It was Frank Zappa, who first hired a 21-year-old Vai as his new lead guitarist in 1981, who referred to Vai as his ‘stunt guitarist’, and nobody since has come up with a better description of his style. This is a great retrospective overview of the past, present and future of the progressive metal guitar. Vai spent much of his career as a hired gun, adding his technical expertise to the likes of Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, Public Image Ltd., David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake. The anthology contains great tracks from his first two solo releases, 1984's ‘Flex-Able’ and 1990's ‘Passion And Warfare,’ especially such ditties as "The Attitude Song," "The Animal," and the very Zappa-ish "Salamanders In The Sun." This 1984-2001 anthology sums up a killer career.

• - 1 -

  • 1. Liberty
  • 2. Die To Live
  • 3. The Attitude Song
  • 4. Salamanders In the Sun
  • 5. The Animal
  • 6. The Riddle
  • 7. For the Love of God
  • 8. Bangkok
  • 9. Fire Garden Suite: Bull Whip/Pusa Road/Angel Floor/Taurus Bu
  • 10. Ya-Yo Gakk
  • 11. Blue Powder
  • 12. Bad Horsie
  • 13. Tender Surrender
  • 14. All About Eve
  • 15. Dyin' Day
  • 16. The Blood & Tears
  • 17. The Silent Within

• - 2 -

  • 1. Feathers
  • 2. Frank
  • 3. Boston Rain Melody
  • 4. Kittens Got Claws
  • 5. Lighter Shade of Green
  • 6. Giant Balls of Gold
  • 7. Whispering a Prayer
  • 8. Jibboom
  • 9. Windows To the Soul
  • 10. Brandos Costumes (Gentle Ways)
  • 11. The Reaper
  • 12. Christmas Time is Here
  • 13. Essence
  • 14. Rescue Me or Bury Me
  • 15. Burnin' Down the Mountain