5 comments about The Essential Pebbles Collection, Vol. 2.

1. The "music fan from CA" is right: most of this music is obscure for a reason. It's simply not very good. After the incredible ESSENTIAL PEBBLES VOL. 1, where every single track was a surefire winner culled from the first 10 CD volumes of the PEBBLES series, I was really looking forward to popping this into my CD player. Unfortunately this was a major let-down; selecting songs from the PEBBLES LP's that haven't seen CD release yet, if these are the best of those, I'm not looking forward to those LP's seeing the light of the digital age.

   The few good songs include: The Rogues' "How Many Times", Neal Ford and the Fanatics' "Shame on You", The Jelly Bean Bandits' "Generation", Sonny Flaherty and the Mark V's "Hey Conductor", The Live Wires' "Love", The Inmates' "More Than I Have", The Kama Del Sutras' "She Taught Me Love", and The Sweet Acids' "That Creature". That's 8 out of 26 songs that you'll find yourself glad you listened to. The rest are disposable.

   If it's possible, the CD starts out at a good pace and each song progressively gets worse as the running time gets longer. Do yourself a favor and wear out your ESSENTIAL PEBBLES VOL. 1 CD rather than even consider the idea of purchasing this one. For hardcore completists only, who I expect will probably only give it a listen and toss it onto their shelf to collect dust.

   Disc 2 holds some minor interest to collectors, as all 29 songs have never been reissued anywhere. Tracks actually worth hearing are: The Purple Haze's "Shades of Blue", The Dawn 5's instrumental "Mike's Bag", Denny Noie and the Catalinas' "It Ain't a Big Thing", The Fading Tribesmen's "More Feathers", and The Spires of Oxford's "But You're Gone". However, none of these songs are even all that memorable. Again, like CD 1, each song gets progressively worse as the disc goes on.

   All in all, this is a supremely disappointing package that only hardcore completists will want to add to their collection. "Essential" is the one word that will NOT pop into your mind while listening to this misfire collection.




2. I picked this up because I already own the original Nuggets album, the original Pebbles Vol. 1 vinyl album, and the Rhino Nuggets box set. I liked most (not all) of the songs on those albums, and the good stuff on those was really good. I thought that this CD would be more of the same good stuff.

   Well...some of it is salvageable, but I am sad to report that most of these are obscure for a reason: namely, they stink! Unfortunately, there are very, very few undiscovered gems on these 2 CDs. Most of it is stuff by bands that very much deserved their obscurity. These songs are very inferior to the best garage rock of the '60s -- sometimes painfully inferior.

   There are an absolute ton of recycled Yardbirds and Kinks riffs here -- and a little of those go a long, long way. (The cover of "I'm a Man" by the Baker St. Irregulars is a good example of a cover version that makes me want to scream "Give it up, guys!" and sends me scrambling for my original, vastly superior Yardbirds version of the song.)

   Only for serious archaeologists.




3. Picking up where volume 1 leaves off, "Pebbles Vol. 2" continues to dig deep into the bowels of garage rock to find the tastiest leftovers from those bands with no names, and what a collection it is!

   Very few Beatles clone bands made it like the Knickerbockers, the Beau Brummels, or small bands like the Gants, did, but what the collection showcases is that whether in NYC or LA or a town of 50 people, the music was infectious, and the results are pure magic. Their names may be lost to history, but the music lives on, and its MAGIC to listen to!

   Brian Eno once said that very few people listened to the Velvet Underground, but they all went out and formed a band because of them.. who knows, perhaps these tasty nuggets of Anglophiled Americana will cause the next great wave in music, as well..and it couldn't happen soon enough!!

   Mange and bon appetit!!




4. This is pure rock 'n' roll perfection. This collection demonstrates where the roots existed of what we consider "classic" today.



5. While the Beatles and the Byrds were hitting the main stage; meanwhile Back in garage land the long, shaggy-haired, pre-Mansonite hipsters were trying to impress Mary Jane with the cave stomping send -ups in their best Kieth Relfian manner! Ahhh, sit back, drop a tab and relax!

1 comments about '73-Live at the Reading Festival.

