Hits Of The 60'S CD

Out of the 30 selections contained on this three-disc set from Madacy, only one is an original recording. Every other track is an inferior take on the most popular version, almost always with disastrous results -- borderline karaoke, tinny electronic arrangements, poor sound quality (or any combination of the three). The original version of the Shangri-Las' "Leader of the Pack" is here, but that hardly justifies the purchase. You could hear these versions at a low volume in a wind tunnel and know that they're not the originals you'd like to add to your collection. It's that bad, so steer clear. ~ Andy Kellman

Hits of the 60s doesn't compile Pat Boone's hits of the '60s, but rather his versions of '60s hits. Boone's renditions were recorded between 1963 and 1965, and include his takes on the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Yesterday," the Rolling Stones' "As Tears Go By," and Chuck Berry's "Memphis" and "Sweet Little Sixteen." More interesting are his pop-rock reprise of the Rooftop Singers' "Walk Right In" and his double-tracked vocal version of "Our Day Will Come" set to a Bo Diddley beat. Boone's versatility and utter lack of posturing prevents these recordings from being an embarrassment, but clearly some of this material isn't as well-suited to him as it could be. True fans will be excited to have these mid-'60s performances on CD, as they make their first appearance on this import; casual listeners are advised to stick to a conventional best-of package. ~ Greg Adams

Hits of the Sixties is a collection of 30 popular songs from the '50s and '60s. Although there are definitely some songs added to pad the collection, this is mostly made up of very familiar pop songs from the era. What this collection features the most are excellent songs from female pop stars of the era. Betty Everett, the Shangri-Las, the Crystals, Mary Wells, and others add the sweet, melodic sounds of the girl group movement. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some wonderful pop songs from the Turtles, the Soul Survivors, the Vogues, and Del Shannon to represent the male perspective. While many CDs of this kind are known for having subpar sound, this actually has great sound, with no tracks being blatantly louder than the others and no annoying hissing. For fans of this time in music, this is a very enjoyable collection of classic pop. ~ Bradley Torreano

Mid-priced collection of the beloved vocalist's hits in the '60s. Includes renditions of timeless ballads like 'Yesterday', 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'', 'Spanish Eyes' and 'It's Now Or Never', alongside remakes of other golden oldies like 'Memphis' & 'King Of The Road'. 17 tracks total. 1999 release.