Hey folks.

Curiosity got the best of me. In the "Escapade" thread, I made mention that Tim should release a "Best Of" album that covers his solo work (or stuff post Split Enz) for the opportunity of his songs being remastered specifically for the album.

Considering Escapade is 25 years old this year, what better way to celebrate a solo career than at this particular point of time?

So basically I'm interested in what a Tim Finn fan thinks should be on this album should it ever be considered. Preferably no Split Enz tracks as there are ample Enz compilations. Maybe no Crowded House either (but 'All I Ask' can slip through the net if one decides that was a highlight since that was a solo vocal). Might have to get tough on Finn Brothers choices as well but the odd track or two can selected I guess!

Anyway I haven't compiled mine yet (working on it) but I thought I'd get the ball rolling now.

....and if you're a true Tim diehard, you an even compile the inevitable bonus CD of rare or live tracks!

This may force some people to re-listen to his albums. Happy thinking and listening!

I quite like the topic, will be interesting to see what others think. I'm probably die hard enough to come up with the tracks, though many may be personal and not popular favourites, but *very* pressed for time (and energy right now, since I've just come down with something nasty to top it all of) right now. However I'd have to agree with you, I think it should be solo only with All I Ask as an exception. That is utterly a Tim track, interesting when you consider that 2 tracks on Before & After are really what I'd call brothers songs, the rest of which found their way onto Woodface, not that these 2 necessarily fit, but I'm not sure how much All I Ask does either, much as I love the song.

So anyway, off the top of my head, All I Ask is one. Then there would have to be:

Not Even Close
Walk You Home
How'm I Gonna Sleep

I'd need to think more about others, so will doubtless drop in now and then with more. Although not one of my absolute favourite (though I do like it), pragmatically speaking I think Persuasion would have to be on it, because of its popularity. Sane would probably have to be said of Fraction Too Much Friction, though I'd much prefer In A Minor Key or Not For Nothing from Escapade.

Tim's 'best of' was slated to follow Feeding The Gods...obviously that didn't happen!

I was hoping you'd start this thread Dazz.

I'll also have to get back with my list. Mine will be made up of my personal favourites (songs I'd like to see on a best of), which may not necessarily be ones that were popular at the time.

I'll start it off with a song from Escapade (of course ):

Not For Nothing

I'll be back once I've thought this through a bit more.

I assume we're sticking to the standard number of tracks for a CD?

*takes the bait*

In order of Album (not actual order they'd play in on the proposed CD)

1 Fraction Too Much Friction
2 Made My Day
3 In A Minor Key
4 You Saved The World
5 No Thunder No Fire No Rain
6 Carve You In Marble (Marble Mix)
7 Not Even Close
8 How'm I Gonna Sleep
9 Hit the Ground Running
10 Many's The Time
11 Persuasion
12 We're All Men (ALT)
13 Underwater Mountain
14 Death of a Popular Song
15 Songline
16 What You've Done
17 Couldn't Be Done
18 Horizon
19 Winter Light

They probably wouldn't all fit on the one CD though.

Bonus Disc:

1 Another Chance
2 Below the Belt
3 Strange Weather
4 The Cruel Black Crow
5 No More Tears
6 Not Made of Stone
7 Secret Heart
8 Walk You Home (Piano version from the Borderline Promo)
8 What You've Done (ALT Version)
9 Comet (Demo or maybe a re-recording)
10 Glide
11 Couldn't be Done (Demo)
12 I See Redabilly

Oh this is ridiculous. I've got to the end and I've realised I'm missing gems like Spiritual Hunger, Through the Years, Crescendo, Show a Little Mercy, Home for My Heart...

Suppose it just shows the amount of quality work Tim has produced. And leaves lots to be discovered when people realise how good the best of is and buy the whole back catalogue

Or at least we hope.

quote:

Originally posted by Semi-Detached:
Tim's 'best of' was slated to follow Feeding The Gods...obviously that didn't happen!

Never believe a word they say! Neil told us the next Finn Bros record was coming out in 2001!

What You've Done
Incognito in California
Made My Day
Persuasion
Still the Song
How I'm a Gonna Sleep
Songline
Party Was You
Say It Is So
Fraction Too Much Friction
Growing Pains
Coke Jingle


That I can think of, at the mo.

At this point it really needs to be a two disc collection but if I had to pick just one CD's worth of material here's what I would choose:

The Best of Tim Finn:
1. Not Even Close
2. How'm I Gonna Sleep
3. Throw Your Arms Around Me
4. Persuasion
5. Many's the Time
6. In Your Sway
7. Underwater Mountain
8. Good Together
9. Death of a Popular Song
10. Rest
11. Songline
12. I'll Never Know
13. Subway Dreaming
14. What You've Done
15. All the Colours
16. Couldn't Be Done
17. Astounding Moon
18. Winter Light

I had to drop a lot of material, most noticeably all the songs from "Escapade" and "Big Canoe." It's not that I don't like songs from those albums it's just that I wanted to make a collection that today's average Joe might enjoy listening to. Escapade and Big Canoe really need context to be appreciated (when they were recorded, what their concepts were, how they related to Split Enz at the time). The "timelessness" of Tim's song craft went up significantly each subsequent album starting with "Tim Finn" (which still sounds dated but the sentiment of the songs endures).

"Throw Your Arms Around Me" is a cover of course but a darn fine one!

"In Your Sway" is a great ballad that I feel has been rather under appreciated.

"Underwater Mountain" is probably Tim's best recording. The production value is great and absolutely timeless. I love the strings ... I love the music video too.

"Rest" is another under appreciated song. The lyrics are very powerful and the Maori chanting gives the song a very earthy feel. Like Tim finally captured what he was attempting to do with "Remember When". A line like "I only stumbled on the light when my darkest hour had come" is so cliche but when Tim sings it I totally feel it. Of all the songs written about the coming of the year 2000 this one is my favorite.

"Subway Dreaming" - Oh this one too ... gives me chills just thinking about it! Totally under appreciated!

... OK, I guess greatest hits shouldn't be about featuring under appreciated songs but maybe they should be. But Tim's best songs are almost NEVER the radio singles. In fact, his radio singles are often the most irritating tracks on the record (Fraction too much Friction, Couldn't Be Done, Twinkle)