Although much despised by virtually every published rock critic, the power ballad was lapped up by many teenagers in the 1980s, the large majority of them female. This is one of Rhino's series of genre compilations of romantic songs "selected by women for women," all but one of the 16 tracks emanating from the 1984-89 heyday of the power ballad (one old-school ancestor, Bad Company's "Feel Like Makin' Love," leads off the set). With staples of the form by Cinderella, Winger, Dokken, REO Speedwagon, Boston, Whitesnake, Tesla, and Great White, it's not going to change any rock critic minds about the value of the style. And the original audience for this music is now grown up, and has largely grown out of its affection for the songs. As an aside, it's ironic that the power ballad -- which supposedly aimed to bring young couples together -- probably caused as many splits as unions, due to the arguments it caused between the girl fans and boyfriends who scorned them for not preferring harder-rocking stuff. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
