Gene Pitney - Gene Pitney 25 AllTime Greatest Hits (25 tracks) +Album Reviews

The MOST UNDERRATED singer of all time

Mary L. Kowalski | Boston, MA United States | 09/14/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a voice that is SO recognizable it is a pity that the MAN has not been properly recognized. Gene Pitney is one of the most underrated singers of all time. He has such a body of work on this one CD - Liberty Valence (which btw was NOT in the movie - it was scrapped on the cutting room floor), It Hurts to be in Love, Every Breadth I Take and so many others. The range of this man's voice is incredible as are the songs. He can make you cry one minute and fall in love the next. This is the one to buy if you are only buying one but there are so many CD's that you will certainly buy others. Half Heaven, Half Heartache touches the sky and True Love Never Runs Smooth is so true, especially when Gene sings it. I HIGHLY recommend this CD.

Just a little note of editing - Gene died 4/5/06. He will be sorely missed."

Gene Pitney for RR Hall of Fame!!!

Mary L. Kowalski | 01/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, I bought it and can't stop listening, singing along, crying and smiling. You who are checking out this site know what I mean by that!Yes, one can smile through tears listening to Gene Pitney's gorgeous voice and perfect phrasing to young love's agonies and ecstasies. His beautiful voice, and his creative mind and heart, enabled him to express my emotions for me in song, over and over again. Gene Pitney is the first artist I actually went to a concert to see. Already in thrall to the Beatles as a 15 year old, Gene Pitney was nevertheless my very first ticket purchase. (Saw 'em both; I HEARD Gene Pitney and loved the show!)I'm elated to remember that Gene not only collaberated with Phil Specter (Pitney wrote the Crystals' "He's a Rebel!") but also the Rolling Stones, whose first album release contains Pitney piano backup. In repayment, Pitney's single "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" is the first Jagger/Richards composition released in this country!This guy was respected and revered by the "coolest" in his time. Why hasn't he been more remembered in this time?I for one will contact the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame folks and remind them about Gene. According to his webpage, he's still actively singing and touring. He should be on that Hall of Fame stage now, now, now! And you, dear reader and lover of music, should be listening to this CD!! Nothing's missing that you'd expect, and the technical transfer (into 21st century sound) has been done seamlessly. You'll love it, I guarantee it. Roy Orbison admired Gene Pitney's work enough to record 4 of his compositions. These men are cut from the same cloth, and if you love one's way with a ballad or a rocker, you'll love the other. So buy this CD! YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!! PS: Gene did every track on his first demo/single, "Love My Life Away," vocals and instruments included! How's that for incredibly gifted AND ahead of his time! (It made the top 40 and opens this album. Another reason to buy!)"

An underrated singer

R. Wallace | St. Louis, Mo USA | 05/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A few months ago I heard a song on the radio that I had never heard before. I could tell it was Gene Pitney -- turned out it was "Half Heaven, Half Heartache." Here's a guy I've been listening to since the '60's, yet had never run across this particular (and great) song. So I bought this CD, and am I glad I did. Pitney was a soulful and passionate singer; even the songs I don't particularly like are still listenable because of his voice (I feel the same way about Roy Orbison). An excellent collection of his songs, by a singer who has been greatly underrated."

Local boy makes good

Patricia H. Parker | Springfield, Massachusetts United States | 04/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gene Pitney was a local boy who made good. He grew up about ten miles from us and was our age in the early sixties. Wow. As his career grew, and he left us, we could still enjoy his music. I was glad to hear, in later years, that, although no longer recording, he was still performing, writing and producing CDs for other performers. Someone has noted his falsetto singing which I have heard happened because his voice, tired by retake after retake on his first recording, could not reach the notes he needed. He switched, instead to a higher range, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Gene was found dead in his room last week, of natural causes. He will not sing, in person, any longer. It is important, therefore, to purchase this CD so that his music and the history that he made will be ours for years to come."

A strong single CD compilation

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 09/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It requires a double CD to provide a comprehensive study of Gene's hits but this is a very strong collection, containing all his top ten British and American pop hits from the sixties.

I'm gonna be strong was Gene's only hit to reach the top ten in both Britain and America. Gene's other top ten American hits to be found here are The man who shot Liberty Valance, Only love can break a heart and It hurts to be in love. Gene's other top ten British hits to be found here are Twenty four hours from Tulsa, That girl belongs to yesterday, I must be seeing things, Looking through the eyes of love, Princess in rags, Backstage, Nobody needs your love, Just one smile and the original solo version of Something's gotten hold of my heart.

Some lesser hits are also included together with Gene's original version of Hello Mary Lou, a song he wrote before he had a recording contract and which was a huge hit for Ricky Nelson.

You are unlikely to find a better single CD compilation of Gene's music anywhere, although if you are really committed, you may wish to check out the British double CD, Looking through - Ultimate collection, which explores his career in greater depth and is still available in the UK as I write this."

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