Customer Reviews

Best of Columbia Years

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I once walked fifteen miles (one way) as a kid to get the latest album by the Hi-Los. This group has no competitors in my opinion in the field of harmony and jazz phrasing. When two of the group formed the Singers Unlimited, it was like heaven revisited. For anyone not familiar with the HiLos, and is in to very sophisticated jazz vocals, you must pick up one of their albums. Once you hear this group, you are hooked!! Also listen to the Singers Unlimited. Gene Puerling did it again with that group, highlighting Bonnie Herman as the lead singer. What class!!!

These recordings were originally compiled for military use on the airwaves.

A little older, the Hi Lo's matured on these old standbys that where a part of their touring set. Rather than the Frank Comstock Orchestra, there was a simple 3 piece combo accompanying the 4, but you never missed the big band (ok, a little) because the harmonies were as rich as ever.

PEOPLE, these guys truly were masters of their craft. The boy's bands of today are mostly manufactured, but these gentlemen sang unbelievably complex, subtle harmonies, and had no vocal enhancement via digital effects. Multi-track recordings were in their infancy, and these guys had to record with 16 - 20 piece orchestras blasting in their ears.

This is a great CD to help re-establish and raise the musical bar.

I have spent much of my adult life singing in vocal groups. To me, the High-Lo's, the Four Freshmen and the Singers Unlimited (the best without a doubt) have attained precision that no other group can even come close to matching. I have every recording that these groups have recorded and wish they had done many more.

These were the years when vocal groups really had to work. There were no digital effects or enhancements, no 64 track studios; just a big room and a snake's nest of wires and microphones. Listen to the harmonies and get blown away by the arranging master Gene Puerling.

I first heard the Hi-Lo's when I was 16 and now I am an old lady of 62. The fantastically close harmony, high humor and fine choice of tunes of this most exceptional of exceptional has kept me a fan even though they have not recorded for some time. Their work always brings tears to my eyes. I have every album that they made and treasure them all.