The Everly Brothers Sing ... Why buy it
Debra Turner | New York, NY | 05/15/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Everly Brothers were often accused of trying to "sound hip" when they performed or created music in the late 1960s - early 1970s, and why should that be? Some listeners forget just how young they were when they first hit the charts in 1957. Phil was 18, and Don had just turned 20. They were still young men in the late 60s and early 70s. Why wouldn't their music (and hair!) reflect the contemporary times they were living in? Many of the 1960s musicians who followed and were influenced by the Everly Brothers were in the same age bracket as their mentors. Note that Don was born in 1937, Phil in 1939, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones in 1936, John Lennon of the Beatles in 1940, and Eric Burdon of the Animals in 1941.
So why buy "The Everly Brothers Sing" and their later albums? My answer is for the voices ... and to hear recording artists, who may have changed the times, but also allowed themselves to be changed by the times. On this album, the hit, "Bowling Green," Don's solo, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and the reissued "It's All Over" - with Phil singing lead - are all excellent songs. A listener will never find better voices. Both Don and Phil are exceptional lead ... and harmony singers."
Wonderful "Summer Of Love" feel, and a real departure from t
Blind man Wayne | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA United States | 05/09/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you like mellow psychedelic and sunshine pop from the late 60s', you may find this 1967 offering from the Everly Brothers enjoyable. It is obvious that the Everlys were endeavoring to stay in step with the rapidly evolving music styles of the mid and late 60s, as this album is quite a departure from their previous material. It features the 1967 hit `Bowling Green', a lovely tune that has plenty of happy "ba-ba-ba-ba's" so prevalent in many hit songs from that magical year. I am subtracting two stars from my rating due to the audio quality, which I grade as a C+. For example, `Bowling Green' is distorted such that the bass and flutes sound "grainy or scratchy", and there is also hum. I have this tune on a various artists CD titled, `Sunshine Days Vol. 4' with no such distortions. It is obvious that Collector's Choice did not cull these recordings from the best sources. But I am grateful to Collector's Choice for re-issuing this fine album."
Don't Count Them Out
Don Loiacano | Bowling Green, KY United States | 02/10/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'll agree with others who have reviewed this LP - yes, this is not an essential Everly Brothers album. However, in the CD age [and even then], the last two tracks on the album - A Whiter Shade Of Pale and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - can be listened to once, then deleted from future playings. Whether as a ten track LP or a ten track mix [ah, the shuffle button - the savior of all uneven albums], this outing by the Brothers somehow works. Sure, they are trying to be 'hip'; but the guitars, harmonies and songs are ambitious and isn't that what an artist should be trying to do? For my money, I'd rather hear them slightly fail, then count on the same old formula and 'oldies' as the previous record released. Their choices definitely fit well with what other vocal groups were doing at the time [see rhino handmades Nuggets CDs as an example]. If anything, it puts the wonderful 'Bowling Green' in the proper context of its time. Give it a deserved listen!"
