Customer Reviews

Just The Right Sound: The Association Anthology

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge, HUGE fan of the Association, and I've already reviewed a few of the Association's other CD's, currently available only as Japanese imports. When closing my review of the band's "Waterbeds In Trinidad" CD, I said that it would be really, really great if some sort of box set or 2-CD anthology retrospective were put out, as I've always been disappointed that most Association fans could only buy the band's "Greatest Hits" CD at their local music stores. Facts are facts: The Association are a fabulous band, having created some of the greatest, most beautiful pop/rock music ever recorded, and yet, most fans only had total access to a mere 13 songs in the band's very impressive catalog of recorded work (seven studio albums worth, in fact, not to mention the "Goodbye Columbus" movie soundtrack, and a double live album). So, it's with great pleasure that I say a hearty THANK YOU to the folks at Warner Bros. & Rhino for this brand-new, 51-song Association anthology set, "Just The Right Sound." Spanning two discs, this set comprises not only the "Greatest Hits" material in it's entirety, with the usual suspects like "Windy," "Cherish," and "Never My Love," but various other amazing tracks from the band's studio albums, as well as rare singles, occasional solo material, and previously unreleased songs, t'boot. Overall, this is a very excellent collection that answers the prayers of many Association fans, myself included.First, the good news--along with all of the hits, "Just The Right Sound" happily contains many songs that I, personally, would've included had *I* had a hand in compiling this set. Disc 1 features their masterful cover of Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings," and other excellent gems like "Standing Still," "Remember," "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies," "Looking Glass," "On A Quiet Night," and "Happiness Is." Right on! Disc 2 features brilliant Association tunes like "Come On In," "Barefoot Gentleman," the breezy theme song to the film "Goodbye Columbus," FIVE songs from the band's self-titled 1969 masterpiece LP, including "Under Branches," "Yes I Will," and "Goodbye Forever," the lovely "Along The Way," and the fine Lovin' Spoonful remake, "Darling Be Home Soon." ALL fantastic songs, ALL greatly appreciated in their inclusion here. (Also, the tracks *sound* great, too, having been digitally remastered.)But there is a disappointment. Naturally, with any anthology set devoted to any one recording act, for every great song included, there's a great song left out. In the case of this Association retrospective, many of the band's greatest tunes are still not represented. My list is too long to mention entirely, but some of the tunes on my Association wish list include "Message Of Our Love," "Angeline," "Wasn't It A Bit like Now," "Rose Petals, Incense & A Kitten," "Toymaker," "So Kind To Me," "Love Affair," "Dubuque Blues," "Funny Kind Of Song," "It's Gotta Be Real," "Midnight Wind," & "Kicking The Gong Around." For these classic Association songs, you can only get them on Japanese import. But DO seek them out, 'cause the CD's these missing songs are contained on are all quite wonderful. Seriously, I don't think these guys *ever* recorded a bad song during their late 60's-early 70's heyday (although their "comeback" material from 1981, as sampled from this set, is certainly listenable, but doesn't quite have that good ol' Association magic of yor).In the meantime, "Just The Right Sound" will do very nicely, indeed. It's not a perfect collection, but all things considered, this is an excellent representation of why this Los Angeles-based group were--and are--so great. If you've been hungry for years for more Association material on CD, now, at last, you've got it. But DO check out those Association CD imports! They're worth every penny, just like this greatly-appreciated anthology set. :-)

It took more than 30 years, but reissue giant Rhino Records has finally satisfied the demands of millions of fans of The Association by updating 1968's Greatest Hits compilation by expanding that album's meager 13 tracks to a whopping 51 tracks over two CDs. [Note: The single version of "No Fair At All" IS on disc-1 despite its omission in the track listing.] Just the Right Sound boasts every single ever issued beginning with 1965's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" on the Jubilee label through 1981's reunion single "Dreamer."

In addition, a heavy dose of album tracks are included from each of their five albums from the Sixties as well as a handful of tracks from their last two albums: 1971's Stop Your Motor and 1972's Waterbeds in Trinidad. There's also a couple of solo tracks ("It'll Take a Little Time," "Pegasus")and two previously unreleased tracks ("The Machine," "Better Times"). Just to give you an idea of how hard it's been to find anything by the Association, 33 of these tracks are on CD for the first time! Among some of the gems seeing the light of day for the first time since their original release are a cover of the obscure Bob Dylan song "One Too Many Mornings" from 1965, and a tribute to songwriter P.F. Sloan from 1972.

