Showing posts with label Rock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rock. Show all posts

Friday, September 12, 2025

VA - Classic Rock Stories Vol. 1 (A Butterboy Compilation) (6 x CDs)

CLASSIC ROCK 

VA - Classic Rock Stories Vol. 1 (A Butterboy Compilation) (6 x CDs)

Classic Rock Stories is a compilation that captures the full narrative power of rock music, not just its sound, but its storytelling soul. 

In an age of algorithmic playlists and disposable hooks, this six-disc anthology stands as a defiant act of preservation, a candlelit archive of narrative songs that speak not just in melody, but in memory. These 114 tracks are not chosen for their chart positions or radio ubiquity, but for their ability to inhabit characters, evoke places, and trace emotional arcs with cinematic clarity. Each song is a short story, a confession, a myth, or a moment frozen in time, and together, they form a sprawling, genre-crossing tapestry of human experience.

CD1: Opens with “Waterloo Sunset,” a quiet observation of urban solitude that sets the tone for what follows: songs that see the world through the eyes of outsiders, dreamers, and doomed romantics. “Shooting Star” and “The Boxer” chronicle the rise and fall of fame and resilience, while “Hurricane” and “Billy Austin” confront injustice with unflinching detail. Springsteen’s “The River” stretches across eleven minutes of working-class ache, and Lightfoot’s “Edmund Fitzgerald” turns maritime tragedy into elegy. Even the more whimsical entries, “Walk on the Wild Side,” “Willin’,” “Buffalo Soldier”, carry the weight of lived experience. These are songs that don’t just tell stories; they bear witness.

CD2: Dives deeper into mythic Americana and personal folklore. “1952 Vincent Black Lightning” is a love story wrapped in chrome and mortality, while “Jungleland” and “American Pie” stretch across decades of cultural reckoning. Archie Roach’s “Charcoal Lane” brings Indigenous perspective into the fold, and “Ode to Billie Joe” remains one of pop’s most haunting mysteries. From the psychedelic fable of “Chestnut Mare” to the political urgency of “Ohio,” this disc balances intimacy with scale. It’s a map of the American psyche, fractured, poetic, and endlessly compelling.

CD3: Turns inward. “Piano Man,” “Cat’s in the Cradle,” and “Me and Bobby McGee” are portraits of longing and loss, while “Ziggy Stardust” and “Aqualung” introduce characters who blur the line between persona and pathology. “Telegraph Road” is a novel in song form, tracing industrial decay with Dire Straits’ signature precision. Even shorter tracks like “Magic Hollow” and “Starry Eyes” carry emotional weight, while “A Day in the Life” and “Sally Simpson” remind us that even legends like the Beatles and The Who were storytellers first. This disc is a gallery, each track a frame, each lyric a brushstroke.

CD4: Celebrates the misfits, prophets, and poets. “All the Young Dudes” and “Baker Street” are anthems of alienation, while “The Pretender” and “At Seventeen” explore the quiet despair of adulthood. “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and “Mr. Apollo” inject theatrical flair, and “The Raven” and “Tales of Brave Ulysses” draw from literary tradition. Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” and Lennon’s “Mother” close the disc with raw vulnerability. These are songs that speak for those who rarely get to speak, the overlooked, the misunderstood, the brave.

CD5: Is a kaleidoscope of character sketches and cultural snapshots. “Eleanor Rigby” and “Up the Junction” are masterclasses in lyrical economy, while “Tweeter and the Monkey Man” and “Don’t Like Mondays” unfold like tabloid noir. “You Set the Scene” and “Vincent” offer poetic transcendence, and “The Day John Kennedy Died” reframes history through personal lens. Even the more playful entries, “My Friend Jack,” “You’re So Vain,” “The Ballad of John and Yoko”, carry narrative heft. It’s a disc of contradictions: fame and anonymity, satire and sincerity, myth and memory.

CD6: Is a culmination, a place for long-form storytelling and emotional resolution. “Stairway to Heaven” and “Murder Most Foul” bookend the disc with spiritual and political gravitas. “Madame George,” “Army Dreamers,” and “Alice’s Restaurant” are sprawling character studies, while “The Ballad of Danny Bailey” and “Sutter’s Mill” resurrect forgotten figures. “Astronomy” and “House on the Hill” lean into the surreal, and “All Those Years Ago” and “The Beverly Hillbillies” offer wry reflections on legacy. Even “The Window,” a lesser-known Genesis gem, earns its place, a quiet meditation that echoes the compilation’s core theme: seeing the world through another’s eyes.

This set is not a greatest hits collection. It’s an archive of narrative songs that prioritize emotional truth over commercial polish. It’s for those who listen with intent, who hear the story behind the chord, the character behind the chorus. Whether it’s a convict, a waitress, a soldier, or a ghost, each voice here is given space to speak. And in doing so, they remind us that music is not just sound, its storytelling, its memory, its humanity. (B)

==========================================================

ALL 

OR

ALL 

===========================================================

Track lists

CD1

01 Kinks - Waterloo Sunset 3:18 1967

02 Bad Company - Shooting Star 6:19 1975

03 Simon & Garfunkel - The Boxer 5:06 1969

04 Bob Dylan - Hurricane 8:31 1975

05 Billy Joel - Scenes From an Italian Restaurant (1977) 7:37 1977

06 Townes Van Zandt - Pancho & Lefty 3:41 1972

07 Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - The River 11:39 1980

08 Gordon Lightfoot - The Wreck of The Edmund Fitzgerald 6:29 1976

09 Steve Earle & The Dukes - Billy Austin 6:16 1990

10 Neil Young - Old Man 3:25 1972

11 Rod Stewart - The Killing of Georgie (Part I and II) 6:29 1976

12 Lou Reed - Walk on The Wild Side 4:08 1972

13 Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers - Into The Great Wide Open 3:43 1991

