Search - Everly Brothers :: 36 Unreleased Recordings From the 50's and 60's

What You Need To Know

Cary E. Mansfield | Studio City, CA USA | 10/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Everly Brothers are well known for such classics as "Bye Bye Love," "Wake Up Little Susie" and "All I Have To Do Is Dream." These hits and many others have been issued on countless collections over the years, but this is the first time these truly amazing rare and unreleased demo recordings from the beginning of their career are available in this special two CD set. The songs are all Everly originals, and all but six tracks were recorded in the late 50s, and early 60s. Many of the songs have never been officially recorded by them, and are making their first appearance here. This is The Everly Brothers in prime form, just on the cusp of stardom: two guitars and two voices in beautiful harmony. This is a must-have collection for all Everly Brothers completists."

Terrific set of Everly demos

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 12/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Everly's catalog has been the subject of substantial reissue projects over the past few years. Their original Warner-era albums have been reissued domestically by Collectors Choice and as superb two-fers in the UK by WEA International. More monolithically, Bear Family has released two enormous box sets that cover everything from 1960 through 1972. In parallel, Varese Vintage has issued anthologies of the duo's Cadence-era recordings, and a pair of CDs collecting the Everly's demo recordings. The latter two volumes - "Too Good to Be True" and "Give Me a Future" - have been paired for this slip-covered 2-CD set. Each disc is delivered with its own booklet, stuffed with photos and detailed liner notes from producer Andrew Sandoval.



The bulk of these recordings were drawn from the vaults of the Everlys' song publisher, Acuff-Rose. Most are bare-bones recordings of one or both of the brothers singing along to acoustic guitar. While none will make you forget the more familiar master takes, it is tremendously moving to hear the Everly harmonies in such a simple context. Even better, a number of these demos were never re-recorded as finished tracks, so these versions present new-to-the-ear Everlys songs.



"Too Good to Be True" focuses most heavily on demos recorded between their short tenure at Columbia and their signing with Cadence. These are bare-bones recordings from 1956 and 1957, featuring the Everlys singing harmony to a single acoustic guitar. Also included are a couple of demos waxed between their stint at Cadence and their lengthy stay at Warner. Many of these Everly originals would be lost in the rush of third-party material that sent the Everlys up the charts. Even the few titles that were formally re-recorded ("I Wonder If I Care as Much," "Should We Tell Him" and "Maybe Tomorrow") are fascinating for their fresh vocals and spare arrangements. Later demos from 1958 and 1959 find the brothers cutting solo, such as a very sweet take of "Made to Love" that shows off Phil's folk stylings, and a surprisingly slow and gentle take of "When Will I Be Loved."



The second volume of demos, "Give Me a Future." mines additional material from the late-50s, but also includes items from the early-to-mid-70s. A larger number of these are solo recordings, with the brothers heard together on only the first three tracks. In addition to a few alternate demos to tracks heard on the previous volume, highlights include Phil Everly's contemplative war-themed folk song, "Captain, Captain," Don Everly's country-tinged acoustic takes of "Hello Amy and "Oh, What a Feeling," a stirring primitive solo recording of Don singing his own "Since You Broke My Heart," and a sprightly early composition from Phil titled "I'm Gonna Make Real Sure."



These collections really show off the Everlys incredible talent. They don't have the production zing of master takes, but the quality and charisma of their vocals is at least as powerful on these demos as on the finished product. This is also a great opportunity to witness the quality of the Everlys' early songs, which were often overshadowed by hits written for them by others. These aren't the first Everlys CDs to own, but if you can't get enough of their material, particularly their '50s Cadence sides, these demos are a real treat. [©2007 hyperbolium dot com]"