The original issue was such a success that the Magazine released a hard cover coffee table book, through Watermark Publishing, in late 2004. The book gave expanded reviews and interviews for each of the 50 albums and also included lots of glossy pictures. The following year they also had an hour long TV special chronicling the albums.
To coincide with the book the Mountain Apple Record Company released this 17 track compilation which picks one song from 17 different albums featured on the list.
The compilation is simple and satisfactory, like most music compilations, the one thing that makes this one falter though is that it is supposed to represent ALBUMS not simply songs. The 50 albums on the list worked as complete works where the individual songs are excellent but work together to make a cohesive whole. Picking one song from each album does not really give any insight into the album it simply says here is an awesome song. Do not get me wrong the songs on this compilation are excellent but they are just one part or the great albums that they came from. Also none of the out of print music that is featured on the 50 Greatest list is on this CD so all these songs can be acquired separately in their original album context. Overall this compilation focuses on the Renaissance and 1990s music and largely Hawaiian language tracks. All excellent songs I might reiterate.
This works like many various artist compilations it is a sampler and also a cash in on the book. So if you are unsure if you want to check out any of the albums on the list you can hear a song from them first. This was given to me as a present along with the book I cannot remember what the occasion was though. I really love the book this CD I just hang on to as a keepsake. In 2006 Mountain Apple released an 11 track sequel compilation. Honolulu Magazine has also released issues ranking the "50 Greatest Hawaii Songs" and in 2010 an issue chronicling "100 Years of Hawaiian Music."
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