Customer Reviews

Best of the Emi Years Broj 1961-1972

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This CD has to be one of the most enjoyable projects that I had the pleasure to work on. I first discovered Proby from my Mum. Immediately liked what I heard and the more I explored Proby's EMI catalogue (1961-1972) realised there was sufficient untapped material to warrant a new CD release.

It took a few years in the making but finally the project came into fruition to celebrate Proby's 70th birthday (in November 2008). The finished CD offers a comprehensive overview of his biggest hits and best recordings released for Liberty/EMI between 1961 and 1972. Featured are eleven of the Texan's most successful international A&B side singles, such as Top 10 UK hits "Hold Me", "Somewhere" and "Maria" plus Top 5 Australian hit "Mission Bell", #1 Swiss hit "I'm Coming Home", Top 20 Dutch hit "Today I Killed A Man" and Top 30 US hit "Niki Hoeky".

Most of interest to the avid Proby collector will be the 2 previously unreleased songs that we found in the Abbey Road archives, these are renditions of Les Reed & Barry Mason's "Delilah" and Jim Ford's "I'm Ahead If I Can Quit While I'm Behind". If that wasn't already enough to delight and excite everyone the core fans (aka the Probyans) also get 8 of their most requested collectibles that debut on CD format. Many of these rarities are penned by popular songwriters, such as Jackie DeShannon, Randy Newman, Gerry Goffin & Carole King, The Gibb Brothers, Les Reed & Barry Mason and even Proby himself. The CD also contains a 12-page booklet of biography and song anecdotes.

ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU LOVE SIXTIES POWER-BALLADS OR BEAUTIFULLY ORCHESTRATED MUSIC THEN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN P.J. PROBY!!

When it comes to the life and career of Texas-born P.J.Proby, there must be enough drama to fill any film script and then some, for the vocal maverick has lived his time to the full. As one of the Sixties bad boys of British pop culture, Proby enjoyed no fewer than eleven charting successes between 1964-69, and with just a few of them featured on this collection, the others can easily be accessed elsewhere.

This overview celebrates the singer's 70th birthday in November 2008 and covers sides recorded between 1961-1972, with emphasis on his international hits (NIKI HOEKY, I CAN'T MAKE IT ALONE), neglected album tracks (MY PRAYER, MISSION BELL, ANSWER ME), rare "B" sides (JUST LIKE HIM, WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND) and a couple of previously unreleased recordings (I'M AHEAD IF I CAN QUIT WHILE I'M BEHIND and a cover of the Tom Jones hit DELILAH). There are also eight other songs claimed to be new to CD and it's true to say the mixture gives full reign to P.J.'s vocal flamboyance and ability to render emotive ballads, a few rockers and even QUANDO TORNERA in Italian.

Whilst Proby's career has hit the rocky road on numerous occasions, he has never been forsaken by his fans and it's good to know he is still out there entertaining forty years later. These sides are another welcome reminder that he came, he saw and he conquered!

I love the cds, but I find it frustrating trying to find particular tracks that dont seem to be released on any of his albums.I am mainly talking about let the water run down.Anybody know if it has been released on some other cd ?

P.J.Proby is to my mind one of the most versatile,stylish,charismatic & talented singers ever.His vocal range is second to none & on this 25 song CD every track is a gem.
Lots of people are not sure if he's still around but I can assure you he is & singing better than ever!
This CD is the best "mix" of Proby songs that has ever been released,hits,little heard "B"sides,sensational album tracks,his San Remo entry & a couple of never before released songs one of which is the very first recording ever of "Delilah" specially written for P.J. by Les Reed.Tom Jones had the hit but the original is best.
Catch him on tour in the UK & hear him sing at least 6 tracks from this album "live".A Living Legend.
Ron Tennant(Belgium)

A great time for PJ Proby. Some of his best tracks on this superb CD. A truly underrated singer - so versatile.

I've searched long and hard for the original version of "Hold Me," by PJ Proby. At last, I found a cd that not only contains this song, but many others from the same period of time.....early sixties, the British Invasion. Of course, PJ was from Texas, but he made his fame in England, looked English, sounded British enough, and that was good enough for us teenyboppers. If the original versions of old songs is your number one criteria, this cd is the one you're looking for.

If you're a PJ Proby fan, this is a 'must have'... some of his best work on CD. My word, what a voice!