10/27/98 to 1/19/99

Title:  Gary Puckett - The Best Of Gary Puckett

Label:  CBS 462666 2 (Australia)

Comments: (Insert first 2 lines from Walker Brothers review here) There are 19
tracks here - pretty generous for a budget compilation - and the sound is
decent. If you want all 7 of Puckett's late '60s overwrought ballads with the
Union Gap, this is a pretty fair place to grab them all. You know the bit,
Puckett was always lusting after jailbait ("Young Girl") and trying to use
that condom in his wallet ("Lady Willpower"). He worried that his true love
was thinking about shacking up with the UPS guy or something ("Woman Woman")
and tried to convince her otherwise ("Don't Give In To Him"). A very
complicated dude our boy Gary. So much for truth in advertising, however, as
the CD is the best of Gary Puckett (not the Union Gap) and Puckett's 2 early
'70s charters for Columbia don't show up here at all. The are no liner notes
either on the skimpy one page insert with a microscopic band photo. Well,
there are some nice album tracks to fill out the set and the price is right.
If you want more, check out the Legacy package of a few years back.

Posted by: George W.Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   1-19-99

Title: The John Denver Collection 5 cd cardboard box set

Label: LaserLight 15978

Comments:  1999 did not start off on the right foot for this kid who's first purchase of the new year was this turkey package called the John Denver Collection from LaserLight.  Included are 5 cd's which can be purchased separately if you are foolish enough to consider buying them.  I have several problems with this collection but the major problems are that the material is all rerecorded, there are very few of John Denver's hits included (1 per cd) and the mastering is pitiful.  Of course nowhere on the outside of the box does it mention that the cd's inside contain rerecorded material or I never would have purchased the set to start with.  LaserLight is one of these hit and miss labels that sometimes release some darn good product at a very reasonable price and other times they go into the K-Tel state of mind and issue rerecorded material without informing you that the material is rerecorded so it is buyer beware when considering a LaserLight purchase.  I would recommend that you always check my book Top 40 Music On Compact Disc before you lay down any moola on this LaserLight garbage.  I have to buy this crap just so I can inform you whether it is rerecorded or not and as you can probably tell, I really love tossing my money to the wind.

Posted by:  Pat Downey 1/11/99  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title: Nuggets (4 cd box set)

Label:  Rhino 75466

Comments:  Wow what an ambitious effort this box set is!  Lots of positive things to say about this box set and only a few negative so first let's tackle the negative aspects.  Almost all songs appear in mono which is unlike the original vinyl release and the equilization seems to be skewed toward the high end making some songs almost painful to listen to.  Even though the title of the box states "original artifacts from the first psychedelic era 1965-1968, Rhino in their infinite wisdom included Louie Louie from late 1963 and early 1964.  On the positive side, we get 4 cd's filled with gems from the 1965-1968 era many of which had yet to appear on cd prior to this box set.  When I say filled, I mean literally filled as cd number 3 has a running time of 78:59.  Included is a 99 page booklet of liner notes which are informative, entertaining and downright enjoyable to read.  CD #1 is an exact replica of the vinyl LP which was titled Nuggets.  The final 3 cd's present material that Rhino deemed equivalent in musical style to cd #1 and for the most part they did an excellent job of replicating the sound of an era and genre of music (I still don't see how Sam The Sham or the Swingin' Medallions fit into the genre of music being presented here).   I'm not going to spend the rest of the day entering the exact track lineup so let me just mention that there are 118 songs here of which 34 were top 40 singles and of those 34 only 1 appears in stereo (Journey To The Center Of The Mind by Amboy Dukes with the usual dropout from 2:26 to 2:29).  Definitely recommended for those of us that grew up in this era listening to both top 40 radio and the early FM album stations.  You won't find any of the big name acts like Hendrix or the Doors on this set but well worth the money anyway.

