Personnel: Rob Halford (vocals); Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing (guitar); Ian Hill (bass guitar); Dave Holland , Les Binks, Simon Phillips , Scott Travis (drums).
This 17-track compilation from the metal legends bypasses the usual greatest-hits route by enlisting some of the genre's biggest names as its compilers. While there are a few definitive cuts like "Living After Midnight," "Breaking the Law," and "You've Got Another Thing Comin'," selections from famous fans like Slayer's Kerry King ("Delivering the Goods"), Metallica's Lars Ulrich ("Beyond the Realms of Death"), and Steve Vai ("Dissident Aggressor") tend to dig deeper into the band's long history. Short write-ups from each artist help to further illuminate Judas Priest's impact on the genre, resulting in a fairly solid, decade-spanning overview that plays like a die-hard fans' slaved-over mixtape, but may prove a bit difficult for casual listeners. ~ James Christopher Monger
Professional Reviews
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.51) - "Each song on THE CHOSEN FEW is picked by another rock star -- and there's quite the cast involved. Ozzy Osbourne picks 'The Ripper'..."