1. If you like Rory Gallagher and Greenslade, you'll be drawn to this CD, but beware. The CD is basically transferred from the LP, so one only gets 47 minutes of music from eight artists - no one gets much coverage. Rory's is "Hands Off," clocking in at 8 minutes, and is quite good. Greenslade's track is "Feathered Friends" and is really interesting, but seems to have something clipped off at the end, running to 5 minutes. The other find on the album is two tracks by Tim Hardin, whom I know nothing about. Otherwise, the rest is throwaway, with the possible exception of the last Faces concert, represented here by a 7 minute version of "Losing You" - a great tune, though Rod's voice seems strained. Caveat emptor overall - with all the remastered Rory coming out, this disc is an expensive addition for the completist fan. Does anyone know if the full performances from Reading '73 are available? PS: the liner notes are extensive and quite interesting.

5 comments about The British Invasion: History of British Rock, Vol. 5.

1. As indicated in my reviews of Volumes 1 and 2, the Rhino/Capitol/EMI collaboration was an ambitious one in those early days of CDs, and if you can get your hands on all nine volumes you will have most of the major impact selections by artists in those heady days of the British Invasion.
   
   However, in this fifth installation they continue their habit of including selections by artists who were certainly NOT among the prominent ones to take part in the so-called invasion. Only displaced Brits will have heard of The Big Three [track 4], The Mojos [track 7], The Pretty Things [track 11], and The Merseybeats [track 16]. Also, while it's nice to hear Van Morrison in his Them incarnation on Gloria, why include the B-side [track 10] instead of, say, Here Comes The Night?
   
   On the other hand, it's great to get two early Beatles' cuts like Ain't She Sweet [recorded in 1961 and released in 1964 in North America by Atco - # 19] and My Bonnie which, with Tony Sheridan, was recorded in 1962 and released here by MGM in 1964 [# 26], along with hard-to-find selections such as Shout by Lulu & The Luvers [# 94 in 1964 before she embarked upon a solo career], You've Got Your Troubles by The Fortunes [# 7 in 1965], and Georgie Fame's Yeh Yeh [# 21 in 1965].
   
   Ten pages of liner notes by John Mendelssohn are interspersed with small b&w photos of The Beatles, Fame, Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders, Petula Clark, The Bachelors, The Moody Blues, The Merseybeats [at least we get to know what they LOOKED like], and Donovan.
   
   As with the other volumes the AAD sound reproduction ranges from adequate to excellent.



2. There's little point in telling you if "The British Invasion (The History of British Rock)" is "good" or "bad." That would be pretty silly: you're quite capable of reading the track list for yourself, and making that determination. What you will find with each of these discs is exceptional audio quality, superb packaging and documentation, and an historical musical surprise.

   Similar compilations are available in grocery and drug stores, and also from TV ads for five or six bucks each. As usual, one gets what one pays for, and these "budget" discs are usually unrecognizable "B" sides: the sound quality is atrocious. On the other hand, the audio quality of the Rhino compilations is stunning. Remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry, it is difficult to believe that these recordings are more than thirty-years old. Rhino does a remarkable job of combing recording libraries for first-rate master tapes, then engineering these recordings to CD. I have yet to be disappointed with a Rhino "oldies but goodies" release. The sonics are immaculate - like hearing some of your favorites for the first time.

   Also, each disc is packaged in a jewel case with a complete and interesting history of the songs presented: information included is the artist, composer and release date.

   The surprise of "The British Invasion" is that several tracks from each disc did not, repeat did not "invade" America. Some songs "charted" in the UK, but failed to make the Top-100 in America. For collectors of British popular music, it is fascinating to note the difference between British and American tastes. The "odd" tracks may not have entered Billboard's Top-100, but there not "throwaway" either. Dazzling sound quality, insightful documentation, and a few "rarities." In my book, that ain't too shabby.




