Customer Reviews

Gene Pitney - 25 All-Time Greatest Hits

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This is a voice that is SO recognizable it is a pity that the MAN has not been properly recognized. Gene Pitney is one of the most underrated singers of all time. He has such a body of work on this one CD - Liberty Valence (which btw was NOT in the movie - it was scrapped on the cutting room floor), It Hurts to be in Love, Every Breadth I Take and so many others. The range of this man's voice is incredible as are the songs. He can make you cry one minute and fall in love the next. This is the one to buy if you are only buying one but there are so many CD's that you will certainly buy others. Half Heaven, Half Heartache touches the sky and True Love Never Runs Smooth is so true, especially when Gene sings it. I HIGHLY recommend this CD.

Just a little note of editing - Gene died 4/5/06. He will be sorely missed.

Well, I bought it and can't stop listening, singing along, crying and smiling. You who are checking out this site know what I mean by that!

Yes, one can smile through tears listening to Gene Pitney's gorgeous voice and perfect phrasing to young love's agonies and ecstasies. His beautiful voice, and his creative mind and heart, enabled him to express my emotions for me in song, over and over again. Gene Pitney is the first artist I actually went to a concert to see. Already in thrall to the Beatles as a 15 year old, Gene Pitney was nevertheless my very first ticket purchase. (Saw 'em both; I HEARD Gene Pitney and loved the show!)

I'm elated to remember that Gene not only collaberated with Phil Specter (Pitney wrote the Crystals' "He's a Rebel!") but also the Rolling Stones, whose first album release contains Pitney piano backup. In repayment, Pitney's single "That Girl Belongs to Yesterday" is the first Jagger/Richards composition released in this country!

This guy was respected and revered by the "coolest" in his time. Why hasn't he been more remembered in this time?

I for one will contact the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame folks and remind them about Gene. According to his webpage, he's still actively singing and touring. He should be on that Hall of Fame stage now, now, now! And you, dear reader and lover of music, should be listening to this CD!! Nothing's missing that you'd expect, and the technical transfer (into 21st century sound) has been done seamlessly. You'll love it, I guarantee it.

Roy Orbison admired Gene Pitney's work enough to record 4 of his compositions. These men are cut from the same cloth, and if you love one's way with a ballad or a rocker, you'll love the other. So buy this CD! YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!

PS: Gene did every track on his first demo/single, "Love My Life Away," vocals and instruments included! How's that for incredibly gifted AND ahead of his time! (It made the top 40 and opens this album. Another reason to buy!)

A few months ago I heard a song on the radio that I had never heard before. I could tell it was Gene Pitney -- turned out it was "Half Heaven, Half Heartache." Here's a guy I've been listening to since the '60's, yet had never run across this particular (and great) song. So I bought this CD, and am I glad I did. Pitney was a soulful and passionate singer; even the songs I don't particularly like are still listenable because of his voice (I feel the same way about Roy Orbison). An excellent collection of his songs, by a singer who has been greatly underrated.

Gene Pitney was a local boy who made good. He grew up about ten miles from us and was our age in the early sixties. Wow. As his career grew, and he left us, we could still enjoy his music. I was glad to hear, in later years, that, although no longer recording, he was still performing, writing and producing CDs for other performers. Someone has noted his falsetto singing which I have heard happened because his voice, tired by retake after retake on his first recording, could not reach the notes he needed. He switched, instead to a higher range, and, as they say, the rest is history.

Gene was found dead in his room last week, of natural causes. He will not sing, in person, any longer. It is important, therefore, to purchase this CD so that his music and the history that he made will be ours for years to come.

It requires a double CD to provide a comprehensive study of Gene's hits but this is a very strong collection, containing all his top ten British and American pop hits from the sixties.

I'm gonna be strong was Gene's only hit to reach the top ten in both Britain and America. Gene's other top ten American hits to be found here are The man who shot Liberty Valance, Only love can break a heart and It hurts to be in love. Gene's other top ten British hits to be found here are Twenty four hours from Tulsa, That girl belongs to yesterday, I must be seeing things, Looking through the eyes of love, Princess in rags, Backstage, Nobody needs your love, Just one smile and the original solo version of Something's gotten hold of my heart.

Some lesser hits are also included together with Gene's original version of Hello Mary Lou, a song he wrote before he had a recording contract and which was a huge hit for Ricky Nelson.

You are unlikely to find a better single CD compilation of Gene's music anywhere, although if you are really committed, you may wish to check out the British double CD, Looking through - Ultimate collection, which explores his career in greater depth and is still available in the UK as I write this.

Gene Pitney's music spanned an important period in American music history. It must have been 1959 or 1960 when I sat in study hall and listened to "....I'm going to love my life away.." on my transistor radio (quietly). "Town Without Pity" was used to great effect in that Kirk Douglas movie and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" in 1962 underlined the point of that great movie with so many familiar faces of the time. "Only Love Can Break a Heart" is a touching classic. There was a lull in the mid-60s, when after a lot of hits, we didn't hear any more of them from Gene but, then came "She's a Heartbreaker" (which I still have the 45 vinyl of). I seem to recall after that,his singing a duet with a country singer of the day(Tom T. Hall?), then nothing. If you see this, Gene, we'd love to see you again. For whomever else may read this, I heartily recommend this compilation.

Only one word for this gentleman, his work and that VOICE -- INCOMPARABLE!! Nobody like him before or since. Gene, you're one of a kind. Powerful, heart-rending -- simply great. This album has hit songs I had never heard, and after playing it only one week, I know them all by heart. New favorites for the first time, plus all the hits from years back. Gene, start touring -- your fans want to see you! Congratulations on your induction into the 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Long, long overdue!

This is a great selection of original songs (including some I never knew Gene Pitney had ever recorded). The sound quality is excellent. Highly recommended.

Gotta admit I haven't heard this CD, but I most certainly have heard the songs, every one of them. Even after I got swept away by the Beatles, I never stopped adoring the music of Gene Pitney. Reading the titles on this album, I realize that he was one of the giants of his era, creating unforgettable musical novellas every bit as dramatic and powerful as the now more celebrated Roy Orbison. "24 Hours from Tulsa," "I'm Gonna Be Strong" and "Liberty Valance" are masterpieces enough for any one reputation, but look at the body of work! He was more than a teen idol -- he was an accomplished storyteller, with a beautiful voice, who seemingly effortlessly wrote one memorable melody after another. I just hope he doesn't have to pass away before he gets the renewed recognition he so richly deserves. Thanks for the memories, Gene! Now, excuse me while I get back up there and click on "Ready to Buy!"

More than a true original, Pitney remained unique. His heart-breaking tenor and it's effect on listeners has never been duplicated by another vocalist in all these years. The greats have left us: Roy Orbison, Del Shannon, Gene Pitney, singer-songwriters who reached into their lives to share real emotion with us through their music.