3 comments about Billboard Top 10 Karaoke, Vol. 1.

1. This CD does live up to it reviews. It is an excellent compilation of the decades passed. i love it. A must have for any karaoke r.



2. The music is not the original artists but is music "made famous by the original artist" and is only evident once you read the fine print. It seems a bit dishonest to use the Billboard Top 10 as a selling vehicle. I rated the item a 4 because the music is ok and after all it is Karaoke. Worst of all is the price--I found these at Walmart for $30.



3. The songs are fine, but there is no way to tell how close you are to the next lyric when in between verses. Unless you know the songs it can be tough to track. Many other competitors have ...s or something to signal how close you are to the next verse.

5 comments about Very Best of Herman's Hermits.

1. Listening to this 2 CD set I was surprised not only at how many songs I remembered but how great many of them were.
   If you're a British Invasion enthusiast you will enjoy this set.



2. The Very Best of Herman's Hermits is a strong two CD set that gives us so many of the best from Herman's Hermits! They had a style all their own and their music is truly memorable. Yes, one could argue that there's a song or two missing; but this is still a rather comprehensive two CD set. The quality of the sound is great and the artwork is very nicely done.
   
   "I'm Into Something Good" starts the first CD with one of their biggest hits--ever. Herman's Hermits really sings this well and the beat is catchy--the percussion also helps to mark the best. Herman's Hermits could really do a rock song great--and this proves it right from the start! "Show Me Girl" has a rock flavor that is so typical of the style of this group--catchy, well written and easily memorable. No wonder Herman's Hermits were so successful! In addition, there's also "Silhouettes;" Herman's Hermits do a wonderful cover of this `50s torch song and the guitar work is nothing short of excellent--I love it! "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" was another huge hit for this group; and they sing this to perfection--and beyond! Herman's Hermits really delve into "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" to make this another one of their best hits ever.
   
   "Just A Little Bit Better" features the band front and center--great! They sing this so well; and they really outdo themselves on "A Must To Avoid." "A Must To Avoid" just plain sounds great and their sound is unforgettable. "No Milk Today" has great percussion and guitar work while Herman's Hermits sing this flawlessly. I love it! The modulations between major and minor keys really make "No Milk Today" a very good number. "There's A Kind Of Hush" is another excellent, timeless hit from Herman's Hermits; and it's definitely one of my very favorite tunes by this group. There's also "Just One Girl;" and this great tune ends the first CD really well.
   
   The second CD continues the hits. "Something's Happening" is a very sweet song about falling in love with your one true love; and "Here Comes The Star" has fantastic key modulations to make this number shine brightly! I really like "Here Comes The Star." "Years May Come Years May Go" has a well written arrangement and Herman's Hermits sing and play this with panache--great! Herman's Hermits are squarely in the spotlight--right where they belong! "Searching For The Southern Sun" has a folk rock flavor mixed into the rock arrangement to make this number stand out as a major highlight of the second CD; and wow, how they sing this one out proud! "Leaning On A Lamp Post" is another very good number with lots of positive energy to it.
   
   "I'm Henery The Eighth I Am" is another one of the greatest hits from Herman's Hermits--what a great rock tune! It still sounds so good even today all these years later. "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" is another unforgettable number; Herman's Hermits sing and play this with lots of feelings and I really like this tune. "Heartbeat" rocks really well; and Herman's Hermits do great on "Bus Stop." "Bus Stop" was another one of their very greatest hits; and there's no doubt as to why when you hear this famous ballad! The second CD also ends well with Herman's Hermits performing "London Look."
   
   Overall, you get 56 wonderful tracks on this two CD set; and Herman's Hermits was one awesome group. Thank you, Herman's Hermits!



3. I find it hard to believe that a collection of 56 songs on a total of 2 cd's doesn't include the song "East-West". I am dumb-founded. I know it's petty but I won't order this "collection" because of the lack of this song. What a shame.



4. I bought this 2 CD set to get all of Herman's Hermits many, many hits, and also all the B-sides. Plus, it has all the post-1967 latter day singles that were not hits in the USA. Even though I already had 2 other US greatest hits CD's, I still wanted this for all the additional songs. Too bad that it is missing EAST WEST. Even Morrissey covered it.



5. I'm so impressed with this CD.
   It's got all their greatest songs.

5 comments about Something Else by the Kinks.

