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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Please Buy This Album, 15 Jul 2003
Hi There, This is the Best Drifters Collection ever. A 2 CD Set. 58 Tracks. Many of them with the best vocals possible, the catchiest tunes, and many 'strapped' on to the Orchestral sounds of violins, strings, and so on. The Collection begins with some of their early R.& B. work, and whilst that is not as catchy as their later stuff, they sing it like they mean it - with passion. Then, you get all the fantastic 60's Hits like:, 'Save The Last Dance For Me', and their original version of the British 1960's Searchers Number 1 - 'Sweets For My Sweet'. The start of CD 2 has a track they never released as a Single - 'Only In America' - a huge song/production, about rising to the top in the USA, - it is one of their best ever melodies, and it is a work of genius. When I listened to it, I felt that it was worth the cost of the 2 CD's in its self. Further on, we have 'Down In The Streets Of Harlem' - another Drifters song, that I had never heard before. It has slow verses, and the music, chorus, and vocals rise to a massive 'Cathedral of Harmoiny' - I almost wept, when I listened to it, as it is so stunning and moving. Personally I did not feel that the 1970's Drifters were as good, although they had a string of British only Hits at the time. However, many were catchy, and included in this Collection. This 70's stuff, includes an Album Track - 'Harlem Child', which was made in 1975. At the time, The Drifters had just spent no less than 5 Weeks at Number 3 with 'There Goes My First Love', (in the UK), and this would have been just as huge - if not bigger. However, it was never a Single, and I was 100% impressed on hearing, 'Harlem Child', for the first time, in this Collectuion. It has a pretty harpsichord sound throughout, plus lovely verses about a fellow who has gone to try to make it big in the 'Music World'. When, (if!), he does so, he plans to come back to Harlem, to take his lady to a better place. It is catchy, charming, and just about the best track I have ever heard, from the 1970's Drifters. All in all, this CD Set is utterly marvellous, and it is True, All Pop Music came from this type of innovative music. One can hear its influence in The Beatles, the Stones, Phil Spector, ABBA etc. Go on! - treat yourself - bring joy into your life. Colin
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