PETER AND GORDON/HURTIN' 'N' LOVIN' 33SX 1761 (-65) UK MONO

 They were a popular act in the mid-sixties, especially in US, but today I guess most ear pleasing for us who were there as teens, pondering over lost or unattainable loves. I was and I did, so for me it's all about reminiscing. Not always pleasant, but bittersweet at least. Didn't have any of their albums myself back then so the memories are from school dances and unhandy snogging with one special girl. Still when I listen to this today some comes back to me and I'm almost there. The song choises say a lot - "Don't Pity Me", "Tears Don't Stop", "Crying In The Rain", "Hurtin' Is Loving", "Cry To Me" and so on. And as expected the rhythm is slow, the arrangements bombastic and much drowned in reverb. Caressing enough, but also quite depressing if you're in the wrong mood.  On the bright side - they're backed by real instruments and, apart from the echoing, the vocals are unadulterated - so for us looking for genuineness it's still better than most of the synthesized crap we're stuffed with today.  Favorite tracks - the slow cuddly version of "All Shook Up" and the almost rocking "Someone Ain't Right". US had their own issues by the duo, also issued in Canada and Japan at the time. This UK was issued on vinyl in Italy, Japan and Downunder. Japan 2003 remastered mono CD in Paper sleeve (EMI TOCP-67118) came with nine bonus tracks, including versions sung in German and French. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover.