Customer Rating:  
Summary: (Ghost) Riders In The Sky - Missing Verse
Comment: I just realized the Outlaws' version of "(Ghost) Riders In The Sky" on this cd is missing the last verse of the original song. I do not know if this is just their version of this song or if the Outlaws ever recorded a version with all the orginal verses? The last verse of the original song (from 1949) is:
The cowpokes loped on past him and
He heard one call his name,
If you want to save your soul from hell
A-riding on our range,
Then, cowboy, change your ways today,
Or with us you will ride,
A-trying to catch the devil's herd
Across these endless skies.
Does anyone know?
Customer Rating:
Summary: Still great after 30 years...
Comment: I saw The Outlaws supporting The Who (and Little Feat) at Charlton Football Club's stadium The Valley in June 1976 and was blown away. I didn't know much of the band from before but Green Grass And High Tides, featuring what seemed like 5 or 6 guitarists (!) was just awesome for its epic guitar interplay. A few months later I was a dedicated punk rocker, reverting to three-chord trickery for the foreseeable future but I always kept a soft spot for virtuoso electric guitar playing (hence Tom Verlaine's Television becoming a favourite in the punk era). Looking (or rather, hearing) back after 30 years, Green Grass sounds as good as ever - and I've since cultivated a taste for country-rock (via the belated discovery of Gram Parsons), making this collection both a journey into the past and a welcome voyage of (re-) discovery.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Underrated Southern Rockers -- worth a listen
Comment: For those of you who aren't old enough to remember, the Outlaws were arguably more popular than Lynyrd Skynrd in the heydey of southern rock (1975 - 1980). Skynyrd's unfortunate demise led to them being canonized, though they certainly had several wonderful songs to justify it.
The Outlaws' first 3 Albums (Self-titled, Lady In Waiting, Hurry Sundown) were amazing LP's and this "Best of" CD captures most of their high notes. Its missing a few great tunes (Holiday from Hurry Sundown immediately comes to mind) but overall is a good survey of their music.
The quality of their music tailed off quickly after Hurry Sundown -- partially due to Henry Paul leaving, but probably due to burnout on several levels. Billy Jones was an amazing guitarist with a unique voice, on par with Neil Young. Its too bad he wasn't with us longer.
These guys were the 'metal band' of the Southern Rock area, so if you enjoy loud guitars and Skynrd-esque music, this CD is for you.
Customer Rating:
Summary: heaven
Comment: This CD brings back such great memories,..I am almost in a different world when I hear "Green Grass & High Tides". This is some great stuff,..if you are into this kind of southern rock,..you'll love this. I have almost every Outlaws LP record,..but I can't play records in my car,.so I had to get this CD. Not disappointed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Short on quantity, despite quality that is present.
Comment: This CD is loaded with lots of Outlaw favorites. I happen to be one who has always found "Waterhole" and "Knoxville Girl" relatively unappreciated on the grand scale of Outlaw songs, and their presnce on this CD is a must. The same can be said about Outlaw anthems "Green Grass and High Tides; There Goes Another Love Song" and "Freeborn Man." But this collection has gone further in years to dig up other favorites. I was delighted to see "Take It Any Way You Want It; You Are The Show" and "Ghost Riders in the Sky" represented. But perhaps a more up to date collection is in order. Granted, the band see-sawed line-up wise in it's latter years, as did the subsequent music they produced. But "Hurry Sundown" alone is worthy of more representation on this CD. The late 70s saw the remaining bands of both southern rock and the California sound (Eagles/ Poco, etc.) hit their zenith in production and music produced. It's no coincidence to some degree, as "Hurry Sundown's" producer did the same for the Eagle's "Hotel California" resulting in more refined, streamlined music that had crossover appeal. And "Hurry Sundown's" "Holiday; So Afraid" and "Heavenly Blue" each are worthy of being present on a conmprehensive Outlaws collection, as are cuts from future CDs like "Los Hombres Malo" and "In The Eye of the Storm," though they may be fewer in number. But, this is a best of CD. And to accomplish what I feel is necessary, an anthology is in order. The Outlaws may not have ranked up there with the Allmans, the Skynards or the Tuckers in mass appeal. But they did have quite a run for what many consider a not as consequential southern rock band. And their life span is certainly worthy of an anthology to be a more truly comprehensive look at a band that left its mark.
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