The Climax Blues Band - 25 Years 1968-1993 (1994)

Most casual fans know the Climax Blues Band through "Couldn't Get It Right" and "I Love You," a pair of slick pop and soft rock hits from the late '70s and early '80s. Anyone who heard those two hits probably was puzzled by the "Blues" in the group's name, since they were in no way bluesy. But, as shown by the double-disc, 32-track set 25 Years, they started out as a British blues band in the late '60s. Unfortunately, they just weren't very good, slogging through the same three chords without much inspiration for nearly ten years. That decade is represented on the first disc, and while the group does show signs of improvement over those 16 songs, the music is still unbelievably dull (and, in the case of "Shoot Her If She Runs," offensive). By the late '70s, the band was in desperate need of a hit, so they changed their tune, incorporating pop, disco, and soft rock. "Couldn't Get It Right" was an excellent song, far catchier than any of their early blues tunes, and it deservedly became a Top Ten hit. The group subsequently tried to replicate its success, but they couldn't get it right until 1981, when the appealingly schmaltzy "I Love You" almost went Top Ten. Afterward, they played soft rock until they broke down and returned to the blues, with only a handful of memorable songs along the way. 25 Years is a little tedious to anyone who just wants the hits, but, unfortunately, it's the only readily available compilation from the group. It will suit anyone who really wants to dig into the Climax Blues Band, since it accurately sketches the progression of their career, but it doesn't have enough good music to warrant such an extensive compilation.