Gems

Originally released in 1988 at a time when Aerosmith were making their case as a revitalized 1980s hard rock band, Gems summarizes the band's harder-edged material from their first go-round, from the debut album in 1973 through 1982. The studio version of "Chip Away The Stone," only previously appearing as a single, is the one rarity, while "Jailbait" from 1982's Rock In A Hard Place is the one track featuring the line-up without guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Three cuts ("Rats In the Cellar," "Lick and A Promise" and "Nobody's Fault") are taken from arguably the band's best album, Rocks. Their commercial breakthrough album, Toys In The Attic, is represented by "Adam's Apple" and  "Round and Round." It's an interesting collection that stays away from the obvious hits and focuses on hardcore fan favorites. It serves as a decent introduction for those curious to the true nature of the band throughout the 1970s. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself seeking out the original albums afterwards for even more.