The Best 60's Summer Party...Ever!

All but two of the fifty four tracks are well known. Record companies like to unearth some unusual tracks every now and again, in the hope of getting extra sales from people who want these rarities. (It wasn't the reason I bought the album - I just happened to like the compilation as a whole). On this occasion, the rarities are Gimmie gimmie good lovin' (Crazy Elephant) and Walkin' my cat named Dog (Norma Tanega). I don't remember hearing either of them before.

In case you're wondering how Eddie Cochran qualifies for this set, Summertime blues was a hit twice, first in the fifties then again when it was re-issued ten years later. It appears on sixties compilations so often that I imagine a lot of people think of it as a sixties song.

There are one or two surprise omissions (the Mamas and the Papas, the Bee Gees), but they don't get missed out of many of these compilations and will no doubt be included in plenty more in the future. It doesn't really matter exactly who's in and who's not - it's the overall feel that counts.

If you are planning a party, or you are planning a long drive in the car and need to get in the mood, this album will be ideal. The songs are mostly upbeat, with just the occasional slow number (like Doris Day's Move over darling) to allow you to catch your breath. Just what you would expect of a party album.

What I liked most about this collection is you don't have to be a connoisseur of music from that decade to enjoy this double CD as most of the tracks featured have either been covered by other (more modern day) groups or performers, or the songs that haven't are still 'radio-friendly' today. Out of the 54 tracks on this collection, only Norma Tanega's "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" and Crazy Elephant's "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'" were unfamiliar to me.

CD One begins with a song designed to get a summer party started, and the term "feel good" has never been more appropriate than what I describe Martha Reeves' "Dancing In The Street" as being. The first disc also features several classic songs worthy of appearing on *any* 'summer' album: Summer In The City (Lovin' Spoonful), Lazy Sunday (Small Faces), Sunday Afternoon (The Kinks) and Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochran) to name but a few. As is evident on the second disc too, there's a big 'Flower Power' influence featured on the first part of the collection. Scott McKenzie's, "San Francisco", The Byrds' "Mr Tambourine Man", The Move's "Flowers In The Rain"and Thunderclap Newman's "Something In The Air" all epitomize the feeling of that latter part of the 1960s perfectly (as does Manfred Mann's "Pretty Flamingo" and The Flowerpot Men's "Let' Go To San Francisco" on the second disc).

There's also a nice selection of classic British songs from that decade, including contributions from Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Hollies, Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, The Animals, The Searchers and Lulu. The 'bubblegum pop' genre is well represented too with 'classics' from 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express (whose "Yummy Yummy Yummy" is being used on a current TV advertisement), The Honeycombs, Honeybus, The Turtles and Bruce Channel (with the original version of "Hey Baby" which will only confuse the kids!). And what 60s Summer album wouldn't be complete without a sprinkling of Motown/Atlantic soul? The record company could've chosen a better, more well-thought selection, still, who can complain with the insertion of Mary Wells' "My Guy", Jackie Wilson's "Higher & Higher", The Chiffons' "He's So Fine" and Junior Walker's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)"?

No summer album would be complete with at least one offering from the self-proclaimed kings of summer, The Beach Boys. On this collection we are treated to two classic cuts. I'd have preferred something from the "Pet Sounds" era when the group was at their psychadelic best, still, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Californian Girls" are among two of their greatest (and well known) hits. And the inclusion of Cliff Richard's all-time summer classic "Summer Holiday" is enough to sell this double CD on it's own. There's a couple of odd additions to the line-up, none more so than "Simon Smith And His Amazing Dancing Bear" (Alan Price Set) and "I Fought The Law" (Bobby Fuller Four). Also, there's several genuine 60s summer classics missing from the line-up, including one of my own favourites, "Sittin' In The Park" by Georgie Fame. However, these are just personal criticisms and it really is hard to say anything bad about this album.

"The Best Sixties Summer Party...Ever!" may not be to everyone's liking. Still if you want an album full of genuine sunshine hits instead of just a summer edition of the "Now That's What I Call Music" series, then this double CD is really worth buying. Now if the record company could only compile summer hits from the 1970s when songs of that genre meant something.....................

Jon.

In general, no real surprises here. Everyone knows the songs. Everyone knows the marketing scam. So probably avoid at all costs - two stars for the music, minus several million stars to the greedy record company.