Absolutely the Best [Original recording remastered]

Archies | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 22, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00005J73V
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,245 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #71 in Music > Pop > Oldies > Bubblegum

Editorial Reviews

In the late `60s producer and publisher Don Kirshner created this 'phantom combo' as part of the Archies Saturday morning cartoon. Each show featured one of their songs sandwiched in a skit. Archie Andrews played guitar and sang lead, Reggie Mantle (his friend and rival) played guitar, Jughead was the drummer with Veronica on organ and Betty on tambourine. Hidden behind those artificial `toons were top New York session singers. Hit writers like Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry composed a string of hits for the band including the international smash 'Sugar, Sugar.' This is the only authorized collection approved by Archie Comics, containing 16 remastered tracks from the original tapes. Complete with extensive liner notes. FUEL.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bubblegum Is Back, March 8, 2004

By 

A Reader "hauseman1" (Acworth, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolutely the Best (Audio CD)

I still have all the old 45's of The Archies, but this CD blows them all away. Ron Dante & Co were indeed a unique sound that shall be with me forever. I can't understand why the bubblegum sound is so dissed, when it was merely good-time, have a party, and enjoy life music. People nowadays really need to dig this kinda sound. Gee, if only we COULD go back in time, I'd be the first in line! But, I'll take this in the meantime.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely the Best CD!, November 3, 2002

By 

Laura Pinto "Oldies Luvver" (St. Petersburg, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Absolutely the Best (Audio CD)

"Absolutely the Best" may be a bit of a misnomer for this excellent Archies compilation. In order to qualify as 'absolutely the best' of the Archies, a CD would easily need more than twice as many tracks than are offered as this one. However, if we the consumers are forced to make do with only 16 Archies songs, these are 16 good songs to make do with!

If you're a babyboomer like I am, the very first track will instantly transport you back to September 1968, when The Archie Show premiered on Saturday-morning CBS-TV. Apart from a Television's Greatest Hits CD I own, "Absolutely the Best" is the only compact disc to feature the television version of "Archie's Theme (Everything's Archie)," complete with the tambourine brought forward to coincide with Betty's closeups and lead singer Ron Dante's enthusiastic "C'mon, let's go with the Archie Show" at song's end. This version differs from that released on the self-titled Archies debut LP, and it's so good hearing it again in its original form. Fifteen more great tracks follow, including the group's first single, "Bang Shang a-Lang;" their fourth attempt, "Jingle Jangle," which earned a second gold record; and of course the million-selling third single, "Sugar, Sugar." Cuts from all five Archies studio albums are represented on "Absolutely." The artwork is excellent, as are the liner notes, giving credit where credit is due (Ron is mentioned often, as are music supervisor Don Kirshner and composer/producer Jeff Barry), and the orange CD is a nod to the Calendar/Kirshner label on which the original recordings were issued.

For those of you not familiar with The Archies, take it from me ... this is true rock and roll, not kiddie stuff. Ron Dante did a terrific job as the voice of the group; his beautiful voice has a nearly limitless range as well as a rainbow of color (the man can shift vocal styles as effortlessly as the automatic trannie on a Caddy), and his tight overdubbed harmonies with himself showcase his flawless ear. And the songs are good, too!

If you want a taste of what the Archies would sound like today, grab a copy of Ron Dante's solo CD "Favorites" while you're here.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars World's greatest rock'n'pop group, January 2, 2003

By 

Doc Savage - See all my reviews

This review is from: Absolutely the Best (Audio CD)

What do you have when you put redheaded loverman Archie Andrews on guitar, rascally scoundrel Reggie Mantle on funky bass, and rhythmic eating machine Jughead Jones on drums? Man, you get one outtasite band! These kids were only 17, but they were absolute masters of their instruments. Just listen to the bassline of "Jingle Jangle" for Reggie's brilliance! Or the rhythm track of "Sugar Sugar"--Jughead is in the groove, baby! And man, what sweet guitar Archie plays on the wonderful "Melody Hill." These cats cannot be beat! If you want a self-contained hit machine, these are your boys! The only thing I don't get is why they always put cartoons on their album covers! Weird!