1. When I was in my first semester as a Freshman in college, I was alienated, lonely, going through some terrible trauma and depression. I had loved the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and the Who since I was little, and they had helped me through such times. Wandering into an record store (this was 1984!) in Boston, I rifled through albums, and saw this one. I had only known the Kinks at that point for You Really Got Me, and a few others, but the cover art and then the titles of the songs made me realize I might be holding a gem I had never discovered.
   
   As I played the album that night, I had one of many revelatory experiences I had only experienced with the Beatles and Rolling Stones, and one of many I would have with the Kinks. This is a masterpiece. And you simply cannot try to interpret or criticize it in the context of the Beatles. They are working with material and ideas very different from most anyone else. There is something both very coy and detached, but intimate in a way that speaks to a wistful mentality, one that knows that life can be terribly painful and lonely, but in the middle of it life can also be beautiful and precious. The Kinks present this shade of life in a manner that is not pretentious. Think of all the groups (the Kinks included) who have made melancholy, whimsy and wistfulness pretentious! This album, along with its precursor Face to Face, and it subsequent Village Greene Preservation Society are three of the quiet but wonderful monuments not necessarily to rock music, but just plain great music in general. The album will never tire on me.



2. Do you like thoughtful, witty Britpop with folky influences? If so, you'll probably want to try 'Something Else' by the Kinks. It begins with 'David Watts,' probably the most upbeat song about envy anyone has ever written, and ends with 'Waterloo Sunset,' possibly the best ballad the Kinks ever recorded and certainly one of the most bittersweet songs of the 1960s. In between, there's lots of jangly guitar, some clever harpsichord runs, and songs that come across as mashups between pub singalongs and Celtic balladry. True, the production values vary a bit throughout and both Ray and Dave Davies aren't the greatest singers on either side of the Atlantic. But the songwriting is first rate, Dave Davies was a criminally under-rated guitarist, and absolutely no one could write lyrics that veered from satirical to compassionate to heartbreaking like Ray Davies did. Simply put, this is an essential CD for anyone who loves the craftsmanship of non-psychedelic late-1960s pop and rock, or the quieter side of alternative rock.
   
   If you're looking for the early 80's hard rock version of the Kinks, you'll probably be better served by 'One For the Road' but 'Something Else' is an unjustly forgotten gem that showcases the Kinks' gentler side.



3. There will always be debate as to this being the 'best ever' by the Kinks. Over 40 years since its' release, it is still vibrant. I personally place the bonus-packed reissue of 'Face to Face' at the same, top, level and slightly above the next album, 1968's 'Village Green Preservation Society' (that said, all the Kinks albums from 1966 to 1971 are very good to excellent).
   This was also Dave Davies' breakthrough as a songwriter-on "Death of a Clown" and "Love Me Till the Sun Shines" and "Funny Face". It is hard to beleive that just two years earlier this band was releasing albums that were two or three singles and a bunch of forgettable filler. Each song, from the strident rocker "David Watts" through the haunting melody of "No Return" and the numerous other catchy hooks in each of stories being told by song on this album elevate it to a level of a classic. There are sing-alongs: "Clown" and "Harry Rag"; tales of ordinary people "Two Sisters", "Situation Vacant", "Afternoon Tea", and the irresistably catchy "Waterloo Sunset". Some consider this (as well as 'Face to Face') to be a 'concept' album about the day-to-day travails of ordinary, British middle class people. The total departure from the hard rock Kinks of 1964 and 65 could not be more complete than the skillfully crafted "End of the Season", "No Return", and "Waterloo Sunset"; these are songs that would not be out of place in a musical from a previous generation. Together with the other strong songwriting throughout, they give 'Something Else' the timeless quality that makes it sound as good 40 years after release as it did in 1967.



4. Something Else by the Kinks furthers shows why the Kinks are largely considered the lost forgotten pop band of the late 60's. Some people put them right up there with the Beatles. I wouldn't go THAT far, but buying four or five Kinks albums wouldn't be a bad idea at all.
   
   One song that immediately catches my attention is "Death of a Clown". An upbeat song with the word "death" in the title? Yes! "Waterloo Sunset" is probably the best song on the album, and anyone who believes this song shouldn't be played on the radio.. guess again! It should have been a huge hit, but it wasn't, and maybe it's for the better really. We don't need radio stations playing the same song over and over. All that would do is end up making people get tired of their music!
   
   So pick up this brilliant pop album and prepare yourself for one fine, pop rock experience.



