Birthday [Extra tracks, Import]

Association | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 2, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Import [Generic]
• ASIN: B00000I78Q
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #385,633 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Come on In

2. Rose Petals, Incense and a Kitten

3. Like Always

4. Everything That Touches You

5. Toymaker

6. Barefoot Gentleman

7. Time for Livin'

8. Hear in Here

9. The Time It Is Today

10. The Bus Song

11. Birthday Morning

12. Everything That Touches You [Single Version][*]

13. Time for Livin' [Single Version][*]

14. Six Man Band [Single Version][*]

Editorial Reviews

Most fans have never heard the original mono mix of this album-it's been out of print ever since its 1968 release! A #23 LP, this lushly produced piece of baroque pop includes the Top 40s Everything That Touches You and Time for Livin' plus Come On In; Like Always; Hear in Here , and more, with exquisite vocal harmonies all around. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happy Birthday, Association!, October 28, 2004

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birthday (Audio CD)

It was 1968, and The Association, hot off the success of their third album, "Insight Out," and it's monster hit single, "Windy," went back into the studio and recorded their fourth album, "Birthday." Once again, this classy sextet deliver some of the best flower-power pop-rock ever made. These catchy, melodic songs are truly awesome, highlighted by the band's expert musical chemistry and vocal harmonies. The album includes more Association classics as "Like Always," "Everything That Touches You," "Time For Livin'," and "Time It Is Today," but also such great buried treasures like the punchy "Come On In," the beautiful "Rose Petals, Incense And A Kitten" (a silly title, I know, but the song is truly gorgeous), the equally exquisite "Toymaker," the haunting "Barefoot Gentleman," and the excellent "Bus Song," featuring a great bit of barbershop vocalising in the middle. When it comes to pop-rock, The Association were (and are) true geniuses. "Birthday" is a brilliant album, one of the band's best.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure from the past, June 18, 2006

By 

John Jordan "fearmaker2006" (Cincinnati, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birthday (Audio CD)

Yep, this is a pop album--but what a great pop album it is! If you turn up your nose at such things, this CD is not for you. If flawless arrangements, great vocals and beautiful performances are what you seek, look no further--this will fulfill the longing that I see on young and old faces nowadays for well-crafted music.
Growing up in the 60s, I was familiar with The Association but mainly just their hits such as Cherish, Never My Love, Windy etc. A few years back, the only CD you could find was their greatest hits release. Once I bought that CD, I became hooked. I started seeking out the vinyl versions of their other albums, "Birthday" being one of them. William B. Rue wrote above "who knew" and he was right on. How could the 60s pass on this and promote all the other twaddle that is in heavy rotation today? The album is just beautiful. "Toymaker" "Barefoot Gentlemen" and "Birthday Morning" (Mr. Rue is right again about that one too. It also takes me back to 1968 and reminds me of how wonderful those times were despite some of the confusion in the world). "Rose Petals, Incense and A Kitten" is also in heavy play here. Of all the music I've bought recently, I am MOST grateful that The Association albums have been re-released. It's been like rediscovering treasure.
I'm not sure how helpful my review is to you, but I would buy "Birthday" if it were released today over anything the labels have promoted in the last 10-15 years. It's one of the most played CDs of the many I own.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Association at their peak, October 31, 2000

By 

Jason Penick (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Birthday (Audio CD)

For those of you who love the Association's hit singles ("Cherish", "Along Comes Mary", "Windy", "Never My Love" etc.) and want to delve deeper into the band's catalog, might I suggest BIRTHDAY-- an album that shows just what this group was capable of doing when in the hands of a top-notch producer (in this case Bones Howe, who cut his teeth with the Fifth Dimension and also worked with such groups as the Monkees and later Tom Waits).

Highlighted by three hit singles-- the top-10 "Everything That Touches You" and two top-40's in "The Time It Is Today" and "Time for Living"-- this album also contains a variety of interesting lp "filler" that is really much more than that. Jim Yester in particular really shines on BIRTHDAY, contributing the heartfelt Pacific Coast ballad "Rose Petals, Incense and a Kitten" (highlighted by session pro Tommy Tedesco's sensitive nylon-string guitar fills), the Spectoresque "Barefoot Gentleman" with its thunderous wall-of-sound climax, and the luscious album closer "Birthday Morning", which was inspired by a poem by C.G. Jung. Yester's associates Terry Kirkman ("Everything That Touches You", "the Bus Song") and Russ Giguere ("the Time It Is Today") also turn in significant contributions, while drummer Ted Bluechel and replacement vocalist Larry Ramos manage one decent contribution each. All the instrumental tracks on BIRTHDAY are performed by a powerhouse Wrecking Crew line-up of Hal Blaine, Larry Knechel, Ray Pohlman, Mike Deasy and others. Overall there are no weak songs on this album, and it routinely rises to a level of artistic competance any vocal group this side of the Beach Boys would be hard pressed to match. The Japanese re-issue of BIRTHDAY sold here also includes yet another top-40 single, the tough "Six Man Band". Get it!