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"Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J./The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle/Darkness [Long Box]" (07/13/2004) Oldies Springsteen, Bruce, Legacy RecordingsContains GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK (1973)/THE WILD, THE INNOCENT & THE E STREET SHUFFLE (1973)/DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN (1978). Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica, recorder, bassoon, piano, bass guitar, congas); Steve VanZandt (guitar); Danny Federici (accordion, piano, organ, background vocals); Clarence "Nick" Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); David L. Sancious (soprano saxophone, piano, electric piano, Clavinet, organ, background vocals); Richard Blackwell (baritone saxophone, congas, percussion); Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez (cornet, drums, background vocals); Garry Tallent (tuba, bass guitar, background vocals); Harold Wheeler (piano); Richard Davis (double bass); Max Weinberg, Vincent "Loper" Lopez (drums). This second volume in the Bruce Springsteen Collection (wherein Sony repackages three albums in one box) is rather troubling given its selections. There is the sublime Nebraska, Springsteen's first solo album, and a recording of stripped-down haunting tracks. But also included are Lucky Town (why it wasn't packaged with its simultaneously released partner Human Touch is a mystery), and the utterly forgettable Springsteen In Concert from the Human Touch/Lucky Town tour (which admittedly does have a few good moments in performances of older material like "Thunder Road" and "Darkness on the Edge of Town"). Why not have put those three related records in one set? Sony knows why: because they are all inferior to the rest of his catalog. Nebraska, as fine as it is, is the only reason for purchasing this, but why do so when you can go out and buy it on its own for around $10.00? Lucky Town has its moments, but doesn't hold together as an album, and In Concert was an utterly unnecessary move to begin with. ~ Thom Jurek Sony apparently cannot make up its mind. In 1997 the label released these three recordings together in a slipcase box. In 2004 the label repackaged them in longbox form, and in 2005 went back to the slipcase with a different cover. There is nothing different about these recordings together than there is taking them in separately, except that it might look hipper on your shelf this way. These are the first, second, and fourth full-length albums by the Boss, and it would have been better if Born to Run was issued alongside the first two not just for chronological reasons but also for aesthetic ones, as the sonic jump from The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle to Darkness on the Edge of Town is enormous. ~ Thom Jurek Greetings From/Wild Innocent/Darkness collects Bruce Springsteen's first two albums (Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ and The Wild, The Innocent & the E Street Shuffle) and his fourth (Darkness on the Edge of Town) in a three-disc set. Though the fact that the collection skips over Born to Run is somewhat strange, the power of the three albums that are compiled is undeniable. Moving from the exuberance of Greetings' "Blinded By the Light" and "Growin' Up," the dazzling brilliance of The Wild, the Innocent's "Incident on 57th Street" and "Rosalita, Come Out Tonight," and the principled, uncompromising rock of Darkness' "Badlands" and "Adam Raised a Cain," this set is worthwhile for any Springsteen fan, or rock fan in general, who doesn't already own these albums. ~ Heather Phares Providing the chance to compare Bruce Springsteen's debut and second albums with one recorded almost a decade later, this budget offering captures two sides of the New Jersey troubadour's musical persona. While GREETINGS is an explosion of pent-up imagery and forcefully delivered melodies, and WILD finds Springsteen exploring the possibilities of an expanded musical palette, the bleak, empty production of NEBRASKA proves that sometimes, a lone guitar and a high lonesome wail is all you need. This trio of budget-priced reissues combines Bruce Springsteen's elemental NEBRASKA, his early-1990s curiosity LUCKY TOWN (originally released in tandem with HUMAN TOUCH, not included here), and a live "plugged" MTV concert. LUCKY TOWN found the Boss recording without the E Street Band for the

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#1 Pop Hits Of The 60's And 70's [9/30]

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#1 Pop Hits Of The 60's And 70's [9/30]

"#1 Pop Hits of the 60s & 70s [Madacy Box] [Digipak]" (06/30/2005) Rock & Pop Various Artists, Madacy Distribution

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In Season: The Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons ...

