THE SHADOWS/ANOTHER STRING OF HOT HITS 7C 062-07325 (-80) SCANDINAVIA

 When the 1979 "String Of Hits" became a success in many European countries, among other things earning platinum in UK and topping the list there for several weeks, this compilation of earlier recordings was given a similar name and choosed as a follow-up. For this guy, who was a fan already in the early sixties it is an enjoyable collection, with tracks recorded between 1967-80, counting songs by Stones, Beatles, Elton John and  Beach Boys among others. With exception of the almost psychedelic "Good Vibrations" cover all kind of simple and right on instrumentals bringing a positive feel making you realise that sometimes you don't need lyrics since the melody itself is quite enough. Not one I long to sit down and listen closely to, but a nice background to any home chore. Guess it won't do it for newer generations, used to listen to synthesized productions and computerized correctives, but if you were there when the cuts first happened and appreciate the more rudimentary it might be something. Originally released all over Europe, Downunder and a couple of African countries. EU CD on Music For Pleasure (CD-MFP 6002) came with seven bonus tracks. First Scandinavian had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (CCÖ*)  (CXÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                              

THE CLIQUE WWS 7126 (-69) US

 Texas sunshine pop band active in the late sixties and mostly relying on cover versions. After releasing one 45 each for Cinema and Scepter records they got a contract with White Wale, for which they released six more singles before breaking up early seventies. As many of the WW 45 A:s and B:s can be found on this their one-off LP it's most of all a compilation. Decades ago this issue was common in the cheapest bins here and I never looked twice, but it was a while since I saw a copy now and when this showed up I decided to give it a chance. And in all it offers a pretty enjoyable mix of sunshine and bubblegum pop, sometimes gravitating towards psych and sometimes towards soul. Well performed and arranged, most with some kind of orchestral backing involved, and the audio is smashing. Good listening both close and as background. And a couple of the songs are certainly worth to be played more than once - like the two psychish "Sugar On Sunday" and "Superman" and the hard hitting "Little Miss Lucy". Glad I finally decided to give it a try cause it's a keeper for sure. Issued on vinyl in US, Canada and Australia. Also as US 8-track. UK 2006 CD "Sugar On Sunday: The Definitive Collection" on REV-OLA (CR REV 162) came with the full album plus ten bonus tracks. First US had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (YZÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                                    

                                                                                     

                                                                                    

 

WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT?/ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SCORE UAL 4128 (-65) US MONO

 Soundtrack to a 1965 romantic comedy, starring Peter Sellers, Peter O'Toole, Ursula Andress, Romy Schneider and Woody Allen among others. Haven't seen it myself, though the cast seem very promising so I might try it some day. Reason I bought this album was the combination of songwriter Burt Bacharach and acts like Tom Jones, Manfred Mann and Dionne Warwick. It just couldn't be all bad. And it isn't. The instrumental cuts as expected well written and performed with some light twist here and there, but I guess you have to be familiar with the movie to appreciate them fully. The title track with Tom Jones became a world wide hit, Dionne Warwick's "Here I Am" a very sweet and well sung ballad and Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book" dramatic with Paul Jones on vocals. The audio very good, though to my taste there's a tiny bit too much reverb at places. So as an album maybe not the best I've heard, but as a soundtrack not bad at all. Those can be downright boring and only valuable as souvenirs for lovers of the movies, but this has more to offer. Originally issued on cassette and/or reel and/or 8-track in US, Canada, Downunder and all over Europe. Japan 1998 CD on Rykodisc (VACK 3021) came with one bonus track. First US (also as stereo UAS 5028) had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (YZÄ*)  (ÖXCÅ) (ZÖNT*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                           

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

    


 

BLACK SABBATH VO6/847 903 VTY (-70) GERMANY

                                                                                  

 An LP that's been written and discussed to pieces ever since it first emerged. Regarded as the first heavy metal as well as the first doom metal album, therefore a creator of genres and inspiration to hundreds of combos up to this day. Dark and repetative, yet melodic, it's catchy in a way that most other heavy metal bands have failed to reach afterwards. Listening to much of what the genre offer today I get the structure, but have a hard time to find something alive within. Here I can immediately hear feelings and even warmth bubbling under the harsh surface, drawing me in and keeping me there. It's like when you really get to know a superficially very tough and hard person and then find out there's a heart of gold hidden in there. I had a UK 1:st press back in the days when you could get them for a couple of bucks, then lost it in a trade decades ago, thinking I could easily find a new one. But then the prices started to rise and it eventually became too dear for me. Realizing I could probably never spot a fine UK original within my price range I was very happy to find this German original. The audio is very good, but to my recollection coming out somewhat brighter and with slightly more reverb that the UK, which I remember being both darker and drier. I may be wrong, but if someone reading this had a similar impresson please comment and tell. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US and Canadian (Warner Bros. WS 1871) replaced "Evil Woman" with "Wicked World". It seems most CD issues came with both those tracks. First German had labels as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover. (GÖXÄ*) (BLÄC*) (WLÖ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                    

                                                                              

 

1969/THE ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK 422 837 362-1 (-88) US

 Soundtrack to a film starring Kiefer Sutherland, Winona Ryder and Robert Downey Jr. among others. I haven't seen it, but apparently it's about a couple of young people dealing with difficulties in US in the shadow of the Vietnam war, like getting drafted or the consequences of resisting, and also with a love story pitched in. For more on that check  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1969_(film)# . But the movie aside this soundtrack can serve as one of the better vinyl compilations of late sixties music ever, counting tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Zombies, Moody Blues, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Canned Heath, Animals and Blind Faith. Maybe too obvoius picks for some collectors, but to me it's nice to get such a string of classics in one place, regardless of their original label belongings. The only exclusive track is The Pretenders doing a version of Bacharach's "Windows Of The World", but they do it so well it melts in perfectly with the rest. Also the audio on this US press is smashing, allowing you to enjoy all the way. So if you by chance have missed a couple of the classics in here and want them on vinyl this comes highly recommended. Issued late eighties pretty much all over the world on vinyl, CD and/or cassette. All CD versions seems to have The Fifth Dimension "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" as bonus track. First US had label as shown here in a stickered thin glossy cover. (ZÖNT*) (SÄM*)