Customer Reviews

Complete Liberty Singles

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For a more thorough review of this first-rate CD compilation, please read hyperbolium's entry here. If that doesn't make you want to order your copy today, nothing will.

I simply want to share this with you: We're well into the digital age now, and I'm always updating my collection with better-sounding (i.e., thoughtfully remastered) CDs. Over the years I've purchased two or three GL&TP compilations, including EMI's single-disc "Legendary Masters Series" comp released in 1990. Until now, that CD pretty much remained the benchmark in terms of overall sound quality and track selection. This new double-disc set blows that one and every other GL&TP compilation out of the water.

Look, I know some music junkies out there have an aversion to mono mixes, particularly if those folks did not first hear a particular song over AM radio back in the day or buy 45-rpm singles to pop onto their record players. (And I will admit to preferring stereo over mono in a general sense, at least when I listen to music through headphones -- which isn't very often.) But the remastering on this compilation is SO good that I would imagine even the most diehard stereo fans would have to believe their ears. These songs -- so many of them bona fide Top 40 classics -- jump right out of the speakers and fill the room. The musicianship, arrangements, and production values on these tracks are second to none.

Add in the excellent liner notes (featuring insightful quotes from many of the principals involved in these recordings, as well as several full-color 45 picture sleeves reproduced for the booklet), songwriter credits, and Billboard chart positions, and this GL&TP compilation is the one to own and enjoy. (And please, crank up the volume! Yeah, I know it'll send your dogs and cats running for cover, but your speakers need exercise.)

As someone who heard these songs the first time around more than 40 years ago, I can safely say that this compilation does them justice.

Despite major commercial success in 1965 and 1966, including a chart-topping debut, five top-five and ten top-twenty singles, Gary Lewis' music career was all but over two years after it began. His 1967 induction into the army left his label to release stockpiled tracks and record Lewis on occasional leaves; by the time of his discharge a phalanx of bubblegum bands had taken his place in the hearts and minds of young listeners. Though Lewis' initial connections may have been eased by the fame of his actor/comedian father, Jerry Lewis, it was an inviting personality and a dream team of writers, arrangers and producers that made his vocals the center of an incredibly compelling string of singles.

The Playboys began public life in 1966 with a summer gig at Disneyland. Lewis initially played drums and rhythm guitarist Dave Walker handled lead vocals. But once in the studio with producer Snuff Garrett, Lewis found himself up front singing the group's first single, "This Diamond Ring." Co-written by Al Kooper, the song was originally released as a low-charting R&B single by Sammy Ambrose, but re-imagined by Garrett it became an unforgettable dollop of earnest pop, with Lewis' vocal thickened by double-tracking and dramatized by Hal Blaine's tympani. The double-tracked vocals would become a group trademark, with the second voice often provided by session singer Ron Hicklin.

Lewis, Garrett and arranger Leon Russell became a hit-making machine throughout 1965 and into 1966 as they reeled off "Count Me In" (written by post-Holly Cricket Glen D. Hardin), "Save Your Heart For Me" (originally a Brian Hyland B-side), "Everybody Loves a Clown," "She's Just My Style," "Sure Gonna Miss Her" (with superb flaminco guitar by Tommy Tedesco), "Green Grass," "My Heart's a Symphony," and "(You Don't Have To) Paint Me a Picture." All are superbly written, arranged and produced, turning Lewis' limited vocal range into loveable approachability. Even today it's impossible to resist Lewis' immensely charming performances.

Lewis' hit singles still turn up on oldies radio and compilations, and the single-disc Legendary Masters Series collects all ten of his charting A-sides; what sets this collection apart is the inclusion of rarities, B-sides, and later non-charting singles, many of which are as good as the A's. Lewis' jingle for Kellogg's, "Doin' the Flake," is a Freddy Cannon-styled rocker that was originally available in for box tops, and the title song from his dad's 1966 film "Way Way Out" was issued only as a promotional single. The B-sides harbor some typical flipside fodder, including go-go instrumentals ("Hard to Find," "Tijuana Wedding" and "Gary's Groove"), novelties ("Time Stands Still," on which the Lewis slips into an imitation of his dad's wacky voice), and the celebrity-impersonation filled "Looking for the Stars").

But the B's weren't always throwaways. Early flips, mostly penned by Garrett and Russell, include the terrific Jan & Dean styled "Little Miss Go-Go," the Robbs-like harmony rocker "Without a Word of Warning," and the moody organ-backed "I Won't Make That Mistake Again." Each has deftly crafted hooks that memorably compliment lyrics of summer love and autumnal broken hearts. The songwriting team of Sloan & Barri served up their trademark folk-rock sound on "I Don't Wanna Say Goodnight," complete with chiming 12-string and a Brill Building styled chorus. The 12-string is even better on the Searchers-styled "I Can Read Between the Lines."

As 1966 turned into 1967, Lewis' material started to slip. An unreleased cover of "Sloop John B" is a pleasant sing-along, but without the magic of earlier hits. Still, there were some lower- and non-charting A's and B's that had something to offer, including light-psych harmony-pop ("Where Will Words Come From"), country-soul ("The Loser (With a Broken Heart)"), and California production pop styled production ("Girls in Love" and "Jill"). Lewis' bubblegum sound reemerged on "Ice Melts in the Sun" and "Let's Be More Than Friends," turned to Monkees-styled pop on "Has She Got the Nicest Eyes" and Partridge Family harmonies on "Hayride." A cover of Brian Hyland's "Sealed With a Kiss" managed to hit #19, but additional covers ( "C.C. Rider," "Every Day I Have to Cry Some," "Rhythm of the Rain," "Great Balls of Fire") had both middling artistic and commercial success.

