Various Artists - Atlantic Records 50 Years: The Gold Anniversary

Adequately covering the rich legacy of Atlantic Records' first 50 years over only two CDs is an impossible task, even concentrating only on rock and R&B, so it would be difficult to expect Atlantic Records 50 Years: Gold Anniversary to offer anything more than a cursory overview. The compilation does illustrate the incredible depth and diversity of talent that the label has maintained over the years, even if it doesn't come anywhere near a coherent presentation of that talent. Instead, 50 Years skims a sampling of some of the best and best-known songs from throughout the company's history. The first disc concentrates primarily on Atlantic's rich catalog of R&B and soul music from the '50s and '60s (a greater portion of which easily filled a hugely entertaining nine-CD box set) and moves into seminal rock legends like Cream, CSNY, Led Zeppelin, and the Rolling Stones -- all represented by only one song apiece. The second disc is wildly varied, featuring prog-rock from Yes, a couple of disco hits, and mainstream pop/rock from the '80s, as well as a few selections from Atlantic's most popular '90s artists (Tori Amos, Hootie and the Blowfish, Brandy, Jewel). So the problem certainly isn't with the quality of the music; it's just that there are so many different musical styles represented here that the set can't present them in any sort of context. Nearly all of these artists have a great deal more quality material out there, certainly enough that having one cut from each is hardly a satisfying proposition; moreover, there are various-artists compilations covering most of these styles in more coherent fashion. However, even if it isn't at all unified, Atlantic Records 50 Years undeniably possesses a wealth of great music. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Name Credits Ahmet Ertegun Producer Alex Sadkin Producer Aretha Franklin Performer Arif Mardin Producer Ben E. King Performer Ben Keith Producer Bernard Edwards Producer Bette Midler Performer Bobby Darin Performer Brandy Performer Cher Performer Chic Performer Cream Performer Dave Marsh Liner Notes David Crosby Producer, Performer Davitt Sigerson Producer Derek & the Dominos Performer, Producer Don Gehman Producer Eddie Offord Producer Felix Pappalardi Producer Foreigner Performer Graham Nash Producer Hootie & the Blowfish Performer Jerry Leiber Producer Jerry Wexler Producer Jewel Performer Jim Stewart Producer Jimmy Iovine Producer Jimmy Miller Producer Jimmy Page Guitar, Producer Jimmy Stewart Producer Joel Dorn Producer Keith Crouch Producer Led Zeppelin Performer Marlin Greene Producer Mick Jones Producer Mike Stoller Producer Nesuhi Ertegun Producer Nile Rodgers Producer Otis Redding Performer, Producer Percy Sledge Performer Phil Collins Producer, Performer Quin Ivy Producer Ray Charles Performer Sam & Dave Performer Sister Sledge Performer Sonny Bono Producer, Performer Stax Staff Producer Stephen Stills Performer, Producer Steve Cropper Producer Stevie Nicks Performer Ted Jensen Digital Remastering, ? The Coasters Performer The Dominoes Producer The Rolling Stones Performer Tom Petty Producer, Performer Tori Amos Performer Trevor Horn Producer Wilson Pickett Performer Yes Producer, Performer