For fans who only remember this Southern California band for their lush harmonies on No. 1 hits like "Cherish" and "Windy," this compilation will amaze and astound the listener with the breadth of their sound on mostly original material. If you are a fan of Sixties music, you MUST add this CD to your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Tired of spending over 40 bucks for a Japanese CD?

From one of the best groups of the 1960's, who were unique and actually made great albums in the 60's. Now if they would only release their album catalog in the U.S.

A truly versatile group, producing such classics as "Along Comes Mary", (contraversial song-parents thought it was about marijuana), to "Under Branches". To those who HAVEN'T heard of them, this double CD is the best way to learn about early Power Pop. Producing many hits, they were a mainstay on AM radio from about 1966 to 1970, with classics such as "Cherish", "Windy", "Never My Love", and "Everything That Touches You". ("Never My Love" is the album version..listen to the end fade-out).

Even more importantly, this set covers the hard to get B sides and obscure titles, "Requirem For The Masses", "Under Branches", "Goodbye Columbus" and many others illustrate that their albums were not just 10 songs , 2 singles and the rest garbage. Even the album "Birthday" is well represented. With legendary producer "Bones" Howe, this is a set that MUST be in any collectors stash. You cannot have a representitive sample of the 60's without it.

So until the individual albums come forth in the U.S., buy this CD set. Its reasonably priced, and contains songs from their entire catalog. I can finally put my "Dreamer" and "Along Comes The Association" albums away. A+ Recommendation.

Here is another collection which is way overdue. But alas! We finally have "Just the Right Sound". By now, you know all the hits, but if you loved their music in the 60's, there are a number of songs you may not be familiar with that make this collection worthwile. Hear songs like "Forty Times", "I'll Be Your Man", "When Love Comes to Me", "Come On In" and "Birthday Morning" as prime examples. Also, from all of the singles that the Association put out, my favorite was none other than "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies", which is not on the Greatest Hits. It's nice to hear a song that you haven't heard in over 30 years. There are a few songs on the latter part of Disc 2 that I don't care for; but not enough to downgrade to 4 stars. The old orange WB label is used on these discs, and Rhino, who always provides excellent liner notes, is lacking here only in the sense that the lead vocalist for each track is not listed. Everyone in the group sang, and in many cases I can't tell who the lead singer is. Other than that, the liner notes are very informative. TITLE TIME: Yes, "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", IS the same song as the one by Led Zeppelin, although you'd hardly know it. Fortunately, "Yes I Will" is not the song of the same title by the Monkees, Hollies, etc. Those who want to hear some Association music other than the Greatest Hits and opt not to buy any of the Japanese imports should go for this; otherwise wait and see if and when a one-CD abridged version is available.

I'm thrilled I can join with the other Association fans and celebrate the release of Just the Right Sound. I ordered it a few weeks ago, and have been playing it non-stop. Wonderful stuff. I was fortunate enough to see the group quite a few times during the '60's, including one memorable week in 1966 where I saw them 5 nights in a row at the old Cherry Hill Music Hall. They were indeed fabulous live, as the "Association Live" two record set attests. I have all their albums on vinyl, and have played them occasionally over the years with an eye towards making sure they don't get worn. In fact, the beginning of my "Birthday" vinyl is very worn since I played "Come on In" constantly for many years. To have it now on CD is something I cherish (pun intended). I'm thrilled that people remember one of the great bands of all time. Their music is terrific and timeless. I'd love to see a web site dedicated to the group, with updates on what the original 6/7 are up to (of course other than Brian Cole who passed away tragically in 1972). I did see the modern Association a few years ago in Milwaukee (with Russ Giguere and Larry Ramos as the original members still in place). Let's keep the Association alive!!!

Finally, after twenty years, the Association's music gets anthologized as well as could be short of a massive box set. Here, first to satisfy the basic requirements, on two CD's is every song by the Association that invaded the top 100 including the ne'er before on CD, "Names, Tags, Labels & Numbers". This set also corrects some boo-boos on the poorly compiled lp-clone "Greatest Hits" that up to now has been the only domestic CD collection available.

Found here are the original single versions instead of the alternate versions used for the "GH" piece with the exception of "Cherish". An artificially truncated version became the radio-version single simply to get the time down to make the song palatable to the radio station VIP's. Even then, the time was falsified to get past the issue. Purists may be irked by this non-radio-single version, but... Beyond the charting singles is a wealth of b-sides, album cuts and failed singles that span the group's musical life from their genesis in 1965 through the year of their last chart appearance, 1981.

