Scorpions - Hot & Slow (Best Masters Of The 70´s) (1998)

The Blackout and Love at First Sting Scorpions are obviously the best known -- when they ruled the MTV airwaves and arenas worldwide due to such snappy hits as "No One Like You" and "Rock You Like a Hurricane." But as longtime fans will attest, the group was a veteran act by that point, having already released quite a few albums (which had slipped under the radar for many). And for those who aren't aware of this era, these albums were a lot heavier than the more melodic direction the group later specialized in, as evidenced throughout the 17-track import collection Hot & Slow: Best Masters of the 70's. As its title suggests, the band has been splitting its time between rockers and more tranquil fare since the beginning. "Speedy's Coming" (which contains some quite silly lyrics -- "You like Alice Cooper/You like Ringo Starr/You like David Bowie/And friends in the Royal Albert Hall") and "Virgin Killer" represent the "Hot," while "In Trance" and "Fly to the Rainbow" represent the "Slow." Also of note are the exceptional guitar skills of Uli Jon Roth, who was subsequently name-checked by quite a few metal guitarists as a prime influence. Hot & Slow: Best Masters of the 70's is a fine comp of early Scorpions.