3. Actually this whole series is awesome. Looking at Vol. 5 in particular, though, I'm seeing 4 U.S. #1 hits, by the Tornados, Pet Clark, the Mindbenders, and Donovan. Pretty diverse. Rhino circumvents Capitol's oppressive licensing restrictions to bring us 2 hard-to-find, early Beatles singles recorded for other labels. (The other reviewers are right, however. Using Ringo's pic is misleading since he wasn't in the group then.) There are goodies by the three grand dames of British rock--Pet, Dusty Springfield (get her solo albums too), and Lulu. For pure rock classicism, if there is such a thing, there are 2 (count 'em) by Them. That's Van Morrison to most of us (but the drummer on "Gloria," likely Patrick McAuley, deserves equal credit). And the Moody Blues, before they went all symphonic, with "Go Now!", which they left off their first twelve greatest hits albums. You know you need "It's Not Unusual", kitsch of the highest order and I think the only Tom Jones hit on this whole series. One of the long-term pleasures of this series is the one- and two-hit wonders like Georgie Fame, the Bachelors, and the Big Three. In all seriousness, these make the series invaluable. True pop music fans should be buying the Beatles, Stones, and Who albums separately anyway; those groups' absences leave room for the lost classics that Rhino specializes in preserving on discs like this one. This mix of melodic rock and pop and, umm, Chad and Jeremy needs to be owned by everyone.



4. This compilation features a five star Beatle track called A'int She Sweet, with Pete Best on drums. What in the heck Ringo Starr is doing on the album cover is anybody's guess. I thought that the people at Rhino records were supposed to be acurate rock historians. The rest of the album is filler. I recommend The Beatles Anthology One instead.



5. In 1988, Rhino released four volumes of the British Invasion. These were great (even w.o. the Beatles, Stones, DC5 and early Animals), and probably led to this expansion to 9 volumes. Actually, Volume 5 is the weakest of the lot, and IS all over the map. But it does compile some great sides, and there ARE unfamiliar/undiscovered jems: "Shout" by Lulu, "Before and After" by Chad & Jeremy, "I Think Of You" by the Merseybeats, "Everything's Allright" by the Mojosm and "Yeh,Yeh" by Georgie Fame. If you're really interesteed in 60s British pop, you'll want to hear these, and I guarantee you'll have a hard time finding these elsewhere.

   I highly reccomend the first four volumes of this series; I would give each of them 5 stars. Get those first. But if you're really into British pop, you'll want this, despite the inclusion of a dud like My Bonnie by Tony Sheridan (with "those guys"). Have to believe that this was a sin committed to have the Beatles included in the series. Greedy Capital wasn't going to let Rhino lease any of THEIR material. Also, the next four volumes improve on this one.

5 comments about Bubblegum Classics, Vol. 1.

1. Excellent transaction. Would not hesitate to buy again from this seller. Product was delivered promptly and as described.



2. This CD describes itself as "the ultimate collection of pure pop music". That description is more accurate than the title "Bubblegum Classics". The compilers of this collection seem to have catagorized any lightweight pop song as "bubblegum". To me, "bubblegum" specifically refers to the productions of Jerry Kasenetz & Jeff Katz, plus a few other songs that imitate their signature sound. Having said that, this is a good collection of lightweight pop songs. The super rare "Capt. Groovy and his Bubblegum Army" is worth the price of the CD by itself. Recommended for fans of pure pop music.



3. I have all 5 volumes of the Bubblegum Classics series. The first three are AM pop from late 60's early 70's. I certainly wouldn't consider all the songs "bubblegum", but they do all have a degree of youthful innocence. Some of the songs were hits in England, but not in the US; some are obscure non-hits.

   The fourth volume is "soul" (Build Me Up Buttercup is soul! ). The fifth volume is a repackaging of lead singer Tony Burrows work (and repeats songs on the other volumes in the series).

   Overall, they are consistently fun to listen to. Sure brings back memories of much more carefree times for me. I like Volume 3 the best and would give it 5 stars. Volume 4 probably has the most hits on it, but they are commonly available on other compilations.

   The remastering/sound is very good. There are good liner notes with about a paragraph on each song/group.




4. I bought this just to get a clean copy of the Edison Lighthouse's "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Grows)." It's one of a number of 1970- 71 songs that form the foundation of my real entry to top-40 radio listenership, and my original 45 was just about gone.
   
