Having just completed my review of the Empty Hats recording Captured, I decided to proceed immediately on and see what the band had done next. My mistake, it turns out Greatest Hats is, in fact, from two years prior. Oops!

No matter. Let's just sweep that mistake under the carpet and move on. I've already explained at some length the Empty Hats history, along with its precursor, Double Indemnity. This album, even more than Captured, harkens back to those former days. It is, in many ways, a greatest hits snapshot of that transition period. (Don't tell anyone I told you so, but apparently the acrimonious breakup of one left the other with no CDs to sell. More's the pity.) Now, Empty Hats did produce one CD before this one, the aptly titled The Hat Came Back, but I haven't heard that one. But I can say many of these 14 tracks here were popular numbers in the bad old days, and they remain popular now. No reason to cut them from the playlist, eh? And, after all, Hat-Heads will want versions of these songs recorded by these guys, not those other guys. Right? Can I hear an amen?

There's some truly great material here, led by and large by Carl Asch on guitar, whistle, mandolin and lead vocals. Lynda Kavy (vocals and percussion) and Gary Mazzu (vocals and guitar) round out the trio, along with about nine guest musicians. (George Klepac, who by Captured became the Hats' fourth corner, was a guest here -- although he performed on 10 of the 14 tracks.) Anyway, some peak moments here include "Take Her in Your Arms," "Donald McGillavry," "Stone & Dove," "Tom of Bedlam," "Nature Boy," "Common Weave," "A Toast to Love & Marriage," "Raggle Taggle Gypsys" and "Ramblin' Rover."

Oh, you noticed that's most of them? Well, yeah. Not very discriminating, I know. But it's a good album, and I shan't apologize for liking it.

Some of these songs might sound familiar at first, but the Hats tend to muck about with the lyrics -- quite often to great effect. A few are slow, but most are bursting with the kind of energy the Empty Hats pour forth from the stage at their performances.

It's a treat to see these guys perform. A CD just can't match the live experience, but it comes close. You should try to find this.

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