Rhino has done an excellent production job here as well with a massive 40-page liner notes booklet detailing the group's history with pics and discography. Sound quality is top-notch will all tracks in stereo except 2-4,13,14 on disc one. For those looking to add an Association compilation to their collection, this is the piece to go for. Fans already owning the "Greatest Hits" piece can retire that and go for this far better compilation.

Wonderful! I love the way the compilation progresses through the years. I would, however, have ditched the "new" releases and included more songs from the "real" group (especially those that included the original 6/7 members). It's easy to praise the obvious No.1 tunes, but to fully realize the magic of this band, take a listen to some of the lesser known cuts,i.e. "Everything That Touches You", "On A Quiet Night" and "Birthday Morning". Lush. Truly lush. One of the amazing things about this band is the true muscianship of each and every member . I was so very fortunate to have heard them play live on three different occasions--two of them with the original 7 member lineup. These guys could really play!!! I only wish there had been a few cuts from the LIVE album. This band was one of the best live performers I've ever heard. Tired of syntho-pop? Long for the days of Brian Wilson-like intricate harmonies? Give this cd a try.

Rhino has done a great job with this compilation. Although I owned all of their LPs, I've been hoping to get some of these tracks digitally remastered with a bit fresher sound than my worn vinyl. "Just the Right Sound" comes through admirably. The photography selection is wonderful. In addition, some of the singles from Mums, RCA & Elektra were also new for me. My favorite LP, masterful if the number of times I pull it out & replay over the years is any indication, is "Birthday." 7 tracks are included here including the gorgeous "Birthday Morning," the joyful "Time For Livin'," & the bouncy "Like Always." My other fave, "No Fair At All" sounds great with their hits "Windy," "Cherish," & "Never My Love." The liner notes including Brian Cole's 1972 drug overdose give a great portrait of the band, its changes and evolution. With their beautiful, often upbeat sound, emphasis on studio players and musicianship, and those heavenly harmonies, the Association recordings do stand the test of time and come across as more than time pieces or musical antiquity. Bill Inglot & Rhino should be commended on this excellent collection! Enjoy!

Often dismissed as a square and faceless pop hit-making machine from the 1960s, the Association was so much more than their Nehru jackets, as this new two-CD set makes evident. Despite not playing their own instruments on record - but, then again, neither did the Beach Boys - the members of the Association created a signature West Coast folk-based sound, which was focused mainly around their crystalline choral work. Beginning with the first album "And Then Along Comes," which was beautifully produced by the Millennium's Curt Boettcher - who is now, many years after his passing, finally receiving his due - the Association was capable of turning out psychedelic whimsy ("Along Comes Mary"), jangly rockers ("One Too Many Mornings") as well as sumptuous ballads ("Cherish"). Although the band thereafter severed its relationship with Boettcher, they learned enough from the master to continue to forge shimmering singles ("Windy" and "Never My Love") and consistent albums, including Insight Out and Birthday. As the era for this sort of thing faded, so did the band - although "Waterbeds in Trinidad!," one of their later releases from 1972, is something of a lost classic. Still, excluding a few missteps like the of-its-period high seriousness of "Requiem for the Masses," this is uncommon music, likely a lot better than you might remember it, and Rhino once again has collected all the prime cuts for you to savor. At long last, no more guilt by Association.

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We all knew the Association was a great singles band (no need to repeat the titles, they must be burned into your brain as they are into mine), and everyone of those singles is here to enjoy with the superior mastering that Rhino pretty much always does; but how do we get from somewhere around ten great singles to five times as many songs?? The answer seems to be that too many of us in the late sixties missed the fact that this group also delivered great albums (the only one that I owned was Insight Out, and it had a number of excellent songs that, happily, have all ended up here, but I never heard any of their other albums). I have been blown away by this album, and astounded at how many great songs on here I have never even heard. Of fifty-one tunes, I would say three or four at most have not struck a chord with me yet. While the phrase is overused, I can honestly say as a big sixties collector that the Association as an albums band was one of the most overlooked groups from that era. At this late date Rhino has given us this wonderful corrective, and I hope you will not let the fact that two CDs may seem like too much to stop you from finding out that two CDs might not even be enough. There is virtually no filler here, and I am sure you will enjoy both disks. As an aside I saw the reformed group last year, and they put on an excellent show.