Best of the Rivieras: California Sun CD

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun songs Today the most recognition the Animals get is "House of the Rising Sun" being played on oldies radio, but in the mid-1960s they were a powerful part of the British Invasion, often reckoned on a par with the Beatles, the Stones, and the Who. Like those bands, the Animals had strong roots in blues and R&B, but, in their original incarnation, they stayed closer to those roots than their peers did. This definitive compilation, masterfully assembled by the ABKCO think tank of Teri Landi and Jody Klein, shows the tough, uncompromising use to which the Animals put their American influences. John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom" is recast as a raw garage rocker glazed with Alan Price's sinister organ riffs, and the aforementioned "House of the Rising Sun" is transformed from a traditional folk lament to an urgent, ominous piece of churning tumult. Of course, the group skillfully expanded those roots (with the help of some great writers), and turned out some classic working-class-rebel anthems ("We Gotta Get Out of This Place," "It's My Life"). By '67, the original lineup disbanded, and Eric Burdon led a new batch of Animals into a psychedelic West Coast sound ("San Franciscan Nights," "Monterey"). The Animals may not be given pride of place in the rock history books, but RETROSPECTIVE shows that they fully deserve it. Audio Remixers: Eddie Kramer; Gary Kellgren; Vic Briggs. Liner Note Author: Jim Bessman. Recording information: Kingsway Recording Studio, London, England (01/22/1964-??/??/1970); Mayfair Recording Studio, New York, NY (01/22/1964-??/??/1970); RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA (01/22/1964-??/??/1970); Sunset-Highland Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA (01/22/1964-??/??/1970); Wally Heider Recording Studio, San Francisco, CA (01/22/1964-??/??/1970). Arrangers: Vic Briggs; Horace Ott; Dave Rowberry. The Animals: Alan Price (keyboards); Chas Chandler (bass instrument); Eric Burdon, John Steel , Hilton Valentine. Personnel: Eric Burdon (vocals); John Weider (guitar, violin); Vic Briggs (guitar, piano, vibraphone); Howard H. Scott, Hilton Valentine (guitar); Charles Miller (flute); Royal Scots Guard Pipe And Drum Marching Band (bagpipe, percussion); Lee Oskar (harmonica); Alan Price (piano, organ); Lonnie Jordan, Dave Rowberry (organ); Barry Jenkins (drums, percussion); Harold Brown, John Steel (drums); Thomas R. Allen, Jr. (percussion). Additional personnel: War.

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun CD music If faced with the absurd dilemma of picking one album to represent the meaning of rock music, the Rolling Stones compilation HOT ROCKS--which collects most of their commercially and artistically successful songs from 1964 to 1971--would certainly be in the running. A two-CD set (originally released as a double LP), HOT ROCKS' 22 tracks each have the ring of historical inevitability about them; more importantly, of course, they are great tunes. From the soulful wailing of "Time Is On My Side" (the only non-Jagger/Richards original here) to the nervous pop shuffle of "Mother's Little Helper" through the Indian-influenced psychedelia of "Paint It Black" and the gospel-inflected strains of "You Can't Always Get What You Want," it is hard to argue with the power of this music. Many of these songs have been tattooed on the cultural psyche--the amped-up rock nirvana of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Satisfaction" (with their indelible guitar riffs), for example--but everything here sparkles and thrills: the mod clatter of "19th Nervous Breakdown," the in-your-face sass of "Brown Sugar." At their very best, as on "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Gimme Shelter," the Stones prove capable not only of creating compressed rock masterpieces, but of making music emblematic of their entire generation (and future generations). The Rolling Stones are often referred to as "the World's Greatest Rock Band." HOT ROCKS makes that claim hard to dispute. Remastered reissue of 1972 compilation, suitable for standard & 'Super Audio' CD players. Gatefold digipak. Audio Remasterers: Jon Astley; Steve Rosenthal; Teri Landi; Paschal Byrne; Bob Ludwig.

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun buy CD music Though most people remember ? & the Mysterians solely for their one enduring hit, "96 Tears," the frat-band staple that mixed garage rock with Tex-Mex via a monomaniacal organ riff, they actually laid down plenty of other memorable tracks in their initial lifespan. Most, including the original version of their hit, were, incredibly, unavailable on CD for decades making this 2005 reissue of the band's Cameo-Parkway sides something of a monumental occasion for garage rock collectors. The Mysterians are in their prime here ably mixing blues, soul, and teeth-baring rockers with rough-and-ready aplomb, and the inclusion of a few never-before-heard tracks (including an alternate version of "96 Tears") makes this sharply assembled anthology an absolute must for fans of the genre. Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin. Recording information: Allegro Sound Studios; Dick Charles Recording Service, New York, NY; Michigan; New York, NY; Regent Sound STudios, New York, NY; Shields Recording Studio, Bay City, MI; Talent Masters. Arranger: Jimmy Wisner. ? & the Mysterians: Question Mark (vocals); Bobby Balderrama (guitar); Frank Rodriguez (organ); Frank Lugo, Fernando Aguilar (bass guitar); Eddie Serrato. Personnel: Robert Balderrama (guitar); Frank Rodriguez (organ); Eddie Serrato (drums). Additional personnel: Tony Orlando (background vocals).

