Search - Various Artists :: Great Records Of The Decade: 60's Hits, Vol. 1

Solid installment in a tough to find CD series

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 03/12/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great Records Of The Decade: 60's Hits, Vol. 1 is a budget priced CD that gives us a number of great hits--but I'm glad this is only volume one because there's no way any single CD could ever capture all the best from the 1960s! The sound quality is great and the artwork is really cool.



The Beach Boys start things off with their awesome hit, "Help Me, Rhonda." This tune has their signature song and The Beach Boys never sounded better! They sing well and this is sure to bring back fond memories for those of us who first heard this tune on the radio. The Beach Boys harmonize well, too. Jackie DeShannon also turns in a great performance with her "Put A Little Love In Your Heart." Jackie sings with all her heart and soul; her excellent diction bolsters her performance and this impresses me a lot. The backup singers harmonize to enhance this song and I really enjoy this tune!



Jan & Dean perform "Surf City" with enthusiasm and lot of spirit; they harmonize well and it's really remarkable how much they sound like The Beach Boys. However, "Surf City" holds its own rather well and it's a fun little tune that's great even today. There are great drums and percussion on "Surf City," too. Listen also for Bobby Vee as he sings "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes;" this tune was always one of my very favorites from the `60s pop/soft rock genre and Bobby Vee's voice is strong and he handles this tune like a pro!



Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe" is hauntingly beautiful and it remains memorable even today; Bobbie sings this with a lot of sensitivity and the story she tells in her song makes quite an impression. The country flavor added into this ballad makes it a solid piece of music.



Wayne Newton's "Danke Schöen" is another favorite of mine from this era; Wayne's voice was pretty good back in the day although his more mature style appeals to both old and new fans. Wayne sings this passionately and "Danke Schöen" is yet another highlight of this album. The CD also ends very well with Al Martino performing "Spanish Eyes." "Spanish Eyes" is a charming love ballad and Al sings this flawlessly. I love it!



Overall, this is one awesome CD that fans of `60s music can't afford to miss! I highly recommend it especially for people who like ALL types of `60s music as that's what you get on this album. People who enjoy oldies music will also appreciate this album. If you like this CD, check out other CDs by the artists on this disc.

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