Music

Oldies

PLAYBACK is a career retrospective spanning Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' stay at MCA Records. It includes a collection of Petty's best-known material, as well as tracks recorded by his first band, Mudcrutch, solo demos, 27 previously unreleased songs, B-sides and live cuts.Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers: Tom Petty (vocals, guitar); Mike Campbell (guitar); Benmont Tench (keyboards); Howie Epstein (bass); Stan Lynch (drums, background vocals). Additional personnel includes: Lenny Kravitz (vocals, bass, drums); Stevie Nicks (vocals); Jimmy Iovine (spoken vocals); George Harrison (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Jeff Lynne (guitar, synthesizer, bass); Tom Leadon, David A. Stewart (guitar); Scott Thurston (slide guitar); Charlie Sousa, Marty Jourard (saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet);... Less

Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar); Scotty Moore (guitar); Bill Black (double bass); D.J. Fontana (drums).Audio Remasterer: Dennis Ferrante.Audio Remixer: Dennis Ferrante.Liner Note Author: Colin Escott.This was Elvis Presley's second album release--but only his first TRUE album, as his debut consisted of the Sun sessions. This album is a blueprint for Elvis's musical career--he would go, in varying degrees, on the paths he set upon here. Out-and-out rockers ("Rip It Up," "Long Tall Sally"), country ("How's the World Treating You"), pop ("Don't Be Cruel"), mushy ballads ("Old Shep"), earthy rhythm & blues ("Too Much," "Hound Dog"), along with southern gospel, made up the sort of material Elvis would do all his life. He sings with authority and insolent swagger on the rockers... Less

This limited edition, numbered deluxe box includes the original 45 rpm artwork for each single and 19" x 24" posters. Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar); James Burton, Scotty Moore (guitar); Bill Black (bass instrument); D.J. Fontana (drums).Liner Note Author: Colin Escott.Recording information: 01/27/1957- 08/01/1972.The ELVIS #1 SINGLES box set is, among other things, a monument to impracticality and excessive packaging. A nostalgia fetish item par excellence, the box houses 20 of Elvis's best-selling singles as individually packaged CDs, each of which--designed to replicate the original 45--contains the single, its B-side, and the original artwork. This means that listening to the music will require a lot of manual labor: listeners have to remove each individual sleeve, put the... Less

Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals); James Burton, John Wilkinson (guitar); Charlie Hodge (guitar, vocals); Larry Muhoberac (piano, organ); Jerry Scheff (bass); Ronnie Tutt (drums); Millie Kirkham (background vocals).Recorded live at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, Neveda from August 22 to 26, 1969.Digitally remastered by Dick Baxter (September 1991, BMG Recording Studios, New York).By 1969, Presley was no longer an unwelcome upstart to conservative Vegas audiences. Rather, he was exactly what Vegas loves best: a long-established star who put on a very big show. ELVIS IN PERSON contains highlights of the last five nights of Presley's month-long stint at the International Hotel, and it documents his Vegas show in its nascent stages. For this engagement, Presley featured more of his own... Less

The STEREO BOX SET be the official canon, but what Beatlemaniacs have really craved is the MONO BOX SET. This limited-edition box is laden with new-to-CD mixes, including the genuine rarities of the previously unreleased mono mixes of the four new songs from Yellow Submarine, and its packaging is gorgeous, filled with mini-LP replicas with stiff cardboard sleeves of every album from Please Please Me to The Beatles, complete with replicated gatefolds and packaging inserts, all protected in resealable plastic sleeves. As pure physical product, this satisfies any collector itch, but this also is arguably the better-sounding of the two sets, providing ample evidence that the Beatles did spend more time on mono mixes during much of their career. For generations of listeners raised on stereo... Less

The 1996 reissue of WHO ARE YOU contains 5 previously- unreleased bonus tracks.The Who: Pete Townshend (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer, bass, drums); John Entwistle (vocals, synthesizer, bass); Roger Daltrey (vocals); Keith Moon (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Rod Argent (piano, synthesizer); Andy Fairweather-Low (background vocals).Reissue producers: John Astley, Andy MacPherson. Originally released on MCA (3050) on August 25, 1978. Includes liner notes by Matt Resnicoff.All tracks have been digitally remastered.The Who: Roger Daltrey (vocals); Pete Townsend (vocals, guitar, piano, synthesizer); John Entwistle (vocals, horns, synthesizer, bass); Keith Moon (drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Rod Argent (piano, synthesizer); Andy Fairweather-Low (background... Less

If you didn't have an ear to the pop wind in the late '60s, whether on account of aesthetics or of age, you'd be forgiven for not remembering the Tremeloes. There hasn't been any outbreak of Tremelomania in the decades following their breakup. In a just world, that situation would have been rectified by the release of this impressive 20-song compilation. The Tremeloes were a British quartet who dented the U.S. Top 40 several times between '67 and '70. Their most widely known song is "Silence Is Golden," a hauntingly beautiful ballad featuring the group's trademark high harmonies and winning melodicism. The song is included here along with other hits and assorted obscurities.One of the Tremeloes' greatest assets was the versatility that allowed them to essay both plaintive ballads and... Less

Full performer name: John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band.Personell: John Cafferty (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Gary Gramolini (guitar); Michael "Tunes" Atunes (saxophone); Bob Cotoia (keyboards); Pat Lupo (bass); Kenny Jo Silva (drums). Engineers: Karl Rassmussen, John Muldowney, Tony Papa.The soundtrack to the sequel for Eddie & the Cruisers follows the basic blueprint of John Cafferty's songs for the first film -- they're all high-energy, pounding three-chord rock & roll, sounding a bit like Bruce Springsteen or Bob Seger. There may not be a song as good as "The Dark Side," but the music is still enjoyable for hardcore fans of the original. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

The Rolling Stones: Keith Richards (vocals, guitar); Mick Jagger (vocals); Brian Jones (guitar); Bill Wyman (bass); Charlie Watts (drums).Recorded in 1966.Once known as hard-core blues/R&B traditionalists, the Stones plunged deeper into the waters of original songwriting on BETWEEN THE BUTTONS, leading to a golden age of classic albums including LET IT BLEED, BEGGAR'S BANQUET, and EXILE ON MAIN STREET. In addition to scoring a double-sided smash-hit single in "Let's Spend The Night Together" backed with the baroque-pop "Ruby Tuesday," BUTTONS was also the last album produced by then- manager/svengali Andrew Loog Oldham. More importantly, the obscure songs on this tight package show the Stones coming into their own as composers. Between the ornate orchestrations of the aforementioned "Ruby... Less

This Japanese Best of the Hollies collection leaves off some of the group's finest work, leaving too much room for obscure mono versions of early album cuts like "She Said Yeah," "Listen Here to Me," and "So Lonely," and none for legitimate "best ofs" like "Carrie Ann," "Air That I Breathe," and "Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress." Fans looking for a more comprehensive compilation should pick up 1990's Epic Anthology or Raven's On a Carousel, 1963-1974: The Ultimate Hollies. ~ James Christopher Monger

The Pretenders: Chrissie Hynde (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Adam Seymour (guitar, keyboards, bass, background vocals); Tom Kelly (bass, background vocals); Martin Chambers (drums). Additional personnel: Jeff Beck (guitar); The Duke Quartet (strings); Stephen Hague (accordion, keyboards); Chuck Norman (keyboards, programming); Lindsay Edwards (keyboards); Andy Hobson (bass); Andy Duncan (percussion, programming); Preston Hayman (percussion); Jules Shear, David Johansen (background vocals). Engineers include: Julie Gardner, Richard Norris, David Boucher.Recorded at The Townhouse Studio, Sarm West Studio, Rak Studio & Innovation Studios, London, England; Bearsville Sound Studio, Bearsville, New York.Personnel: Jules Shear (vocals); Chrissie Hynde (guitar, harmonica); Jeff Beck, Adam Seymour... Less

The Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger (vocals, percussion); Keith Richards (vocals, guitar); Brian Jones (guitar, dulcimer, sitar, marimba, bells); Bill Wyman (marimba, bass, bells); Charlie Watts (marimba, drums, percussion). Additional personnel: Jack Nitzsche, Ian Stewart (piano, organ, harpsichord). Recorded at RCA Studios, Hollywood, California. Includes liner notes by Dave Hassinger.The Rolling Stones: Keith Richards (guitar); Bill Wyman (bass guitar); Mick Jagger (percussion); Brian Jones , Charlie Watts (bells). Additional personnel: Ian Stewart , Jack Nitzsche (harpsichord). Audio Remasterers: Jon Astley; Bob Ludwig; Steve Rosenthal; Teri Landi; Paschal Byrne.The Rolling Stones' first set of all-original material--a full two years after the Beatles had passed that milestone with A... Less

Producers: Hugo & Luigi. Compilation producer: Paul Williams. Includes liner notes by Colin Escott.Diogital remastered by Jay Newland and Dennis Ferrante.Audio Mixers: Dennis Ferrante; Jay Newland; Ray Hall.Liner Note Author: Colin Escott.Recording information: 05/05/1961- 12/16/1963.The Tokens' unlikely blend of doo wop and what was, in folk circles, termed "ethnic music," resulted in one enormous and enduring hit: "The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)." After that, it was all downhill for the group during their RCA tenure -- the biggest of their followup hits reached a modest number 55 on the charts. Wimoweh: The Best of the Tokens rounds up all six of their chart entries, some of which -- like "B'Wanina (Pretty Girl)" and "La Bamba" -- repeated the "Wimoweh" formula. When those failed,... Less

Personnel includes: Elvis Presley, the Sweet Inspirations (vocals); The Imperials Quartet, J.D. Sumner And The Stamps. Compilation producers: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, Roger Semon.Includes liner notes by Colin Escott.All tracks have been digitally remastered.While not, strictly speaking, a reissue, this collection brings together Elvis's last Top 10 hit (the title track) with other songs from the early '70s, plus some previously unreleased gems. Ironically, "Burning Love" was never available on a "proper" Elvis album--it was stuck on a budget-priced album in the '70s with some less-than-memorabl e songs from Elvis's movies. BURNING LOVE is the great early-'70s album that never was. The King is in fine vocal form throughout, still capable of inserting dark, animalistic growls into "Hound... Less

Recorded live at the Louisiana Hayride, Shreveport, Louisiana between 1956 & 1960.Liner Note Author: Paul Kingsbury. Recording information: Red River Studios, Bossier City, LA (04/28/1956/04/16 /1960).Though country singer Johnny Horton (1925-1960) is remembered primarily for his history-inspired hits "Battle of New Orleans" and "Sink The Bismarck," he contributed much more to country music's legacy. His previous hits "Honky Tonk Man" and "One Woman Man" (famously covered by Dwight Yoakam and George Jones, respectively) have become standards. In his tragically short career (he died in an auto accident), Horton synthesized the influences of Hank Williams, honky-tonk country, rockabilly, folk, and pop into a distinctive, exuberant style that was straightforward, robust, and fun.LIVE... Less

Personnel includes: Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar); The Jordanaires, The Amigos, The Sweet Inspirations. Compilation producers: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen, Ray Bardani.Includes liner notes by Peter Guralnick. Personnel: Ben Speer, Gordon Stoker, Brock Speer (vocals); Myrna Smith, J.D. Sumner, Kathy Westmoreland, The Blossoms, The Stamps, The Sweet Inspirations (background vocals).Audio Mixer: Ray Bardani.Audio Remixer: Paul Oakenfold.Liner Note Authors: Ernst Mikael Jorgensen; Peter Guralnick. Recording information: 07/05/1954- 02/04/1976. Author: Sam Phillips .Unknown Contributor Roles: Los Amigos; The Jordanaires; Millie Kirkham.With the international chart-topping success of ELVIS: 30 #1 HITS, the handlers of Elvis Presley's estate attempt to capture lightning in a bottle again with ELVIS:... Less

Little Feat: Lowell George, Paul Barrére (vocals, guitar); Bill Payne (vocals, keyboards); Sam Clayton (vocals, percussion); Kenny Gradney (bass instrument); Richie Hayward (drums, background vocals). Personnel: Emmylou Harris, Fran Tate, Richie Hayward, Bonnie Raitt (vocals); Bill Payne (percussion). Additional personnel: Gordon de Witty (Clavinet); Emmylou Harris, Fran Tate, Bonnie Raitt (background vocals).Audio Remasterer: Lee Herschberg.Liner Note Author: Lowell George.On the heels of DIXIE CHICKEN, arguably Little Feat's finest moment, came this superb collection of country-fried grooves and good times. Even leaner and more energetic that DIXIE CHICKEN, FEATS DON'T FAIL ME NOW injects higher doses of rock & roll and country boogie into the group's rootsy aesthetic. Bandleader and... Less

Personnel: Elvis Presley (vocals, guitar, piano); Reggie Young (guitar); John Hughey (steel guitar); The Memphis Horns (horns); Bobby Wood (piano); Bobby Emmons (organ); Ed Hollis (harmonica); Mike Leech, Tom Cogbill (bass); Gene Chrisman (drums); Mary Greene, Donna Thatcher, Susan Pilkington, Sonja Montgomery, Mildred Kirkham, Dolores Edgin, Joe Babcock, Hurschel Wiginton (background vocals).Recorded at American Studios, Memphis, Tennessee in January & February 1969. Includes liner notes by Peter Guralnick, Colin Escott. Personnel: Elvis Presley (guitar, piano); Reggie Young (guitar, sitar); John Hughey (steel guitar); Ed Kollis (harmonica); Jackie Thomas (saxophone, trombone); Andrew Lowe , Glen Spreen, J.P. Luper (saxophone); R.F. Taylor, Dick Steff, Wayne Jackson (trumpet); Tony... Less

Personnel: Bo Diddley (vocals, guitar, violin); Jerome Green (vocals, maracas); Peggy Jones (guitar, background vocals); Jody Williams, Ricky Jolivet (guitar); Edward Drennon (electric violin); Billy Boy Arnold, Little Walter, Lester Davenport (harmonica); Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake (piano);Willie Dixon, James Bradford, Jesse James Johnson, Chester Lindsey (bass);Frank Kirkland, Clifton James, Billy Downing, Edell Robertson (drums); Cornelia Redmond (tambourine); The Bo-ettes (aka The Cookies), Bobby Baskerville, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, The Carnations (background vocals). Producers: Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Bo Diddley. Compilation producer: Andy McKaie.Includes liner notes by Don Snowden. Digitally remastered by Erick Labson, MCA Music Media Studios, North Hollywood,... Less

Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitars, harmonica, pump organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, background vocals); Little Steven (guitars, mandolin, background vocals); Nils Lofgren (guitars, background vocals); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); Roy Bittan (piano, organ); Danny Federici (organ, keyboards); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums); Patti Scialfa (background vocals). Additional personnel: William Pu, Jay Christy, Sheela Lyengar, Kenn Wagner, Justin Bruns, Olga Shpitko, Christopher Pulgram, Soozie Tyrell, John Meisner (violin); Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell Clements, Lachlan McBane (viola); Karen Freer, Charae Kruege, Daniel Laufer (cello); Patrick Warren (tack piano, chamberlin); Jeremy Chatzky (upright bass).Following up two folk-flavored... Less

Curb's Greatest Hits is a ten-track budget-priced collection that features some of the Osmond Brothers' biggest hits, including "One Bad Apple," "Down by the Lazy River," "Crazy Horses," "Yo-Yo," "Hold Her Tight," "Double Lovin'" and "Goin' Home." Since it contains the original versions of many of their big hits, it's not a bad choice for casual fans on a tight budget. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Personnel: Chuck Berry (vocals, guitar); Quincy Macon (guitar); Carey Enlow (saxophone); Johnny Johnson (keyboards); Forrest Frierson (bass); Ebbie Hardy, Eugene Washington (drums).Includes liner notes by Jim Delchant.These are not the original versions, but 1966 re-recordings of his classic songs.A seminal figure in the evolution of rock 'n' roll, Chuck Berry's influence as songwriter and guitarist is incalculable. His cogent songs captured adolescent life, yet the artist was 30 years old when he commenced recording. In 1955, during a chance visit to Chicago, Berry met bluesman Muddy Waters, who advised the young singer to approach the Chess label. Berry's demo of "Ida May," was sufficient to win a recording contract and the composition, retitled "Maybellene," duly became his debut... Less

Curb's Greatest Hits is a ten-track budget-priced collection that features some of Bobby Darin's biggest hits, including "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover," "Mack the Knife," "If I Were a Carpenter," and "Fly Me to the Moon." Although this isn't a bad budget-priced disc, there are better collections available, offering more songs, more hits, and better sound, for not much more money. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

A solid 15-song compilation that gives a good sense of Lofgren's career, but Nils Lofgren is a better introduction. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Personnel: Bruce Springsteen (vocals, guitars, harmonica, pump organ, synthesizer, glockenspiel, percussion, background vocals); Little Steven (guitars, mandolin, background vocals); Nils Lofgren (guitars, background vocals); Clarence Clemons (saxophone, background vocals); Roy Bittan (piano, organ); Danny Federici (organ, keyboards); Garry Tallent (bass guitar); Max Weinberg (drums); Patti Scialfa (background vocals). Additional personnel: William Pu, Jay Christy, Sheela Lyengar, Kenn Wagner, Justin Bruns, Olga Shpitko, Christopher Pulgram, Soozie Tyrell, John Meisner (violin); Amy Chang, Tania Maxwell Clements, Lachlan McBane (viola); Karen Freer, Charae Kruege, Daniel Laufer (cello); Patrick Warren (tack piano, chamberlin); Jeremy Chatzky (upright bass).Following up two folk-flavored... Less

Curb's Greatest Hits is a ten-track budget-priced collection that features some of Bobby Darin's biggest hits, including "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover," "Mack the Knife," "If I Were a Carpenter," and "Fly Me to the Moon." Although this isn't a bad budget-priced disc, there are better collections available, offering more songs, more hits, and better sound, for not much more money. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

0. DISC 1: PLEASE PLEASE ME:1. I Saw Her Standing There2. Misery3. Anna (Go to Him)4. Chains5. Boys6. Ask Me Why7. Please Please Me8. Love Me Do9. P.S. I Love You10. Baby It's You11. Do You Want to Know a Secret12. Tast of Honey, A13. There's a Place14. Twist and Shout15. Please Please Me Mini- Documentary0. DISC 2: WITH THE BEATLES:1. It Won't Be Long2. All I've Got to Do3. All My Loving4. Don't Bother Me5. Little Child6. Till There Was You7. Please Mister Postman8. Roll Over Beethoven9. Hold Me Tight10. You Really Got a Hold On Me11. I Wanna Be Your Man12. Devil In Her Heart13. Not a Second Time14. Money (That's What I Want)15. With the Beatles Mini- Documentary0. DISC 3: A HARD DAY'S NIGHT:1. Hard Day's Night [From the Film "a Hard Day's Night"], A2. I Should Have Known Better [From... Less

Release Date: 1996-04-16, Audio CD, Sanctuary Records

Release Date: 1990-10-25, Audio CD, RCA

Brian Wilson's brilliance manifested itself in the euphoric, cheerfully square, sun-and-fun stuff heard here early on, before it got darker and more complicated. Endless Summer runs from the beginning of the Boys' pinstriped career to 1965, right before the melancholy of Pet Sounds, but also includes the inescapable "Good Vibrations." You can hear a few hints of adolescent sadness and fear--"Help Me, Rhonda" is essentially a kids' sing-along about a wrenching emotional rebound, and the shadow of death is hiding somewhere in "Don't Worry, Baby"--but Wilson is mostly concerned with the cars, waves, and girls that made up the Boys' public image, and his ingenious arrangements (coupled with the group's inimitable harmonies) make everything go down as smoothly as lemonade. --Douglas Wolk