The best of quality since i collected the recordings of PM
Frans | AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS | 08/29/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sorry for my bad English. I'm fan of Peggy March since i was 15 year. I collected all her recordings, from my 15th year, i can buy in Holland and Germany. I have al most 600 recordings os PM. But this CD is suprior of quality i'ts like recording yesterday. And i like the varous of songs on it. My compliments. I hope the company will bring more of the American songs of Peggy on CD. Now she made in own factury a western cd (septembre 2002)
Greetings from a big Peggy March fan from Holland (52 years old)"
Peggy's U.S. Recordings Finally See The Light Of Day On CD!
Frans | 05/22/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Many thanks to Taragon Records for recognizing this underrated, and underappreciated entertainer Ms. Peggy March. It's obvious that much care and thought went into this release as all tracks are in true STEREO! All of Peggy's chart successes are covered here, plus her first recording for RCA Victor in 1962, "Little ME." It is interesting to point out that the songs "Can't Stop Thinking About Him" and "He Couldn't Care Less" are altogether different from their commercial 45 releases. These two songs have a longer introduction and break. By the way, "He Couldn't Care Less" was written by the late Peter Allen, his brother Chris, and Dick Everitt. And then there's that great Randy Newman song, "Leave Me Alone." I was blown away when I heard this in STEREO! The mono 45 version is pale by comparison. Peggy's range starts out low which gradually builds to the sky. It was also great to hear the percussion instruments and a backing chorus that somehow got lost in the 45. "Watch What You Do With My Baby" had hit written across this record and shouldn't be ignored. It was penned by the same trio who wrote hits for Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers, Bill Giant, Bernie Baum and Florence Kaye. "Heaven For Lovers" is the English version of her German hit, "Mit 17 Hat Man Noch Traume" which when released in 1965 at the Baden Baden Songfestival, endeared Peggy to the German public. Peggy's entry won first prize! She subsequently released this song in Italian and Japanese. "Losin' My Touch" was pulled from her duet Lp "In Our Fashion" from 1965 and featured 4 songs from Peggy, 4 from Bennie Thomas and 4 duets. At the time, they both shared the same manager, Russell Smith and share the same birthday March 8. The label kept on pairing her with him and they recorded duets in German and Japanese. RCA once again paired her with British singer Gary Marshall for one 45 release, "An Old Fashion Wedding" b/w "Play A Simple Melody" from 1966. "This Heart Wasn't Made To Kick Around" originally a German song, called "Male Nicht Den Teufel An Die Wand," was given an English lyric an released in the States in 1967. The liner notes by Colin Escott are informative, pictures great and the CD deserving of many spins. Or is that vinyl talk? Ironically, Peggy's last recording for RCA in the States, "Boom Bang-A-Bang" b/w "Lilac Skies" was her first Stereo issue 45. This CD however, is just the tip of the iceberg of over 550 songs that Diva March has recorded over the years. Using Germany as her home base, she toured Europe constantly, even to this day in fact, and recorded and performed consistently. After RCA, she recorded for German Decca, Denon in Japan, Ariola, EMI Electrola and she currently records for Koch International. Her talent is rare and unique and deserves more releases of her material in the future."
Taragon does it right
Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 04/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For the intent of this compilation, this is the absolute best piece to own. If you're going for the RCA singles and 60s material done by March, this is far superior to any other compilations, domestic or foreign. All true stereo in superb sound taken from session and master mixdown tapes. Taragon has done a magnificent job with this material. Forget the others - this is the one to buy."
Some of peggy's best
Zub | 02/27/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"unfortunately underrated in the usa,and mainly known for her 1963 # 1 hit "i will follow him", peggy march recorded hundreds of songs outside the us (mainly in italy, japan and germany) and there are dozens of wonderful songs among these foreign language recordings. this collection contains some of her best work released in the usa between 1962-68. nice booklet and liner notes, interesting fotos, and 21 songs in stereo (many for the first time!)proof that it's a pity that peggy never really managed to have a big career in america. hopefully there will be more of the best, because she did put out a few amazing 45s. also check into her german catalogue (bear family records)."
Maybe a better title would be "Peggy March all Grown Up"?
uthungus | San Francisco, CA | 09/13/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I finally came across a copy of this CD that kept going and (I assume) coming back at a local record store so this time around I snapped up the copy. There are things so far other customer reviews have said here on this collection that I mildly to strongly agree/disagree with respectfully. I have collected quite a few re-releases of recordings popular singers did over the years and through other collector friends (that can burn copies of their own things) I have good and bad things to say by comparison on "The Very Best Of".
Reading through the bio information on this the title is off for the body of work. Peggy March was with a new recording label by the time many of these songs came out and she wasn't using "Little" anymore with her stage name. She never chose it and apparently never liked it either! I agree with the poster from Holland that wanted to hear more of her later work not available and much less with "dropping" certain tunes from this over others. If you are a big fan of March's "bubblegum" teen hits, the CD "I Will Follow Him" captures a thorough and delightfully more complete list of these songs. I would have to say writing "everything" following up the earlier efforts she did pales by comparison is a bit harsh.
If you're willing to venture on to a more grown up next level of a singer's recording career efforts this CD is a treat. Standouts to me include "Losin My Touch", "Your Girl", "Heaven for Lovers" "If you Loved Me" and "Try to See it My Way". The last of these two I like for different reasons. "Loved Me" is cute with its "Partridge Family" sound and serious delivery amidst a campy arrangement. I've actually heard the soundtrack to "The Flip Side" and by the music alone this TV movie from 1968 sounds REALLY BAD. But out of the songs in it, to me Peggy March beats out both Rick Nelson and Joanie Sommers combined on her delivery of "Try to See it My Way" and that says quite a bit comparing her to two such talents!
OK, there are also a few mild to moderate "clunkers" here too. "This Heart Wasn't made to Kick Around" with its weird "Riverdance" folksy opener wasn't a fave of mine and "He's back again" was weaker than others. Also her rendition of "Watch What You do With My Baby" is to me "just OK", but that's only because I've also heard Julie Grant's livelier version. But I'm really glad this collection came together for no other reason than to give fans something outside of the box to hear from a pop favorite.
Some can accept the next level. Others want to remember their favorites at the height of popularity like Lesley Gore and Marcie Blain. To me this is a much more sophisticated look at Peggy March's multi talents. She did after all go on to record numerous records in Germany where her popularity was big at the time of her move there. I'm looking forward to finding these efforts as well. In closing opinion on her Japanese version of "I Will Follow Him"? Many singers did multi-language recordings of their pop tunes and some even their whole catalogues like Brits Sandie Shaw and Petula Clark. Connie Francis did as well. Do I like this version? Certainly. More than the English version? No. But it's really a treat to me to have this added on.