14 Chris Farlowe With The Hill - Black Sheep 4:48 1970

15 The Styrenes - All the Wrong People Are Dying 9:33 1996

16 Little feat - Willin' 2:54 1971

17 Link Wray - Hobo Man 4:04 1971

18 Bob Marley and the Wailers - Buffalo Soldier 4:16 1983

19 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Lucky Man 4:38 1970


CD2

01 Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning 5:07 1991

02 Bruce Springsteen - Jungleland 9:36 1975

03 Don McLean - American Pie 8:33 1971

04 Mountain - Nantucket Sleighride 5:55 1971

05 Steppenwolf - Monster (Single Version) 3:57 1969

06 Archie Roach - Charcoal Lane 3:21 1990

07 Bob Dylan - Tangled Up in Blue 5:41 1975

08 BYRDS - Chestnut Mare 2:57 1970

09 Eagles - Doolin-Dalton 3:29 1973

10 Dolly Parton - Jolene 2:42 1973

11 Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billie Joe 4:15 1967

12 Uriah Heep - Come Away Melinda 3:49 1970

13 David Crosby - Cowboy Movie 8:11 1971

14 John Mellencamp - Jack and Diane 4:15 1982

15 Elton John - Levon 5:22 1971

16 Al Stewart - Modern Times 8:21 1975

17 Traffic - John Barleycorn Must Die 6:25 1970

18 Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young - Ohio 3:00 1970

19 The Pogues - Thousands Are Sailing 5:28 1988


CD3

01 Billy Joel - Piano Man 5:38 1973

02 Kinks - Lola 4:04 1970

03 Elton John - Ticking 7:49 1974

04 Harry Chapin - Cat's in The Cradle 3:45 1974

05 Kris Kristofferson - Me and Bobby Mcgee 4:02 1970

06 Strawbs - The Hangman and the Papist 4:11 1971

07 David Bowie - Ziggy Stardust 3:13 1972

08 Jethro Tull - Aqualung 6:38 1971

09 Dire Straits - Telegraph Road 14:17 1982

10 Moody Blues - The Story in Your Eyes (Original  Version) 3:33 1971

11 Steely Dan - Don't Take Me Alive 4:00 1976

12 Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy 2:42 1978

13 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born on The Bayou 5:15 1969

14 Beau Brummels - Magic-Hollow 2:51 1967

15 Fleetwood Mac - Rhiannon 4:12 1975

16 Records - Starry Eyes 4:25 1978

17 Beatles - A Day in The Life 4:59 1967

18 Who - Sally Simpson 4:10 1969

19 Who - Pinball Wizard 3:01 1969


CD4

01 David Bowie - All The Young Dudes 3:08 1972

02 Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street 6:10 1978

03 Jackson Browne - The Pretender 5:52 1976

04 Janis Ian - At Seventeen (Single Version) 3:55 1975

05 Eagles - The Last Resort 7:29 1979

06 Band - The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 3:33 1969

07 Charlie Daniels Band - The Devil Went Down to Georgia 3:37 1976

08 Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday 3:07 1967

09 Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade of Pale 4:06 1967

10 Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band - Mr. Apollo 4:20 1969

