Search - Various Artists :: Best Sixties Summer Party Ever

It's my party and I'm gonna have FUN

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 08/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Double CD's of summer music have become a regular feature in Britain over the last few years. Several of these collections have focused exclusively on the sixties, and this is the 2002 variation on the theme.All but two of the fifty four tracks are well known in Britain. Record companies like to unearth some unusual tracks every now and again, in the hope of getting extra sales from people who want these rarities. (It wasn't the reason I bought the album - I just happened to like the compilation as a whole). On this occasion, the rarities are Gimmie gimmie good lovin' (Crazy Elephant) and Walkin' my cat named Dog (Norma Tanega). It may be that one or both of these songs is popular in America, but I don't remember hearing either of them before.Americans will recognise most of the songs. A majority are by American acts anyway, and most of the Brits featured were successful in America, though not necessarily with the particular track included here.In case you're wondering how Eddie Cochran qualifies for this set, Summertime blues was a British hit twice, first in the fifties then again when it was re-issued ten years later. It appears on sixties compilations so often that I imagine a lot of Brits think of it as a sixties song.There are one or two surprise omissions (the Mamas and the Papas, the Bee Gees), but they don't get missed out of many of these compilations and will no doubt be included in plenty more in the future. It doesn't really matter exactly who's in and who's not - it's the overall feel that counts.If you are planning to party this summer, or you are planning a long drive in the car and need to get in the mood, this album will be ideal. The songs are mostly upbeat, with just the occasional slow number (like Doris Day's Move over darling) to allow you to catch your breath. Just what you would expect of a party album."