3 comments about Hits of the 70's.

1. Bought this today at Best Buy. Yep it's redone recordings alright. Why didn't they use the original recordings? I have no idea however these redone ones sound nice though so it wasn't a total waste of my $10. Next time though I'll check the fine print before buying. Just rememnber folks. None of the songs on the 3 CD set are orriginal recordings you remember from the radio....



2. The key piece of info here is the small print on the back which says, "All selections are new stereo recordings". What's amazing though is how good these new versions actually sound. I have no idea how (or why) they were able to get all 30 of these artists to sit down and re-record these songs. Perhaps they just stole the original vocals and remixed everything in stereo. Whatever they did, I have to admit they did it splendidly. You kind of have to hear it to believe it. This is really a unique package.



3. I'm sick of being deceived. On the product overview, it states that these are all songs done by the original artists. It's the *original artists* but with redone versions of these songs that are almost unrecognizable. Amazon should have the decency to list that fact on the product overview.

2 comments about Ocean Boulevard.

1. I had this album and I am sooooo glad I found it on CD. I LOVE IT! Great Carolina Beach music.



2. I went to college in South Carolina in the early 80's. I grew up in Atlanta and, oddly enough, in the late 70's we were dancing to Carolina beach music at all the debutante balls. As an escort for the deb balls, I had to know how to shag. It was mandatory. Also, there were a couple of really great bars where they brought in sand and threw it on the hardwood dance floor just so that kids could shag to their hearts' content. Oh, we still went to 688 and "po-go-ed" to punk rock and hit the Agora Ballroom for all the coolest new wave bands from England, but when it came to dancing with your girl, you wanted to do it to beach music - and I don't mean the Beach Boys either.
   For me, no evening dancing was complete without doing it to my absolute favorite song: Miss Grace. It's still my favorite!
   Ocean Boulevard is a dynamite compilation album! It packages all the songs that I remember dancing the night away to plus some of the songs that I wasn't so fond of, but remember sitting at my table sipping beer and tapping my Bass tassle loafers to. Listening to this compilation makes me yearn for the days of college age kids in madras and khakis worn a little too short with no socks - debating the quality of the dance floor at various clubs and whether or not you could get just the "right" spin and twist down.
   I'll be listening to this one for some time to come - I've not been able to get decent beach tunes on CD in years.
   Ocean Boulevard packages all the really hot numbers you'll remember: the aforementioned Miss Grace; Stay; Thank you John; Under the Boardwalk; (my second favorit) Build Me Up Buttercup; Zing Went the Strings of My Heart; and many more. There are 80 awesome songs on these four CDs. If you are thrifty, think of it as about 60 cents per song!
   Get this compilation and you'll be pulling out your grosgrain watch bands and belts; running your madras shirts and pants to the cleaners; and throwing away your socks. It's as close to the Fountain of Youth that I can imagine - and you won't look a fool shagging with your girl in 2005 either! I don't think you can say that about your parachute pants.
   
   GET IT!

2 comments about Rock Instrumental Classics, Vols. 1-5.

1. I love this box set.

   The most amazing thing about this set is how completely familiar everything on it is. You have heard every cut on these discs...mostly is movies and commercials.

   Nice sprinkling of surf, early rock and jazz here...

   Sure the '70's disc is mostly of academic interest, the music is so disco infused its silly...

   This is the kind of collection that has you chasing after more work from the artists featured.

   You can buy all of the discs here individually, but the box looks nice and the liner notes are typically Rhino complete. Also typical for Rhino, the cuts are clean and nicely mastered for CD.

   A wonderful colltection for the expanding CD collection, and a lot of fun as party background music. "Words? We don't need no stinking words!"




2. This is THE definitive rock instrumental set. Well worth the price, each of the selections is an outstanding piece of work. There are some notable omissions, especially The Shadows and some of the Ventures'(Perfidia,Hawaii Five-O) and Fireballs'(Torquay) material, but space limitations meant something would be missed, even with 90 tracks. If you are into instrumental rock, this is the purchase for you.

5 comments about 1960's Happy Days.

1. This is without a doubt the worst CD of new recordings by the original artists that I have ever had the misfortune to purchase. My only hope is that others will heed the reviews on this CD and spend their money on better quality products not associated with MADACY Special Products.



2. One star minus one star=zero stars!
   Buyer beware. Madacy sells the bottom of the barrel product. Bad remakes (90% of the tracks) and poorly mastered originals (the remainder). Waste of money unless you want new versions of classic records. Just note: even then, they aren't very good.
   The worst part of this company and their marketing is they lead you to think you are buying original recordings.
   Don't waste your money...



3. I ordered this but clearly did not read the reviews. The 3 reviews prior to mine are totally correct. These are NOT the same songs. I just listened to parts of disc 1 and will not even bother with 2 and 3. At least I only wasted $13.98. Not going to bother exchanging because whatever it costs to ship back to amazon makes it a waste of time. I can only blame myself for not reading the all-important reviews that amazon is very very cool and seems to have no problem with reviews that totally discourage people from buying stuff.



4. I saw the words "original artists" and thought I was buying a CD of the original hits. WRONG! Even if they are the original artists (and I have my doubts) - this is akin to getting watered down instant coffee when you were expecting fresh brewed Costa Rican! If you grew up listening to the TRULY original hits, then don't even think about purchasing this CD because it will depress you. On the other hand, if you are totally unfamiliar with the originals, you might find this to be... just o.k.



5. If you remember these songs you WILL be disappointed. They don't even sound close to the original. If they are the original artists from the 60's, they should have retired in their 50's.

No comments about Mastercuts: Funk.

