British Invasion Sound Quality Help

[Craig]

I am putting together a British Invasion ('64-'66) compilation for myself and would like some suggestions on which releases have the best sound quality for some artists. I plan on two CDR's, around 50 songs total. I have the Rhino British Invasion set and typically some compilations from most artists to work from. Some artists have released newer 'remastered' compilations than what I have, but we all know these might not 'sound' better. I have some groups (Zombies, Hollies, Gerry) covered thanks to some previous discussions here, and some groups covered because of a limited choice. Does anyone have suggestions on the following artists - keeping in mind it's from '64-'66 and mainly just their hit(s):

The Animals
The Kinks
Manfred Mann
Peter and Gordon
Spencer Davis Group
Them
The Yardbirds

Also, is there a good sounding version of Go Now by The Moody Blues out there?

Thanks!

[Grant]

Go Now? What is there is what is. That's it.

[Larry Naramore]

The Best Of Eric Burdon And The Animal 1966-1968 Polygram 849 388 - 2 for Don't Bring Me Down and Help Me Girl.

[Highway Star]

I like this Japanese import from the 80s for Peter and Gordon. The DC5 isn't too bad, 'Catch Us If You Can' is in stereo. There may be better stuff out there now though.

[Gary]

The Spencer Davis on Sundazed is pretty good.

[mikenyc]

Craig, what's your track list ?

[Matt]

For Them:

Try "Them Featuring Van Morrison" on London 810 165-2 (European import). "Gloria," "Mystic Eyes," "Don't Look Back," and "Here Comes The Night" are in true stereo in very good sound. "Stormy Monday" is, unfortunately, in electronically processed stereo (the liner notes seem to imply that they couldn't find a true stereo mix so they used the fake stereo in some bad compromise), and the rest in good mono sound (including "Here Comes The Night"). "Don't Look Back" and the great "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" (the latter not included on "Them Featuring Van Morrison") can be found in mono on "The Best of Van Morrison Volume 2."

As for the Animals, there's a good sounding UK CD called "The Animals - Singles Plus" by EMI, I think around 1987. Cover features a photo of the Animals with a blue background, like in a photographer's studio or something. All mono. You may want to check out a recent "Best of the Animals" CD, released in Europe, which is supposed remastered with 20 tracks, two of which are "Inside Looking Out" and "Don't Bring Me Down." There's also a video track on there you can play on your computer. Have not heard this, though.

[Joe Koz]

As for Manfred Mann, their Singles Plus on EMI is very good, lot's of Stereo. If you want to stay domestic, Collectables has released two twofers. That would give you martial from four of their U.S. LP's. As for the Yardbirds, I'd seek out the titles on Repertoire, tons of bonus tracks and good sound quality.

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Craig
I am putting together a British Invasion ('64-'66) compilation for myself and would like some suggestions on which releases have the best sound quality for some artists. I plan on two CDR's, around 50 songs total. I have the Rhino British Invasion set and typically some compilations from most artists to work from. Some artists have released newer 'remastered' compilations than what I have, but we all know these might not 'sound' better. I have some groups (Zombies, Hollies, Gerry) covered thanks to some previous discussions here, and some groups covered because of a limited choice. Does anyone have suggestions on the following artists - keeping in mind it's from '64-'66 and mainly just their hit(s):

The Animals
The Kinks
Manfred Mann
Peter and Gordon
Spencer Davis Group
Them
The Yardbirds

Also, is there a good sounding version of Go Now by The Moody Blues out there?

Thanks!

Craig,

British Invasion and Sound Quality--a challenging proposition, a lot of great music and and overall poor sound quality. The Rhino British Invasion series is as good as some these historic recordings get. The Animals--I have a EMI 2 disc set from the UK that sounds pretty good but it was no-noised. The American single version of We Gotta Get Out Of This Place has never been officially released in this country because the rights are owned by Allan Klein. I did find it on a French Animals EP listed as an "alternate version". It is much better than the standard album version that is commonly available and is the original US 45 version. Manfred Mann--the Capitol Collectors Series comp is really very good with definite care taken during mastering--sounds very good, mostly Mono with a few Stereo mixes. As mentioned in another post, the Sundazed Spencer Davis releases are very good with the usual Bob Irwin care taken. The recent Rhino Yardbirds comp is about as good as these recordings will probably ever sound. Go Now--there is no better version than what you have. It is what it is. A previous post gave a good recommendation for Them.

On your compilation do not forget to include Donovan, Herman's Hermits, Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Billy J Kramer and the Searchers. Also, do not forget the one hit wonders from the BI:

Have I The Right--Honeycombs
Concrete And Clay--Unit Four Plus Two
Matthew And Son--Cat Stevens
Hippy, Hippy Shake--Swingin' Blue Jeans
Tobacco Road--Nashville Teens
I'm A Gonna Love You Too--Hulabaloos
Blue Turns To Gray--Cliff Richard and the Shadows

Good Luck with your compilations!