Posted by: Pat Downey 12/23/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title: Chart Toppers - Dance Hits Of The 60's

Label:  Priority 51054

Comments:  This cd has been out for about 6 months and there is nothing unusual per se regarding the contents but it brings up a good question that I would like to get feedback on.  One of the tracks included is Litle Eva's "Locomotion" which is mono and I have entered a comment which will appear in the next edition of Top 40 Music On Compact Disc that states "handclaps added that were not on the original 45 or LP".  These handclaps do not appear on my 45 or LP but I have heard through the grapevine that some 45's were pressed with the handclaps added.   I would like to get to the bottom of this mystery so if anyone out there has the original 45 with the handclaps which start about :35 into the song please let me know.   Now let's get back to the contents of this cd which are: Bobby Lewis "Tossin And Turnin" (S) includes the introduction but of course is missing the hi-hat overdub, Little Eva "Locomotion" (M), Contours "Do You Love Me" (M), Joey Dee "Peppermint Twist" (S), Surfaris "Wipeout" (M) the long version (why hasn't the original length ever been issued on cd?), Jackie Wilson "Baby Workout" (S), Sam The Sham "Wooly Bully" (M), Strangeloves "I Want Candy" (S), Dion "Runaround Sue" (S), Ventures "Walk Don't Run" (S), Jan & Dean "Surf City" (S), Archies "Sugar Sugar" (S), Spiral Starecase "More Today Than Yesterday" (S), Shirley Ellis "Name Game" (S) and Lesley Gore "It's My Party" (S).

Posted by: Pat Downey 12/22/98  e-mail: patdowney@uswest.net

Title:  Byrd Parts - various artists

Label:  Raven RVCD-77 (Australian import)

Comments:  What this is: a 24 track compilation of various permutations of
Byrds members in mostly obscure forms. It's a great concept for Raven to
collect pre-hit David Crosby ("Willie Gene"), Chris Hillman (the Hillmen -
"When The Ship Comes In") and the Byrds under the names the Jet Set ("The Only
Girl I Adore") and the Beefeaters ("It Won't Be Wrong"). Add in tracks by the
International Submarine Band ("Sum Up Broke"), Dillard & Clark Expedition
("Why Not Your Baby") and the Byrds backing Jackie DeShannon ("Splendour In
The Grass" and David Hemmings ("Back Street Mirror"). Finally there are later
day members represented with Gene Parsons ("Hot Burrito #1") and Skip Battin
("Captain Video"). The liner notes discuss each song and include some neat
rare pictures. On that basis the rock and roll Dentist says pick it up.
What it is not: is a "hits" collection or even close misses. The only true
hit is "Don't You Write Her Off" by McGuinn Clark & Hillman which is great to
get on CD. However, missing are the Flying Burrito Brothers (why not "Lazy
Day"?), Souther, Hillman, Furay Band ("Fallin' In Love"), Chris Hillman solo
or Desert Rose stuff, solo Roger McGuinn ("Knockin' On Heavens Door" or even
"King Of The Hill"), David Crosby solo or with CSN (Y), Skip & Flip, etc.
With that caveat, let's hope Raven considers a second volume or perhaps a U.S.
version by a cool label like Varese or Sundazed.

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist 12/15/98

Title: Love Rocks - Love Time   and   Love Rocks - After Midnight

Label:  Simitar 55832  and  Simitar 55852

Comments:  What a surprise when I checked out the contents of a new series of compact discs released this fall from Simitar.  The series is titled "Love Rocks" and there are 6 of them, each with 14 tracks which these days is generous for the budget price.  The quality on all 6 is very nice and I have selected to look at two of them in detail because these two contain previously unavailable (on compact disc) top 40 hits.  First, "Love Rocks - Love Time" (all tracks are stereo) which includes for the first time in the US, "In The Midnight Hour" by Cross Country  along with these other songs which have previously appeared on compact disc: Foreigner "I Want To Know What Love Is", Gary Wright "Love Is Alive", Seals & Crofts "Diamond Girl", Orleans "Dance With Me", America "I Need You" (45 and "America" LP version), Leon Russell "Lady Blue", Alice Cooper "You And Me", England Dan and John Ford Coley "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight", Paul Davis "I Go Crazy", Kenny Nolan "I Like Dreamin'", Firefall "You Are The Woman", John Sebastian "She's A Lady" and Lobo "I'd Love You To Want Me".  On "Love Rocks - After Midnight" you can find for the first time on cd in the US, the Climax  Blues Band "I Love You"  and these other songs whcich have previously appeared on compact disc:  Bob Welch "Sentimental Lady", Marty Balin "Hearts", Dan Fogelberg "Longer", Rita Coolidge "We're All Alone", Dave Mason "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow", Doobie Brothers "Real Love", REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You", Toto "Roseanna", Karla Bonoff "Personally", Jimmy Hall "I'm Happy That Love Has Found You", Nicolette Larson "Lotta Love", Eddie Money "Think I'm In Love" and Kenny Loggins "I Believe In Love".

