HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH

Hootie & The Blowfish: Darius Rucker (vocals, guitar, dobro, percussion); Mark Bryan (guitar, mandolin, piano, percussion, background vocals); Dean Felber (piano, Clavinet, bass, background vocals); Jim "Soni" Sonefeld (piano, drums, percussion, loops, background vocals).

Additional personnel: Patrick Warren (chamberlain); David Crosby (background vocals).

Producers include: Don Gehman, Don Was, Pete Masitti, Spencer Proffer, Mark Williams.

Compilation producers: Hootie & The Blowfish, Karen Ahmed.

Recorded between 1994 & 2003. Includes liner notes by David Wild.

Cinderella stories don't come much sweeter than the tale of Hootie & the Blowfish. An unassuming quartet that made their hay playing before college crowds, these Southern natives, led by soulful frontman Darius Rucker, seemingly came out of nowhere thanks to a solid grassroots operation and a devoted fanbase. THE BEST OF HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH, though, contains the true key to the band's enormous, multi-platinum success--well-written songs packed with hooks, harmonies, and heartfelt sentiment.

Among the originals sprinkled throughout this anthology is the anthemic breakout smash "Hold My Hand" (featuring vocal harmonies by David Crosby), uber-ballad "Let Her Cry," and the wistful, organ-drenched "Old Man & Me (When I Get to Heaven)." The band's later material also features the solid mix of Mark Bryan's twang-laced guitar playing and Rucker's deep croon that results in lesser-known nuggets such as the call-and-response "I Will Wait" and equally hook-filled "Space." Still fans at heart, Hootie and company also prove to be excellent interpreters of material by a wide range of idols, including Led Zeppelin ("Hey Hey What Can I Do"), Bill Withers ("Use Me"), and obscure Canadian rockers 54.40 ("I Go Blind").

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