This 2-disc set does contain a wide variety of the “smash hits” from the 60’s, and as far as I can tell they are either by the original artists who made them famous, or by folks who had the most popular covers of them. Many of the artists’ names are forgettable – I guess they were one- or two-hit wonders. However, most of us will remember that it was the Surfaris who did “Wipe Out,” my FAVORITE 60’s instrumental, with its killer drums. My second favorite, at the other end of the spectrum, is also included, Mr. Acker Bilk’s “Stranger on the Shore.” You also get the unforgettable “No Matter What Shape Your Stomach’s In” (Pepto-Bismol commercials), “White Silver Sands,” “Soulful Strut,” and “Telstar” (which is NOT performed by the Ventures but by Tornadoes 74?), as well as the title song. The Ventures do make an appearance, with “Hawaii Five-O.” Another song you’ll remember from television commercials is “Percolator”, a tune I consider fun and always a hit with children.

My biggest complaint with this “boxed set” is that it is a “boxed set.” With only 20 songs, and still substantially less than one hour long (50 minutes, 29 seconds!) why not put it all on ONE disc? Obviously, for marketing reasons – they wanted to get more bucks out of the consumer by pretending it was more than it is. I am never a fan of a “short” CD, and also bristle at what I perceive as a marketing “trick” or come-on. The CD player I use most often takes 3 CD’s. Seldom do I want to waste 2/3 of that space for less than one hour of this music!

As for the recordings themselves, the technical information accompanying the set (simply a listing of songs, artists, writers, length, copyright info, and compilation information) does state that “all selections are new stereo recordings” and “all photos are hand painted by Mike Nelson.” I have no idea what “new stereo recordings” actually means – is that a remaster from old mono recordings? Didn’t they have stereo masters in the 60’s, things with multiple tracks? Maybe I’m just dense. And there is ONE photo, of some instruments (upright piano, couple of saxes, drums, trombone) on the “cover.” Instruments hold still to pose so much better than people, don’t you think? Especially if someone is hand-painting it? Sure looks like a PHOTO to me! Anyway, despite all this – the songs do have a 60’s sound to them – yes, a bit more tinny-sounding than today’s more true-to-life sound. Shoot, those of us who were there don’t mind. We probably can’t hear that well now anyway, either from age or from turning those darned speakers up too loud for too many years!

The songs are cool, but this is recommended only if you can find a really good deal on it – this really is equal to ONE CD so don’t pay a “boxed set” price!

This review is brought to you by Tom's Lean-n-Mean III challenge. For details: http://www.epinions.com/content_4149256324


Recommended: No

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House