Customer Reviews

Dick Bartley Presents: On The Radio, Vol. 5

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This volume of the series concentrates on pop & soul hits from '66 to '73. A few are hard to find on a domestic CD. For example Al Wilson's "The Snake" and Jackie Lee's "The Duck." All sixteen cuts are the original hit single versions with many in true stereo for the first time on compact disc. The final track (by Gladys Knight & the Pips) is the 3 1/2 minute single version (not the longer LP version found on most of the releases). Every track hit the R&B and pop charts, but maybe a handful are heard regularly these days on oldies stations. If you enjoy the music of this era you will enjoy this disc. Collectors should snap up this entire series from Varese.

This CD really is just so good. For those of us like me who grew up on AM radio, hearing these the way they sounded on the air is a time trip. For those who have never heard them before, they must be a revelation. Man, do I wish these would be reissued.

While many of the songs on this collection appear commonly, what distinguishes this compilation from others is the particular version of the song presented. With the use of stereo mixes (in all but one case) of the single edits, the listener gets both the impact of the song as it was originally heard on AM radio but with the fidelity and sound stage of digital stereo. If you were a fan of these tunes from their original days on the radio, then this disc will rejuvenate your interest in them all over again.

Sound quality, especially with the stereo soundstage to enhance it, is excellent. Included is a liner notes booklet with background notes for each track found on the CD.

Here is another high-quality CD compilation release from people at Varese Vintage.