Posted by: Pat Downey  12/05/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title:  Roger Williams - Softly As I Leave You…A Tribute To Frank Sinatra

Label:  Varese Sarabande VSD 5984

Comments:  The pianist Roger Williams hit with a dreamy glissando-heavy style
best exemplified by "Autumn Leaves." Just as you can't imagine Perry Como
suddenly raring back and letting loose with a gut-busting shriek, so too you
can describe Williams piano stylings as "laid back." This 16 track CD is
curl-up-in-front-of-the-fire-with-a-blanket-and-a-cat-on-a-cold-winter's-day
music. These songs have been previously released on other records, though the
liner notes do not, unfortunately, tell you the source of each. Ostensibly,
they are all Frank Sinatra songs, though there is no need for that artificial
thematic device (especially since songs like "The Green Leaves Of Summer" and
"Stardust" are not indelibly linked with Sinatra). Don't purchase the CD
expecting to hear "New York New York" or "That's Life" or very many other
classic Sinatra tunes (though you do get "Strangers In The Night" and "All The
Way"). That isn't a concern if you like Williams style of nooding with a
melody with relaxed orchestrations, this CD doesn't disappoint. The only song
that really works up a sweat is the last minute or so of the final song "For
Once In My Life" which suddenly kicks into hyperdrive. Other highlights are
"Willow Weep For Me," "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing" and the title track.
A nice sounding disc for your bachelor pad.

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   12/01/98

Title:  More From The Burt Bacharach Songbook

Label:  Varese Sarabande VSD-5987

Comments:  For some strange reason, Burt Bacharach is suddenly hot stuff. No
problem on this end with recognizing any of the great songwriters, but why
just Bacharach? At any rate, this is the second volume by you pals at V.S. of
some of the best classic Bacharach hits (and some misses). Rhino recently
issued a boxed set of this stuff (mostly the more familiar versions), so
Varese smartly pretty much steers clear of the obvious (with a few exceptions
like "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" by B.J.Thomas and "Make It Easy On
Yourself" by the Walker Brothers). Here you get Isaac Hayes' first hit - a
soulful "Walk On By" and The Anita Kerr Singers "I Say A Little Prayer." OK,
so many of the songs won't make you forget the bigger hit versions (did Bobby
Darin ever sound less interested in singing a song than he does here on
"What's New Pussycat"?), but it is fun to hear different versions for a change
(i.e. Nancy Sinatra working out to "Wishin' And Hopin'"). The treats here are
the lesser-known songs like a very likable Doris Day goody "Send Me No
Flowers" from 1964 and Margaret Whiting (?!) rockin' it up on "Hot Spell" from
1958. For every Bobby Vinton "Blue On Blue" (a well-known hit), you get a
Jerry Orbach (now on TV's Law&Order kids!) "Promises Promises" (a not such a
well-known version). Now fellows, how's about a great composer series of
CDs?

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   12/01/98

Title: Wolfman Jack's "Let's Cruise" Volume 1 & 2

Label:  Big Ear Music 4008 and 4009

Comments:  Here we have one of the classic good news/bad news situations.  So first the good news -- Wolfman Jack's voice is included as an introduction to about half of the songs on these two compact discs and believe it or not, his voice never ever tracks over the music.  So what's the bad news then?  Well it seems that the masters used for producing these two cd's were quite often very scratchy records.  Can't any record company seem to get their act together and do something right for a change?  Forget the track lineup, this cd rates an "F" which stands for Frisbee.

