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The Brian Setzer Collection '81-'88,Brian Setzer

- The Brian Setzer Collection '81-'88
- - 5,698 plays
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Brian Setzer
Released 1999

The Knife Feels Like Justice
04:05
606 plays

Summertime Blues [Studio Outtake][#]
02:51
579 plays

Rock This Town [Single Edit]
02:39
488 plays

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songs

- 1
- (She's) Sexy + 17 [Single Edit]
- 03:14
- 394 plays

- 2
- Rock This Town [Single Edit]
- 02:39
- 488 plays

- 3
- Summertime Blues [Studio Outtake][#]
- 02:51
- 579 plays

- 4
- The Knife Feels Like Justice
- 04:05
- 606 plays

- 5
- The Boulevard of Broken Dreams
- 04:27
- 278 plays

- 6
- Echo Park [Studio Outtake][#]
- 03:32
- 273 plays

- 7
- When the Sky Comes Tumblin' Down [Single Edit]
- 04:07
- 292 plays

- 8
- Cross of Love
- 03:35
- 245 plays

- 9
- Every Tear That Falls
- 04:10
- 252 plays

- 10
- Thing About You [Studio Outtake][#]
- 03:29
- 256 plays

- 11
- Waitin' for Desiree [Studio Outtake][#]
- 02:38
- 276 plays

- 12
- Bobby's Back
- 03:35
- 256 plays

- 13
- Keep Your Lovin' Strong
- 03:38
- 191 plays

- 14
- Living Souls [Studio Outtake][#]
- 04:20
- 218 plays

- 15
- The Rain Washed Everything Away
- 04:25
- 211 plays

- 16
- I Won't Stand in Your Way [A Cappella Version]
- 03:28
- 284 plays

- 17
- Runaway Boys [#]
- 05:27
- 296 plays

- 18
- Chains Around Your Heart
- 03:48
- 303 plays

album review

It makes sense that Capitol released The Brian Setzer Collection 1981-1988 in late 1999, since Setzer was riding an unexpected comeback powered by his cover of Louis Prima's "Jump Jive and Wail." Cynics may suggest that the label was simply trying to cash in on his success, but there was a need for a compilation covering these unknown years. Unfortunately, this 18-track disc is imperfect. Since there were no hits from The Knife Feels Like Justice and Live Nude Guitars, the compilation need to be baited with familiar tunes, hence the presence of good single edits of "(She's) Sexy and 17" and "Rock This Town." That wouldn't be a problem if this combined highlights of the Stray Cats and solo years, which would be a really good disc. Instead, this is a hodgepodge, containing highlights, rarities, outtakes, and live tracks, all assembled with no consideration for chronology or listenability. That's too bad, because there's good stuff here, in the album tracks and outtakes (including a version of "Summertime Blues," plus unreleased cuts like "Echo Park" and "Waiting for Desiree"). It can't even be seen as an overview of his forgotten years, since it has a bit too much Stray Cats material and unreleased recordings to be representative. Of course, those rarities will be of considerable interest to hardcore fans, and there's enough to make it worth their while. But anyone hoping that The Brian Setzer Collection: 81-88 will be a one-stop summary of Setzer's pre-orchestra solo recordings will likely not be satisfied. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide