The freshness and free-spirited West Coast vibe that Jan Berry and Dean Torrence helped to create within the early-'60s So Cal music scene permeates The Complete Liberty Singles (2008). Gathered on these CDs are all 42 A- and B-sides issued by Jan & Dean during their early to mid-'60s stint on Liberty Records. Although judicious amounts of compression help to keep the sound crisp throughout, gone is the fake equalization and overbearing noise reduction that marred the vast majority of Jan & Dean best of CDs. By default ...
Read More
The freshness and free-spirited West Coast vibe that Jan Berry and Dean Torrence helped to create within the early-'60s So Cal music scene permeates The Complete Liberty Singles (2008). Gathered on these CDs are all 42 A- and B-sides issued by Jan & Dean during their early to mid-'60s stint on Liberty Records. Although judicious amounts of compression help to keep the sound crisp throughout, gone is the fake equalization and overbearing noise reduction that marred the vast majority of Jan & Dean best of CDs. By default several early charting selections for the local and regional Arwin, Dore and Challenge imprints are not here. However, unquestionably the loss of those formative sides is certainly made up for by the great care taken while focusing solely on the duo's core hit-making ('62 -- '66) era. In much the same spirit that Dean Torrence painstakingly compiled the excellent vinyl anthology Gotta Take That One Last Ride (1974) in the mid-'70s, producers of the Complete Liberty Singles have gone back to the finest source materials with an ear toward replicating the sonic punch and power inherent in those seminal mixes. To that end, their mission has certainly been accomplished. Casual fans and collectors' alike are treated to every one of the baker's dozen of Jan & Dean's key Top 40 entries. Of course titles such as "Surf City," "Drag City," "New Girl in School," "Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)," "Ride the Wild Surf," "Honolulu Lulu," "Sidewalk Surfin'," "Dead Man's Curve," and "Popsicle" will be familiar to all fans of the surf music subgenre. Studious enthusiasts have the most to gain thanks to the full, rich tonality of some of the second-tier tracks, namely "A Sunday Kind of Love," "Tennessee," "Linda," "When I Learn How to Cry," and the criminally underrated "She's My Summer Girl." Of particular interest are a few rarities, including the flipside to "Popsicle" -- which was the cover of the Beatles' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" -- the B-side only "Submarine Races" and the Berry solo single "Universal Coward" b/w "I Can't Wait to Love You." Visually accompanying the tunes is a 20-page liner notes booklet with essays from both surf music expert/journalist David Beard and producer Ed Osbourne, as well as reproductions of vintage 7" picture sleeves, not to mention plenty of rarely published photos. Major kudos goes to the hoe-daddies and mommies over at Collectors' Choice Music for realizing such a thoroughly and exemplary executed package. ~ Lindsay Planer, Rovi
Read Less
Add this copy of Complete Liberty Singles to cart. $121.82, like new condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2008 by Collectors' Choice Music.
Portions of content provided by Rovi Corporation. © 2024 Rovi Corporation.