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In Season: The Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons Anthology by Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons (CD - 0

"In Season: The Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons Anthology" (05/15/2001) Oldies Four Seasons (The), Rhino Records (USA)Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons include: Frankie Valli (vocals); Joe Long (vocals, guitar, bass); Tommy DeVito (vocals, guitar); Bob Gaudio (vocals, keyboards); Nick Massi (vocals, bass); Demitri Callis, Bob Grim, Clay Jordan, Don Ciccone, Vince Colaiuta (guitar); Lee Shapiro, Robbie Robinson, Tim Stone (keyboards); Charles Calello (bass); Paul Wilson, Gerry Polci, Paulino Da Costa (drums). Includes a 32 page booklet with photos and liner notes by Pat Sierchio. Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch, Ken Perry, and Bill Inglot. Personnel: Frankie Valli (vocals, background vocals); Tommy DeVito (vocals, guitar); Bob Gaudio (vocals, keyboards); Joe Long (vocals, bass guitar); Nick Massi (vocals); Robert Grim, Larry Lingle, Clay Jordan, John Paiva, Don Ciccone, Vinnie Colaiuta (guitar); Robbie Robinson , Tim Stone, Al Ruzicka, Jerry Corbetta, Lee Shapiro (keyboards); Chuck Wilson, Gerry Polci, Paulinho Da Costa (drums, percussion). Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Ken Perry; Bill Inglot. Recording information: Atlantic Recording Studio, New York, NY; Broadway Recording Studios, New York, NY; Cherokee Recording Studio, Hollywood, CA; Filmways Heider Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; House Of Music, West Orange, NJ; Indigo Ranch Recording Studio, Malibu, CA; Media Sound Studio, New York, NY; Olmsted Sound Studio, New York, NY; Record Planet, Los Angeles, CA; Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Red Wing Studio, Tarzana, CA; Sound Factory, Hollywood, CA; Stea-Phillips Recording Studio, New York, NY; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA. Photographer: Tommy DeVito. Arrangers: Denny Randell; Joe Scott ; Hank Medress; Herb Bernstein; Hutch Davie; Lee Shapiro; Albhy Galuten; Sid Bass; Artie Schroeck; Warren Schatz; Barry Gibb; Bob Crewe; Bob Gaudio; Charles Calello. For those who've lived under a rock for almost 50 years, this review will mean less than nothing. The rest of us have no doubt encountered -- on some television program, a commercial for a K-Tel oldies collection, or, in rarer cases, songs floating in the background on a film soundtrack -- Frankie Valli's shattering falsetto fronting his rock and doo wop band, the Four Seasons. As certainly as other artists of the period are known by their signatures -- the Beach Boys, the Beatles, the Miracles, the Shirelles, Dion and the Belmonts -- the Four Seasons are instantly recognized by Valli's lead vocal and flawless three- and four-part harmony, strung with lines of blue-collar American poetry. To the people of New Jersey and other parts of America, the Four Seasons were every bit as much a part of the early pop scene as the Beatles and the Beach Boys -- and preceded both of them with an original lineup that recorded chart singles as early as 1955 and made an appearance on Ed Sullivan in 1959! Rhino Records it seems is in agreement with this premise and has undertaken a crusade to convince critics and the general public that somehow a group that sold literally millions of records has not been given enough attention. To this end they've issued this two-disc anthology and a separate disc of B-sides and other underappreciated "golden nuggets" by the classic Four Seasons lineup of Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi. Evidenced by this anthology alone, there is no disputing that the Four Seasons were very special, a singular East Coast supergroup who managed to keep rock & roll exciting and surprisingly white bread at the same time. Parents dug 'em as well as teenagers, which is probably why "critics" at the time -- there wasn't any formal rock criticism yet -- hated them. They weren't dangerous enough. The music here contains all the hits: "Sherry," "Big Girls, Don't Cry," "Stay," "Walk Like a Man," "Dawn (Go Away)," "Candy Girl," "Let's Hang on to What We've Got," and so on. Disc one alone contains 23 essential Four Seasons sides from 1962 to 1966 -- all of which charted. That's a hell of a run. The story is a complex one: they had their own writers (Gaudio, Bob Crewe, Judy Parker, etc.); they were a trad rock combo with a killer producer in Crewe; and they later embraced material from

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Walk -- Don't Run: All Time Greatest Hits by ...

