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| From | R+K Sanchez <eldeluxe@mcn.net> |
| Subject | Re: 60's pop advice |
| Date | Fri, 18 Jun 2004 12:50:47 -0700 |
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floatingunder wrote:
>
>
> @@@I'll give my impressions on a few. I've been doing the same over
> the last 4-5 years..plus, my soft pop obsessions from that era.
>
> Love: "Love Story 1966-72" it covers most of the first 3 albums (peak
> of career) minus a few including a long rambling instrumental track.
> It adds a few more tracks as well. I think this is an essential 2
> disc set. The only trouble is the discs end up breaking up the
> classic Love disc FOREVER CHANGES on two different discs. But if you
> can live with that, it's GREAT.
This is a good intro, but I think that the first album is a non stop
winner and this comp omits several great songs. The second album is half
great half, one long jam... Revelation, which isn't much more than a
period piece. They claim that this recording hardly matches the live
version. Maybe. I saw them after DaCapo and they played most all of it,
including Revelation. It was good, better than the album. I pretty much
think you need to have the first three albums to see how they developed.
Love Story doesn't do a bad job picking up a few later tracks that
otherwise might be missed. Those later albums used to be bargain bin
regulars.
>
>
> Hollies: 13th Anniversay Collection. Three CD's worth of material. It
> will include the range your looking for plus maybe a few to many
> later tracks. However, your right, some of the later tracks are
> wonderful and necessary. Purple Rain done live, I'm not so sure.
How do you comp a band like the Hollies that had so many good albums,
even when they were doing a lot of covers. You know there was a time you
could pick up all the albums cheap. I did and filled in loads of singles
too. I might be difficult to justify buying the whole lot now at
collectors or cd prices. I have the Epic box only cause I got it cheap.
>
>
> Beach Boys: I actually would stay away from comps (my bias) and buy
> the two for ones from their peak years. "Pet Sounds" to "Sunflower"
> or so in my opinion. I know many would go before and after this.
> Each album will have a clunker or two but it has many great songs not
> on comps and retains it's charm more then comps (IMO). As discussed
> before Beach Boy's largely ran out of gas in the mid 70's or so but
> LOVE YOU is worth having too.
Arrg... this is what gets me. Sorry but the Beach Boys hit their stride
with Shut Down Vol 2 and kept making great records through Holland. And
I'm a strong believer in Love You and 16 Big Ones. The idea that they
didn't make a good record until Pet Sounds is misinformed. With nearly
all the albums now part of two fers, you can afford the whole
collection. There are too many great album tracks to compile them
properly and ignoring the early records is risky. It's pretty easy to
find the recent reissues used, so there is no excuse. The Box Set is
awfully great too, containing loads of unreleased stuff. The Endless
Harmony and Hawthorn comps add more essential unreleased stuff along
with some less necessary vocal only mixes. There are some shockingly
great obscure early album trax. Brian had the vision from day one, it
just took them a while to get away from old style song writing. I think
this is what puts off a lot of those "it all starts with Pet Sounds
folks". I grew up with these and just thrilled at ever new album
(exceptin' Party).
>
>
> Byrds are tough. That's a box good set over all. I still prefer
> having many of the earlier discs then that set. But, you'd do fine
> with the set. However, Byrds had different periods. So SWEETHEARTS ON
> THE RADIO is a very cool country rock album compared to the earlier
> jangley Byrds stuff. Plus, the rereleases have bonus songs and/ or
> studio banter.
Yeah like the Beach Boys and others, it's impossible to get a good
overview from a comp, even like that expansive box, which omits a lot of
Gene Clarks stuff. Right there you've got a big problem. I can't see
living with out most everything... Further Along and Byrdmanix might be
the only two you could skip, but what the hell... you need 'em. The
reunion album is a lost gem that still doesn't get the credit it
deserves. If Gene's No Other, Terry Reid and Dennis Wilson get the Great
Lost tag, so does that one.
>
>
> Zombies: I think you need the Zombies's box ZOMBIES HEAVEN. It's my
> fav box I own. You could by Oddessey and Oracle with "The Singles A
> and B" and have most of what your looking for. However, the box
> covers live stuff, rare stuff, interviews...it's just great fun from
> an amazing band. For what it worth my Oddessey and Oracle is on Ebay
> at the moment per I finally decided to dump it (given I have ZOMBIE
> HEAVEN-the box set). But, I'd say go for the BOX...
Yeah, what do you say about a band that only made two albums in their
career yet can easily manage a four disc box, and then you still might
need some of the comps due to the mono/stereo stuff. Alec has really
gone out of his way to make sure you have to keep buying Zombies stuff.
Bastard! Not too many weak trax in the whole lot.
>
>
> I hope that helps a bit Jason...
>
> Steve
and...
"--- In audities@yahoogroups.com, "floatingunder" <Steven.Durben@c...>
PS: maybe because I've been listening to them a lot but another
wonderful group from the 60's that you could forget about (but
shouldn't) is The Easybeats. They are best known for "Sorry"
and "Friday on My Mind". I have a comp called "The Definitive
Anthology" that is just plain GREAT. Check them out too, if you have
not. The Easybeats are great 60's sounding pop with odd little turns
now and again. Brilliant stuff IMO."
This is another band that sort of hard to collect on this side of the
world. I sort of think there was a compete box in Australia. They
definitely got better when they went to England and recorded with Shel
Talmy. I recently saw a live bit from Beat Club of them playing Friday
On My Mind Live. Amazing. Marcus Hook Roll Band anyone? I don't own
every early record, but it's not from trying.
Almost any 60's band except for the Beatles are pretty hard to collect
these days. Do you get everything or just the hits? The Animals catalog
is totally screwed up, and whole albums have gone missing in their
original form or completely. The Who have done an ok job, but in the
rush to create stereo mixes a lot of songs have been altered in ways
that do not help. The Stones got it a little better this time, but the
decision to not do the proper first two UK albums is a huge mistake.
One rare attempt at setting the record straight is with Traffic. You can
get both the mono and stereo versions of both the UK and US variations
of Mr Fantasy/Heaven Is In Your Mind. These are dramatically different.
The UK Kinks reissues have also been a great addition, though a few
songs don't appear on any... Some have complained about the sound, but I
think they are fine, and I doubt we'll get another upgrade. Just read
that there is a double disc of Village Green coming with a load of
rarities. Might finally see those Great Lost Kinks tracks?
Yeah now there are all those dodgy comps of most of these bands that
muddy the waters even more.
I was lucky to have a few bux and access to discount bins when this 60's
stuff was all dumped and could be had for loose change. As a result I
got a good listen to most of these bands in chronological order and the
complete catalog. A friend of mine used to obsessively note all the non
album tracks and single variations, so we knew what to look for. Filled
in a lot of gaps that we might have missed.
..end of rant or rave
-- Ronald Sanchez
Director Of A&R
Career Records
www.CareerRecords.com
The Donovan's Brain Web Site
www.Donovans-Brain.com
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