   I already had several of the other tracks on this compilation - some of which have been anthologized or made available on reissues or artist compilations. Some of the easier-to-find tracks include the Ohio Express' "Yummy, Yummy, Yummy", Boyce & Hart's "Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend)", The Cuff Links' "Tracy", The Fifth Estate's "Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead", Tommy Roe's "Jam Up and Jelly Tight", Dawn's "Knock Three Times", 1910 Fruitgum Company's "Indian Giver", Bobby Sherman's "Julie, Do Ya Love Me?" and The Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You."
   
   Even with all those duplicate tracks, they add together with the less familiar entries to make a very listenable compilation. On top of the musical selection, the chart and group info, plus the anecdotes in the liner notes make this a really worthwhile disc. I was especially interested to find out who the lead vocalist is on a lot of the studio-band tracks. E.g., I knew that The Cuff Links' "Tracy" was sung by Ron Dante (of Archies' fame), but I didn't realize that Dante had also fronted The Detergents on their single "Leader of the Laundromat." Similarly, I had never made the connection of Tony Burrows singing lead on the Edison Lighthouse cut, as well as The Pipkins "Gimme Dat Ding", White Plains' "My Baby Loves Lovin'" and Brotherhood of Man's "United We Stand."
   
   The interconnections between writers, producers, singers and groups is really fascinating. According to the liner notes, Rupert Holmes took over as lead vocalist of the Cuff Links on their second album, and the tracks were simultaneously licensed to Decca (as the Cuff Links) and to Musicor (as Street People). It's surprising to find out that a few talented songwriters and producers churned out so many hit singles under so many different artist or band names.
   
   Also included are an early Hudson Brothers' track, "Laugh, Funny Funny", under the name of Everyday Hudson, Keith's debut single "Ain't Gonna Lie" (it's no "98.6", that's for sure!), The Peppermint Rainbow's "Will You Be Staying After Sunday" (sounding an awful lot like Spanky & Our Gang), a really soulful-garage version of "Come and Take a Ride in My Boat" by Rare Breed (later a top-10 hit for Every Mother's Son), and Shannon's "Abergavenny" (most notable to me as having a lead vocal by Marty Wilde - father of Ricki "Teen Wave" Wilde and Kim "Kids in America" Wilde).



5. I ordered this CD solely because I wanted to hear "Abergavenny," a song I adored when I was in elementary school. I didn't even pay much attention to what other tracks were on the disc--I was just thrilled to find the one song I'd been looking for. I was very pleasantly surprised to discover quite a few other sixties oldies that I remember hearing in childhood, but had long since forgotten their existence. No musical masterpieces here, but lots of "happy nostalgic" tunes for those of you over 35.

3 comments about Cover You: A Tribute to the Rolling Stones.

1. Cuando observas el tracklisting del disco, crees que el disco es una maravilla, pero escuharlo es una cosa diferente. La mayoria de las versiones contienen el sello original de los artistas que la interpretan. Lo mejor del disco: "19th nervous brakdown" (vale el disco), la versión de "Tumbling Dice" de Linda Ronstand, "Gimme Shelter" y "Jumping Jack Flash" (magistral), del resto nada que resaltar. Éste disco no es para ti si no eres un verdadero fanático de los Stones



2. Quite disappointed with this album. Although the artists are all top notch, the renditions are poor at best. Aretha's should have been a gospel flavor, not the disco beat used. By listend to many of the tracks, I would guess that they were recorded in the late seventies.



3. There is simply a unique and quite recognizable power in a Jagger-Richards song that can't be denied. This compilation is a tribute to this pair's songwriting genius, fourteen songs appear on this album, with some of the most talented artists perforing their work.

   A few stand outs - "NO EXPECTATIONS" (Johnny Cash) with his "Folsom Prison Blues" tempo, is really different and entertaining - "TUMBLING DICE" (Linda Ronstadt) does real well with her distinctive style - "BROWN SUGAR" (Little Richard) high-voltage approach is simply electrifying.