5. Besides "David Watts," there isn't a listenable song on this album. And that's coming from a big Kinks' fan. Like many great "artists" of the 60's, Ray Davies took his cue from Dylan and Lennon/McCartney and decided to become a poet rather than a musician. What a shame. Boring, boring, boring. And pretentious to boot.

5 comments about In Rock: 25th Anniversary (UK).

1. I'm a big and constant Purple fan and finally added this edition to my collection. There is no comments on this. In Rock is a brilliant foundation-stone of hard rock. We know it. Just some words about this recording I have got.Let me quote [...]
   "A remixed and extended anniversary edition was first issued with a slaughtered version of "Living wreck" and a prematurely cut-off version of "Hard lovin' man". This was soon corrected though. In case of doubt, according to Simon Robinson (in DTB 48:7), one way to tell a corrected release from a faulty one is by reading the shiny side of the actual disc: the faulty one says "EMI Swindon" while the corrected one says "EMI Uden". We are told by fans that discs printed with "EMI UK" also are faulty. Happy hunting!"
   When I first saw a booklet with the faulty track length printed I got goose bumps, then I found EMI Uden on shiny side and listening of record approves that this is the correct one. On the one hand this is a little strange to get the faulty booklet along with the correct recording today but on the other hand this is a real collector's piece.
   Btw, sound quality of this edition is very good. I have to say it once again: Happy hunting!



2. This album demonstrates the transition of a jam heavy protoprog rock band into a metal pioneer band.



3. Aloha Deep Purple fans everywhere!!!
   
   The orignal american release opens with "Speed King" sprinting out of the blocks into the field of what rock music was then being piped through FM-bandwaves, much being "mellow", though as many recall Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath had already been introduced to world and we were hungry for more rock musical muscle and prowess as was being flaunted in the then "bring it" times. The opening track intro, on this remaster, has been restored and explodes(an animated video would showing the original Mount Rushmore site exploding leaving the "In Rock" visage in its place as the quieter part of this intro reps the rocks falling away?) deceptively lulling the listner into chill-mode only to throw-up the lights as the familiar chords of the american intro slash all opening aural expectations - individual preference aside, I gotta say it sounds great and may have changed the way we heard the album back then but it wouldn't have changed an iota of the humongous talent that was about take the unsuspecting world by the ears and hold their attention for the better part of the next 4-albums that would follow from this line-up MKII.
   
   For fans who had this album, this will take you back to why you listened in the first place; to those who never heard them, never heard this album or who are looking back to search out some of the roots, you will either be grabbed from the onset, require a full-listen or perhaps possibly wonder what the hoopla was about. Bottomline for me is this is vintage-rock and as with most vintage rock, please keep that volume on 11 and by the way, there are no backwards messages or occult leanings here just straight-forward rock and no filler. On a personal note, the best rocking bands were also funky and Deep Purple were no exception.
   
   The bonus tracks on this 25th Anniversary release make for a great value and great listening, though neither add nor take from the remastered original album tracks. They do give a glimpse into what they might have done had the technology been available. If you had an older brother or sister who liked them then, buy this and have them over for a barbeque, put this on, let the party begin.



4. the best album of 1970, with epical Child In Time.
   for me Child In Time is the best ever hard rock song.
   and Gillan here proves that he's unchangable, that he's much more better than Robert Plant or Freddie.



5. All the songs are great, for all the people who owns the 25th Anniversary edition, correct me if I'm wrong, I bought the CD, played it and find out that the song Living Wreck skips twice on the intro of the song, I sent it back twice for a replacement and I have the same problem with the CD. Beside this minor problem I love Deep Purple In Rock. Long live rock and roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about More Hot Rocks: Big Hits & Fazed Cookies.

1. If you trust everyone to do good, bless your bleeding heart. If you've been burned, well well well.
   
   The Beatles always traded in the utopian moment, no surprise they always got the X-mas release. Say the word and you'll be free. The Stones described the waiting, the frustration, the lost moment. I can't get no satisfaction, you can't always get what you want ~ the key sentiment: can't. Even later, stoned and rich, Jagger convinced with I'm fumbling and I know my car don't start. Can't. Don't. Won't. And, later still, making love and breaking hearts it is a game for youth. You have to get older to sing a blues like that. McCartney you would think could achieve that but, no, hi hi hi instead. Now then. Big party tonight, booze and lose your clothes. Losers. I'll be working instead. Working alone. I got my pink transistor radio and it will be blasting elemental oldies. Can't get no. Can't always no, no and nope. Keyed up. I live in an apartment on the ninety-ninth floor of my block. Sexy and aggravated. Aggravated IS sexy. Wanna know the secret to life, love and happiness? It's SUPPOSED to piss ya off. I'd deny you nothing.
   
