Great CD Compilations that are discontinued...

[Uncle Al]

It seems that right after CD's became the dominant medium over vinyl - many acts had compilation discs rushed into the stores that basically "gave away the store". Many of these discs are no longer in print. Two very good compilations that I have (and no longer see) are:

The Band "To Kingdom Come" - a 2 disc set that seems to have all the singles and radio hits, and a well balanced selection of key album tracks - all in one place. The latest remasters may sound better - but for the casual fan you will have all that you want and discover some tasty stuff you may have never heard. 31 tracks.

Sly and the Family Stone: Anthology. Single CD, 20 tracks, all the hits and some other goodies. Downside: "Hot Fun", "Thank You" and "Everybody is a Star" are fake stereo - but I doubt that any single CD can give a better snapshot of this band.

Anyone else remember any awesome comps that are no longer available? (Someone mentioned that the Sly may actually still be in print, but I haven't seen it).

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Uncle Al

The Band "To Kingdom Come" - a 2 disc set that seems to have all the singles and radio hits, and a well balanced selection of key album tracks - all in one place. The latest remasters may sound better - but for the casual fan you will have all that you want and discover some tasty stuff you may have never heard. 31 tracks.

Anyone else remember any awesome comps that are no longer available? (Someone mentioned that the Sly may actually still be in print, but I haven't seen it).

The Band's "Across The Great Divide" replaced "To Kingdom Come". It was a 3 disc set that had even a better selection and better sound than To Kingdom Come.
Overall the new remasters sound better and have some interesting bonus tracks.:)

[sgb]

Chris Montez: All-Time Greatest Hits, DZS-056, for another.

[ArneW]

Don McLean: "Favourites And Rarities", a 2-disc compilation with all the hits from his UA days. Ear-bleeding highs, but probably the best compilation out there. I tried to order another copy as a gift for a friend two years back or so, but was told it has been withdrawn. Much to my surprise, CDNow still lists it (please see the link below).

Arne

Favourites And Rarities: The Best Of Don McLean (http://www.cdnow.com/cgi-bin/mserver/SID=1824003862/pagename=/RP/CDN/FIND/album.html/artistid=MCLEAN*DON/itemid=328700)

[Steve w]

Trafiic's Smiling Phases

[Jimbo]

Paul Simon--Greatest Hits, Etc. A terrific collection. Includes the otherwise-unavailable "Stranded in a Limousine."

[Grant]

As a singles oriented guy, I thought of compilations, as in various artists types.

Motown Year-To-Year-Motown
Rock The First-Sandstone (done by Steve Hoffman)
Vintage Music-MCA (Steve Hoffman)
Have A Nice Day: Super Hits of the 70s-Rhino
Didn't It Blow Your Mind: Soul Hits of the 70s-Rhino
Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80s-Rhino
Club Columbia
Club Epic

Is Varese Vintage still doing the Dick Bartley series?

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Grant
As a singles oriented guy, I thought of compilations, as in various artists types.

Motown Year-To-Year-Motown
Rock The First-Sandstone (done by Steve Hoffman)
Vintage Music-MCA (Steve Hoffman)
Have A Nice Day: Super Hits of the 70s-Rhino
Didn't It Blow Your Mind: Soul Hits of the 70s-Rhino
Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the 80s-Rhino
Club Columbia
Club Epic

Is Varese Vintage still doing the Dick Bartley series?

Grant,

Yes, they are. They are released from time to time. I have all the releases in the Bartley series. I enjoy having those "single mixes" especially the hard to find ones like Blood Sweat & Tears where the single mixes were edited from longer album cuts. The Motown Year-to-Year series was never finished, however, I really enjoyed it. The mastering was very good as well.

Bob :)

[Mal]

The Kinks Are Well Respected Men (PYC 7001) was a great PRT CD compilation (it was also available on LP) that was deleted shortly after release (I think it was because Castle gained the rights from PRT around that period).

It contained all the non-LP single A & B sides and EP tracks that were originally release in the UK on PYE.

Not only a great collection of tracks but it didn't sound too bad either - only bettered by the Japanese singles collection.....


I'll stop there before this turns into the "Good Early Kinks CD" part II :D.

[Angel]

Yes, Well Respected Men was great. Glad I finally found one!

Don't forget the now out of print "Surf Legends & Rumors"! :(

[Grant]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely


Grant,

Yes, they are. They are released from time to time. I have all the releases in the Bartley series. I enjoy having those "single mixes" especially the hard to find ones like Blood Sweat & Tears where the single mixes were edited from longer album cuts. The Motown Year-to-Year series was never finished, however, I really enjoyed it. The mastering was very good as well.

Bob :)

I have all six volumes of the Dick Bartley series too! I can't wait for the new ones.

As good as the Year-to-year series sounded, Al Quaglieri used LP versions and wrong mixes in some places where he claimed to have used only the singles masters or edited things like the single. The set was made for stereophiles, you know.

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Grant


I have all six volumes of the Dick Bartley series too! I can't wait for the new ones.

As good as the Year-to-year series sounded, Al Quaglieri used LP versions and wrong mixes in some places where he claimed to have used only the singles masters or edited things like the single. The set was made for stereophiles, you know.

Grant,

Yeah!, I know (Motown) but I enjoyed having yet other versions. Overall, the sound was pretty good! Grant, do not forget the other Bartley comps beyond the On The Radio volumes like Love Songs and Girl Groups, etc. The Girl Groups comp is very well done...I highly recommend it everyone.

