WARNING: THESE ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL RECORDINGS!!!
Jake Spar | Visalia, CA USA | 05/22/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"WARNING! I'VE BEEN DUPED. DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!
If you want to hear alternative versions of all of these songs than these CDs may be for you. Otherwise, you will probably be disappointed (as I was). I've gotten use to hearing most of these songs in their original versions, and that is what I was expecting when I ordered this set.
The following is written in fine print on the back cover of the CD: "This compilation contains re-recorded / live tracks. All single artist tracks are performed by the original artist. Tracks featuring groups were recorded using as many original group members as possible." - WTF? :-O
WHY ISN'T THIS CRUTIAL INFO INCLUDED IN ANY ONLINE PRODUCT DESCRIPTION? If Demon Music Group Ltd. (the marketers of this product) doesn't list this vital info in their online product description, then I guess I can't expect Amazon and other re-sellers to. I've notified both DMG and Amazon of this glaring omission. We'll see what they do...
OKAY... BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MUSIC, you may be asking. Well, actually much of it is pretty good. The sound quality is excellent (probably much better than what remains of the original recordings). However, on some songs the mixing isn't ideal (individual instruments are boosted too high). Many of the songs sound similar to the originals. Others are quite different, for example there are three songs by The Miracles (minus Smokey Robinson). They're okay, but they just don't sound right without Smokey. Some of the live versions are not bad; probably my favorites are the Dionne Warwick numbers. The absolute worst song in this collection is a horrendous version of "My Girl" by Mary Wells. It sounds like one of those terrible dance remixes from the 80s, and bears no resemblance to the original.
The liner notes are ridiculously sparse. Basically all that's included is a track listing. The CD lengths are also quite meager at an average of 41 minutes per CD (with a few less songs they could have all fit on 2 CDs).
OVERALL GRADE: 2 stars
Marketing: 1 star - For withholding vital information (NOT THE ORIGINAL SONGS) in their online product description.
Music: 3 stars - Some good, some bad, some mediocre, and some strange.
Packaging/Value: 2 stars - Substandard liner notes & only 165 minutes of music on 4 CDs.
SUMMARY: This compilation should really be called "60's Love Songs: The ALTERNATIVE Collection". I never would have ordered it had I known that these weren't the original recordings. However, I got this set for a good price... and, some of the music's not bad... so, I'm not as upset as I otherwise would be.
If you are looking for a collection of 60s love songs, and you don't care if they are the original versions, then you may be happy with this collection."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1