   If cleaning up after lazy slobs gets you off, then socialism is a dream come true.



2. When I bought this collection I was interested in one song that was not on any other Stones album at that time: "We Love You". From the closing of the jail doors (Mick and Keith had been arrested prior to recording this.)
   and the dragging of chains to the horns in the background this is just a goofy song. And if it sounds like there are too many voices for the Stones alone - John Lennon and Paul McCartney also sang on this recording. Because the single did not do well in the US (#50 on the Billboard Charts) It was not included on the US release of "Through the Past Darkly (Big Hits, Volume 2)" although the flip side, "Dandelion", was. Since then it has also been included on both "The Singles Collection: The London Years" and "Rolled Gold+: The Very Best of the Rolling Stones". Now....if someone can put out the Beach Boys / Jan & Dean / everyone sounds drunk version of "Barbara Ann"..



3. Hot Rocks - Big Hits & Fazed Cookies, is an amazing early collection by the Stones. I had the album back in 1981 but lost it. Amazon gave me a great deal on the CD, and with new digitized sound, the Stones are better than ever! I highly recomend it.
   Gary Kent
   Satisfied Amazon Customer



4. I just love this record - it has the lesser known Stones gems, especially from their psychedelic era, together with then-unreleased early songs. This shows a more mellow side of the Sontes... TLA cinema in the early '70s used to play the second LP between movies, and listening now brings it all back...
   
   The sound on this reissue is excellent and natural, I hear details not evident in the LPs I bought when they first came out.



5. Don't get me wrong I love the Stones, but "More Hot Rocks, Big Hits & Fazed Cookies" shouldn't have been released in 2002. Why? Most of this material could have been bonus material on the appropriate albums, but I understand show biz greed. Also, fans may have fond memories of this album, such as my brother, who I bought this for. One big problem he had was the opening track, "Tell Me," which was longer than the LP version back in the 70's. I can't believe no reviewers have noticed this, and that was one of the key reasons he wanted this collection; and it's not there! I call that tampering with history wouldn't you? Another problem he had, was the bonus material [disc 2] screws up the running order he so fondly remembered.
   
   If you're buying this for nostalgic reasons you may be disappointed. If you are new to this collection it might be just fine.

5 comments about Machine Head.

1. This is one of the top recordings of the day and the sound quality of this release is excellent. I am very pleased with it.



2. I always thought the original album was far too short on vinyl. I even have the quad version of the album but this expanded version is the ticket. Don't waste your time getting the original version and get this one, you won't be sorry. Anyway, most reviewers have already said pretty much what I would have said so what are you waiting for? If you like this one, get the rest of their catalog. Also stop by my small website, google "judemac Forever" and say hello.



3. When I pulled out my old vinyl LP of Machine Head and noticed that the sound quality was worse than a transistor radio, I knew it was time to look for this remastered edition on CD. The sound is pretty amazing, like hearing it for the first time. The intros on "Maybe I'm a Leo", "Never Before" and "Space Truckin'" jump with great clarity and bass, with good punch from the drums as well. Disc 2 is pretty cool, with some alternate takes that make you feel like you're there in the studio. Definitely worth a listen. Extensive liner notes too. One minor detraction from the packaging. I've never liked the 2-CD jewel cases with the little hinges that crack and break so often. Getting the second disc out can be somewhat of a pain. I've never really considered myself a big Deep Purple fan, but this set did it for me. CRANK IT UP!



4. Good value with two mixes of all the songs recorded at Montreux. I really appreciated disc 2 re-mixed by Roger Glover, more complete and exciting even than the original. Well worth the extra bucks for this 25th anniversary edition.



5. Easily one of the defining rock albums of the 70's, Deep Purple's "Machine Head" went a long way towards codifying the sound of British Rock at the time. Hell, just Ritchie Blackmore's iconic riff that kicks off "Smoke On The Water" would set "Machine Head" into the history books. Yet to many die-hards, both Fireball and In Rock were the harder albums. What, then, makes this album the landmark it is revered as today?
   