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Walk -- Don't Run: All Time Greatest Hits by Original Soundtrack/The Ventures (CD - 06/07/1996)

"Walk -- Don't Run: All Time Greatest Hits" (06/07/1996) Oldies Original Soundtrack, Capitol Records (USA)Composed and conducted by Quincy Jones. CEMA Special Markets' Play the Hits is different than the similarly titled Only the Hits in one key way -- it actually has the Ventures' hit singles! Of course, Play the Hits has a title that suggests it might be a collection of the Ventures playing other people's songs -- which is what Only the Hits was, and that had a title that suggested it was a straight hits collection. Budget-line discs always get confusing like this. Anyway, Play the Hits is a good collection, containing all of the basics -- "Walk, Don't Run," "Blue Moon," "Lolita Ya-Ya," "Secret Agent Man," "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue," and "Hawaii Five-O" -- which is enough to make it a very worthwhile budget-line disc. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine All Time Greatest Hits is a decent overview of the Ventures' early days, presenting 12 hit tracks that the instrumental band recorded in the late '50s and early '60s. Several of their Top Ten hits are included: "Hawaii Five-O," "Perfidia," "Men," "Lullabye of the Leaves," and "Walk - Don't Run", probably their biggest hit. Considering the amount of material the Ventures have released over the years, this collection is missing a few favorites ("Walk Don't Run '64," "Out of Limits"), but the midline pricing and original tracks make this a package worth picking up by the casual listener. ~ Al Campbell Do not mistake this greatest-hits compilation for a reissue of the Ventures' 1960 album of the same name; the title track is the only song that the two have in common. The bulk of the album is made up of later-period treacle like "Hawaii Five-O" or "Secret Agent Man," recordings made long after the Ventures, who were arguably one of the most important bands in the history of rock & roll, had lost their youthful edge. The ultimate disgrace is the fact that this compilation includes the Ventures' anemic version of "Wipe Out," but omits such classics as "The Switch" and "Sleep Walk," band- and genre-defining moments both. This is not to say that there are not some pleasant moments among the later material gathered on Walk Don't Run. The lilting "Theme From 'A Summer Place'" is nice and inoffensively sweet in its own way -- not worth tracking down, but not likely to send one running for cover like the absurd "Lolita Ya-Ya," which comes complete with female backup singers humming the oh-so-catchy theme. Those interested in Ventures collections should do themselves a favor and not pick up Walk-Don't Run; it is not worth owning in any possible world. ~ Daniel Gioffre

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KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' ...

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KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' Roll: Motown by Various Artists (CD - 03/14/2006)

"KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' Roll: Motown" (03/14/2006) Oldies Various Artists, Collectables RecordsThis third installment in the series specially crafted by Collectables for WSNI FM focuses on the greatest hits of one of the most revered labels in pop music: Motown. With every single one of the 25 songs contained herein being either a chart-topper or a major hit, it's hard to refute this as nothing more than an extremely well-sequenced compilation covering Motown's glory years, and at an economically sensible price, it serves as an ideal starting point to those unfamiliar with Motown's vast arsenal of soulful hits. Simply outstanding from start to finish.~ Rob Theakston Collectables' 2003 compilation WCBS FM: Motown, Soul and Rock n Roll - Motown delivers 25 tracks of pure Motown gold. It was put together by Joe McCoy from WCBS FM and plays like what one might hope the radio would sound like in heaven. Every song is a hit and the disc flows like a river of sweet champagne. The songs are a fine mix of up-tempo dancefloor fillers like the Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" and the Contours' "Do You Love Me" and heartbroken ballads like the Temptations' "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)" and Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted." The only flaw in the presentation is the duplication of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine." Both Gladys Knight's and Marvin Gaye's version are included at the expense of some other Motown classic. Still this is a set that is destined to get listeners up on their feet and dancing or at very least singing along at the top of their lungs. There are tons of Motown collections out there but this is one of the best. ~ Tim Sendra KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' Roll: Rock n' Roll is a varied and quite solid 25-song collection of chart-toppers from the '60s compiled by Joe McCoy of WCBS. Now why a DJ from WCBS compiled a disc that is billed as a presentation of KFRC oldies is a question that will only nag at the most retentive of music fans. The rest will just be happy to enjoy the music, as it is first-rate from beginning to end. McCoy draws tracks from many different styles: folk-rock (the Mamas & the Papas' "Monday, Monday," Scott Mackenzie's "San Francisco"), girl group (the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back," Lesley Gore's "It's My Party"), British Invasion (Manfred Mann's "Do Wah Diddy Diddy," the Troggs' "Wild Thing"), and good old American pop (the Beach Boys' "Help Me Rhonda," the Turtles' "Happy Together," the Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic?"). Any disc with those last three songs on it is worth owning, but wait, there's more! Len Barry's jubilant "1-2-3," the Guess Who's moody "These Eyes," Spiral Starecase's "More Today Than Yesterday," and Tom Jones' "She's a Lady" are some additional highlights. There is nothing here that would provoke a second look from a collector, but anyone looking for an action-packed hour of great "good-time oldies" from the '60s could do a lot worse than picking this collection up. ~ Tim Sendra KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' Roll: Motown is a fine 25-song collection of some of Motown's greatest hits compiled by Joe McCoy of WCBS. Now why a DJ from WCBS compiled a disc that is billed as a presentation of KFRC oldies is a question that will only nag at the most retentive of music fans. The rest will just groove along to a very well selected batch of some of the best pop and soul music ever recorded. All the big names -- like Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, the Jackson 5, and the Temptations -- are represented, and you can't go more than one song without hearing a huge smash hit. This disc is a very nice introduction to Motown for neophytes, and is also a disc that is perfect for road trips, pool parties, or any place you want a refreshing blast of good-time oldies. ~ Tim Sendra KFRC Oldies - Motown, Soul & Great Rock n' Roll: Soul is a fine 25-song collection of some of soul music's best-known songs compiled by Joe McCoy of WCBS. Now why a DJ from WCBS compiled a disc that is billed as a presentation of KFRC oldies is a question that will only nag at the most retentive of music fans. Everyone else will just get down to the