Posted by: Pat Downey  11/27/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title:  Dick Bartley Presents Collector's Essentials-On The Radio Vol. 3 & Vol. 4

Label:  Varese Sarabande VSD 5973 & VSD 5974

Comments:  Many of the songs that we hear on "oldies" stations now are actually
not the hit versions that were played back in the golden age of Top 40 AM
radio. This set of compact discs is for the serious record-phile who wants to
hear goodies like the 45 edit of the Angels' "My Boyfriend's Back" in first-
time stereo (here on volume 4). Each disc contains 16 songs and the sound is
generally excellent (compare the crispness of "Sweet Mary" by Wadsworth
Mansion on Vol.4 with the sound on Rhino's Have A Nice Day, for instance).
Many of the selections are simply shortened versions of the LP cut (such as
Vol. 3's "This Is My Song" by Petula Clark), but many mono mixes actually
featured overdubs not on the stereo version (i.e. "Creeque Alley" by the Mamas
& the Papas from the same Vol. 3). Vol. 3 features songs like Les Crane's
"Desiderata" and Shirley Ellis' "The Name Game." Vol. 4 includes "Love Power"
by the Sandpebbles and "Can't Find The Time" by Orpheus. The first two
volumes in this series are also worth owning. Here's hoping that the next set
of CDs contains the single versions of the Doors' "Light My Fire" and Cheap
Trick's "Ain't That A Shame."

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   11/23/98

Title:  Lou Christie - Lou Christie

Label:  Varese Vintage VSD 5947

Comments:  Lou Christie (Lugee Sacco to his parents) hit big-time with falsetto pop on
songs like "Two Faces Have I" and the double-entendre ditty "Lightning
Strikes, so it's a big surprise to hear the countrified delights on this 1974
era reissue. With an assist from songwriter/producer Tony Romeo (Cowsills,
Partridge Family), Christie managed to score his final top 100 placing (#80)
with a single from this LP "Beyond The Blue Horizon" which had been a Jeanette
McDonald vehicle in the 1930 movie Monte Carlo.
The time seemed right for a reissue of this LP with this single's renewed
interest as music for a Travel Network commercial. The sound is sorta
Hawaiian country (don't ask, just enjoy) with much of the LP recalling the
post-Monkees work of Mike Nesmith. Rick Nelson and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
were both doing the same sort of country-pop and frankly this LP holds up
favorably. Vocally, Christie sounds like early Dan Fogelberg (that's a
complement actually) on standards like "Mack The Knife" and"Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah"
or on originals like "Hey You Cajun." In addition to the ten tracks from the
old Three Brothers LP, Varese sticks on four bonus' including the wonderful
original "Little Bit Of God" and the standard "Wheel Of Fortune." This is a
pleasant surprise.

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   11/21/98

Title: Dick Bartley Presents Collectors Essentials: On The Radio Volume 3 & 4

Label: Varese Sarabande 5973 and 5974

Comments:  Here are some more nice volumes from Dick Bartley's "On The Radio" series.  On volume 3 you will find Shirley Ellis "Name Game" (S) faded to match the original single and LP length, Mama's & Papa's "Creeque Alley" (M) finally we get the single version, Steam "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (S) again we finally get the single version, Dixie Cups "Chapel Of Love" (S) an attempt at recreating the single but this is the alternate vocal introduction, American Breed "Bend Me Shape Me" (M), Tommy James "Mirage" (S) since the master tape cannot be found for this 45, one was created by playing the first part of the song from a stereo master tape (in stereo) and completing the 45 version by overdubbing the (mono) 45, Argent "Hold Your Head Up" (S) this is the dj 45 edit, Swingin' Medallions "Double Shot" (M) finally we get the version that I heard on the radio in the 60's with the lyric line "worst hangover I ever had" replaced by the line "worst morning after I ever had", Spiral Starecase "More Today Than Yesterday" (S) a remixed stereo version, Dobie Gray "The In Crowd" (S) mastered from vinyl but clean, Association "Never My Love" (M) finally the 45 version, Chambers Brothers "Time Has Come Today" (S) the 3:09 version, Crazy Elephant "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" (M) finally the 45 version, Petula Clark "This Is My Song" (S) again we finally get the 45 version, B J Thomas "Hooked On A Feeling" (M) the 45 version and Les Crane "Desiderata" (S) first time appearance on cd!

