Customer Reviews

Best of the Vogues: You're the One

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

 

 

The Vogues broke into the charts with a string of energetic and polished hits on the Pittsburgh-based Co & Ce Records. When the material and chart success faded, they went on to Reprise and scored again with a more Lettermanesque style revamping older hits.

This collection gathers up their early period recordings from their Co & Ce stint. All six of their top-100 hits from that period are here and two appear in first-time stereo. Their biggest hits of that era are here in mono but they are in fact the original Co & Ce versions as opposed to the doctored versions that wound up on many other Vogues compilations. In addition to the charted singles and album sides, there are several previously unreleased tunes, some of which were the output of some of the biggest names in pop tune composers (P.F. Sloan, Tony Hatch, Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, et al) of the era.

Sound quality is the best yet for these sides with tracks 4,7-11,15,16 in first-time stereo, the remaining tracks in original-form mono. This collection represents the best gathering of the Vogues' early recordings and makes an excellent companion piece to the other CD's of their later Reprise-label recordings.

From the days in the 60's of seeing The Vogues perform at The Holiday House in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, to hearing their music played on a local oldies station as recently as last week, Bill Burkett, Chuck Blasko, Don Miller and Hugh Geyer have proven that their harmonies are timeless! Before they achieved national exposure, they were a favorite in Pittsburgh. Their music provides a wonderful trip down memory lane!

I'm not sure about an "alternate" version of "Five O'Clock World" that the previous reviewer mentions, but "You're the One" may sound different to many people. However, this CD contains the original 1965 single mix, not the alternate with strings that appears on Rhino's collection and that oldies stations have been using for years. As for the later Reprise hits, it would have been nice for them to be included, though I think they're overproduced.

If you like your Vogues lean and mean and want the original versions of their Co & Ce hits, this is indeed the one. If you want a more complete hits collection and are willing to live with a remixed "You're the One," go for the Rhino CD.

I opted to get this collection rather than the Rhino best of, and I made a mistake. This does not include any of their later hits, and has an alternate version of 5 O'clock world. I guess if you're a big fan, you'll like the unreleased stuff, but to include that and not Turn Around Look At Me, Till and My Special Angel seems rather silly.

Your money is better spent on the Rhino collection.

I became a fan of the Vogues as a teen and have been very pleased to see their music in reissue. This album will bring back many good memories. They are in the top three of the guy-groups of the era. When Reprise released their GH on cd,they deleated one song which was present on the vinyl version. "See That Girl" was done by the Righteous Brothers on their Just Once In My Life album. T'was a beautifully written piece reduced to a dirge. Not so the Vogues rendition. They produced one of the most beautiful lost love anthems ever done. Why Reprise didn't reprise that song will forever be a mystery. The Vogues were a top act when we were much younger and if you like their music this album is a must.