Greatest Hits

by Mike DeGagne

Similar to AOR rockers Styx, Journey, and REO Speedwagon, Night Ranger yielded the same electric guitar wallop via Jeff Watson and Brad Gillis and sported a high-powered lead singer in the likes of Jack Blades. Since their albums only contained a small amount of strong material, Night Ranger's Greatest Hits is the essential one-stop for all of this band's best work. With half of these songs finding their way to Billboard's Top 40, it's evident that Night Ranger did produce some likable rock & roll. Highlighted by "Sister Christian," the band's one-part-ballad, two-parts-guitar-throttle claim to fame, along with the amusing pretentiousness of "Sentimental Street," this compilation does have its moments. The bouncy rock tempo of "Goodbye" towed along by some skillful electric guitar playing makes this an avid standout. Even the Sammy Hagar-sounding "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" still holds up, as does the glossy melody that maneuvers its way through "When You Close Your Eyes." "Four in the Morning" follows suit with its systematic chords and rollicking chorus, and Blades pulls no punches on "The Secret to My Success" from the movie of the same name. This is truly the only Night Ranger album one will ever need.