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Now! [Remaster] by The Rolling Stones (CD - ...

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Now! [Remaster] by The Rolling Stones (CD - 08/27/2002)

"Now! [Remaster]" (08/27/2002) Oldies Rolling Stones (The), ABKCO RecordsThe Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals, harmonica); Keith Richards (guitar, background vocals); Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica); Bill Wyman (bass); Charlie Watts (drums). Additional personnel: Ian Stewart (piano, organ); Jack Nitzsche (piano). Recorded at Chess Studios, Chicago, Illinois; RCA Studios, Hollywood, California; Regent Sound, London, England. Includes liner notes by Andrew Loog Oldham. Additional personnel: Ian Stewart, Jack Nitzsche (piano). Audio Remasterers: Jon Astley; Bob Ludwig; Steve Rosenthal; Teri Landi; Paschal Byrne. Although their third American album was patched together (in the usual British Invasion tradition) from a variety of sources, it's their best early R&B-oriented effort. Most of the Stones' early albums suffer from three or four very weak cuts; Now! is almost uniformly strong start-to-finish, the emphasis on some of their blackest material. The covers of "Down Home Girl," Bo Diddley's vibrating "Mona," Otis Redding's "Pain in My Heart," and Barbara Lynn's "Oh Baby" are all among the group's best R&B interpretations. The best gem is "Little Red Rooster," a pure blues with wonderful slide guitar from Brian Jones (and a number one single in Britain, although it was only an album track in the U.S.). As songwriters, Jagger and Richards are still struggling, but they come up with one of their first winners (and an American Top 20 hit) with the yearning, soulful "Heart of Stone." ~ Richie Unterberger THE ROLLING STONES, NOW! is a masterpiece of early British R&B, Rolling Stones style. Things start off with a powerful rendition of Solomon Burke's signature tune "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love." Elsewhere, the Stones take a tour of American music, from Bo Diddley's "Mona," complete with choppy, reverbed guitar, to a slow, churning version of Willie Dixon's blues evergreen "Little Red Rooster," probably the first version of the song to feature fuzz bass. Amid all this esteemed company, though, the standout tracks are the Jagger-Richards originals. With its heartbreaking lyrics and poignant accompaniment, "Heart of Stone" could have been a classic soul ballad appropriated from some great, obscure American singer. On "What a Shame," the Stones prove that they don't have to look to outside sources for their blues. Keith's penetrating slide here, as on "Little Red Rooster," foreshadows greater things to come.

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Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy ...

