamp and Bon Jovi would. Of course, like all budget albums, there are a few questionable choices ("We Should Be Sleeping" stands out), but anyone seriously looking to collect Money's biggest hits on one album need to look no further.