11 Alan Parsons Project - The Raven 4:07 1976

12 Mott The Hoople - One of The Boys 4:21 1972

13 Doobie Brothers - China Grove 3:16 1973

14 Spirit - Mr. Skin 4:01 1970

15 Savoy Brown - Needle and Spoon 3:19 1970

16 Cream - Tales of Brave Ulysses 2:46 1967

17 Brandi Carlile - The Story 3:58 2007

18 Suzanne Vega - Luka 3:13 1987

19 John Lennon Plastic Ono Band - Mother 3:55 1970


CD5

01 Beatles - Eleanor Rigby 2:05 1966

02 Easybeats - Friday on My Mind 2:43 1966

03 Joe Walsh - Life's Been Good 4:38 1978

04 The Hollies - Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) (stereo) (1972) 3:19 1972

05 Squeeze - Up The Junction 3:10 1979

06 Boomtown Rats - Don't Like Mondays 4:18 1979

07 Traveling Wilbury's - Tweeter and The Monkey Man 5:29 1988

08 Animals - The House of The Rising Sun 4:29 1964

09 Love - You Set the Scene 6:51 1967

10 Boston - Hitch a Ride 4:11 1976

11 T.Rex - Mambo Sun 3:39 1971

12 Smoke - My Friend Jack 3:06 1967

13 Dukes of Stratosphear - You're A Good Man Albert Brown (Curse You Red Barrel) 3:38 1987

14 Police - Roxanne 3:13 1978

15 Carly Simon - You’re So Vain 4:18 1972

16 Don McLean - Vincent 3:59 1971

17 Lou Reed - The Day John Kennedy Died 4:08 1982

18 Billy Joel - The Downeaster 'Alexa' 3:44 1989

19 Beatles - The Ballad of John and Yoko 2:59 1969


CD6

01 Led Zeppelin - Stairway to Heaven 8:02 1971

02 Deep Purple - Smoke on The Water 5:40 1972

03 Bob Dylan - Murder Most Foul 16:44 2020

04 Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto 2:55 1969

05 Van Morrison - Madame George 9:41 1968

06 Paul McCartney & Wings - Band on the Run 5:13 1973

07 Genesis - The Window 3:33 1969

08 Elton John - The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) 4:23 1974

09 Dan Fogelberg - Sutter's Mill 6:31 1985

10 Kate Bush - Army Dreamers 3:14 1980

11 Blue Oyster Cult - Astronomy 6:28 1974

12 Audience - House on The Hill 7:28 1971

13 Jim Stafford - Swamp Witch 3:36 1974

14 Arlo Guthrie - Alice's Restaurant Massacree 18:35 1967

15 Be-Bop Deluxe - Ships in The Night 4:03 1976

16 Steely Dan - My Old School 5:46 1973

17 Badfinger - Baby Blue 3:40 1971

18 George Harrison - All Those Years Ago 3:46 1981

19 Paul Henning - The Beverly Hillbillies 1:16 1962

=============================================================

=============================================================

Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

=============================================================

=============================================================

Tuesday, September 9, 2025

PRINCE: City Lights [1995] (11 x CDs)

PRINCE 

PRINCE: City Lights [1995] (11 x CDs)

Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 - April 21, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation, Prince was known for his flamboyant, androgynous persona, wide vocal rang, which included a far-reaching falsetto—and high-pitched screams, as well as his skill as a multi-instrumentalist, often preferring to play all or most of the instruments on his recordings. His music incorporated a wide variety of styles, including funk, disco, R&B, rock, new wave, soul, synth-pop, pop, jazz, blues, and hip hop. Prince produced his albums himself, pioneering the Minneapolis sound.

Prince has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards include the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000.

City Lights is an 11-CD unofficial box set released in 1995 by Superhero Records, documenting Prince’s live performances from 1980 to 1986. Though not sanctioned by Prince or Warner Bros., this collection has become a coveted item among collectors and fans, offering a rare and comprehensive glimpse into the artist’s formative touring years. Sourced primarily from soundboard recordings, the set captures Prince’s evolution from a provocative funk upstart to a commanding global icon, all through the lens of his electrifying stage presence.

Each disc in City Lights represents a specific concert from a pivotal tour, beginning with the Rick James Tour in Atlanta (1980), where Prince was still an opening act, and culminating in the Parade Tour in Stockholm (1986), by which time he had become a fully realized auteur. Along the way, the set includes performances from the Dirty Mind Tour (New York and Paris, 1981), Controversy Tour (Columbia and Saginaw, 1981-82), 1999 Tour (Detroit and Providence, 1982-83), and the Purple Rain Tour (Atlanta, 1985). These recordings are not just concert souvenirs, they are sonic snapshots of Prince’s artistic metamorphosis.

The Dirty Mind shows are particularly raw and riveting, with stripped-down arrangements and sexually charged lyrics that challenged norms and pushed boundaries. Tracks like “Head,” “Sister,” and “When You Were Mine” are delivered with punk-funk urgency, revealing Prince’s early defiance and charisma. By the Controversy era, his performances had grown more politically aware, blending sensuality with social commentary in songs like “Ronnie, Talk to Russia” and “Annie Christian.”

The 1999 Tour discs showcase Prince’s mastery of synthesizers and drum machines, with extended versions of “D.M.S.R.,” “Automatic,” and “Little Red Corvette” that highlight his ability to stretch pop into hypnotic, danceable grooves. These shows also mark the emergence of The Revolution as a cohesive unit, adding depth and texture to the live arrangements.

The centerpiece of the box is arguably the Purple Rain Tour recording from Atlanta. Here, Prince is at the height of his commercial powers, delivering theatrical renditions of “Let’s Go Crazy,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and the title track with a mix of precision and abandon. The crowd interaction, guitar solos, and emotional crescendos make this disc a standout.

Finally, the Parade Tour show in Stockholm reveals Prince’s shift toward more experimental and orchestral sounds. Tracks from Around the World in a Day and Parade are performed with sophistication and flair, showcasing his ability to reinvent himself while maintaining his magnetic stage presence.

City Lights is more than a bootleg, it’s a historical document. It captures Prince’s live evolution in real time, offering insight into his creative process, his relationship with his audience, and his relentless pursuit of artistic growth. For fans, it’s a deep dive into the essence of Prince as a performer. For historians, it’s a vital archive of one of the most transformative figures in modern music. (B)

