Customer Reviews

Gary Puckett & Union Gap - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap weren't the hippest group, they didn't rise to the level of "supergroup", and they had only six hits. But what they did have was massive talent: Puckett's powerhouse, deep throated, smooth vocals; serious songs with well written lyrics; and some of the most sophisticated arrangements to come out of the 60's. They were at the cutting edge of the music that was yet to come in the 70's: that middle of the road, high quality, endless string of love ballad after love ballad. The texture of Puckett's voice always took you on an emotional ride into your lovelorn dreams and desires. "Woman, Woman" from the first to the last note doesn't let you escape this young man's cry'n, break'n heart. And GPUG didn't stop with this their first smash hit. Hot on its heals was "Young Girl" (I remember my mother and aunt talking about how provocative the lyrics were, pretty tame by today's standards) and their third smash hit "Lady Willpower" (As a young boy, I did wonder why all his songs were always bleeding with such bad luck about some woman he was either being rejected by or he was pushing them away with one hand while holding onto them for dear life with the other). Two other songs on this cd which I thought quite good were "This Girl Is A Woman Now" and "Over You" (my other big favorite after "Woman, Woman"). All in all, six songs on this cd are classics, including "Don't Give In To Him" but the rest of it is, well, not greatest hits material, to be kind. But so what, the hits make this swooner's voice worth the price of the cd. The songs instantly bring me back to the late sixties; but they sound as good today as they did thirty-some years ago, and that says a lot when you think of all the hits that sounded great thirty-some years ago, and are unlistenable today.

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap were one of the most successful radio groups of 1968; and in fact, they sold more singles than the Beatles that year. They certainly deserve a place in Top 40 history, and I'm personally a long-time fan of Gary Puckett and his short-lived band.

Having said that, buyers should be aware that there are a number of Union Gap Greatest Hits collections in circulation -- and this is not a particularly good one. The original vinyl Greatest Hits album (1970) contains 11 tracks, including all six of their chart hits; at least one other Amazon reviewer implies that they have a similar Greatest Hits CD. However, the Greatest Hits CD currently being offered on Amazon is a Sony Special Products release which does NOT include the hit single "Don't Give In To Him." At just 28 minutes in length (which includes odd Union Gap covers of Bee Gees & Neil Diamond hits) I can't understand (or forgive) Sony's omission.

The other reviewers have captured my reaction as well, we all have loved the throaty, unique lead voice and the love ballads that they turned out which still play on the Oldies stations.

I concur that the other songs are not much more than respectable versions of BeeGees and Diamond hits, but not that one has to turn the volume down or anything.

They fill in the Gap and continue to give enjoyment to many.

This 10-song collection originally came out in 1984 on Back-Trac Records and Tapes, a subsidiary of CBS, the band's label. The vinyl's liner notes are absent from this budget CD, but the excellent sound remains. But what's most important about this CD is the song selection. It omits "Don't Give In To Him" but includes "Daylight Stranger" and "Could I" -- both co-written by Gary Puckett and the band's longtime mentor, Jerry Fuller, and both released on 45 rpm singles (perhaps flip sides of the same single). "Could I," especially, is a fine, fine song that should have been a Top 10 hit. I bought the "Golden Classics" CD for the hits and "Don't Make Promises"; I bought this budget CD for "Could I." It was worth the extra few bucks.

It seems like there are at least a dozen "Greatest Hits" or "Best of" collections by Gary Puckett, and this one is probably not one of the better ones. I think that each of the collections include the real hits of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," "This Girl Is a Woman Now," and "Over You." After that each of the collections includes "stuff."

The "stuff" on this CD includes "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees. Gary Puckett's voice is an excellent match for this cover of the Bee Gees' classic. There is a cover of "Kentucky Woman" by Neil Diamond in this collection. I know the remaining songs, "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance," "Could I," and "Daylight Stranger" have all appeared on other Gary Puckett collections.