   For one thing, the original side one roared from the drop of the needle to the final spiral of its inner groove. "Highway Star" to this day conjures up a rebellious freedom that whips the wind through your helmetless motorcycle ride, the naked air slamming your face while speeding in your topless roadster. "Never Before" grinds with undeniable power. "Maybe I'm A Leo" ("...but I ain't a lion...") rocks the blues as only The Purple could. That was only side one.
   
   The old days had you flip that vinyl over for the multiple punches of "Smoke On The Water," "Lazy" and "Space Trucking." These three alone would put "machine Head" into the heavy metal hall of fame. Every teen from 1972 on who picked up their first guitar has probably practiced that riff at least twice. "Lazy" has the terrific Jon Lord organ workout, and "Space Trucking" is the last word in intergalactic rock songs.
   
   The remaster here is stunning, almost digital in its precise sound. It's almost as good as the DVD-A from 2001 (and with that item fetching $50 these days, this double CD is a bargain). The real treat, however, is the bonus CD. Roger Glover exhumes those 25 year old master tapes and gives us a slightly re-imagined entire new version of this classic album. While it won't make you snap the original CD is half, it is a striking curio. There are alternate guitar solos, a little bit of band banter (love the 'whoop!' at the end of "Lazy"), and some alternate endings. There are no 'rough sketches' or goof-offs; this is a working band's triumph against bad odds and they were making the most of it. It is exactly the kind of re-issue package that Rhino made their original reputation on, and they do "Machine Head" proud.

5 comments about Hard To Find 45s on CD, Volume 7: More 60's Classics.

1. I purchased this CD to get Midnight Mary - Joey Powers aftering hearing the song on XM radio. This CD is a great find for those wanting to get digital copies of these old songs.



2. Hard To Find 45s on CD, Volume 7: More 60's Classics has some pretty wonderful tunes from back in the day when `60s music filled the airwaves! These songs are sure to bring back good memories for you if you enjoyed this music then; and the quality of the sound couldn't be better. The artwork is nice, too.
   
   Johnny Burnette starts things off with "Dreamin';" this tune has a great beat and the strings are used to great advantage. Johnny sings this with all his heart and soul and I love this song! Gene McDaniels follows next with his huge hit, "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay." "A Hundred Pounds Of Clay" is a relentlessly upbeat, joyous tune that is always great to hear; this music is timeless and the ballad sounds fresh and new even today! The Velvets also do a great job on "Tonight (Could Be The Night)." "Tonight (Could Be The Night)" is a song that you might recognize only when you hear it; the name I didn't recognize but when I hear this music I easily remembered this song. "Tonight (Could Be The Night)" is a mixture of early rock and roll with a doo wop twist that is absolutely awesome!
   
   The G-Clefs ace their tune entitled "I Understand (Just How You Feel);" this touching ballad gets a very sensitive interpretation from The G-Clefs and it all works very well. I really like "I Understand (Just How You Feel)." Danny Williams also scores big with his hit entitled "White On White;" "White On White" is a very pretty melody and I predict you'll like this very much. In addition, "Don't Just Stand There" by Patty Duke really shines brighter than silver and gold; patty's voice is as clear as a bell and she bats this straight out of the ballpark! The strings sound great and the percussion helps to mark the beat as well.
   
   Nancy Wilson weighs in with her awesome hit "(You Don't Know) How Glad I Am;" Nancy delivers this with her usual panache and that's nothing short of terrific. Nancy handles complicated tempo and key changes to make this tune all her own! Cilla Black also does great with "You're My World;" and listen also for The Seekers to perform "I'll Never Find Another You" so sweetly; I could never tire of hearing The Seekers singing "I'll Never Find Another You." Bobby Darin's "You're The Reason I'm Living" is equally special.
   
   The Honey combs sing "Have I The Right?" with lots if positive energy; and the album ends strong with "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto--in stereo!
   
   Overall, Hard To Find 45s on CD, Volume 7: More 60's Classics has a lot for people to enjoy! I highly recommend this CD for fans of `60s music.



