Search - Various Artists :: Music From The Wonder Years: 5 Disc Set (1983-93 Television Series)

Don't be fooled by 5 CD Box Set

Stephen Hearn | Landers, California United States | 01/14/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Don't be fooled by the advertised 5 disc box set. Each disc contains an average of 29 minutes of music. This "Box Set" could have easily been condensed to 2 discs. There are repeated selections of "Original Music From The Wonder Years" throughout all five discs. The same "Original Music" is on every disc!While the song list is impressive and welcomed, the recording quality is poor. It sounds like the label, "LaserLight Digital", did this "on the cheap." Some of the songs sound like they were transfered from a used LP, with pops & scratches. I was astounded at how poorly this set sounded.I liked "The Wonder Years" and hoped that this soundtrack would reflect the quality of the show. The song selection did. However, as with the poor reviews concerning the quality of the DVD & VHS copies of the show (also produced by LaserLight Digital), the public is being short-changed with this collection.For those wanting a similar collection of songs from the same time period, I would recommend the soundtrack to "Forrest Gump.""

An imperfect but must-have collection for Wonder Years fans

Daniel Jolley | Shelby, North Carolina USA | 09/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This 5-CD collection of songs from The Wonder Years and the era in which the show was based is a must-have for devoted Wonder Years fans. It is easy to find fault with some of the tracks collected here, and some of the show's most important, memorable music is absent, yet this collection does bring back vivid memories of the good times spent with Kevin, Paul, and Winnie while continuing to touch hearts with some of its more impressive offerings. You get 50 songs in all, 10 of which are exquisite Snuffy Walden compositions written specifically for the show - these tracks, much more than the top 40 type songs making up the remainder of the album, are the real magic key to some of the best of times from The Wonder Years. Among the most notable tracks to be found in this collection are My Girl by the Temptations, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by the Platters, Ain't No Mountain High Enough and Someday We'll Be Together by Diana Ross & the Supremes, The Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and With a Little Help From My Friends and You are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker. An eclectic mix of contemporary songs rounds out the remainder of the musical selections, and these can be hit or miss at times. All Wonder Years fans could write volumes asking why certain songs were not included on these albums. My own list of the tracks that should be here but are not would begin with In My Life by Judy Collins, When a Man Loves a Woman by Percy Sledge, I'm a Believer by The Monkees, Tell It Like It Is by Aaron Neville, and There's a Kind of Hush by Herman and the Hermits. Episode 37, "St. Valentine's Massacre," is in my opinion the most important episode in the show's five-year run, yet two critical songs (Jimmy Ruffin's What Becomes of the Broken Hearted and the Marvin Gaye-Tammi Terrell duet You're All I Need to Get By) from that greatest of episodes are not here, and that's a shame. I could go on and on, as could any fan. In the end, though, we must feel blessed by what we have rather than moan about what we lack, and there truly are some great classic songs in this set that will have extra special meaning to those who considered The Wonder Years as not only a favorite television series but a part of our very lives."

Essential Wonder Years

Ronald Mallett | Sheffield, South Yorkshire United Kingdom | 02/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Even if you've never seen The Wonder Years, then these CD's are worth it for the music, from the tingling MY GIRL from The Temptations to the origional music there is something for everybody. Anybody over 35/40 will enjoy the classics of the era. If you've followed the TV series then you can almost see the scenes played out whilst listening to the music. There are some great songs missing like Percy Sledge - When a man loves a woman and Bob Segar - We've got tonight.
Buy this and you won't be dissapointed"