Album Review: Little River Band — Ultimate Hits
Call it soft rock if you like. Label it as yacht rock if you must. Formed in Melbourne waaay back in the mid 1970s, the band enjoyed worldwide success, placing ten singles on the Billboard Top 20. The scored a #1 with “Help is on Its Way,” and did nearly as well with the breezy, sentimental “Reminiscing.” Popular worldwide, they were a massive draw in their native Australia.
The classic lineup – in other words, the one that recorded all the hits – finally splintered in the late ‘90s. Today there is a group using the name, but it features only one musician who was involved with the group during its heyday. But one can avoid such topics and instead spend time listening to Ultimate Hits.
There have been LRB best-of collections before – I count five prior to this one – but Ultimate Hits gets the nod nevertheless thanks to its availability in the classic vinyl format. A 3LP set, it features 25 songs, giving listeners most everything they’d want from the band. The package includes plenty of color and b&w photos nd a historical essay.
And hey: if all that isn’t enough, you’re still in luck. A companion set, Masterpieces is also available. Featuring 26 more songs – and with no overlap with Ultimate Hits – it’s a collection of some of the (original) band’s – and fans’ – favorite selections from their deep catalog. Sidestepping the issue of exactly how much hype is involved in titling an album in such a manner, it’s certainly a well-selected set. The liner notes feature quotes from the players themselves, making this more special than some random, slapped together collection.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4000-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he is co-teaching a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 40 Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.