>i was thinking it'd be cool to read a handful of your lists of bands with
>descriptions and their best compilations/albums to serve as a guide to some
>upcoming purchases.

One unfortunately under-anthologized group that I'm inordinately fond of is
the South African folk-poppers Four Jacks and A Jill.  Their 1968 single
"Master Jack" is a bizarre marvel of acoustic guitars, brushed drums and
Glenys Lynne's oddly endearing voice: I can only describe it as a cross
between Lesley Gore and Nico.  (Ironically, their follow-up single was
called "Mr. Nico.")  They had two albums, MASTER JACK and FABLES (both
1968, RCA), in this style, but there's never been a really good CD
compilation of these albums.  (There's one from the mid-90s, but it's out
of print and focuses on their later, middle of the road stuff from the
'70s, when they were basically Africa's answer to the Carpenters.)
Strongly recommended if you like early Bee Gees.

In fact, the Bee Gees' '67-'70 incarnation (BEE GEES FIRST through ODESSA)
is absolutely essential, in case you've never heard those records.  

I have "Master Jack" on CD on a rather terrific Time-Life double-disc
called LOST HITS OF THE '60S: 40 SOLID GOLD AM CLASSICS that's a pretty
swell sunshine-pop sampler, with stone classics of the style by Spanky and
Our Gang (another big favorite of mine -- imagine a white Fifth Dimension
with a taste for both early jazz and musical comedy), Harpers Bizarre (who
are as gods to me), Five Americans, Neon Philharmonic, the Cyrkle, the
Association, Crispian St. Peters, the Peppermint Rainbow, the Rose Garden,
Dino Desi and Billy, the Cowsills, Every Mother's Son and the Critters.  I
strongly recommend picking it up at www.timelife.com.

S