Original Album Classics
is an import series issued by
Columbia Records
, which combines several of a classic artist's stand-out albums together in one package, usually for a low price. So a group that is widely considered to be one of the finest heavy metal/hard rock bands of all time certainly qualifies for the
treatment. Issued in 2008, the five-disc
Priest
set includes the albums
Sin After Sin
(1977),
British Steel
(1980),
Turbo
(1986),
Painkiller
(1990), and
Angel of Retribution
(2005). And therein lies the problem: the selection of which albums made the cut, and which ones were left out. While there's no denying that such classic albums as
and
be included, the others are curious choices (especially the presence of synth-heavy
, considered the most musically controversial release of
's career). There's no denying
is a great
album, while
certainly confirmed that the band was back, mighty and strong, after a 15-year break with singer
Rob Halford
. But the fact that much more worthy
releases, such as
Screaming for Vengeance
-- arguably their greatest and most popular release; after all, it spawned
"You've Got Another Thing Comin'"
-- and
Unleashed in the East
(one of the top metal live albums of all time) are not included, makes the
edition of
feel haphazardly assembled. ~ Greg Prato