==========================================================

ALL 

OR

ALL 

===========================================================

Track lists

CD01

01 Prince - Soft and Wet 3:00

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 5:24

03 Prince - Still Waiting 7:13

04 Prince - I Feel for You 7:13

05 Prince - Sexy Dancer 6:46

06 Prince - Just as Long as We're Together 11:16

07 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 10:14


CD02

01 Prince - Do it All Night 4:23

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 6:00

03 Prince - Gotta Broken Heart Again 3:48

04 Prince - Broken, Lonely, and Crying 2:35

05 Prince - When You Were Mine 4:16

06 Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About) 4:27

07 Prince - Sexy Dancer 5:22

08 Prince - Sister 1:38

09 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 3:29

10 Prince - Head 13:32

11 Prince - Still Waiting 6:41


CD03

01 Prince - Do it All Night 3:53

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 6:41

03 Prince - Gotta Broken Heart Again 3:50

04 Prince - Jack U Off 4:07

05 Prince - When You Were Mine 4:50

06 Prince - Gotta Stop (Messin' About) 4:45

07 Prince - Sexy Dancer 5:37

08 Prince - Sister 1:49

09 Prince - Still Waiting 5:32

10 Prince - Partyup 7:51

11 Prince - Dirty Mind 4:23

12 Prince - Uptown 5:44


CD04

01 Prince - Uptown 4:02

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 7:37

03 Prince - Sexy Dancer 4:49

04 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 4:29

05 Prince - Head 11:47

06 Prince - Dirty Mind 6:28

07 Prince - Do Me, Baby 8:45

08 Prince - Controversy 10:11

09 Prince - Let's Work 7:08

10 Prince - Partyup 9:09

11 Prince - Jack U Off 3:46


CD05

01 Prince - Uptown 2:37

02 Prince - Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad 7:19

03 Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover 4:29

04 Prince - Head 11:57

05 Prince - Dirty Mind 6:03

06 Prince - Do Me, Baby 9:41

07 Prince - Controversy 6:12

08 Prince - Let's Work 8:54

09 Prince - Jack U Off 4:05

10 Prince - Partyup 6:37


CD06

01 Prince - Controversy 5:14

02 Prince - Let's Work 5:31

03 Prince - Little Red Corvette 4:13

04 Prince - Do Me, Baby 7:11

05 Prince - Head 4:15

06 Prince - Uptown 5:01

07 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 7:28

08 Prince - Lady Cab Driver 8:44

09 Prince - International Lover 10:20

10 Prince - 1999 10:01

11 Prince - D.M.S.R 7:28


CD07

01 Prince - Controversy 5:13

02 Prince - Let's Work 5:31

03 Prince - Do Me, Baby 6:37

04 Prince - D.M.S.R. 6:14

05 Prince - Still Waiting 2:50

06 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 6:29

07 Prince - Lady Cab Driver 3:14

08 Prince - Little Red Corvette 2:16

09 Prince - Dirty Mind 7:22

10 Prince - International Lover 7:35

11 Prince - 1999 8:26


CD08

01 Prince - Let's Go Crazy 8:22

02 Prince - Delirious 2:50

03 Prince - 1999 5:46

04 Prince - Little Red Corvette 4:07

05 Prince - Take Me With U 6:10

06 Prince - Free 2:37

07 Prince - Do Me, Baby 2:06

08 Prince - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore 6:34

09 Prince - Let's Pretend We're Married 4:44

10 Prince - Father's Song 1:35

11 Prince - God 8:16

12 Prince - Computer Blue 4:34

13 Prince - Darling Nikki 3:57

14 Prince - The Beautiful Ones 6:20

15 Prince - When Doves Cry 8:23


CD09

01 Prince - I Would Die 4 U 3:48

02 Prince - Baby, I'm A Star 23:49

03 Prince - Purple Rain 18:40


CD10

01 Prince - Around The World in A Day 2:23

02 Prince - Christopher Tracy's Parade 3:03

03 Prince - New Position 2:09

04 Prince - I Wonder U 3:21

05 Prince - Raspberry Beret 2:12

06 Prince - Delirious 1:02

07 Prince - Controversy 1:36

08 Prince - A Love Bizarre 5:41

09 Prince - Do Me, Baby 7:25

10 Prince - How Much is That Doggie in The Window 0:41

11 Prince - Automatic 1:47

12 Prince - D.M.S.R. 0:42

13 Prince - When Doves Cry 4:51

14 Prince - Under The Cherry Moon 4:45

15 Prince - Anotherloverholenyohead 6:38


CD11

01 Prince - 17 Days 3:46

02 Prince - Head 13:24

03 Prince - Pop Life 3:50

04 Prince - Girls & Boys 4:16

05 Prince - Life Can Be So Nice 3:45

06 Prince - 1999 7:50

07 Prince - Mountains 2:58

08 Prince - Kiss 4:21

09 Prince - Purple Rain 12:03

=============================================================

=============================================================

Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

=============================================================

=============================================================


Monday, September 8, 2025

VA - Ladykillers [1996]

GIRLS UP FRONT

VA - Ladykillers [1996]

Released in 1996 by PolyGram TV, VA - Ladykillers is a punchy, genre-hopping compilation subtitled “23 Tracks to Die For.” It’s a snapshot of mid-’90s UK alternative music, with a strong emphasis on female-fronted acts across indie rock, Britpop, grunge, and shoegaze.

The set kicks off with Garbage’s “Stupid Girl”, a defining track of the era, and rolls through a who’s who of alt royalty: Sleeper, Echobelly, Lush (with their own “Ladykillers”), and Skunk Anansie. You also get The Cranberries’ “Zombie”, a politically charged anthem that still hits hard, and Belly’s “Feed the Tree”, a standout from the US indie scene.

What makes this comp special is its mix of hits and deep cuts. Tiny Monroe’s “She” and Fluffy’s “Husband” bring raw, punky energy, while Stereolab’s “Ping Pong” and Saint Etienne’s “He’s On The Phone” add a dose of quirky, cerebral pop. Even Cocteau Twins’ “Tishbite” sneaks in, giving the set a dreamy, ethereal close.

The mastering is clean and radio-friendly, typical of PolyGram’s TV tie-in releases, and the sequencing keeps things lively without feeling scattershot. It’s a time capsule of a moment when women were front and center in shaping the sound of British alt-rock.