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Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy [Remaster] by Elton John (CD - 10/26/2004)

"Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy [Remaster]" (10/26/2004) Oldies John, Elton, Universal DistributionThis is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Elton John (vocals, electric piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, Mellotron, ARP synthesizer); John Lennon (guitar); Davey Johnstone (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, piano, background vocals); David Hentschel (ARP synthesizer); Dee Murray (bass guitar, background vocals); Nigel Olsson (drums, background vocals); Ray Cooper (congas, bongos, cymbals, Jew's harp, tambourine, triangle, bells, hand bells, gong). Audio Remasterer: Tony Cousins. Liner Note Author: John Tobler. Sitting atop the charts in 1975, Elton John and Bernie Taupin recalled their rise to power in Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, their first explicitly conceptual effort since Tumbleweed Connection. It's no coincidence that it's their best album since then, showcasing each at the peak of his power, as John crafts supple, elastic, versatile pop and Taupin's inscrutable wordplay is evocative, even moving. What's best about the record is that it works best of a piece -- although it entered the charts at number one, this only had one huge hit in "Someone Saved My Life Tonight," which sounds even better here, since it tidily fits into the musical and lyrical themes. And although the musical skill on display here is dazzling, as it bounces between country and hard rock within the same song, this is certainly a grower. The album needs time to reveal its treasures, but once it does, it rivals Tumbleweed in terms of sheer consistency and eclipses it in scope, capturing John and Taupin at a pinnacle. They collapsed in hubris and excess not long afterward -- Rock of the Westies, which followed just months later is as scattered as this is focused -- but this remains a testament to the strengths of their creative partnership. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine One of Elton John's many 1970s pop gems, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC & THE DIRT BROWN COWBOY is a classic album filled with well-written, catchy tunes. The most famous song from this record is the radio hit, "Someone Saved My Life Tonight." A bitter tune about a badly entangled relationship, John's lyric rejoices in an 11th-hour triumph of freedom. CAPTAIN FANTASTIC also features John's well-known version of the Lennon/McCartney favorite "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." John maintains the eccentric sonic elements of this tune, but makes it more dramatic and operatic, particularly as the song's refrain loops on and on towards the ending. "Writing" is another highlight on this disc; Latin-influenced, upbeat, and bubbly, this number contains some quirky bongo playing and a light, care-free lyric centered on the actual process of composing songs. Without a doubt, John and partner Bernie Taupin were one of the best songwriting duos in rock history, and many of their finer collaborations are captured on this 1975 release.

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Very Best of the Harptones: Life Is But a Dream ...

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Very Best of the Harptones: Life Is But a Dream by The Harptones (CD - 03/14/2006)

"Very Best of the Harptones: Life Is But a Dream" (03/14/2006) Oldies Harptones (The), Collectables RecordsThe Harptones: Willie Winfield, Billy Brown, Claudie "Nicky" Clark, William Dempsey, William "Dicey" Galloway, Raoul Cita. Includes liner notes by Marv Goldberg. A more apt title for this CD would be "The Very Best of the Harptones and Friends." Among the 18 tracks are two done with Peggy Farmer and two with Ruth McFadden. Farmer and McFadden have one tune in common with the Harptones, "Dreamin's No Good." All the other selections, except "You're Going to Need Me Somebody" and "You Know You're Doing Me Wrong," have two takes. For instance, you get take one and take 20 of "On a Sunday Afternoon." This is mellow East Coast doo wop with a modern harmony feel. Not comprehensive or a complete overview by any means, but special because of the alternate takes and the collaborations with Farmer and McFadden. ~ Andrew Hamilton

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I Walk the Line: The Very Best of Johnny Cash by ...

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I Walk the Line: The Very Best of Johnny Cash by Johnny Cash (CD - 03/14/2006)

"I Walk the Line: The Very Best of Johnny Cash" (03/14/2006) Oldies Cash, Johnny, Collectables RecordsIncludes liner notes by Mark Marymont. Liner Note Author: Mark Marymont. This freewheeling trawl through Johnny Cash's Sun Records back catalog emphasizes the strength of his songwriting, as well as his prolific output--the singer wrote 16 of the two dozen tracks on offer here. Included are "Folsom Prison Blues," written while he was still in the Air Force, his first major hit, "I Walk the Line," and favorites like "Big River," Country Boy," and "Get Rhythm." I Walk the Line: The Very Best of Johnny Cash spotlights 24 classic Johnny Cash tracks recorded in the '50s at the legendary Sun studio in Memphis including, "Folsom Prison Blues," "Big River," "Get Rhythm" and "I Walk the Line." Although this isn't a bad disc as these are the original recordings, there are better collections available, offering more songs and better sound for not much more money. ~ Al Campbell

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Swinging Connie Francis by Connie Francis (CD - ...

