Customer Reviews

Best of

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Just to clarify, Music Sojourn's review of this album is all wrong.

The recordings of "Early in the Morning" and "Hitchin' A Ride" are, indeed, the original recordings.

They merely sound different due to the wonderful STEREO mixing (which was on the original ALBUM) and the sparkling remastering done for this CD. And "Hitchin' A Ride" isn't the single version. That was faded early at 2:37. The album version goes on for another 18-28 seconds, depending on whether you have the mono LP version or the stereo one. The only gripe I have with Vanity Fare CDs is that the song "Man Child", the B side of "Hitchin'" was stereo on the vinyl Lp, but has only appeared on CD in mono.

So, sorry to be the one to point this out (no, that's not entirely true, I'm glad to do so...), the earlier reviewer is wrong. I own multiple copies of the original album on vinyl, as well as multiple copies of all three singles released from it, so I've been listening to and loving this music for over 40 years. Don't go by this wrong review. Buy this CD, you will not be disappointed.

This is a great CD and the sound is fantastic too!
Covers their Pop Rock almost Bubblegum first period through their Hard Rock keyboard period up to their Sunshine Pop stuff. The only thing that is disapointing is the last track-STAND. It sounds like it comes from a vinyl mono 45 that was not in that great a shape. Too bad as that is one of my favorite cuts, but all the rest sound like they came from master tapes.

Just be aware that "Hitchin' A Ride" and "Early in the Morning" are not the original 45 single versions, they either are stereo rerecordings or remixes. The original of "Hitchin' A Ride" can be found on other compilations (try Rhino's "'70s Smash Hits, Vol. 2" for the extended 3:09 version - the original 45 is 2:37), or The Best of Vanity Fare. The only original version of "Early in the Morning" on any of the CD or MP3 albums, including the various collection cds that have this song (based on reviewing the sound clips) appears to be on the expensive (CD only) "The Best of Vanity Fare [Import]" (The Best of Vanity Fare) - the original 45 time is 2:52 (label: Page One 21,027).

Update: as noted in the comments to this review, the original version of "Early in the Morning" is available on Eric Records' "Hard To Find 45s On CD: Sugar Pop Classics, Volume 11" - which I also now have, and the time there is 2:52.

I despise all of the re-recorded versions of classic tunes. The only good thing I can say about this particular album is that it is well recorded.

This was a song from my daughter's childhood. I got it to prove that I remembered it. We both had a big smile.

I thought this CD was a nostalgic look back, at what music was, back in the day. It's great to be able to find these recordings on CD, and others similiar to them.