The Association - The Greatest Hits!
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Free Music Notes for The Greatest Hits!
Free Music Review: Pros and Cons
Hit: 4 Stars
The pros are obvious... this is a collection of some of the nicest/best pop music to come out of the sixties. One track in particular; "Everything That Touches You", is easily one of the most underrated 60's songs of all time. Those of you who love "Cherish" and "Windy" would find this song to be a very nice cross between the two. "Requiem For The Masses" is a very odd song for sure, but you can't help but be impressed by the almost haunting solemnity of the song. The cons... as one reviewer put it; the CD definitely needs to be remastered. The overall sound quality is fair at best, and the overuse of the stereo effect is downright annoying; especially in regards to the vocals. And as another reviewer said, it's as if they copied everything right off of a cassette tape recorder. That's a very accurate summation. But then again, this is par for the course in the area of reissuing 60's music on CD. (And my friends and family still wonder why I invested tons of money in audio restoration software and a 24 track digital audio workstation.)
I personally "remixed" and remastered the entire CD, and hearing my copy against the purchased one is like night and day.
Granted, the asking price for this CD is reasonable, but don't expect sterling sound. You're not gonna get even close to that.
Along with all of that, there are a few other songs from their early days that should have been included on this CD.
Free Music Review: Needs remastering
Hit: 3 Stars
My title says it all. This is why I don't have pre-Revolver Beatles on CD. The accompanying vocals on the Association CD often sound louder than the leads coming from another place in the speaker. I assume this CD was originally mixed to preserve the 3-track sound world of the 50s and 60s. A sound world which, I believe, sounds lousy in digital media. Recently, I had the pleasure of listening to the (radically) remastered Yes recordings from WEA. IMHO, they sound great with the vocals in the center, the bass guitar reduced in presence and the cymbals sharpened and brought up in the mastering. The same label's ELP recordings were similarly reworked. WEA should put this (the Association's greatest hits record, and any subsequent Association recording) on the list of future remastering projects.
So, unless you have mono-compatible equipment, this CD can be maddening with the lead vocals jutting back and forth from speaker to speaker.
Free Music Review: Ow! My Sweet Tooth
Hit: 3 Stars
As pop music goes, it doesn't get much more sugary than The Association, who cranked out a series of syupy hits at a time when bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were taking the music in exactly the opposite direction. That doesn't mean they weren't any good, however. As Sweedish popsters Abba would so clearly demonstrate in the next decade, great songwriting can make even the most cloying sentimentality palatable.That said, "The Associations Greatest Hits" really only soars on the genuine hits. "Windy," "Cherish," "Never My Love," and "Along Comes Mary," were all smash singles and are still staples of oldies radio today. Unfortunately, the rest of the songs lack the strong hooks that propel the singles and are mostly forgettable. Overall though, this CD is reasonably priced enough to be worthwhile if you want to own those hits.
Free Music Review: safer than Prozac more legal than pot
Hit: 5 Stars
Yeah... I'm giving this CD a five star rating even though I know that it's missing a lot of The Associations lesser known material. Other titles from Windy and earlier albums weren't included but there's only so much you can (or could) fit onto a vinyl pressing and this is an accurate CD copy of the album that came out in 68. It is too bad everything that a great band puts out can't be in one package but that doesn't make this any less of a fine album. Some people go on about how the music is too sappy, saccharine, sugary yadda yadda yadda... OK, for some people it is (or was) but not everyone who listens to an album is a middle aged man or woman. I mean let's put this in perspective. When this album came out there were a lot of boomers around who were just kids. I was 13 yrs. old when this album came out and thought it was fantastic then. That was when I blew my allowance on my first copy of it. Being 13 in the late sixties it was pretty easy to fall into the illusion of loving everyone, honesty, freedom, flowerpower and all that fantasy stuff. Yes... it was just a dream but it was a beautiful one especially when you're young and naive enough to actually believe the world is that way. I bought another copy of it somewhere around 78 when I had a real stereo (instead of one where I had to stack nickles on the tonearm so it wouldn't skip). Had to put that copy on audiotape because it was getting worn after a few parties where a lot of people too young to remember the band wanted to hear it. A nice innocent fantasy can make you feel real great and I think a lot of kids can still relate and understand on a very basic emotional level. It's nice to feel good!
Picked up the CD of this a few years ago and still get a rush when I hear Time For Livin, remember my 1st girlfriend and the smell of patchouli incense. I think what this album captures is the magick of being innocent even if it is just a memory once you've become jaded and cynical. Besides that the harmonies are beautiful and very much unique for today or even the time the album was released. It's a pleasant diversion from cussing at the television or looking for something to throw at the neighbor's cat.
It's a nice album and I like it... end of rant.
Free Music Review: One Song Missing
Hit: 4 Stars
This is an excellent collection of The Associations Greatest Hits. However, it's missing "Goodbye Columbus" which could have been added as a bonus track. I'd still buy it, though.- John Wellborn