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Swinging Connie Francis by Connie Francis (CD - 12/23/1999)

"Swinging Connie Francis" (12/23/1999) Oldies Francis, Connie, Audiophile RecordsAudio Remixer: Parker Dinkins. Liner Note Author: George H. Buck, Jr. Photographer: Carl Fisher. Arranger: Don Costa.

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WODS: Great Ladies of Rock & Roll - The '60s ...

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WODS: Great Ladies of Rock & Roll - The '60s by Various Artists (CD - 03/14/2006)

"WODS: Great Ladies of Rock & Roll - The '60s" (03/14/2006) Oldies Various Artists, Collectables RecordsThis CD was packaged for and promoted by WJMK, Chicago, Illinois. This CD was packaged for and promoted by WODS, Boston, Massachusetts. This CD was packaged for and promoted by WSNI, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Liner Note Author: Al Fichera. WSNI: Great Ladies of Rock 'N' Roll 60's includes 25 pop and R&B standards from Aretha Franklin, Petula Clark, and Dionne Warwick, along with one-hit wonders Toys ("A Lover's Concerto"), Patty & the Emblems ("Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl"), and Murmaids ("Popsicles and Icicles"). While the packaging is drab, the sound quality is decent, making this an affordable way to pick up these classic oldies. ~ Al Campbell Great Ladies of Rock & Roll -- The '60s offers 25 tracks of the best female-fronted pop music during a decade when they often reigned supreme. Any compiler would be hard-pressed to outdo the selection here, which includes a parade of top tunes: "Respect," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "My Guy," "Dancing in the Street," "My Boyfriend's Back," and more (and yes, they are the original recordings). And despite the epoch that separated the beginning of the '60s to its end, this set is much more unified than other volumes in the same series. As often happens, Collectables' focus on sound quality isn't top-rate, but for the low price this one is usually offered for, it's difficult to complain too much. ~ John Bush Great Ladies of Rock & Roll -- The '60s offers 25 tracks of the best female-fronted pop music during a decade when they often reigned supreme. Any compiler would be hard-pressed to outdo the selection here, which includes a parade of top tunes: "Respect," "Stop! In the Name of Love," "My Guy," "Dancing in the Street," "My Boyfriend's Back," and more (and yes, they are the original recordings). As often happens, Collectables' focus on sound quality isn't top-rate, but for the low price this one is usually offered for, it's difficult to complain too much. ~ John Bush Compiled by Joe McCoy of New York oldies radio station WCBS-FM, this 25-track collection digs into the vaults of several labels (all five majors are represented) to survey the distaff side of 1960s pop hitmaking. There is no attempt made to be scholarly or comprehensive, just a sort of dream radio program lasting over an hour, with no commercials or interruptions from a disc jockey. Major figures like Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, and Dionne Warwick rub shoulders with one-hit wonders, but nearly all the songs were big hits, and if the occasional one has disappeared into the mists of history ("Mixed up, Shook up Girl" by Patty & the Emblems, number 37 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964), practically every one will bring a smile to listeners of a certain age, while younger music fans may make some discoveries. The lyrical themes are strictly out of adolescence, no matter the era; these women are desperately concerned with true love and being faithful to romantic companions who are often idealized or absent. Put the songs together, and questions occur: the Angels may be overjoyed that "My Boyfriend's Back," to "save my reputation," but where did he go?; Little Peggy March declares, "I Will Follow Him," but where is he going exactly? Of course, such sentiments don't jibe with the independent, feminist concerns of a later era as well as, say, leadoff track "Respect," but, musically anyway, they remain just as compelling as ever. ~ William Ruhlmann WJMK: Great Ladies of Rock 'N' Roll 60s includes 25 pop and R&B standards from Aretha Franklin, Petula Clark, and Dionne Warwick, along with one-hit wonders, including Toys ("A Lover's Concerto"), Patty & the Emblems ("Mixed up, Shook up Girl"), and Murmaids ("Popsicles and Icicles"). While the packaging is drab, the sound quality is decent, making this an affordable way to pick up these classic oldies. ~ Al Campbell Great Ladies of Rock & Roll -- The '60s offers 25 tracks of the best female-fronted pop music during a decade when they often reigned supreme. Any compiler would be hard-pressed to outdo the selection here, which includes a parade of top tunes: "Respect," "Stop! In th

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For Collectors Only by The Duprees (CD - ...