   This is not just a toe-tapping CD, but pure energy one must experience if you're a Rolling Stone fan. Highly recommend this to all ages, a major surprise, a must buy for the young and old music fan!

   Total Time: 57:27 on 14 Tracks/ Hip-O Records - HIPD 40078 (1998)

3 comments about Pebbles, Vol. 6: Chicago.

1. Along with Texas and Denmark (seriously), Chicago is reputed to have had one of the best garage-rock scenes of the entire 1960s. Collectors will tell you about fantastic local acts such as the Shadows of Knight (of "Oh Yeah" fame), the Lemon Drops, and the New Colony Six, as well as the all-important influence of the city's astounding blues output (Chicago was the home of postwar electric blues, thanks to such local luminaries as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and the legendary Chess Records label). Unfortunatley, you wouldn't know this from listening to volume six of the long-running Pebbles series. Sure, there are plenty of gems on this disc, but so much of it is devoted to the kind of dull, soundalike filler that is the bane of garage-rock fans the world over.
   
   Of course, the folks who compile the Pebbles discs aren't ammateurs; they know how to unearth diamonds, and this set has a few shiny ones: The Omens' "Searching" is a total classic, an apocalyptic pounder with a fiery Farfisa organ line, some hypnotic vocals, and a nasty little guitar line. The Foggy Notions' "Need A Little Lovin'" is pure sweaty-palmed teenage lust, and Delight's version of "Long Green" is a joyously moronic frat-rocker with a cooler-than-cool sax line. There's also the Buckinghams' "I've Been Wrong," a soaring piece of garage-pop with enough hooks to get anybody dancing. There's also the Todds' breathlessly catchy "I Want Her Back," and the Warner Brothers' hilarious "Please Mr. Sullivan," a novelty number that actually stands up to more than one listen. There are also a few tracks that show off the bluesier side of Chicago garage- the Little Boy Blues' storming cover of Bo Diddley's "You Don't Love Me" is particualrly impressive, and the Group Inc's shambling "Like A Woman" is no slouch either. Dean Carter also turns in two wild, ferocious, and inarticulate ravers entitled "Rebel Woman" and "Jailhouse Rock" (the latter is particularly, er, special). The Pattens' idiotic frat-punker "Say Ma Ma" is also quite nice.
   
   So, that's about half an album's worth of good stuff. The rest isn't really much to brag about: Furniture's "I Love It Baby" starts out promisingly, but soon devolves into a dull, slowed down Kinks impression (the totally inarticualte guitar solo is cool, though). Buzzsaw turn in a passable but totally unnecessary cover of the Lemon Drops' classic "I Live In The Springtime" which is neither as bewitching or as otherworldly as the original. It was also released in 1970. The Haymarket Riot turn in two songs- "Trip on Out," which takes a cliched 60s hook and beats it to death without adding anything new, and "Something Else," a kinda-sorta interesting coutry-influenced song that you probably won't want to listen to more than twice. The rest of it is anywhere from decent to boring- it's the kind of thing that reminds you that for every great garage rock single, there are about nine that would be lucky to earn the title of "mediocre."
   
   Also, the tracklisting is a bit wrong- this disc does not contain the Boyz' "Come With Me" or the Cavedwellers' "Run Around," even though both are promised on the disc's tray card.
   
   So, if you're a more-than-just-a-little commited garage fan (like me), go ahead and pick this up. There's enough here to make it worth your while. But don't expect a crown jewel to add to your collection. Neophytes would do well to stay away from this disc and instead pick up the Nuggets box (if they haven't already), or an earlier volume of the Pebbles series. Also, give the Back from the Grave series a try. Happy listening.



2. If you played in a rock band during the 1960's, you will enjoy this collection! When I discovered that the songs I recorded with the Omens in 1965 were included in several compilation albums, and were selling in 2005, I was stunned, dazed, and amused. I haven't seen any of the former bandmates since 1966. Don Revercomb, from Hammond, IN, wrote the songs, sang and played the guitar. I enjoyed playing the farfisa organ on "Searching" and "Girl Get Away", and hope that you will also experience the unique energy of the 60's through this recording. Those were the days......



