The Anthology [A&M] Nazareth Artist

Although everyone's heard their classic power ballad {|Love Hurts|} (originally written for the {|Everly Brothers|}), and many also know the contemporaneous single {|Hair of the Dog,|} perhaps only their loyal fans realize that Scottish hard rockers ... Read more

Although everyone's heard their classic power ballad {|Love Hurts|} (originally written for the {|Everly Brothers|}), and many also know the contemporaneous single {|Hair of the Dog,|} perhaps only their loyal fans realize that Scottish hard rockers {|Nazareth|} have continued a full-bodied recording and touring career that has extended well into the new millennium. This comprehensive two-disc collection gathers the band's best material, starting with the frantic boogie of the title track of their third album {|Razamanaz|}. The anthology includes the rest of the '70s hits, as well as selections from their lesser-acclaimed '80s, '90s, and '00s efforts. Although the late-career stuff doesn't display measurable growth in musical skills or songwriting, one could argue that, growth schmowth, the band knows and sticks with its strengths. Pounding midtempo rockers like 1979's {|May the Sunshine|} come from the same sonic universe as {|Thinkin' Man's Nightmare|} and {|Goin' Loco,,|} even though they are separated by one and three decades respectively, united by the sputtering, bluesy wail of {|Dan McCafferty|}, who has led various permutations of the band since 1968. ~ Paula Carino Less