On Volume 4 we get the Fifth Dimension "Aquarius" (S) with one of two dj edits (where is the shorter edit?), Sandpebbles "Love Power" (S) LP length, Zombies "She's Not There" (M) 45 version, Three Dog Night "Joy To The World" (M) 45 version, 1910 Fruitgum Company " Simon Says" 45 version, Foundations "Build Me Up Buttercup" (S) I don't know why this was included on this package as the LP version = 45 version, Leaves "Hey Joe" (S) best sounding version on cd, Wadsworth Mansion "Sweet Mary" (M) slightly longer than the 45 because this version has a cold ending while the 45 faded (Dick Bartley says in the liner notes that there were two different 45 versions, one of which had this cold ending but I have never heard of anyone that has this ending on their 45 - does anyone out there have a copy?), Angels "My Boyfriend's Back" (S) 45 version in stereo for the first time, Blood, Sweat & Tears "And When I Die" (S) 45 version in stereo, Paul Revere & The Raiders "Him Or Me - What's It Gonna Be" (S) 45 version, Booker T & The MG's "Time Is Tight" (S) 45 version, Hondells "Little Honda" (S), Hollies "Long Cool woman" (S) 45 version and,  Eddie Holman "Hey There Lonely Girl" (S) 45 version.

Posted by: Pat Downey  11/20/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title:  Southwest F.O.B. - Smell Of Incense

Label:  Sundazed SC 11060

Comments:  At one time Rhino was the only U.S. reissue label that mattered.
Collectors wanting more than straight reissues or hits packages needed them
for bonus singles or unreleased tracks. With Rhino moving up to bigger
selling projects generally, smaller labels have entered the fray such as Bob
Irwin's Sundazed which has especially done a great job with Columbia's acts
(Paul Revere & the Raiders, Bruce & Terry, etc.). This 20 track CD comes
mostly from the '60s label Hip (a Stax pop subsidiary). What makes this CD
noteworthy (other than the generally fine music included) is that Southwest
F.O.B. included (England) Dan Seals and John (Ford) Coley (spelled Colley in
the late '60s) who would have a decent run of singles in the late '70s on
their own. The title track was the hit if you could call a Billboard placing
of #56 in October 1968 a hit. The strength of this Texas band was gorgeous
five-part harmony (think psychedelic Association music as a reference) with
nice use of horn and keyboard (harpsichord or farfisa organ). The original
nine track LP has been augmented with 11 non-LP single sides (two as Theze
Eyes pre-Southwest F.O.B.) or edits in mono. Highlights are the very poppy
and unjustly non-charting single "All One Big Game" and the pretty "Bells Of
Baytown." Most of the songs were Colley-Seals originals with "Smell Of
Incense" coming via the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band (also on Sundazed
I believe). The low points are a shaky cover of Chuck Berry's "Nadine", the
Buffalo Springfield's "Rock 'N'Roll Woman" and a draggy "Feelin' Groovy" from
Paul Simon (strangely a single only a year after the hit by Harper's Bizarre).
In 1988 the Big Beat label in England did a vinyl reissue on these guys
omitting these last two tracks (plus a few other single sides) and including
three supposedly later day tracks. Only one song ("You're Looking So Fine")
would have been a nice fit here and it's a shame it didn't make this CD. The
only other complaint is that on the Big Beat release, the non-LP sides "Green
Skies," "Independent Me" and "Beggar Man"are in stereo while they are in mono
on this CD. By the way, the cover art on the LP featuring 4 nude female
models (showing very little actually) had prevented many stores in the '60s
from carrying the LP.