3. I don't get it; the 60s garage bands of Chicago have been hailed as some of the best in the country, but judging by this volume, they are a pretty faceless lot, sounding almost identical and unoriginal in the extreme. OK, maybe I'm being a little harsh, but the tunes on this disc are nowhere near as cool as those on PEBBLES VOL. 7: CHICAGO 2. That's where the real gems are!

   Songs worth hearing on this volume: The Omens' "Searching", The Furniture's "I Love It Baby", The Huns' "Winning Ticket", The Delights' "Long Green" (sounding like a regional R&B group, with a horn section no less!), The Blackstones' "Never Feel the Pain", and Dean Carter's "Rebel Woman". If you didn't like The Lemon Drops' "I Live in the Springtime", you won't find Buzzsaw's identical cover any better; Dean Carter's cover of "Jailhouse Rock" is just embarrassing.

   Word of warning: The Boyz' awesome "Come With Me" and The Cavedwellers' "Run Around" are not included on this disc, even though they're listed on the track listing; it instead appears on CHICAGO VOL. 2.

   I might sound a little bitter about this particular PEBBLES volume, but as unenthusiastic as I may sound, this is still a garage band reissue with several good tunes not included on any other reissue (save the ESSENTIAL PEBBLES comps, which are missing some of my faves on this disc). I would still recommend picking it up; CHICAGO 2 is ten times better!

5 comments about Dazed and Confused.

1. I was born in 1976, so I didn't really grow up listening to these songs. However, many of them still get heavy airplay on classic rock stations. Not one song on this album is bad. Personal favorites include "Cherry Bomb" and "Tuesday's Gone." Other solid tracks include "Low Rider," "Tush" and "Love Hurts."
   
   If you've seen the film, you already know that it lives and dies by the music that's constantly played in it. Much like "Swingers," "Dazed And Confused" is a very good film, but the soundtrack selection makes it great.
   
   I gave this album four stars because there are some key tunes missing (most notably "Hurricane," by Bob Dylan). Also, the classic rock vibe is broken up by "Jim Dandy," which doesn't quit fit in as well as the rest of the tunes. It's still a good song, though. This is an excellent album, and if you enjoy classic rock or grew up listening to these tunes, I'm sure you'll enjoy it (and the film). Highly recommended.



2. Loved the CD. The music is a much fun as it was the first time I enjoyed it!



3. I loved the movie and I love the soundtrack. Contains all those songs from the 1970s that were very "feel good". Also highly recommended is the companion CD which contains more songs that this one couldn't fit. Recommend both of them.



4. I was looking to get the DVD of DAZED AND CONFUSED but got the CD. When it was advertised on the AMAZON website it led me to believe that it was a DVD as you see it above. (1993 Film) I had to return it and my expense. Very disappointing transaction with AMAZON. Threfore, i am not impressed.



5. I've owned this terrific CD since waaaay back in 1993 & have lost my numerous copies purchased since then to dear friends & family who come to adore this soundtrack once they've heard it. It's full of great middle & late '70s tunes that if you were alive & aware of hit rock n roll music then, you will remember these tunes with joy & may even sing along to them too. This CD even has "Cherry Bomb" by the Runaways (Joan Jett & Lita Ford's band before they went solo) which is not an easy tune to find in complitations. If you liked the non-disco & non-"AM Gold" sounds of the 70's then this is your next CD purchase! : D The tunes range from Black Sabbath's Paranoid, to Foghat's Slow Ride to the ever popular rock anthem Kiss' Rock & Roll All Night. I love this CD,when I play it the songs take me right back to being a pre-teen/teenager hanging out with the older kids in the shag-van, the smell of ganja wafting around, real rock n roll blaring from the speakers, Ditto jeans, halter tops, Friday nights at the roller skating rink & Pop-rocks! LOL

5 comments about Positively 60's.

1. From the very first track, the sixties are back, and it's like they never went away.
   
   In addition to classics such as The Weight, Get Together, Eve of Destruction, Going up the country and so on, you are surprised by tunes you had probably forgotten or never even heard, like Age of Aquarius from Hair, White Rabbit by Jefferson Airplane and Lodi by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This is more about reinventing than reliving the sixties and a great reminder of what the Summer of love was really about. A very American sixties compilation, the title sums up the contents very well. This is highly recommended either if you were there at the time or you just wish you were.



