Too Good To Be True: The Very Best Of El Records CD - Import

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is a retrospective of the highly collectable El Records label. This collection spans the years 1985 to 1988.

An outgrowth of the heralded Cherry Red label, Mike Alway's él Records defined baroque pop during the 1980s, building an exemplary catalog elegantly blending soft rock, easy listening, and fern-bar jazz at a time when the world wanted nothing of the kind. It was music about 20 years behind and ahead of its time, and its releases remain sought-after by bespectacled record collectors the world over. The aptly titled Too Good to Be True celebrates the label's 20th anniversary by assembling two dozen cult classics from él's mid-'80s heyday -- inasmuch as none of these records were hits, it balances "stars" (Momus, Louis Philippe, and the Would-Be-Goods, most notably) alongside long-forgotten one-shots like Anthony Adverse ("The Ruling Class") and the Cavaliers ("It's a Beautiful Game") -- essential listening for anyone who still laments the creative breakup of Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Dionne Warwick. ~ Jason Ankeny

El Records is in some circles one of the most intriguing and collectable record labels there has ever been. It's true it never spawned anything near a hit record, but it's innovation, originality and influence on others is recognized by many. Started by Mike Alway in 1985 it is now 25 years since El was launched, and this release is to celebrate that anniversary. 23 tracks by Monochrome Set, Shock Headed Peters, The King of Luxembourg, Momus, etc. 2005.