If you were flipping through Melody Maker or Select in ’96, this CD would’ve felt like your playlist come to life. This sampler is a celebration of a scene that was bold, diverse, and unapologetically loud. (B)

==========================================================

OR

===========================================================

Track list

01 Garbage - Stupid Girl 4:21

02 Sleeper - What Do I Do Now? 3:40

03 Echobelly - Great Things 3:31

04 Lush - Ladykillers 3:14

05 Skunk Anansie - Weak 3:32

06 Cranberries - Zombie 4:12

07 Salad - Drink The Elixir 4:28

08 Belly - Feed The Tree 3:28

09 Catatonia - Lost Cat 2:34

10 Tiny Monroe - She 2:31

11 Cardigans - Rise & Shine 3:32

12 Primitives - Crash 2:33

13 Pretenders - Night in my Veins 3:18

14 Daisy Chainsaw - Love Your Money 2:42

15 Fluffy - Husband 2:14

16 Throwing Muses - Bright Yellow Gun 3:45

17 Drugstore - Fader 3:55

18 Stereolab - Ping Pong 3:02

19 Intastella - The Night 3:49

20 Saint Etienne - He's on The Phone 4:08

21 Everything But The Girl - Missing 3:55

22 Cocteau Twins - Tishbite 3:13

23 Moloko - Fun for Me 3:49

=============================================================

=============================================================

Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

=============================================================

=============================================================

Saturday, September 6, 2025

VA - The Fab Sixties Vol. 01 - Vol. 20 [2004-2005] (20 x CDs)

60s

VA - The Fab Sixties Vol. 01 - Vol. 20 [2004-2005] (20 x CDs)

Released by Musicbank UK between 2004 and 2005, The Fab Sixties is a sprawling 20CD box set that offers a panoramic sweep of 1960s pop, rock, soul, and psychedelia. With 320 tracks spread evenly across the volumes, it’s less a curated museum piece and more a jukebox explosion, capturing the decade’s sonic diversity with both chart-toppers and deep cuts.

Each disc contains 16 tracks, and while marquee names like Tom Jones, Roy Orbison, The Mamas & The Papas, and The Spencer Davis Group anchor the set, it’s the lesser-known inclusions that give it character. Artists like Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours, Vanity Fare, and Malcolm Roberts, often overlooked in mainstream retrospectives, are given equal billing, reflecting Musicbank’s democratic approach to curation.

Stylistically, the set is a kaleidoscope. You’ll hear British Invasion stompers, Motown soul burners, garage fuzz, folk-pop ballads, and even early psych-rock. Tracks like Love’s “7 & 7 Is”, Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”, and Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody to Love” inject grit and edge, while Dinah Washington, Percy Sledge, and Betty Everett bring emotional depth and vocal firepower. The sequencing across volumes is intuitive, often balancing upbeat numbers with slower, reflective pieces, making each disc feel like a standalone listening experience.

The packaging is modest, cardboard sleeves housed in a sturdy outer box, but functional. There’s no elaborate booklet or liner notes, which might disappoint detail-hungry collectors, but the track selection itself acts as a curatorial statement. It’s clear the compilers favored vibe over chronology, and variety over genre purity, resulting in a set that feels spontaneous and alive.

While not marketed as a rarities collection, there are alternate takes, re-recordings, and lesser-known versions peppered throughout, adding texture for seasoned ears. Some tracks appear in subtly different mixes or edits, which may intrigue audiophiles and archivists. The mastering is clean and consistent, though not audiophile grade, this is a set meant for enjoyment, not forensic analysis.

In essence, The Fab Sixties is a generous, no-frills celebration of the decade’s enduring magic. It’s ideal for newcomers seeking a crash course in ’60s sounds and equally rewarding for collectors who appreciate the charm of a well-sequenced, eclectic compilation. It doesn’t aim to be definitive, but it’s undeniably fun, accessible, and packed with personality, much like the era it celebrates. For fans of the era, it’s a generous, no-frills celebration of the decade’s enduring magic (B)

==========================================================

ALL 

OR

ALL 

===========================================================

Track lists

CD01

01 Eric Burdon - House of The Rising Sun 4:38

02 Herman's Hermits - I'm Into Something Good 2:31

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - True Love Ways 2:50

04 Turtles - Happy Together 2:55

05 Spencer Davis Group - Keep on Running 3:05

06 Wayne Fontana - Groovy Kind of Love 2:03

07 Malcolm Roberts - Love is All 3:47

08 Dinah Washington - September in The Rain 2:08

09 Donovan - Sunshine Superman 4:05

10 Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood 3:31

11 Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry 2:12

12 Bruvvers - Picture of You 2:23

13 Canned Heat - On The Road Again 4:34

14 Fats Domino - Red Sails in The Sunset 2:49

15 Love - 7 & 7 Is 2:34

16 Kenny Ball & His Jazz Men - Midnight in Moscow 2:53


CD02

01 The Archies - Sugar, Sugar 2:49

02 The Foundations - Baby, Now That I've Found You 2:35

03 Tom Jones - What's New Pussycat 2:15

04 Gerry and The Pacemakers - Ferry Cross The Mersey 2:46

05 Spencer Davis Group - I'm A Man 3:35

06 Billy J. Kramar - Trains and Boats and Planes 2:18

07 Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze 3:05

08 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Dancing in The Street 4:30

