Gems (1988)
1.Rats in the Cellar
2.Lick and a Promise
3.Chip Away the Stone
4.No Surprize
5.Mama Kin
6.Adam's Apple
7.Nobody's Fault
8.Round and Round
9.Critical Mass
10.Lord of the Thighs
11.Jailbait
12.The Train 'Kept A-Rollin'
When Aerosmith departed for Geffen Records in 1985, they left behind more than just their former label—they left a contractual gap. Columbia, ever shrewd, opted not to fill this with rehashes alone. After issuing two competent live albums, the label pivoted toward a collection that, while marketed as a “best of,” revealed itself as a deeper excavation—an unearthed trove rather than a polished shrine.
The compilation, while lacking in obvious hits, exudes an authenticity that defined the band’s pre-1987 identity. This was before the MTV-era resurrection, before Dude (Looks Like a Lady) or power ballads ever softened their swagger. This album is all dirt and grime, showcasing the muscular riffage and drug-addled bravado that solidified their reputation in smoky clubs and arenas, not on top 40 charts.
What elevates the collection isn’t just the music—it’s the curation. The inclusion of Chip Away the Stone,originally buried in the 1978 Live! Bootleg, functions here as a revelation. It’s the sole unreleased track, but its placement is strategic: a flare to the faithful, signaling that this isn't a mere label cash grab.
Interestingly, tracks from Aerosmith’s more lackluster LPs—those middling efforts caught between highs and hangovers—find redemption here. Stripped from the context of flawed albums, they breathe more freely. Columbia, perhaps unintentionally, managed to recast these tracks in a more favorable light. The result: a surprisingly cohesive listening experience that underscores the band’s raw consistency during a turbulent era.
At the time, the band’s only previous compilation was Greatest Hits, a short and safe affair. Gems dared to dig deeper. And in doing so, it created a more representative portrait of Aerosmith’s primal power. This wasn’t the cleaned-up comeback crew—it was the streetwise, sneering gang that carved its legend in sweat and distortion.