Customer Reviews

Classic Collection

5 star:		(10)
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This is a stellar compilation of Miss Clark's greatest hits and then some. Very reasonable price for this 4 disc set. So reasonable in fact, that it made me hesitate to purchase at first. Was it going to be as good as it appeared on paper? The answer is a resounding Yes.

The song selection is a truly comprehensive overview of Miss Clark's pop career. All the U.S. Top 40 hits are here from "Downtown" to "Don't Give Up", including the sometimes hard to find "The Cat In The Window". What adds to this collection are the numerous additional songs which include her renditions of many of the hits songs of the day (1960s), songs which were hits in Europe but not the U.S. and some delightful numbers sung in French.

Despite my knowledge of Miss Clark's work, which I thought was rather extensive, I even found a number of songs new to me which have quickly become additional favorites. They include "Where Did We Go Wrong", "Days", "Just Say Goodbye" And "Life & Soul Of The Party".

A major concern of mine re inexpensive collections is the sound quality of the recordings. Well, never fear. At least to my ears, the sound quality here is excellent. Occasionally, these collections can sound thin or "tinny". Not so this one. The sound is as full as it can be expected to be for songs recorded more than 40 years ago.

At this price, with these songs, from this artist, sounding as good as it does it, you really can not go wrong with this.

May 21, 2008 Addendum: The price I paid for this box set was $17.97 in 1999. Truly a terrific bargain. Although the price has more than doubled since then, and it is not the bargain it once was, I still think this box set is worth it. I still listen to and enjoy these CDs. In fact, recently just burned many of the songs onto my computer so I can add them to my ipod.

January 15, 2009 Addendum: The price of this 4 disc package is now back to what I paid for it nearly ten years ago, making this once again a superb value.

Which is how concise, precise and incredible a collection this is. The lady who's been meshed into the "British Invasion" of U.S. 60's pop music swooned us through much of the decade with 15 Top 40 hits that included the Grammy-winning "Don't Sleep in the Subway" and other classics such as "Downtown," "This Is My Song," "Kiss Me Goodbye," "My Love," "A Sign of the Times" and "I Know A Place." But American producers of "Best Of" series never did Petula Clark justice, and the wrong was undone in 1997 by England's Castle Pulse studio. And here's its masterpiece: an 80-track compilation in four CD's that includes all the American hits and one gem after the other. Vols. 1 and 2 of the four discs are titled "The Singles" and Discs 3 and 4 "The Song Stylist." Nos. 1 and 2 unleash what they promise - the singles that catapulted this incredibly gifted lady into American stardom, and a few other hidden gems, one of them Ms. Clark's soulful and tuneful English version (titled "Sailor") of German singer Lolita's 1960 worldwide maga-hit, "Seeman." Vols. 3 and 4 give us what they promise: the lady's indominable style, incredibly conveyed in such "borrowed" hits as "Homeward Bound," "Elusive Butterfly" and "Let It Be Me." A buried jewel is the bilingual Ms. Clark's unleashing of a few French numbers, including "L'Amour Viendra," "Tu Reviendras Vers Ta Maison?" ("Am I That Easy to Forget?" a la Englebert Humperdinck) and "Qu'Est-Ce Qui Fait Courir Le Monde?" No one can easily argue that Petula Clark didn't write a chapter in American music at one of the field's most pivotal social turning points, and the lady's charms continue to mesmerize us. And, honestly, get this collection and every other "Best of Petula Clark" release isn't the "best of" compared to this, the one compilation that any music-lover and Petula Clark fan will ever need.

I was concerned that this set might offer later or "live" versions of these great pop hits-- or that the sound might be indifferent. I had not reason to worry. These are the original studio tracks, and the sound is excellent. An indispensible set.

It may lead me back to 60's 70's, romantic song that sung by Petuka Clark who has romantic voice that make me always feel younger. Note: Many hits of Petula still not seen in this box set.

Great music at an unbelievable price, all the classics. If you like Pet Clark buy this, you won't be sorry. I bought it for my ONE favorite song by Ms. Clark, but I enjoy them all. As someone else remarked in another review... "there will never be another Petula Clark"

This collection of songs by Petula Clark covers all of her hits in the USA and internationally. The liner notes are lacking but the music isn't. If you are a fan this IS the collection to get without breaking your piggy bank too much.

A great collection of songs from a favorite artist. I have been a fan of Ms Clark for years. This set tops off all that anyone could want from this extremely fine performer.

Having purchased this collection a few years ago, I still from time to time listen to this 4-cd set. Including all of her well-known hits, it also includes tracks that were supposed to be hits, but were otherwise released as album tracks in the USA. The focus on this set is on Petula's very versatile voice.
I have met Petula in person, and for such a short person, it is unbelieveable the power she possesses in her voice. This collection includes her biggest hits that were not only in the USA, but her French hits as well (majority are sung in French), but is fun to listen to, even tho I am not versed in the French tongue. The collection is rounded out by album tracks that to me don't sound like album cuts, but a perfect slice of 60's pop culture. All sound like hits. With Tony Hatch's guidance, and energetic background vocals, you'll be swinging and swooning to all of the songs!
5 stars for not only the content of songs included, but the sound quality, which is by far, superb!
Even to the 'passing' Pet Clark fan who only knows her hits will enjoy this set. It is that great!!

Talk about a bargain! I just got this in today, and I don't know why, but the price I got was $15.98, now it just jumped up to $45! I almost feel like I stole it with a reduced price like that. But regardless, I first started my collection with Ultimate Petula Clark. That was a great introduction and all, but to me, there are only 3 songs missing from Ultimate that you don't seem to get on this 4 cd collection. But you probably won't miss them. I think disc 3 is going to be interesting, for her covers of Simon & Garfunkel, The Beatles, Scott McKenzie, The Association, The Four Tops, and a few french singles thrown in. If you don't care for French singing, perhaps Petula might change your mind, but like it or not, you're going to get a few french singles thrown in. (I don't mind at all) Everything Tony Hatch wrote and produced is here as well, and I'm not too sure because I haven't read the liner notes too deeply, but it sounds to me like alot of her pre-Tony Hatch material is there too. I'll warn you there, it kind of sounds like pre-Beatles pop music of the late 50's/early 60's from the UK, and maybe even the US. (Think of Doris Day or Connie Francis pop music of the time). Petula Clark doesn't do blues, heavy rock or psychadelic music, but she does a great Wall Of Sound, or symphany pop music down to a T. It is interesting to think how Dusty Springfield & Petula Clark were the 2 sirens of the UK invasion that had nothing to do with Guitars! (Not to say you won't hear them, but let's face it, their instrument is their voice) Now that I have this collection, I'm going to have to discover all the songs that I'm NOT familiar with, and there are quite a few. I think if you're considering this collection, you better hurry, because Castle Music got taken over, and most of the stuff they released will probably go out of print fairly soon, so even if this keeps going up and up in price, don't miss out! Your iPod or stereo will thank you for it.

Fantastic! The sound of real music to my ears. She's a gem of a singer.