No comments about Motown Chartbusters, Vols. 1-6.

No comments about Great Voice of Soul.

3 comments about Season's Greetings: 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection.

1. I had expected it to be a little bit better ... but all in all, I guess it is a decent collection to Christmas songs.



2. There are few Christmas albums by single artists that I can listen to straight though. As such I have made more than a dozen Christmas anthology albums of my own from the more than 200 Christmas albums in my collection. On each album I would mix the familiar with the new. This Hip-O collection does the same thing. You get old chestnuts like Bing Crosby's "White Christmas" and Brenda Lee's "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" alongside more contemporary performances like Dru Hill's "This Christmas" and Vince Gill's "It Won't Be the Same This Year." For some, the wide range of styles will be turn off. Me? I like the diversity of the music. My only criticism is that this collection would have easily fit on two discs. When I put a CD in the player I don't want to have to change it for at least an hour. If your going to make me pay for three CDs, fill all three CDs. RECOMMENDED



3. Have you longed for a collection with everything in one album...well, here it is...from the early '40s up through the '90s, the who's who in the entertainment field ~ Bryan Adams, Leroy Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Brook Benton, Chuck Berry, Boyz II Men, Bing Crosby, Do Re Mi Children's Chorus, Jimmy Durante, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Marvin Gaye, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Bobby Helms, Dru Hill, Isley Brothers (featuring Ronald Isley), Burl Ives, The Jackson 5, Eartha Kitt, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Brenda Lee, Kathy Mattea, Brian McKnight, Stephanie Mills, Aaron Neville, New Edition, The Platters, Harry Simeone Chorale, The Supremes, The Temptations, Mel Torme, Dinah Washington, The Waitresses and Angela Winbush...each artist with their own distinctive interpretation, making the Holiday Season even more special.

   Universal Music Enterprises, share treasures from the vast vault of labels ~ A&M Records, Decca, Island Def Jam Music, Motown Records and Verve Music is sure to bring back many fond memories of your childhood from yuletide's past!

   This collection reminds me of the old Reader's Digest "Christmas Through The Years" (1984), another 3-CD-Set which is high on my collection list (no longer available)...but this release from Hip-O ~ "Season's Greetings-20th Century Masters-The Millennium Collection", is a compilation of beautiful Christmas songs and best-loved carols that will brighten your Christmastide for years to come...treat yourself, pick this one up, an early Christmas presents...put it on, while your trimming the family Christmas tree!

   Total 3-CD-Set ~ Universal/Hip-O Records 314-556-728-2 ~ (2001)

2 comments about Happy Days, 1960's.

1. this is what is bad about these low cost oldies collections. you think your getting a good deal on great memories as you remember them. instead your getting a rerecorded bad recording of maybe one original member. i hate when this happens.



2. Save your money. It may well be true that the songs are by the original artists, though I am not totally convinced, but the great majority are later re-recordings. They neither sound the same nor are enjoyable -- to me at least. Get the real thing and save yourself the irritation.

5 comments about Latin Oldies Trilogy.

1. When it comes to those hard to find chicano oldies this collection has got it. Every song on the collection was a hit at it's time and still is today. When i'm talking (Tell Her She's Lovely) by (el Chicano) or maybe even a real love song oldie like (Mujer Mia) by (Joe Bataan) or even (Si Me Paro) by (Johnny Chingas) or (Cinco De Mayo) A not to popular but firme oldie by (war) or most of you chicanos have probably herd of the song (Chicano Park) that was built for the hispanic community. How could you forget it. This is just some of them theres even more. This is 1 collection that really exsplains the ways of the chicano life style. We will always have those memories of back in the days drinking and having partys, making romance with your loved, one or even just kickin back listing to something thats was good worth listing to. I will never forget those days when all this was in and to think we havent changed much, even if you think you have, get this collection and just kick back and you start to remember all those firme oldies and good times. This is 1 collection you chicanos would love my personal favorite song (Mujer Mia) by (Joe Bataan) but all these songs are a chingon must have in your oldies collection cause this is what true chicanos are all about cruisin with the homies, bumpin these oldies down hiland street, as for other chicano oldies collection nothing can beat!!! or even compete!!!



2. All I have to say is that this is a great collection of Chicano cruisin' classics and kickin' it lovesongs. Man it really is a soundtrack to the Chicano lifestyle. A complete collection of the best. The best collection next to this is "Back to the barrio" - rare and hard to find Chicano classics vol. 1. this has many out of print and rare songs from back in the day. It has latin rock, latin funk, and latin soul. contact Chorizo Records www.chorizomusic2003@yahoo.com



3. These songs have been with me since I was 15 cruisin in the '68 Chevy Impala my dad gave mr for my quince anos. They are like the soundtrack to our life. I fell in love with my fiancee for cherishing oldies as much as I do. They bring back so many memories. This box set says it all! Its Memories in a trilogy!



4. I was watching TV last week, and on came a commercial using Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love", still one of my favorite songs. I hopped onto Amazon & found this CD collection. What a great set of choices! Some you would find on the radio today. But some I thought would be lost forever. I was living in Ft. Lauderdale in 1973, when I first heard El Chicano. If you've never heard "Tell Her She's Lovely", you are in for a treat. Still sounds as good as it did then, great lyrics, great sound.



5. These songs are fantastic & make you feel good! They will always be loved and listened too. These songs have been around for many to enjoy, especially Latinas & Latinos. Viva La Raza! As a teen I was cruisin with these tunes... (8 track tapes) Now my hijos, are kickin it with them...(CD's) What a trip! ¡Que Loco!

   And they think I'm not cool... ;-) yeah, right!CUL