2. Having been a child in that era and just discovering rock music, this really brings back some memories from that part of my life.
   I actually bought this as a gift for my son who somehow got really into 60's music (maybe my giving him my entire 60's/70's vinyl collection sparked his interest?). Anyway, we've both enjoyed this collection, and i highly recommend it to any old hippies as well as new-age hippies. Grrroovy!



3. Album has many of the songs that I remember from this period.
   In these days when radio stations are corporately held and have political agendas, we don't hear the dissent that is out there.
   
   It is great to hear songs from the time when individuals thought that they could make a real difference.



4. I'm your typical extremely attractive man with above average intelligent and exceptional slow pitch softball ability but boy did I miss out on the sixties. I picked up this CD while riding a carousel and this thing is totally cool. I heard it and said, Is that freedom rock? Well, turn it up man! I don't know what half these songs are about because I'm not whacked out of my mind but they sure are cool What the heck is a Hurdy Gurdy Man? I don't know, but it's got the flow of the DOC. I'm kind of a hippie because I drive a renault alliance so this music is something I'm completely down with. It's not Hasselhoff, but at this point of time, the world wasn't ready for Hasselhoff. It was ready for White Rabbits, incense and peppermints and Hurdy Gurdy Men. It was a cool time that I missed out on.



5. I bought this CD years ago on a discount rack at a book store. It was a real find. Even now, it very regularly migrates out to my car for longer trips as well as deliverance after a day at work. The 60's were, to a large part, the golden age of pop and the birth of non-classical FM programming. This CD captures much of this era.

   To my ear, the first CD is lososely centered on lighter songs like California Dreaming, Hurdy Gurdy Man and Bus Stop. There are some other really fine songs here - songs like For Your Love and The Weight. Also included are Midnight Cowboy's Everybody's Talking, Feeling Alright, and Time of the Season - all winners.

   The second CD is in general more protest oriented, starting with Give Peace a Chance and ending with the incomparable Eve of Destruction. What CD of the 60's is complete without songs of protest? Also included are I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag, Going up the Country, and What About Me. There are also some pure pop tunes here - Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In and In The Year 2525. There are also some of the best songs around for my money - the classic Gimme Some Lovin and the beautiful A Song For You.

   Not all songs are personal favorites, but then what compilation can be? However, I hardly ever skip tracks, even in the car. This CD is a winner. In the words of Joni Mitchell, "Songs to aging children come. I am one."

2 comments about Heavy Dose Of Lyte Psych: Authentic Way Cool Sixties Artifacts.

1. This is quality product for those interested in obscure late 60's psychedelic music -- great packaging, informative liner notes, and (most importantly) uniformly good material from the various groups. Some highlights: a proto-techno rethinking of the blues classic "Baby please don't go" by Ballroom, Chris Carpenter's insane "This world is closing in on me," JK & Co.'s achingly beautiful "Fly," wanna-Beatles Wildflowers' "More than me," and The Fourth Way's "The far side of your mind," which was described by someone as sounding like soundtrack music from Barbarella. Cool.



2. I have about ten CDs of rare psych compilations and a system of rating each track. This compilation is excellent. Like such compilations, don't expect to be immediately tripped out by each track. However, there are almost no truly weak tracks here. Some aren't stereotypically "psychedelic", but they are all enjoyably packed full of distinctive character, whether melancholy, haunting, odd, or offbeat. Also get the more stereotypically heavy-psych companion: "An Overdose of Heavy Psych". I strongly and confidently recommend both.

2 comments about WPLJ Presents: Scott & Todd Blast Off 2000.

1. I can't keep this one on my desk at work. Great songs that capture the Friday morning blast off.



2. I loved this album---I've been a long time fan of Scott & Todd's show on WPLJ--Couple years ago I moved to the west coast and missed the Friday Morning Blast-off. Thanks for putting out this CD I feel like I'm back on the LIE sitting in traffic.