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With this compilation, I was able to finally fill some voids in my 1910 Fruitgum Company collection. Included are the Italian versions of "Reflections From The Looking Glass" ('C'e Qualcosa Che Non Ricordo Piu') and more importantly "Simon Says" ('Semplicissimo') and "1,2,3 Red Light" ('Hip Hip Hip Urah!'). I have been searching for the latter two for many years and now, here they are.....finally! Though they are dubbed from records, the only one that suffers is "Simon Says". The "Dubber" did not align the 45 correctly with their turntable spindle so it plays with a bit of "nausea" (warped). This seems to happen quite often and I really wish the powers that be would put more effort into the fact that not all records line up perfectly without a little help. Another downfall is the tune "The Song Song". I have many memories of that "song song" which was track two on side ONE of the 1968 LP "1,2,3 Red Light". This CD states that "The Song Song" is a part of the compilation but it actually plays "Sister John" which was track two on side TWO of the 1968 LP "1,2,3 Red Light". What gives? Anyway, in 2006 I went to see the 1910 Fruitgum Company in New Jersey. After the show, I met the guys in the band and had mentioned how I have been digging around for those Italian versions. I had also mentioned how much I liked the song "The Book". Suddenly, here they all are, on one CD! Well that just makes my day! Groovy baby..............

This is perhaps the finest collection available of the Fruitgum Co. for true Bubblegum fans (you know who you are.)Outside of tracking down each individual Fruitgum album (a worthwhile enough undertaking) this is the one single disc to buy. You get not only their actual "Greatest Hits" and smash singles, but some real obscurities. Later singles, b-sides that do not appear on the LPs (and, to my knowledge, some of which have never seen any re-release before this.) The only non-LP b-side not appearing on this disc is "Pow Wow" which is a backwards song about Howdy Doody. You can live without it.

Really tasty little collection though overall, by one of 'gum's biggest acts.