Rangers (Plavci): Zlatá kolekce (3x CD) - CD

Eighty songs, minus one, have been selected for this truly Golden Collection! Compiler Mirek Černý, who has been in close contact with the band Rangers (or Plavci) since the late 1960s, has put together a brilliantly listenable set of songs from the period between 1968 and 1999.

In many respects, especially for the seventies and eighties, this is a "hit after hit" selection. How else to describe the opening lineup of songs like Pole s bavlnou, Zvedněte kotvy, or Ta zem je tvá zem, followed by Neplač malá, Balíček karet, and Smutný psaní, continuing with Modrý měsíc, Nos pro trable, Vina vína, Vysočina, Poutník s kytarou, or Inženýrská. The final CD, licensed from several sources, is a pleasant surprise—proof that the nineties, somewhat overlooked amidst the influx of foreign artists, were not without excellent songs.

Rangers had to cope with the tragic departures of Antonín Hájek and Milan Dufek, as well as a later split into several groups, but this collection offers the very best from their most classic period and lineup. They were highly competent instrumentalists, brilliant at multi-part harmonies, and clearly recognisable as solo singers. With a good instinct

for covering songs by others, but also with excellent songwriting potential of their own. They have remained consistently popular because they are appealingly down-to-earth, melodic, and have a gift for highlighting a lyrical slogan, whether romantic or humorous. Messrs Řihošek, Vančura, and Veisser are the longest-serving active members, but Messrs Tomášek or

Kaleš are certainly not to be overlooked here.

The best of the Rangers on 3CDs: 79 great folk and country hits!