09 Pinkertons Assorted Colours - Mirror Mirror 2:03

10 Billie Davis - Tell Him 2:19

11 Aaron Neville - Tell it Like it Is 3:04

12 Betty Everett - It's in His Kiss 2:15

13 Freddie and The Dreamers - I'm Telling You Now 2:08

14 Herman's Hermits - Wonderful World 1:59

15 Pat Boone - Moody River 2:36

16 Malcolm Roberts - May I Have The Next Dream With You 2:46


CD03

01 Bachelors - Diane 2:34

02 Jet Harris - Diamonds 2:44

03 Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Peggy Sue 2:29

04 Mamas & Papas - California Dreamin' 2:24

05 Spencer Davis Group - Gimmie Some Lovin' 2:50

06 Billy J Kramer - I'll Keep You Satisfied 1:59

07 Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - Jimmy Mack 3:07

08 Roger Miller - King of The Road 2:23

09 Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothin's (Medley) 0:46

10 Freddie and The Dreamers - You Were Made for Me 2:18

11 Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl 2:19

12 James Brown - It's A Man's Man's Man's World 8:55

13 Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley Pta 3:11

14 Temptations - Get Ready 2:51

15 Roger Miller - England Swings 1:51

16 Neil Sedaka - Little Devil (Medley) 0:49


CD04

01 Spencer Davis Group - Somebody Help Me 2:40

02 Mike Penders Searchers - Needles and Pins 2:09

03 Tom Jones - Without Love 2:38

04 Mamas & Papas - Monday Monday 3:23

05 Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely 2:36

06 Billy J. Kramar - Do You Want to Know A Secret 2:07

07 Martha Reeves - Nowhere to Run 4:42

08 Roger Whittaker - Durham Town 2:20

09 Brenda Lee - All Alone Am I 1:42

10 Herman's Hermit's - No Milk Today 2:47

11 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 2:27

12 Jefferson Airplane - Somebody to Love 4:29

13 Jimmy Jones - Handyman 2:01

14 Ivy League - Tossin' and Turnin' 2:22

15 Vanity Fare - Early in The Morning 2:34

16 Temptations - Cloud Nine 3:41


CD05

01 Troggs - With A Girl Like You 2:11

02 Jimmy Jones - Good Timin' 2:09

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Bo Diddley 2:18

04 Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman 2:45

05 Roy Orbison - Oh Pretty Woman 3:42

06 Crispian St Peters - You Were Always on My Mind 2:42

07 Denny Laine & Wings - Go Now 3:20

08 Ronnie Carroll - Roses Are Red 2:32

09 Brook Benton - A Rockin Good Way 2:24

10 Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep, Mountain High 3:54

11 Helen Shapiro - Don't Treat Me Like A Child 2:30

12 Johnny Preston - Cradle of Love 2:16

13 Mamas & Papas - Dedicated to The One I Love 3:22

14 Tommy Roe - The Folk Singer 3:18

15 Bachelors - No Arms Can Ever Hold You 2:49

16 Canned Heat - Going Up The Country 2:55


CD06

01 Helen Shapiro - Walking Back to Happiness 2:31

02 Brian Poole - Twist and Shout 2:21

03 The Yardbirds - Heart Full of Soul 2:26

04 Billy J. Kramer - From A Window 1:57

05 Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup 2:39

06 Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody 2:43

07 Drifters - Saturday Night at The Movies 2:34

08 Applejacks - Tell Me When 2:34

09 Bruce Channel - Hey Baby 2:11

10 John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom 2:30

11 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Beaynik Fly 2:07

12 Mike Penders Searchers - Don't Throw Your Love Away 2:12

13 Ned Miller - From A Jack to A King 2:07

14 Tommy Roe - Everybody 2:06

15 Applejacks - Like Dreamers Do 2:41

16 Drifters - Save The Last Dance for Me 2:08


CD07

01 Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go to My Lovely 5:11

02 Four Pennies - Juliet 2:34

03 Yardbirds - Spahes of Things 2:27

04 Shangri-Las - Leader Ofthe Pack 2:50

05 Troggs - Wild Thing 2:40

06 Fleetwood Mac - Black Magic Woman 6:50

07 Susan Maughan - Bobby's Girl 2:32

08 Bachelors - I Believe 1:53

09 Dave Berry - The Crying Game 2:38

10 Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire 3:08

11 Kenny Rogers - Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town 2:54

12 Ricky Nelson - Travelin' Man 2:20

13 Eric Burdon - Don't Bring Me Down 5:11

14 Tommy Roe - Shelia 2:17

15 Temptations - I'm Losing You 2:44

16 Tommy Bruce - Ain't Misbehavin' 2:16


CD08

01 Tommy Roe - Dizzy 3:02

02 Marvin Gaye - I Heard it Through The Grape Vine 3:50

03 Yardbirds - For Your Love 2:30

04 Troggs - I Can't Control Myself 3:07

05 Swinging Blue Jeans - Hippy Hippy Shake 1:44