3. One of the biggest problems of oldies radio is the boredom factor. Most stations stick to a list of 300 "safe"songs that their consultants say won't repel listeners. Really?Well, there are songs here that won't be heard on the radio, and there lies the attraction of the entire "Hard to Find 45's" series from Eric. Bill Buster is to be commended for the care he took on this entire series, and I don't think he's done yet!One of the biggest attractions of this series is the appearance of first-time stereo tracks. Listen to Verdelle Smith sing "Tar and Cement" on this disc. A forgotten oldie that deserves the exposure this disc gives it, the stereo mix gives it a texture the mono version never could. and "Sukiyaki" in stereo... you won't find this anywhere else. Kyu Sakamoto shines, and the rich instrumental accompaniment comes through more clearly than ever. If it weren't for the fact that Sakamoto was killed in a plane crash, it could have been newly recorded.According to the liner notes, this stereo mix was created exclusively for this CD. The impeccable quality of this compilation is representative of the entire series. This disc happens to be my favorite, but you should listen to the entire series to the massive undertaking Bill Buster, the man behind Eric Records, took to bring this to us. It was truly a labor of love, and it shows. Don't just stop at Vol. 7; go for the gusto and get 'em all. You'll be glad you did!



4. You just have to listen to this CD...people complain about some of the songs being "obscure"...16 of the 21 tracks were Top 20 hits...maybe not the tired stuff you hear on the local "oldies" station, but this series bases a song's validity more on merit than anything else.



5. When I saw this CD Iremembered the songs from my teen years and had to have it. It was an awesome afternoon remembering those days of fun. Thank You for making them available. Carol

5 comments about A Gift from a Flower to a Garden.

1. Anyone who came of age in the late nineteen sixties would remember and love this album. Great tunes and lyrics. Donovan is a poet.



2. This album is one of the rarest gems I own. Donovan's discography is considerable and covers ground from American Hillbilly ala Dylan to Jazz; all transversely covered with a combination of classic minstrel and psychedelia. This album was originally released in it's present form, as a two disk set - one disk of electric 1968 psychedelic music and one European, Scottish minstrel folk music. It was then released as a single disc - containing only the acoustic songs. I am very happy to see it returned in it's intended original majestic form. The electric songs on this album have never grabbed me. Donovan is pure psychedelia; he's the authentic thing. He's what hippies and beatniks should of evolved into if they had had the potential - classic renaissance men who embody myths. But the production of this album can't hold up to psychedelia. It's too reel to reel and sounds like it was recorded during a vacation on the Isle of White. But the acoustic is pure magic. It is educational in the sense that it exposes the true roots of US folk - European poets with voices like larks who actually could read and write. I highly recommend this CD to anyone. However, turn up the volume while listening. The sound production would be considered bootleg in our present era. Still, it's worth whatever tweaking you have to go through. You won't find a true minstrel again for a long, long time.



3. 1968 was the year, when the double-album concept really was beginning to break though. The Beatles released their "White Album", Jimi Hendrix released "Electric Ladyland" and Donovan this album, which with a playing time of about sixty minutes today plays easily on a single CD.
   
   The original album was divided into two records which thematically were meant be to different in their approach. First record, which was released in some countries as a single album titled "Wear Your Love Like Heaven", was a continuation of Donovan's "new" electric style with Mickey Most as his producer. When Donovan in like Dylan turned electric in 1966 with "Sunshine Superman" Most was his producer and their partnership continued throughout the sixties.
   
   Though record one is mostly with drums and electric backing it's really not a rock-record. And apart from "Wear Your Love Like Heaven", "Mad John's Escape" and a few other tracks most songs would not stick out on record two which was more or less a return to the pure acoustic folk-style which Donovan had left in 1965. Record two "For Little Ones" could thematically seem like a childrens' album, and while some songs would work fine as childrens' songs others lyrically probably would not really work. Most, of course, is also credited as the producer of this record.
   
   As a whole the double album is a very pleasant and mostly quiet album featuring simply arranged melodic tunes among which only few stand out.
   
   On record one the before-mentioned "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" and "Mad John's Escape" are obvious favourites along with the quieter "Land of Doesn't Have to Be".
   
   On record two it may be harder to bring forward particular songs, but "The Tinker and the Crab" and the beautiful closing track "Epistle to Derroll" are among my favourites.



4. Reviewing a musical recording so many years after its initial release is a trip in itself. You have the benefit of some acquired wisdom, perhaps clearer insight into things in general, and you aslo have had time to see if you STILL like the recording. With regard to Donovan's GIFT....cd I can say I like it more today than I did years ago and I liked it a lot back then as well. But I have been a Donovan fan since SUNNY GOODGE STREET and COLOURS and CATCH THE WIND....
   
   This CD is so much a concept album as is SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND and BEGGAR'S BANQUET. We all know the album was meant to be a homage to the Maharesh Yogi of Beatles fame. Be that as it may, I am not here to argue for or against Transcendental Meditation. However, I am here to say this album leaves me with a feeling of tranquility that is so much more satisfying than valium can ever be.
   