Bob

[Grant]

Originally posted by Bob Lovely


Grant,
do not forget the other Bartley comps beyond the On The Radio volumes like Love Songs and Girl Groups, etc. The Girl Groups comp is very well done...I highly recommend it everyone.

Bob
I have them, but there are a lot of repeats in the series, and the sound quality is about the same as elsewhere.

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Grant

I have them, but there are a lot of repeats in the series, and the sound quality is about the same as elsewhere.

Grant,

The Girl Groups has some very well mixed first-time Stereo that is fun, hence my recommendation!

Bob

[Mike]

Grant:

You gave me a scare. New Wave Hits of the 80's is still in print. I'm pretty sure that replaced an earlier Rhino series on the 80's that is out of print. Also, volumes 12-15 of Didn't It Blow You're Mind are still in print, but the rest are out of print. Here's some interesting out of print comp's I just cut from my list. A couple of these may have been reissued.

V/A Tighten Up Tighter - A Choice Collection Of Funk 45's (obscure funk that must be heard - maybe still available at dustygroove.com - buy it now!)
V/A AT&T Presents Stormy Weather
V/A Saturday Night Live - The Musical Performances Volume 1-2
V/A Heard It On The Radio Volume 1-3
V/A DIY – Rhino series
V/A Funkology Volume 1 - 3
V/A 45's On Cd - Volume 1-3
V/A Rock Artifacts Volume 1-3
V/A Music For A Bachelor's Den 1-8
V/A Bubblegum Classics Volume 1-5
V/A Sunshine Days Volume 1-5
V/A Growin’ Up Too Fast: The Girl Group Anthology
V/A Yellow Pills Volume 1-4
V/A Exposed Roots – The Best Of Alt.Country (2)
V/A Pub Rock: Paving The Way For Punk
V/A Zulu Jive – Various South African Artists
V/A Beserkley’s Best – Home Of The Hits Revisited
V/A Stiffs Live
V/A Christmas On Death Row

[Grant]

Originally posted by Mike
Grant:


V/A Rock Artifacts Volume 1-3

Oh yes! I forgot about these little gems! They contain all sorts of obscure hits that aven't seen the light of the laser since! Where else are you going to find tracks like "I'm A Train" by Albert Hammond and "Maggie" by Redbone?

[Bob Lovely]

Originally posted by Grant

Oh yes! I forgot about these little gems! They contain all sorts of obscure hits that aven't seen the light of the laser since! Where else are you going to find tracks like "I'm A Train" by Albert Hammond and "Maggie" by Redbone?

Grant,

Some real sonic gems in that series that I use very often when I record my comps...a lot of mastering notes that were very much appreciated. My favorite version of Brandy by Looking Glass is from that series....Come And Get Your Love by Redbone, the Stereo version of Hot Fun In The Summertime that I know that you do not care for that much...I enjoy the dynamic range on that version. An obscure example--Stop! Get A Ticket--Clefs Of Lavender Hill. I wished that they had released more than just three volumes!

Bob :)

[Mike]

I just learned about Rock Artifacts here a couple months ago and I've been listening to them a lot - great stuff! Also, I just found out about Didn't It Blow Your Mind going out of print last week - I found 17 out of 20 at cheap-cds. Whew! :D

[Andrew]

Originally posted by Mike
V/A 45's On Cd - Volume 1-3

Agreed, but I wish Mercury had continued the series into the 1970s and beyond!

[Grant]

Originally posted by Mike
I just learned about Rock Artifacts here a couple months ago and I've been listening to them a lot - great stuff! Also, I just found out about Didn't It Blow Your Mind going out of print last week - I found 17 out of 20 at cheap-cds. Whew! :D

I guess i'm going to have to make backups.:(

The sad thing about hybrid SACD/CD is that one may not be able to make digital backups.

Does someone know if it is possible to make...no, i'll start a new thread.

[Michael]

Reelin In The Years (Sandstone)-Steve Hoffman. This Series was replaced by the "Rock Of The 70's". Both OOP.

[Jimbo]

Originally posted by Mike

V/A AT&T Presents Stormy Weather

V/A Heard It On The Radio Volume 1-3


Mike:

I don't think Stormy Weather was ever released commercially. It was talked about but never happened.

I wish somebody would do more volumes of Heard It On the Radio. And, speaking of 80s comps, I wish Rhino had done more than 5 volumes of Radio Daze.

[Ken_McAlinden]

I really liked the "Soul Shots" series, but the CDs had only four volumes, and some great tracks were deleted. Why mess with perfection? Okay, I'm a little off topic, but I'm in the ballpark. :)

Regards,

[Mike]

Originally posted by Jimbo


Mike:

I don't think Stormy Weather was ever released commercially. It was talked about but never happened.

I wish somebody would do more volumes of Heard It On the Radio. And, speaking of 80s comps, I wish Rhino had done more than 5 volumes of Radio Daze.
You are indeed correct. That Radio Daze looks good. I guess I'll have to start hunting those down. :( :D

[Jeff H.]

I like and have both the Club Epic and Club Columbia CD's also. I'm sorry to see that the Mega Hits series on Priority is no longer in print. Most of the tracks on those compilations actually had the original hit single versions of the songs. Volume 2 was the best one with the 45 versions of George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby", Taste Of Honey's "Boogie Oogie Oogie", and Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real". Does anyone know if the single versions of the George McCrae and Taste Of Honey tracks have ever turned up on any other compilations recently? Most comps out there either use the LP mixes or edits that try to duplicate the single mix.