Search - Mills Brothers :: Golden Treasury

BEWARE!

Bill Mack | Fort Worth, TX United States | 04/29/2004

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Having been a fan of the Mills Brothers for five decades, this compilation places them in a completely different avenue in my admiration of their works ... and it's not their fault!Beginning with their unbeatable performances on Decca Records and, later, blessing us with those super charged renditions on DOT, the Mills boys have always been in that special category, labelled as: GREAT! However, this fizzy collection is simply not the group that consisted of Harry, Herbert and Donald (In the beginning, there was their brother, John, and, after John's untimely passing, their dad, "Skipper"). Perhaps the singers on this dabby disc are relatives of the original team ... but there is a most noticeable difference. Obviously recorded before a "live" audience, the short takes on such tunes as "Blueberry Hill", "Bye-Bye Blackbird" and "The Tiger Rag" are full embarrassments. And when you hear this bunch blab the Mills' signature song, "Paper Doll", you realize "something is haywire"! There is no reference to "live-performance" on the CD label, and there are no "liner-notes". The purchaser should have been advised that these are not the authentic Mills Brothers! It's certainly noticed when the lead singer can't hold the notes of purity and excitement the original singers, all deceased, were noted for.This CD should be taken from the "available" list. At least, it shouldn't be mixed in with the "real stuff". The Mills Brothers were the best to be heard. This CD is an insult to their golden reputation."