Bob



:)

[Pat]

Craig,

What songs are you trying to improve upon? The Rhino-British Invasion CDs are NOT bad at all for the most part! Are you looking for additional STEREO versions of hits or JUST better sound quality?

If re-mixes (and differences in authentic "echo", etc) don't bother you, I would buy up the (Furmanek)EMI Legends CDs that came out a while back. They did a GREAT job finding STEREO tracks in most cases and sound (tho' different) is nice.

The Epic/Legacy Donovan's Greatest Hits CD is a good single "hits" package.
The Complete Tom Jones (Deram p2-44322) is decent for hits/sound.
Petula Clark: Hip-O (2 CD)set is very good
The Kinks: 1986 releases on PRT (ex:Kontroversy, Kinda,etc) are nice

Hey Craig,

Please include specific songs (as you did for Go Now) that you need help with!

[Craig]

Here is the tentative song list. This is going to be an expanded version of a 90 minute cassette I made from vinyl probably twenty years ago. New artists that are being added are Chad and Jeremy and Peter and Gordon and Silkie. I've also increased the number of songs for some bands. I'm still playing around with the song order and plan on tweaking the original cassette running order to accommodate the additional tracks. I'm just generally looking for the best sounding version and am not opposed to either stereo or mono. If a remix sounds too different from the original then I probably wouldn't use it. The token one Beatles and one Rolling Stones track each is there as a nod to them. I'm a big fan of both, but wanted to concentrate on other artists. One disc will start with Anytime At All and end with It's All Over Now like one side of the cassette. The other disc will start with Anyway You Want It and end with Go Now. Artists elimated out of hand: Herman's Hermits and Freddy And The Dreamers (my personal choice). Still considering Dusty, Unit 4+2 and the Who (if they finally put out the remastered early stuff). You might notice that some of these songs slop over in to 1967, even though I originally said '64-'66.

Animals - House Of The Rising Sun
Animals - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Animals - We Gotta Get Out If This Place
Animals - It' My Life
Beatles - Anytime At All
Billy J. Kramer With The Dakotas - From A Window
Chad & Jeremy - Yesterday's Gone
Chad & Jeremy - A Summer Song
Dave Clark Five - Glad All Over
Dave Clark Five - Can't You See That She's Mine
Dave Clark Five - Any Way You Want It
Dave Clark Five - Bits And Pieces
Dave Clark Five - Catch Us If You Can
Dave Clark Five - Because
Fame, Georgie & The Blue Flames - Yeh Yeh
Fontana, Wayne and The Mindbenders - The Game of Love
Gerry & The Pacemakers - Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying
Gerry & The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross the Mersey
Gerry & The Pacemakers - It's Gonna Be Alright
Gerry & The Pacemakers - How Do You Do It
Hollies - Bus Stop
Hollies - Stop, Stop, Stop
Hollies - On a Carousel
Kinks - You Really Got Me
Kinks - All Day and All of the Night
Kinks - Tired of Waiting for You
Kinks - A Well Respected Man
Kinks - Til The End Of The Day
Kinks - Set Me Free
Kinks - Sunny Afternoon
Manfred Mann - Do Wah Diddy Diddy
Manfred Mann - Sha La La
Manfred Mann - Pretty Flamingo
Moody Blues - Go Now
Peter & Gordon - A World Without Love
Peter & Gordon - Woman
Peter & Gordon - Nobody I Know
Peter & Gordon - I Go To Pieces
Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now
Searchers - Needles and Pins
Silkie - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
Spencer Davis - Group Keep on Running
Spencer Davis - Gimme Some Lovin'
Spencer Davis - I'm a Man
Spencer Davis - Somebody Help Me
Them - Gloria
Them - Here Comes the Night
Yardbirds - For Your Love
Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul
Yardbirds - I'm a Man
Yardbirds - Shapes of Things
Zombies - She's Not There
Zombies - Tell Her No
Zombies - She's Coming Home

[Bob Lovely]

Craig,

Absolutely nothing wrong with choosing your personal favorites for your compilations. Your tastes appear more geared toward "groups" and somewhat skewed toward the middle and later true BI years. However, from the standpoint of historical accuracy, I would choose more selections from 1964 and 1965 that were a big part of the early BI--the trailblazers. Inclusion of these important tracks would give your program more balance and variety.....just a thought.

I would include at least several Herman's Hermits cuts, especially I'm Into Something Good and Can't You Hear My Heartbeat that were both hugely popular and less "goofy" if that is your concern. Where are your early Hollies cuts?...I'm Alive, Look Though Any Window, etc. While it is a matter of personal choice, I would defintely include Tom Jones, Dusty Springfield, at least, It's Not Usual and Wishin' and Hopin', respectively. Also, the Searchers--Sweets For My Sweet and Don't Throw Your Love Away.....just some additional thoughts....ideas...one more...Don't Bring Me Down--The Pretty Things and where are the Troggs?....

Good luck!

Bob :)