06 Gary Pucket & The Union Gap - Young Girl 3:17

07 Sam & Dave - Soul Sister Brown Sugar 2:39

08 Bee Gees - Spicks and Specks 2:51

09 Dave Berry - Little Things 2:24

10 Cupid's Inspiration - Yesterday Has Gone 2:38

11 Lee Dorsey - Holy Cow 2:29

12 Leroy Van Dyke - Walk on By 2:14

13 Ketty Lester - Love Letters 2:42

14 Lee Dorsey - Working in A Coalmine 2:46

15 Foundations - In The Bad, Bad Old Days 3:31

16 Four Tops - Reach Out, Ill Be There 4:05


CD09

01 Johnny Preston - Running Bear 2:36

02 Tom Jones - Green Green Grass of Home 2:23

03 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Heartbeat 2:08

04 Supremes - Refllections 5:38

05 Troggs - Love is All Around 2:39

06 Mary Hopkin - Those Were The Days 2:26

07 Sam & Dave - Soul Man 2:55

08 Caravelles - You Don't Have to Be A Baby to Cry 1:51

09 Neil Sedaka - Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen 1:33

10 Little Eva & Big Dee Irwin - Swinging on A Star 2:37

11 Lou Christie - I'm Gonna Make You Mine 2:35

12 Merseybeats - Wishin' and Hopin' 2:39

13 Applejacks - Three Little Words 1:34

14 Turtles - Elenore 2:29

15 Flying Machine - Mirror Mirror 2:02

16 Brenda Lee - Is it True 0:35


CD10

01 Gerry and The Pacemakers - You'll Never Walk Alone 2:41

02 Billy J Kramer - Bad to Me 2:17

03 Tom Jones - Love Me Toinght 2:35

04 Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go 2:21

05 Allisons - Lessons in Love 2:26

06 Mary Wells - My Guy 3:23

07 Eric Burdon - Don;t Let Me Be Misunderstood 2:19

08 Casuals - Jesamine 3:05

09 Neil Sedaka - Breaking Up is Hard to Do 4:03

10 Mamas & Papas - Creeque Alley 3:52

11 Lou Christie - Lightnin Strikes 2:56

12 Fourmost - A Little Lovin 2:00

13 Merseybeats - I Think of  You 2:23

14 Herman's Hermits - Silhouettes 2:06

15 Freddie and The Dreamers - I Understand 2:39

16 Danny Williams - Moon River 2:40


CD11

01 Marmelade - Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 3:01

02 Gerry & The Pacemakers - How Do You Do It 1:48

03 Tom Jones - Deliah 2:39

04 Santana - Jingo 9:52

05 Supremes - You Can't Hurry Love 3:07

06 Sammy Davis Jr. - What Kind of Fool Am I 3:05

07 Eric Burdon - We've Gotta Get Outa This Place 3:21

08 New Vaudville Band - Winchester Cathedral 2:11

09 Nei Sedaka - Calendar Girl 1:50

10 Mike Penders Searchers - When You Walk in The Room 2:23

11 Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay 1:50

12 Merseybeats - Don't Turn Around 2:42

13 Swinging Blue Jeans - Good Golly Miss Molly 2:18

14 Temptations - Beauty is Only Skin Deep 2:47

15 Marth Reeves & The Vandellas - Heatwave 4:38

16 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rockin' Goose 1:48


CD12

01 Billy J. Kramer - Little Children 2:48

02 Gerry & The Pacemakers - I Like It 2:12

03 Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Handsome Man 3:05

04 Supremes - Baby Love 1:46

05 Ricky Valence - Tell Laura I Love Her 2:47

06 Rick Nelson - Hello Mary Lou 2:18

07 Sam & Dave - Soothe Me 2:37

08 Dixie Cups - Iko Iko 2:01

09 Pat Boone - Speedy Gonzales 2:35

10 Rick Nelson - Fools Rush In 2:38

11 Neil Sedaka - Stairway to Heaven 1:11

12 Nina Simone - Ain't Got No-I Got Life 4:39

13 Temptations - I Can't Get Next to You 2:56

14 Swinging Blue Jeans - You're No Good 2:16

15 Drifters - Up on The Roof 2:14

16 Mike Penders Searchers - Sweets for My Sweet 2:24


CD13

01 Dixie Cups - Chapel of Love 2:45

02 Ivy League - Funny How Love Can Be 2:08

03 Chip Hawkes [Formely of The Tremeloes] - Here Comes My Baby 2:48

04 Fourmost - Hello Little Girl 1:56

05 Roy Orbison - Lana 2:24

06 Eric Burdon & The Animals - Don't Bring Me Down 3:16

07 Applejacks - Three Little Words 1:36

08 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Ja - Da 2:06

09 Johnny Preston - Feel So Fine 2:08

10 Drifters - Please Stay 2:13

11 Percy Sledge - Warm and Tender Love 3:14

12 Van Morrison - Spanish Rose 3:53

13 Mary Wells - Two Lovers 3:42

14 Tom Jones - Release Me 2:20

15 Sam & Dave - Can't Find Another Way 2:36

16 Ike and Tina Turner - A Fool for You 5:04


CD14

01 Ronnie Carrol - Say Wonderful Things 2:35

02 Roy Orbison - Dream Baby 2:40

03 Ivy League - Tossin' and Turnin' 2:23

04 Gene Chandler - Nothing Can Stop Me 2:56

05 Sammy Davis Jnr - Somethings Gotta Give 0:22

06 Dritters - I Need Your Love 3:19

07 Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen - The Green Leaves of Summer 2:42

