Artist - Cinderella
Album - Rocked, Wired, & Bluesed... The Greatest Hits
Label - Mercury Records
Reviewer - Robin Steeley
I have to admit it to everyone here….I have always been a Cinderella fan. I was a product of the 80’s hair metal bands and have never lost my taste for what others so callously label as “Butt Rock”. I grew up listening to Cinderella and this album was really a nostalgic journey for me. The compilation contains all eight of the bands Billboard hot 100 hits, and eleven of its 12 entries in the Billboards mainstream rock radio charts. The album is full of their now classic power ballads such as “Nobody’s Fool” and the number one hit “Don’t Know What You Got Till Its Gone” which stayed at the top of the charts for many weeks.
In the beginning, the Philadelphia natives included Singer/Guitarist/ Tom Keifer, Lead Guitarist Jess LaBar, Bassist Eric Brittingham, and Drummer Fred Coury. In the early days, it was Jon Bon Jovi who brought Cinderella to a PolyGram A&R rep who eventually signed the band to Mercury in 1985. The band went on to become a part of the decadent history that is 80’s glam rock, although they were always known for the gritty, underground feel too their music. They were more blues influenced then most of the bands from that era. Cinderella’s last studio release was “Still Climbing” and they just kind of disappeared after that, in the wash of the early 90’s alternative mainstream explosion.
Overall, the Cd’s 17 tracks are full of hits and old favorites like the triple platinum “Night Songs” and “Nobody’s Fool” and is being released in conjunction with their DVD "Rocked, Wired & Bluesed: The Greatest Video Hits", a DVD collection their top ten videos. My favorites are many off this collection and include the thrashy “Shake Me”, the top 20’s power ballad “Nobody’s Fool” and of course my all time Cinderella favorite “Don’t Know What You Got Till Its Gone”.
The songs on Rocked, Wired & Bluesed cannot be mistaken for anything but music of its time, but it has all the dirty appeal it always did and the band still manages to feel less dated then most bands from the 80’s making a comeback. This is a good compilation to add to your collection if you’re an old school fan, but is equally good for someone that liked a “song or two” by the band and would like to check out the best of their best.
Look for the band on tour this summer or go to www.cinderella.com for more information.
Tracklisting
1. Night Songs
2. Shake Me
3. Nobody’s Fool
4. Somebody Save Me
5. Bad Seamstress Blues (Till Its Gone)
6. The Last Mile
7. Long Cold Winter
8. If You Don’t Like It
9. Coming Home
10. The More Things Change
11. Shelter Me
12. Heartbreak Station
13. Winds of Change
14. Blood From A Stone
15. Hot And Bothered
