Not a nostalgia trip, but a window into cool, complex musicm
Michael Kentoff | Washington, DC United States | 08/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I tend to disdain hits packages of all types and, in spite of Ace's amazing track record, would have done the same had I not heard this record at one of my favorite record stores, Soundscapes in Toronto. Maybe b/c I was on vacation or maybe b/c I was open to anything (being at the eclectic and great Soundscapes). I dunno, but I just marvelled at song-after-song of beautiful songwriting, arranging, and production when I heard this over the Soundscape speakers. I was shopping for electronic music and other more experimental material, so 60s sunshine pop was not on my mind. But there I was, in-store, swinging to the Shondells and Mama Cass. I even love the Donovan song and I'm no Donovan fan.
What this comp demonstrates is that in the mid-60s a lot of music designed for mass consumption was conceived as art -- complex, wierd, and enigmatic. Or if not conceived as art, certainly conceived with detail and filigree somewhat unimaginable now. For the most part, the songs were designed to be singles and get radio play. An inexact science, then and now, but that was the plan. And, in some cases reflected on this comp, it worked. I mean, the public bought in! Green Tamborine a #1? WTF??? While some songs, like Happy Together or Lazy Day, are well-known, there are too many long-lost gems (chart as they might have) to call this a nostalgia trip. I'd never heard lots of the material on this disc and it re-affirms for me that there is a contact point in music (or there was and there can be) between commerce and aesthetic risk-taking. The disc is a blast. Just bought it for my brother who will think I've lost my mind until he listens. Or he'll just think I've lost my mind, which isn't really much of a departure."
SUNSHINE POP INDEED !!!
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 11/30/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've always enjoyed music from the mid and late 1960s; and this CD has lots of it! We get twenty-six tunes on this album. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is also well done; we even get chart information for these songs and I like that, too.
The Turtles start it all off with their huge hit, "Happy Together." The guitars and drums round out the tune and The Turtles perform this flawlessly. Now THIS is great music! The Critters do "Younger Girl;" and "98.6" by Keith made the airwaves sizzle back in the day! "98.6" is easily a major highlight of this album; and it brings back fond memories for me! Tommy James and the Shondells do their awesome "Crystal Blue Persuasion" with a lot of style; they actually do this with a lot of sensitivity and it's very professional, good quality music.
The Beach Boys do their very catchy "Darlin';" I could never tire of hearing them to this one! The Lemon Pipers turn in a good performance with their "Green Tambourine;" and listen for yet another gem in "A Girl like You" by The Rascals. Wowzer! The Fifth Dimension also makes good when they do "Workin' on a Groovy Thing;" The Fifth Dimension was one of the very best and just one listen tells you why!
The Friends of Distinction play and sing "Grazing in the Grass" with lots of positive energy; this electric tune really shines even all these years later! They handle fast tempo and key changes like pros, too; and I'm very impressed. The Association scored a huge hit with their "Time for Livin';" they deliver this to perfection--and beyond! And, of course, The Mamas & The Papas come in strong with their terrific CD highlight, "I Saw Her Again." "I Saw Her Again" proves just how talented The Mamas & The Papas really were.
Spanky and Our Gang perform "Lazy Day" with some mighty fine percussion; the music fits in perfectly with the lyrics and it all holds its own very well. I love it! Harpers Bizarre is wonderful as they do their "Anything Goes;" and I really like Mercy's "Love (Can Make You Happy)." The CD also ends strong with The Cowsills performing "The Rain, The Park and Other Things." What a great way to end this album!
Chartbusters USA: Sunshine Pop is tailor made for fans of pop music from the mid to late 1960s. Sure, as a single CD compilation it could never be complete; but it stands very strong as it is and I highly recommend it for fans of this genre of music. It's even a good introductory album for people just discovering the magical sounds of the mid to late 1960s."
Hit-packed collection of late 60's feel-good pop music
Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 03/30/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ace Records rolls out this - the fourth volume in their once-in-a-great-while Chartbusters USA series - collection of so-called "Sunshine Pop" songs from the second half of the 1960's. Gathered up here are (mostly) feel-good, forward-looking and cheerful musical snapshots of life in the oft-times not-so-happy part of that turbulent decade. While most of the generous 26 tracks are from some of the biggest pop music acts of the era, just a few rarities are added in to spice up the mix and keep it from sounding too much like the oldies radios' same-old, same-old playlists.
Sandwiched between the Turtles' chart-topping "Happy Together" and the Cowsills' runner-up "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" are six more top-ten hits and an additional five top-20 chart entries which all together keep even the casual fan singing along with lyrics from a decade now long past. While the remaining tunes may not have been as successful chart-wise, many of the acts were. If you didn't at once recognize "Darlin'", "She Let's Her Hair Down", "Time for Livin'" and "She Is Still a Mystery to Me", you would certainly recognize the performers - the Beach Boys, the Tokens, the Association and the Lovin' Spoonful. Beyond the instantly recognized bigger hits included here, the hard-nosed fans of the era are treated to such rarities as Don and the Goodtimes' "I Could Be so Good to You", the Forum's "The River Is Wide" and Peppermint Rainbow's follow-up to "Will You Be Staying After Sunday", "Don't Wake Me up in the Morning, Michael".
Though expected, but never to be taken for granted, Ace's commitment to production excellence is evident here. Sound quality on these tracks is outstanding with most, excepting tracks 2,6,8,16,17,19,23 and 26, appearing in stereo. A few of these songs are available in stereo elsewhere but the compilers here have evidently chosen the mono single version in preference to the sometimes inferior stereo mixes. Complementing the hour-plus of music, a 23-page liner notes booklet offers at least as much time of fascinating reading, punctuated with pics and label images.
Over the years of the CD-era, Ace has established its top-notch reputation in the CD reissue realm and this new volume in the Chartbusters USA series reaffirms that stature. For fans of the genre, this new volume is worthy of shelfspace in the collections of casual and completist fans alike."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1