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun album for sale Tommy Roe's Greatest Hits on MCA is a fine 18-track collection that serves up the bubblegum icon's best songs and very little filler. Unlike a large number of Roe collections, this disc contains all original recordings made during his prime. And what a prime it was! Between 1962 and 1969, Roe was responsible for some of the brightest, snappiest bubblegum on the planet. From the funky breakbeats of "Dizzy" to the hushed romanticism of "It's Now Winter's Day" to the swampy groove of "Jam Up and Jelly Tight," there are enough hits here to make you think twice about calling Roe anything less than Hall of Fame material. This collection does a fairly good job of rounding up the hits and great songs, though there are a few omissions that knock it down a notch ("Cinnamon," "Money Is My Pay") as does the inclusion of a mediocre take on "Stagger Lee" from the early '70s. A couple of collections have come along since the release of this to challenge it's worth, but they are each flawed in their own way too. Until the perfect Roe collection comes along, this is a fine purchase. And if you are a fan of bubblegum, pop, or good old rock & roll, you need some Tommy Roe in your collection. ~ Tim Sendra Includes liner notes by Todd Everett. Personnel: Tommy Roe (vocals, guitar). Liner Note Author: Todd Everett. Recording information: London, England (03/23/1962-07/21/1971); Los Angeles, CA (03/23/1962-07/21/1971); Muscle Shoals, AL (03/23/1962-07/21/1971); Nashville, TN (03/23/1962-07/21/1971).

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun CD music Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" is one of those songs that straddles the line between silly and annoying, but the public thought highly enough of it to make it a number one hit in 1960. Listeners expecting a full menu of similar novelties will be surprised by Hyland's Greatest Hits. Spanning the years 1960-1970, Greatest Hits consists mostly of Hyland's folk-pop from the mid- to late '60s, concluding with his 1970 hit version of the Impressions' "Gypsy Woman." Hyland's later singles seemed to aspire to "seriousness," although the aura of bubblegum pop remained regardless of the material. Most of these 18 tracks were charting hits although only three cracked the Billboard Top Ten. ~ Greg Adams Audio Remasterers: Dan Hersch; Bill Inglot. Liner Note Author: Todd Everett. Directors: Richard Wolf; Stan Applebaum. Photographer: Geary Chansley. Unknown Contributor Role: Bill Inglot. Arrangers: Gary Geld; George Tipton; Glen D. Hardin; Dick Hieronymus; Al Capps; Leon Russell; Ray Ruff; Stan Applebaum.

Best of the Rivieras: California Sun buy CD music After years of suffering from various bootleg compilations direct from noisy 45s of dubious legality and awful fidelity, Sundazed puts together simply the best collection available on everybody's favorite Nashville hot rod group. John Bucky Wilkins -- aka Ronny Dayton -- was the nominal group's focus as songwriter, singer, and lead guitarist, doing most of his hot pickin' on a nylon-string classical model. As a songwriter, his principal inspirations were Brian Wilson and Chuck Berry. His producer was Sun Records alumni Bill Justis ("Raunchy"), a supposed rock hater, who nonetheless knew how to cut a hit. As a result, the handful of singles and two albums from Ronny & the Daytonas' Mala Records period (1964 to 1966) stand as not only some fine Beach Boys-influenced music, but some great rock & roll that actually goes somewhere, and isn't merely imitative. This 20-song comp is split almost evenly between the styles of their two biggest hits, with the first 11 tracks echoing the rocking, gas'n'go call to arms of "G.T.O."; the balance features the lush harmonies and Beach Boys ballad style of "Sandy." The big news here is that for the first time ever, first-generation master tapes have been used for everything -- and even an original, multi-layered, mono on mono (i.e., noisy and hissy) recording like "Sandy" sounds better than it ever has. The secret delight on here is "If I Had My Way," probably their musical high point as a band. And with a few tracks and some extra liners lopped off, it is also available on vinyl. ~ Cub Koda For the first time ever, the official reissue transferred directly from the original Mala/ Arista master tapes. This ultra rare surf vocal album, highly influenced by The Beach Boys, now features a total of 20 tracks, six of which are unmarked bonus tracks comprised of rare singles: 'Bucket 'T'' (Previously Unissued Alternate Version), 'No Wheels', 'Beach Boy', 'Tiger-A-Go-Go' (by Buzz & Bucky), 'Goodbye Baby' & 'Teenage Years'. All tracks recorded 1964-1966. Duotone color picture disc. 1997 Sundazed release. The full title is 'G.T.O./ Best Of The Mala Recordings'. Liner Note Authors: John "Bucky" Wilkin; Bob Irwin; Brian Gari; Buzz Cason. Recording information: 1964-1966. Photographer: John "Bucky" Wilkin.