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll dentist   11/17/98

Title: Duran Duran -- Greatest

Label: Capitol 96239

Comments:  Duran Duran had 15 top 40 hits on the Billboard charts and guess what - they are all here on this new single cd set from Capitol!  These are mostly the 45 versions of their hits and the only glitch that I can find is that the song "Rio" is neither the dj 45 version, the commercial 45 version or the LP version.   Other than that minor glitch this is a great package.

Posted by: Pat Downey 11/11/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title: Clyde McPhatter -- The Forgotten Angel

Label: 32 R&B 32089

Comments:  Lots of folks interested in what this package has to offer and I guess the highlights would be a) it is a 2 disc set which includes Clyde's work with the Drifters and his solo material and b) nice liner notes.  The masters used in my opinion were poorly selected and even though this was supposed to be a comprehensive Clyde McPhatter package, two of his top 40 hits are missing (Ta Ta and Little Bity Pretty One).   Treasure Of Love is a live recording from a scratchy record, Without Love appears twice, once in stereo (live) and once in horrible electronic stereo.  Other hits in mono are Just To Hold My Hand, Long Lonely Nights, A Lover's Question and Since You've Been Gone.  Lover Please is in stereo which is an odd choice because it is the mono version that includes the echo on the handclaps which I think is preferrable but that is personal taste on my part.

Posted by: Pat Downey  11/08/98  e-mail patdowney@uswest.net

Title:  Gene Pitney - Ten Years Later & New Sounds Of

Label:  Sequel NEM CD 898 (UK import)

Comments:  In the last year or so, Sequel has been reissuing all the Gene Pitney
LPs as two-fers in the UK which is an admirable undertaking. While all
Pitney's LPs as worth owning, this is the set your's truly has been waiting
for. These LPs represent Pitney's slide from US hitmaker which is a pity as
can be heard from the quality of these 1969 - 72 performances. The first LP
was made up mostly of singles (some are UK only) such as "She Let's Her Hair
Down (Early In The Morning)," "Maria Elena (I'm Going To War)" and the sublime
"Playing Games Of Love." These are mostly all first timers on CD and in
stereo which is especially welcome on the last mentioned track as it appeared
on the US LP The Gene Pitney Story in electronic stereo decades ago. Most of
these tracks are from British songwriters and have that Brit-pop feel like the
Ivy League or the Tony Burrows-lead bands. Several of the other tracks are
from the Platters songbook such as "The Great Pretender" and "My Prayer."
With 26 songs, this is a real treat presenting music that is probably new
enough to most Pitney fans that it will feel like a brand new release. A
Must!

Posted by:George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   10/27/98

Title:  Barry Scott Presents The Lost 45s of the '70s & '80s

Label:  Varese Vintage VSD-5955

Comments:  Various artists CDs are tough sells. Unless you know where and when
to look for them, you may miss them all-together. If you see them in a
catalogue, there is no way to know if you really need to own them by title
alone. You need to see the track-listing to know if it contains any gems you
need. Frankly, I give credit to labels that try to get stuff out this way.
The idea is to compile oddball singles from groups that nobody in their right
mind would want a whole CD by. I mean, who really wants a Van Stephenson CD
when you can buy this set and get "Modern Day Delilah" along with Balance
("Breaking Away"), Chilliwack ("My Girl [Gone, Gone, Gone]"), Tony Carey ("A
Fine Fine Day"), etc. There are a total of 14 tracks here with seven being
first-time single versions on CD (i.e. Tycoon's "Such A Woman") and four more
first-time ever on CD (i.e. "More Than Just The Two Of Us" by Sneaker).
Here's hoping they keep going with this as there are so many great singles not
on CD yet (and I'll be glad to send you a list Cary!) such as Foghat's "Wide
Boy" and Tim Moore's "In The Middle" (to name just two). The songs are all
stereo and the booklet is fairly informative about each band represented here.

Posted by:  George W. Krieger DDS, the rock and roll Dentist   10/27/98

01/20/09