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For Collectors Only by The Duprees (CD - 03/14/2006)

"For Collectors Only" (03/14/2006) Oldies Duprees (The), Collectables RecordsThe Duprees includes: Joey Vann, Tommy Bigalow, Joe Santollo, John Salvato, Mike Arnone, Mike Kelly. Includes liner notes by Mark Marymont. For Collectors Only is a detailed double disc featuring 47 doo wop tracks the Duprees recorded in the early '60s. This Collectables set gathers the familiar oldies "You Belong to Me," "My Own True Love," "Have You Heard," and "Why Don't You Believe Me" with numerous B-sides and album cuts. While the collector will be pleased with the choice and abundance of material, the casual listener should start with the 18-track All-Time Greatest Hits collection released in 2002 on Varese Vintage. ~ Al Campbell

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Running Bear [Bear Family] by Johnny Preston (CD) ...

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Running Bear [Bear Family] by Johnny Preston (CD) [IMPORT - Germany]

"Running Bear [Bear Family]" (09/05/1994) Oldies Preston, Johnny, Bear Family (Germany)

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Blow by Blow/Wired/There and Back [Box] [Box] by ...

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Blow by Blow/Wired/There and Back [Box] [Box] by Jeff Beck (CD - 10/17/1995)

"Blow by Blow/Wired/There and Back [Box] [Box]" (10/17/1995) Oldies Beck, Jeff, Epic (USA)Originally released as three separate albums, BLOW BY BLOW (1975), WIRED (1980) and THERE AND BACK (1976). Personnel: Jeff Beck (guitar); Narada Michael Walden (piano, drums); Max Middleton (clavinet, Fender Rhodes); Tony Hymas (keyboards); Jan Hammer (synthesizer, drums); Wilbur Bascomb, Phil Chenn, Mo Foster (bass); Ed Green, Richard Bailey, Simon Phillips (drums). Producers include: Jeff Beck, Ken Scott; George Martin, Jan Hammer. Engineers include: Pete Henderson, Dennis McKey, Jan Hammer. Personnel: Jeff Beck (guitar); Max Middleton (Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, keyboards); Jan Hammer (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Tony Hymas (keyboards); Ed Greene, Narada Michael Walden, Simon Phillips (drums). Photographer: Lock Huey. Unknown Contributor Role: Ken Scott. Arranger: George Martin. Sony repackaged and re-released the three studio albums Jeff Beck recorded in the late '70s -- the fusion albums Blow by Blow and Wired, plus There and Back -- as a slip-cased box set. It's not a bad way to acquire the albums if you don't already own them, but there are no bonus tracks or new packaging or remastering, which means it's of marginal interest to hardcore collectors. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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Is Is by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (CD - 07/24/2007)

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Is Is by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (CD - 07/24/2007)

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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: ...

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20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Osmonds by The Osmonds (CD - 08/06

"20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Osmonds" (08/06/2002) Oldies Osmonds (The), Polydor (USA)The Osmonds: Alan Osmond, Wayne Osmond, Merrill Osmond, Donny Osmond, Jay Osmond. Producers: Mike Curb, Alan Osmond, Rick Hall, Michael Lloyd, Jerry Goldstein. Compilation producers: Mike Ragogna, Alan Osmond. All tracks have been digitally remastered. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Osmonds collects a dozen of the bubblegum vocal group's biggest hits, including their versions of "One Bad Apple" and "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother." Ranging from the Motown-lite of "Double Lovin'" and "Yo-Yo" to the gospel-inflected "Down by the Lazy River" to surprisingly rockin' tracks like "Hold Her Tight" and "Crazy Horses," the collection reveals that the Osmonds explored and adopted more styles than the sweet, traditional pop -- exemplified here by "Let Me In" -- with which their name is usually synonymous. Though it's not as comprehensive as 1995's 21 Hits Special Collection, 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Osmonds still offers a good selection of the band's career highlights. ~ Heather Phares

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