The Complete Collection [Box set]

 

 

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Disc 1 is the real standout in this set. Comprised of Kathy's first Decca album (from 1963) and four tracks from her 1965 follow-up, it's an excellent marriage of first-class singing and good songs. The ballads are particular winners. Pieces like Someone to Watch Over Me, I'll Get By and If You Were the Only Boy in the World provide an excellent showcase for Kathy's strong, clear and warm vocals. My goodness, she could certainly sing!

Disc 2 is more mixed. Just over half of the tracks are from singles and they tend to be a tad formulaic. Still, Secret Love does sound good and the vocal version of Dance On is attractive. The remaining tracks revert to album material and the quality promptly picks-up again.

Listening to the set does pose a question. With her looks and voice, why did Kathy not become the major British female survivor of the 60s? Beats me.

Kathy Kirby was a regular performer on British television during the sixties (and to a lesser extent subsequently) but her achievements on record were modest, with just five hit singles. It seems that Kathy was more interested in her television career than her records, which is fair enough. Fortunately, she recorded singles and albums over many years (up to the early seventies), thus ensuring her legacy is preserved for future generations. This compilation focuses on the early part of her career from 1962 to 1965, after which Kathy recorded for Columbia. Here, you can find all the hits early singles and most of their B sides, together with all the tracks from Kathy's two Decca albums.

Kathy's powerful voice is not to everybody's liking, especially on the up-tempo songs, but I enjoy her music. Kathy's biggest hit was Secret love, with which she had her only UK top five hit. Kathy's up-tempo re-interpretation is more dramatic than Doris Day's original. I prefer the original but Kathy demonstrated that there is more than one way to sing this song. There is a line in the song about shouting from the highest heights and it seems that this inspired Kathy's interpretation of the song, which some people may find overpowering. I've heard many versions of this song by pop, jazz and country singers, but while many are based on the original arrangement, I've never come across another like Kathy's version.

Kathy's other UK hits were Dance on (which just missed the top ten), Let me go lover (which just made the top ten), You're the one (a top twenty hit) and I belong (only a minor hit despite being the British entry and runner-up in the 1965 Eurovision song contest). Like Secret love, all these hits were up-tempo.

While Kathy's powerful voice is given full rein on the up-tempo songs, she shows that she can sing ballads too (those that she doesn't change into up-tempo songs). Indeed, Kathy is a superb ballad singer.

In this compilation, the first 16 tracks of CD 1 are a straight re-issue of Kathy's first LP (16 hits from stars and garters, from 1963). The remaining four tracks on CD 1 were originally released as the first four tracks of Kathy's second LP (Make someone happy, from 1965). The remaining six tracks from that 10-track album form the final six tracks of CD 2, although one of the original tracks (Havah nagilah) is re-titled here (Get happy) in line with its translated lyrics.

For completists, the tracks to look for include the following

Originally released as A or B sides of singles - No regrets, I'll try not to cry, The way of love, Oh darling how I miss you, Where in the world, That wonderful feeling of love, Spanish flea, Till the end of time, Adam Adamant, Will I never learn?

Originally released as EP tracks - Shangrila, That old feeling, Reach out for me, There's no other love, One day, Sometimes, My only love and I won't let you go.

There may also be Decca tracks never previously released, as well as the recordings made for Pye, Orange, President and Columbia. You'll find many of the missing Decca tracks on two Vocalion compilations (Hits rarities and lipgloss, More rarities and lipgloss) although those compilations also include plenty of tracks that are in this compilation. A third Vocalion compilation (My thanks to you) contains many of Kathy's Columbia recordings. Pye, Orange, and President only released five singles between them. I don't know if any of those recordings have been released on CD.

Despite her once high public profile, Kathy's music was limited to occasional compilation releases, usually on budget releases, for a long time. As Kathy had one of the most distinctive voices in the sixties, this was a travesty, but I'm glad to see that the situation has improved considerably since then and there is now a much wider choice. But if you haven't heard Kathy before, listen to her sing before buying - just to be sure you enjoy her powerful voice. If you do, you're in for a real treat.

I must admit that im a late starter when it comes to discovering and apreciating Kathy Kirby. I actually bought this collection for a friend and had a sly listen to it and was immediately hooked, this woman has an amazing voice, and most of the recordings stand the test of time, some sound a bit dated but, this just adds to the charm. This is a singer and collection Id reccomend anyone to buy, well worth the money and a joy to listen to !

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5.0 out of 5 stars kathy
a very good album containing all kathy's hits plus an abundance of fantastic ballads all generated in the lovely voice that was kathy kirby. Read more

Published 7 months ago by P. Yeoman

5.0 out of 5 stars Kathy Kirby the complete collection
Although this CD was a gift Kathy was another of those great female singers of the time, i loved her style and clarity of lyrics and songs, its a pity like so many others of the... Read more

Published 17 months ago by Mr. Allan Pearce

5.0 out of 5 stars Consumate Kathy
With her platinum blonde hair flicked up at the ends, glossy lipstick, sparkling eyes & figure-hugging, oft sequined, dresses, she was one of the most glamourous of the 60s... Read more

Published on 25 Aug 2009 by Mr. K. Cross

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely good
I've been searching for Kathy's collection for quite some time so was extremely pleased to find a couple of her CDs on here. It made my Dad's birthday!

Published on 5 Feb 2009 by Mrs. Joanne Sclater-hill

5.0 out of 5 stars REMEMBERING KATHY
Recently we've had several cd's of Kathy's old material (about time too!) so this 2cd set is more than welcome. Read more

Published on 28 Mar 2005 by K. Johansen

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