Insight Out

Association | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 11, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B0000AQVJ3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,680 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Though this album boasted two massive chart hits in Windy and Never, My Love, the rest of the record was no mere filler; the Association were always more of an album-oriented band than their chart success would lead one to believe, and the other songs here rank among their best work. Producer Bones Howe (Mamas & Papas) some of the credit here, but the band’s ear for material was phenomenal. Includes great covers of P.F. Sloan’s On a Quiet Night and Tim Hardin’s Reputation, plus Wasn’t It a Bit Like Now; We Love Us; When Love Comes to Me; Happiness Is; Sometime, and Wantin’ Ain’t Getting’, before winding up with the ambitious, anti-war Requeim for the Masses. The complete 1967 release.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happiness Is The Association, July 9, 2004

By 

Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Insight Out (Audio CD)

With the temporary departure of singer/guitarist Jules Alexander, with his vacancy being filled by Larry Ramos (who still fronts the touring version of the band with Russ Giguere to this day), The Association struck commercial gold with their third album, 1967's "Insight Out," one of their most classic releases. It's got the group's biggest hit on it, the sunny #1 smash "Windy" (written for the band by a young female friend), as well as the all-time Wedding Day favorite, "Never My Love" (which reached #2). But these aren't the only great songs on the album---there's the ragtime rock of "Wasn't It A Bit Like Now," the dreamy "On A Quiet Night," the bouncy pop of "When Love Comes To Me," the rockin' "Reputation," the sitar-flavored pop-rock of "Wantin' Ain't Gettin'," and the totally powerful anti-war number, "Requiem For The Masses." Fabulous songs, performances, and vocal harmonies. When it comes to 60's "sunshine pop," there's nobody better than The Association. "Insight Out" is outstanding.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars That Summer of 1967, February 6, 2007

By 

D. R. Saxton "Dartanyon" (Bemus Pt. N.Y. USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Insight Out (Audio CD)

Wow! This album brings back some of my most vivid childhood memories. With the exception of "Reputation", every song on this album is such a great masterpiece. Starting with "Wasn't It A Bit Like Now", an uptempo, 1920's throw-back, in a rock capsule, the song gets the CD going in fine fashion. I just love the lyrics, even though the modern part of the song is now so severely dated. Next , the tempo is simmered into a beautiful and reflective ballad, "On a Quiet Night". Jim Yester's voice is perfect for this lonely, late at night piece. It reminded me of the summer nights I spent on my Grandmother's farm back in the '60's. "We Love Us" is a pleasant ballad sung by Ted the drummer and Larry Ramos, the new guy in the band.(Ted is not one of the stronger vocalists of the Association, but the song is still soothing.) "When Love Comes to Me" is a mid-tempo love song that really grows on you. Terry Kirkman has a nice recorder solo in the middle of the song and then again at the fade. What can I say about "Windy"? Does 60's pop get much better than this?

"Reputation" sung by Brian Cole is the only dud song on the CD. It just doesn't fit.

Side two starts with the beautiful ballad, "Never My Love".

Oh, what harmonies! "Happiness Is" is the ultimate sunshine, "HAPPY" song that reflects the beach and those groovy times of the 60's. Russ sings on the next piece which is a middle of the road pop song. His voice is quite unique. Tha next song,"Wantin' Ain't Gettin'" is a sitar driven, psych-pop song that makes no sense. (Their version of the Strawberry Alarm Clock) and the album finishes with the masterpiece, "Requiem for the Masses". There are some real top rate harmonies in this tragic story. I never did get the message that was portrayed when I was 11 years old.

This marked the first album where many studio musicians were brought in so the album has a much more polished sound than the previous two LP's. Unfortunately, since the same studio musicians were so widely used in the 60's, the album instrumentation takes on the sound of The 5th Dimension, and the Mamas and Papas, and several other 60's super-groups. That's what made the Association's first two albums so unique. However, this was the first Association album I bought and it will always bring back those memories of "Quiet Nights" back on the farm, the summer of 1967.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an outstanding album., February 16, 2011

By 

Joseph M. Davis (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Insight Out (Audio CD)

Never My Love? That is one of the absolute greatest songs ever written and they nail it. I think it is in Paul McCartney's top 2 along with God Only Knows by the Beach Boys. You can't be in better company than that. This is pop perfection at it's finest. The reverberating guitar, the Wurlitzer, the organ, and the absolutely flawless, beautiful vocals make this song an achievement that will not sound dated even 100 years from now. Windy is another piece of pop perfection. Maybe more a product of the late 60's but again it stands the test of time completely. Larry Ramos is probably still kicking himself that he got to ditch the New Christy Minstrels and join this band. Jules Alexander is probably still kicking himself for leaving for India during this album too. That The Association is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a reflection on what a sham it is as an institution.

If you are thinking that maybe you just need the greatest hits, listen to song samples of this album of songs like Reputation and Wantin' Ain't Gettin'. Even if you only know the 2 hits mentioned at the beginning of my review and maybe Requiem For the Masses, this is great music that is meant to be heard in hi fidelity. Don't waste the experience with just an MP3 version off of iTunes.