   The songs all seem to celebrate the little things of life. The everyday things we do as part of our ritual of life: drinking tea with a friend; holding an infant in our arms; watching a child play in the sand at the beach. There are songs about the value of love in our life (WEAR YOUR LOVE LIKE HEAVEN, the one true hit from the release.) or (THERE WAS A TIME).
   
   Another thing I like about this record is that Donovan chose 4 or 5 musicians (bass, drums, organ and some laid back electric guitar) to back up his voice and his acoustic. The level of the musicianship is tasteful and elegant. I especially like the melodic, though understated, organ work. And what's more, Donovan uses these players on almost every song giving the feeling of a true band ambience.
   
   So, the next time you kick back at home on a cool Autumn day with the wind blowing blustery and quick and the silver lined clouds begin to dance in a azure-gold and lavender sky...put Donovan's GIFT cd into the disc player and celebrate the little things...and I would hope that not only Baby Boomers do so....we all could use a little "GIFT FROM A FLOWER......"
   peace
   Vince Lucie



5. This album was introduced to me at 14 years old (I am 27). I feel like its melodies and lyrics actually helped to shape who I am. The songs on this album range from meaningful and delicate to quirky and hopping. Each song deserves equal credit for making this one of my all time favorite albums. A smile on your face, a tear in your eye, Donovan can bring out the feeling. A MUST HAVE!

5 comments about Dick Bartley Presents: Classic Oldies 1965-1969.

1. The sound quality on this disc is so clean, it will re-introduce you to some classic songs that are a whole lot different without the tape hiss. Nothing short of amazing, and worth every penny since a lot of work was obviously put into this. Forget those sloppy "oldies" collections where the tracks don't keep up with technology. Every track on this disc replaces a now unlistenable version I have on another compilation.



2. I thought this was an average cd for various artists. I really liked to ones I purchased this for but was a little let down by the ones I did not know very well or at all. Overall its alright for a collection.



3. I have been looking for the song Sandy since 1960. I met my future wife just after the song went off the air-waves and her name was Sandy. I have been serching for that song ever since. The rest of the songs were great from that era.



4. I first began to listen to Dick Bartley's syndicated radio show, "Solid Gold Saturday Night" over 20 years ago while in college. I had always been impressed by his presentation and knowledge of musical trivia. Now he has compiled these classics into a CD. While I think the music speaks for itself: The included CD liner also has nice tid bits of information. For those of us who enjoy the Golden Age of Top 40 music, this is a great collection, with some rather difficult to find tracks. I bought it specifically for the tracks from New Colony Six, which are hard to find.



5. Here are some of the long forgotten songs of the late 60's pop scene, revisited upon us.
   
   Don't get me wrong, most of these songs I liked back then and still like now. Especially the long forgotten beautiful love ballads by The New Colony Six. (who were they?) But you will remember the songs if you preview listen to them. The incentive for me to purchase this collection was to aquire the song "Peter Rabbit" by DJ and the Runaways. (who were they?) Such "novelty songs" were rife in the 60's pop culture. Flashes in the pan and then forgotten. But they were OUR music back then intertwined by the thousand Coke, Pepsi and Marlboro commercials blaring at us through all those transistors!
   
   Surfing through this collection brought back to me so many songs in my past. Surprises abounded as I reminisced. The only song in this collection I didn't like was "The Clapping Song." Please, let dead things lie in peace, before I throw cockroaches in their coffins!

5 comments about The Best of Eric Burdon & the Animals, 1966-1968.

1. I was a little disappointed that "House of the Rising Sun" was omitted from the included tracks, since that was probably their biggest hit, but I guess that is my fault for not paying closer attention to the song list.
   
   Other than that, I am satisfied, and was surpised at how fast I received the shipment.



2. I'm glad to see that the world's music can still be available at the click of a mouse. Eric Burton's music was by far outstanding back in the day. This CD was reproduced perfectly and probably better than what we listened to on the radio. Don't hesitate to purchased this CD. It "Won't Let You Down".