Gary Puckett has an excellent, mellow voice. When his voice matches the material the result is outstanding. However, there are a lot of Gary Puckett collections that exist, and this one is very short, under a half hour. If you are only interested in the top 40 hits, nearly any of these collections (including this one) will give you those. Then you have to decide which of the other songs on the collection you want as well.

My rating is not so much for the material on this collection, which is okay, but for the fact that there are better collections available and it seems as though Gary Puckett has been repackaged too many times with the same core material. The numerous collections should be pared down to a couple. One collection should have half dozen songs or so and the other collection could be like "A Golden Classics Collection," which has an incredible 27 songs. Choose wisely!

This is everything you could hope for from Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Great collection, wonderful sound quality, and everyone of their best songs. Can't go wrong.

It seems like there are at least a dozen "Greatest Hits" or "Best of" collections by Gary Puckett, and this one is probably not one of the better ones. I think that each of the collections include the real hits of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," "This Girl Is a Woman Now," and "Over You." After that each of the collections includes "stuff."

The "stuff" on this CD includes "To Love Somebody" by the Bee Gees. Gary Puckett's voice is an excellent match for this cover of the Bee Gees' classic. There is a cover of "Kentucky Woman" by Neil Diamond in this collection. I know the remaining songs, "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance," "Could I," and "Daylight Stranger" have all appeared on other Gary Puckett collections.

Gary Puckett has an excellent, mellow voice. When his voice matches the material the result is outstanding. However, there are a lot of Gary Puckett collections that exist, and this one is very short, under a half hour. If you are only interested in the top 40 hits, nearly any of these collections (including this one) will give you those. Then you have to decide which of the other songs on the collection you want as well.

My rating is not so much for the material on this collection, which is okay, but for the fact that there are better collections available and it seems as though Gary Puckett has been repackaged too many times with the same core material. The numerous collections should be pared down to a couple. One collection should have half dozen songs or so and the other collection could be like "A Golden Classics Collection," which has an incredible 27 songs. Choose wisely!

I bought this on a whim. I knew of "Young Girl" from a TV show, so I was tempted when I saw the CD on sale. I sampled a few of the tracks (I think "To Love Somebody" and another) and liked them well enough, so figured I could risk six bucks. I generally like the album enough to whistle some tunes at work, although it is not really my type of music (in the Robert Goulet/Tom Jones genre).

It is obvious the group had talent, and all songs sounded professional though some were uninspiring.

Best ones:
"Young Girl"
"Woman, Woman"
"To Love Somebody" (Originally a Bee Gees song, covered by everyone it seems)
"Lady Willpower"

The rest is mostly forgettable, though "This Girl Is A Woman Now" had a kind of interesting slant. "Kentucky Woman" seemed a bit out of place. The total run time is a bit skimpy at 28:10. So, while I can't give it 5 stars, if "the oldies" is your style, you can't go wrong here.

I have loved Gary Puckett and the Union Gap for years! Being 44 years old, I first heard the group in jr high! This is one of the best recordings I have heard in a long time! There is so much emotion in Puckett's voice. It is such a pleasure to listen to him!

My usual complaint about "best of" collections is that they seem to miss some hits, or miss songs popular with the fans of a particular artist. This collection of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap is no exception.

This group was present in AM top 40 a fair amount in the 60s. Their five biggest hits are all represented, and the sound quality is fair. However, I would have exchanged some of the lesser songs on this collection for some of the other songs in the numerous other Gary Puckett collections. For example, Gary Puckett did a pretty good covers of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and "Kentucky Woman."

As long as you get Gary Puckett and the Union Gap's five big hits, "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl," "Lady Willpower," "Over You," and "This Girl Is a Woman Now," then that collection covers most of the groups most popular and famous songs. However, they did well on other songs, and I think this collection could have rounded out the famous five with better choices. I personally would look at some of the other greatest or best of collections to see what other songs you would like to round out the collection you purchase.