About this Artist

• Biography

Editorial Reviews

He may never have been a critical darling, but with the help of songwriting partner Jim Vallance and über-producer Mutt Lange (Shania Twain), Bryan Adams has cobbled together a most impressive body of work, as borne out by this two-CD Anthology. Disc 1 overflows with quality hits, kicking off with the Jackson Browne–reminiscent "Remember," a cut off Adams's self-titled 1980 debut. Other gems range from the obvious (the super power ballad "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You") to the nostalgic (the rocking "Summer of '69") to the easily overlooked (the Tom Petty–influenced "This Time" and its equally infectious sibling "Lonely Nights"). The romantic vulnerability of Adams's earlier material made songs like "Run to You," the anthemic "Somebody," and the stomping "One Night Love Affair" part of the soundtrack for so many teens growing up in the '80s. The Canadian rocker's '90s-era fare isn't as high-profile, but songs such as the flamenco-flavored "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" (featuring an instrumental guest spot by guitar great Paco de Lucia ) and the double entendre–laced "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" prove equally compelling. And while Adams's celebrity collaborations ranged from the fiery (the Tina Turner team-up "It's Only Love") to the more market-driven (the movie tie-in ballad "All for Love"), he still had enough creative juice to enable the pneumatically blessed Pamela Anderson to seamlessly fill in for Spice Girl Mel C. on a version of 1998's "When You're Gone," specifically recorded for this collection. Adams's roots may lie to the north, but as Anthology proves, that hasn't stopped him from carving out a niche as a heartland rocker along the lines of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, and Bob Seger. Dave Gil de Rubio, Barnes & Noble

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