3. Many people have written to your reknown Seer and have asked me to abnegate my reviews because, as they say, I am old and brittle and the stress is just too much. What, with wayward guides, a sea serpent and a dragon (not to mention random entities making an appearance), they feel that my well-being is at risk. Well, they are right (that, or jealous), but my writing goes on even despite the dubious situations in my life. I will continue. After all, I have my honor and integrity on the line here. Besides, everyone must know the great sacrifice I make in order to bring you more reviewing treats. The public is always first and foremost in my mind. (!!). That said-I will proceed. No No, thank me later --please?
   
   This selection is a follow-up to my Animals review that I just published. This is what came after for Eric Burdon. He revised the Animal personnel and put his name up front. I think I would have done the same thing at the time. How does Metamorpho and the Animals sound to you? O.K., O.K., come back into the room. Can't a Seer kid anymore? Anyway, this c.d. explores his recordings from 1966-1968. And you can see an evolution here. Mind you, evolution and progress are two different things. Don't misquote me. I have future primaries to consider, after all.
   
   This, quite frankly, is a hit or miss collection for me. I think Eric Burdon is at his best when he sticks to gritty songs that make his gruff vocals shine through. For the first six songs on this c.d., Eric sticks to his strengths and, in some ways, some of these songs more than measure up to what he had done earlier. Three of the six are stand-outs in my opinion; "Don't Bring Me Down" (a rockin' plea to his love to respond to him in kind. Pay attention to that subliminal Stones "Satisfaction" riff within), "Inside Looking Out" (a concentrated, sharp, elevation of vocals to total intensity- amazingly raw),and "When I Was Young" ( a perfect picture of bad boy Eric done with incredible composition - you can hear the badness- the sexual tension created. A prime cut).
   
   From that point on, sad to say, we tread lightly on the ice. Somewhere, along the line, Eric got involved in the hippie, free love syndrome and it shows. These are snippets from an era long gone and, as such, feel very stilted and dated today. Then again, you could look at it with curiosity and marvel at it's time capsule qualities. It's your choice entirely.
   
   "Sandoz" is horrible. His voice croaks and the band tries to be relevent and exhibit opium den, meditation excess. It's embarassing but don't rest - there is more! "San Franciscan Nights" is not too bad once you get past the hokey speak/intro. The tune itself is not bad. But Eric, giving homage to the Hell's Angels in San Francisco simply because love abounds is a little risky, don't you think? O.K., this was before Mick and Altamont- so you get a pass. This time!
   
   "Good Times" has Eric regretting his bad habits. You know this is definitely downsliding now. "Anything" is Eric's heartfelt Sinatra ballad. Please Eric- stop! I am feeling ill. Just when you thought you were safe, he brings out the echo, the sitar, and embarasses you, me and Ravi Shankar with "Winds of Change". My tears are staining this page as we speak.
   
   All is not lost because, even though he has faux sitar on "Monterey" it at least moves. He sets the mood well and mentions alot of people who performed there that most people alive today do not remember. It doesn't matter. Alot of major groups and, at least, an event worth reminiscenting about. (No! I'm not getting into Woodstock here - and you can't make me!).
   
   You can easily forget the rest except for "Sky Pilot", which is still an interesting piece today. Eric's anti-war statement was so long that they had to divide it up as part A and part B when released as a single. Yet, the experiment of extensive war plane sounds in the middle still serve as a sonically brave venture (with marching sounds of bagpipes too boot!). A one of a kind cut for sure.
   
   My natural tendency is to always be kind and give a 5 star review if I can. With this one there were issues I had to consider. The musical content - in and of itself- wasn't up to high standards for the reasons I explained. The other issue is that, in a day and age where digital technology can clean up the most glaring imperfections in the past, you have little or no effort towards that degree in this release. Sound quality- abysmal. Still listenable? Yes. But abysmal.
   
   Now, let me go dry my tears in a river of salt. This review was most heart wrentching for me and maybe they are right. Maybe I should walk away from reviewing because of the stress. I was going to retire some time ago (remember the picture of me in the headlines being rushed into a waiting cab?). You don't? Hmmmmmm..... maybe my fame needs more spruceing up. Well..........o.k., you convinced me to still write reviews. See you on the next one!
   
   was that a scream I heard? ---- Metamorpho



4. I was expecting a re-master collection of songs. The recording of this CD sounds like how I first listened to this music, thru a 2 inch speaker on a portable transistor AM radio. There is some attempt to create stereo sound on a few of the songs. Too bad, the music is great! Eric Burdon was great with the Animals. Almost makes me miss the sixties and all that went with it!



5. eric burdon is often overlooked for his contributions to 60's music. this is your opportunity to experience some of that magic!