08 Troggs - Night of The Long Grass 3:06

09 Champs - Too Much Tequila 2:13

10 Coasters - Little Egypt 3:35

11 Percy Sledge - You Send Me 4:27

12 Van Morrison - Madame George 5:16

13 Mary Wells - I'm A Lady 4:56

14 Tom Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today 2:55

15 Sam and Dave - Don't Pull Your Love 3:05

16 Ike and Tina Turner - Baby Get it On 3:12


CD15

01 Turties - Happy Together 2:55

02 Temptations - My Girl 2:54

03 Troggs - Little Girl 2:58

04 Gene Chandler - Rainbow 2:22

05 Eric Burdon & The Animals - I'm Crying 2:52

06 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rockin' Goose 1:50

07 Drifters - On Broadway 2:58

08 Roy Orbison - Devil Doll 2:09

09 Archies - Jingle Jangle 2:43

10 Percy Sledge - If Loving You is Wrong 3:51

11 Van Morrison - The Smile You Smile 2:56

12 Mary Wells - Money Talks 4:20

13 Tom Jones - Georgia on My Mind 3:24

14 Sam and Dave - When Something is Wrong With My Baby 3:17

15 Ike and Tina Turner - Come Together 3:28

16 Buddy Holly & The Crickets - Listen to Me 2:20


CD16

01 Betty Everett - Getting Mighty Crowded 2:10

02 Shangri Las - Remember Walking in The Sand 2:07

03 Roy Orbison - In Dreams 2:56

04 Kenny Rogers - But You Know I Love You 3:02

05 Sammy Davis Jnr - I've Gotta Be Me 2:54

06 Skeeter Davis - The End of The World 2:38

07 Coasters - Run Red Run 2:53

08 Troggs - Give it to Me 2:12

09 Drifters - Dance With Me 2:11

10 Percy Sledge - Just Out of Reach 3:31

11 Van Morrison - Ro Ro Rosey 2:59

12 Mary Wells - To Feel Your Love 3:40

13 Tom Jones - Fools Rush In 2:15

14 Sam and Dave - You Got Me Hummin 2:51

15 Ike and Tina Turner - Gimme Some Lovin 2:39

16 Buddy Holly and The Picks - Learning The Game 1:59


CD17

01 Roy Orbison - Cryin 2:56

02 Drifters - There Goes My Baby 2:11

03 Foundations - Back on My Feet Again 2:52

04 Animals - Boom Boom 5:03

05 Percy Sledge - Warm & Tender Love 3:14

06 Ronnie Carroll - Say Wonderful Things 2:36

07 Roy Orbison - Leah 3:00

08 Archies - Bang Shang A Lang 2:31

09 Champs - Tequila 2:17

10 Van Morrison - Goodbye Baby [Baby Goodbye] 2:59

11 Mary Wells - Make Up Break Up 3:17

12 Tom Jones - Release Me 2:20

13 Sam & Dave - I Thank You 2:55

14 Turtles - You Baby 2:18

15 Ike & Tina Turner - Don't Look Back 4:01

16 Buddy Holly & The Picks - You're The One 2:02


CD18

01 Roy Orbison - Penny Arcade 3:09

02 Temptations - Ain't Too Proud to Beg 2:49

03 Troy Shondell - This Time 2:36

04 Bobby Darin - If I Were A Carpenter 2:21

05 Jimmy Jones - I Told You So 2:06

06 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Down Yonder 2:06

07 Drifters - Under The Boardwalk 2:36

08 Jewel Akens - The Birds and The Bees 2:08

09 Percy Sledge - Behind Closed Doors 2:49

10 Van Morrison - Who Drove The Red Sports Car 5:33

11 Mary Wells - The One Who Really Loves You 3:40

12 Tom Jones & Paula Anka - Nights on Broadway 2:19

13 Yardbirds - Good Morning Little Schoolgirl 2:47

14 Ike and Tina Turner - Mississippi Rolling Stone 3:10

15 Buddy Holly and The Picks - Love is Strange 3:04

16 Marvin Gaye - God is Love 2:34


CD19

01 Billy J Kramer - From A Window 1:58

02 Troggs - Anyway That You Want Me 2:47

03 Roy Orbison - Blue Angel 3:22

04 Chuck Berry - Nadine (Is That You) 4:01

05 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Beatnik Fly 2:10

06 Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen - March of The Siamese Children 2:42

07 Drifters - When My Little Girl is Smiling 2:05

08 Ad Libs - The Boy From New York City 3:01

09 Percy Sledge - Take Time to Know Her 2:59

10 Van Morrison - Chick-A-Boom 3:11

11 Mary Wells - You Beat Me to The Punch 3:41

12 Tom Jones & Gladys Knight - Guilty 2:35

13 Sam & Dave - Hold on I'm Coming 2:39

14 Hank Locklin - Please Help Me I'm Falling 2:21

15 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Love Me 2:06

16 Marvin Gaye - God is My Friend 1:59


CD20

01 Bobby Darin - Mack The Knife 3:10

02 Lee Dorsey - Get Out of My Life Woman 2:22

03 Johnny Adams - Reconsider Me 3:50

04 Eric Burdon - San Franciscan Nights 3:50

05 Freddie & The Dreamers - If You Gotta Make A Fool Out of Somebody 1:58

06 Betty Everett [With Jerry Butler] - Let it Be Me 2:51

07 Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou 3:02

08 Drifters - I Count The Tears 2:03

09 Burl Ives - A Little Bitty Tear 1:59

10 Percy Sledge - Baby Help Me 2:27

11 Van Morrison - He Ain't Give You None 5:47

12 Mary Wells - Oh Little Boy What Did You Do to Me 3:59

13 Tom Jones & Dusty Springfield - Upside Down 2:11

14 Sam & Dave - You Don't Know What You Mean to Me 2:28

15 Ike & Tina Turner - Golden Empire 3:35

16 Buddy Holly & The Picks - Everyday 2:07

=============================================================

=============================================================

Music weaves itself into the fabric of our emotions, dances through the corridors of memory, and whispers to the soul of who we are. Sharing these stories deepens the connection, turning the experience into something timeless and profound.

=============================================================

=============================================================