The Very Best of Pat Travers

This best-of collection gives a fine overview of Pat Travers' most successful years, from his 1976 debut to the waning days of his popularity in the mid-'80s. Although the early tracks are pretty tame — mid-'70s rock/boogie that sounds like a cross between Montrose and ZZ Top — and the later material suffers from overly commercial songwriting and production, the stuff in between is killer. Indeed, for a few years in the late '70s and early '80s, Travers led one of the deadliest bands around; this peak lineup of the Pat Travers Band — featuring the underrated Travers on guitar and vocals, Pat Thrall on second lead guitar, Peter Mars Cowling on bass, and Tommy Aldridge on drums — could play circles around most of the competition (for a definitive sampling of that band's talents, see Live! Go for What You Know). Highlights include "Heat in the Street," the live "Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)," and one of the most devastating blues/rock guitar workouts ever, the absolutely essential "Snortin' Whiskey."