Lewis' hitch in the army kept him from touring in support of his releases, and discord between his lawyer and label scuttled any real promotion. As quickly as he'd established himself with the chart run of 1965-66, he found top-notch releases in 1967 ignored by a fickle pop market. His last single, the self-produced, Box Tops-styled "I'm on the Right Road Now," sports a snappy horn-arrangement and soulful backing vocals, but the quality only heightened the irony of the title's failure. The market had moved on and so did Lewis, releasing a couple of solo singles (one on Scepter, one on Epic) in the mid-70s, continuing to tour and remaining a popular draw on the oldies circuit to this day.

Collectors' Choice pulls together forty-five Liberty 45s, all remastered in sterling quality from the original mono tapes. Ed Osborne's excellent liner notes are supplemented by release and chart info, and collector/producer Andrew Sandoval supplies numerous picture sleeve reproductions. This is a terrific package for anyone who craves lovingly produced, effervescent 1960s pop, and especially for those who'd like to hear how Lewis was presented to the public during the 45's last gasp of uncontested dominance. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

As A&R man at Liberty Records in the early 60's, Thomas "Snuff" Garrett was behind a string of successful hits with the likes of Gene McDaniels, Johnny Burnette and Bobby Vee. In 1965, teaming up Jerry Lewis's son with a song originally intended as an r'n'b tune for the Drifters, Garrett launched Gary Lewis' pop music career with the chart-topping "This Diamond Ring". Lewis, with Garrett as producer, went on to have an uninterrupted string of top-20 hits for the next two years. But almost as quickly, due to a break with Garrett, induction into the army and with the fickle and ever-changing music-buying public, Lewis' chart successes diminished and by the end of 1969, he was gone from the top-100 forever. Before it was all over though, Gary Lewis and his Playboy band racked up an impressive 15 top-100 hits, half of which made the top 10.

Gary Lewis and the Playboys compilation CD's run the gamut from skimpy, budget pieces to comprehensive, career-spanning collections, the best of which has been EMI's "Legendary Master Series" CD. Here from Collectors' Choice however, is a complete singles collection, a feat heretofore not achieved. This two-disc set also distinguishes itself by presenting all the original mono mixes, many of which have not ever been available on CD. The degree of appeal of this set rests somewhat on the mono-purist, stereo soundstage debate but, for those demanding the original AM mix, this is the place to look.

The two discs with a total of 45 tracks contain all the a- and b-sides of Lewis' top-100 singles. Also included are a few intended-as-singles unreleased tunes, alternate b-sides and Lewis' remaining non-charting singles. While the sound quality has all the advantages of digital-age clarity, the feel of the original AM radio mixes is retained for the die-hard fan of the original sound of the 45's. Complementing the package is a 12-page liner notes booklet containing a detailed history of Lewis' stint at Liberty, some product illustrations along with production acknowledgements and additional background on some of the tracks.

Short of a complete box-set style anthology, this new set gathers up the musical legacy Gary Lewis and the Playboys better than any previous reissue available. While the casual fan may be satiated by one of the many other Gary Lewis collections available, this new piece from Collector's Choice goes beyond the usual and raises the bar a bit higher especially for the die-hard collector.

others have done a fine job summarizing the merits of this set.

it is a big deal that these are mono mixes because that's how they sounded and should sound.

that aside i bought this set because of the inclusion of a short little not very successful single--"hayride". i always loved it and have babied my 45 all these years and now it's on cd and i'm a happy guy.

lastly, since i grew up listening to this stuff and started work as a dj at 16 in 1968 i like to think i am a decent judge of pop music and there are some great "singles" here that hold up very well and don't sound like anybody else.

The most complete and best sounding Gary Lewis CD out there.The A & B sides of every single,in MONO-the way they were meant to be heard!--The stereo mixes--for the most part are really weird & off-balance--the exception being the Two-fer of the first two albums,that was remixed from the various 'stage tapes'.-Some of the same mixes appeared on the previously best Gary Lewis CD-EMI Legendary Masters-that one is all stereo.Musically,what can I say? I love this stuff!!!!---Excellent mid 60s pop,played some of the greatest musicians ever!(ie:'The Wrecking Crew').

Gary Lewis & the Playboys captured my imagination back in junior high. I bought all the LPs and have bought a few re-releases of their music. This is the third compilation I have after the "Legendary Masters Series" and the "Complete" Gary Lewis discs. Surprisingly, Collectors Choice has brought something new. The two B-sides for "This Diamond Ring" were not tracks I'd previously heard. Liner notes relate how the original "Hard to Find" instrumental was replaced by the in-house "Tijuana Wedding" to save royalties. The hits sound fresh here from the addictive "Count Me In" to the single I wore out, "Save Your Heart for Me," "When the summer moon is on the rise & you're dancing under starlit skies, please don't let the stars get in your eyes." "Green Grass" never fails to bring forward hopeful emotions and "The Loser" rocks hard. On the second disc, "Mister Memory" sounds like a missed opportunity since it is a great song that was not released as a single. Although Gary Lewis & the Playboys time to record was over five years after it began, they produced an amazing quantity of music that made a joyful noise. I find myself popping the discs in the changer every few months, still striking a chord I want to hear. Enjoy!

We had just seen them in concert and wanted to hear some of their other songs. This collection is great if you want to hear mor of ths group.