Customer Reviews

Pop Music: Golden Era 1951-1975

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Pop Music: The Golden Era 1951-1975 is a strong two CD set that contains wonderful pop music numbers from 1951 to 1975. There are really quite a lot of great tunes here; and the sound quality will not disappoint you. The artwork is very nicely done as well.

The first CD begins with Frank Sinatra performing a sublime rendition of "Birth Of The Blues;" Frank adds a few lines at the beginning to put his own stamp on this ballad and when Frank goes into the main lyrics of the song it really takes off like a jet! The horns sound great on "Birth Of The Blues," too. There's also the great Rosemary Clooney doing one of my very favorite pop tunes entitled "Come On-A My House;" that keyboard work fits in great--I believe it's an organ and this works so well as Rosemary never misses a beat. There's also Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads performing a huge Johnnie Ray hit entitled "Cry." "Cry" really showcases just how well Johnnie could deliver a ballad with heart, soul and true passion; this always stuns me with its beauty. It tugs at my heartstrings, too!

Doris Day sings one of her signature songs, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)." Doris' voice is as clear as a bell and "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" is a wonderful highlight of this two CD set. Listen for Andy Williams to sing "Moon River" with panache; this always amazes me! In addition, the first CD also has Tony Bennett singing "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" to perfection and beyond; and Barbra Streisand gives us a stunning interpretation of a classic hit, "People." "People" really lets Barbra open up and display the operatic qualities of her voice--it's wonderful.

The second CD continues the hits. The Byrds do their incredible `60s rock tune entitled "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season);" they harmonize so well and it's beautifully done. There's also a great performance by Scott McKenzie, who sings "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" with a whole lot of feeling. "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" uses hand-clapping as a type of percussion that also helps to mark the beat--how creative! I love this tune by Scott. Moreover, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat & Tears combines a soft rock style with a smooth jazz flavor to make this number very strong; I could never forget this awesome number. Simon and Garfunkel also do a timeless, moving ballad that was so well associated with them; "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a very tender love song that never fails to move me with its beauty.

Looking Glass does good on "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl);" this tune tells the story of a young woman who wants love from one of the sailors who come to port where she works--but, sadly, she doesn't get what she wants. "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" is easily a highlight of this two CD set. Billy Swan's "I Can Help" is infectiously catchy and Billy sings this brilliantly--what a great voice he had! In addition, Labelle does a great job with "Lady Marmalade" even if the French isn't always translated correctly!

Fans of pop music would do well to consider this two CD set. It's constructed in such a way that even the tunes you don't know will entertain you a lot. I am baffled as to why this is currently out of print; and I hope that changes soon.

This is a great mixed bag of pop music from the 50's through the mid-70's. Like any collection, it is missing many pieces that you or I might have chosen to include, but let's face it...there is so much music to choose from and a limted number of songs that can fit on 2 CDs! Keep in mind too that if some of your favorite stars are missing, it is probably because they did not record for labels that today fall under the umbrella of Sony Music...essentially, these are all artists who recorded for Columbia or Epic.

This entire series "A Soundtrack for a Century" is a great opportunity to obtain some of the best songs of the 20th century as well as some very obscure ones...seek out the entire series and buy those volumes that appeal to you!

This is a superb review of a superb musical era. Anyone who lived the music of these years will love this set.

While part one of the compilation spanned the development of pop music of the twentieth century and how it became what it became by the 1950s, this album shows how it split into several directions by the end.

The Early Years ended with a Frank Sinatra tune, so this one begins with Frank Sinatra. While almost all of the first disc is of that style (Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, et al.), the second disc shows the growth from the more optimistic folkish style, and ends with the more soulful R&B music of the end. However, it shows how there was a softer side to the genre, but it could also be gritty.

Something interesting about the album is that it's primarily the more adult-aimed music, and then suddenly, it switches to the sixties-style pop. The complaint that several people will probably have about this collection is it doesn't have much of the teen-pop from the 1950s. However, I think that they used what they could get, and "Ruby Baby" is close to that style. That's the only weakness I can complain about, but the other thing is it wasn't pop, it was rock and roll, as most people would say back then.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND DON'T GET THIS I MEAN THERE'S NOT 1 JIMI HENDRIX SONG ON HERE I MEAN I KNOW THIS IS POP COLLECTION BUT HEY 1951-1975 WHO ARE THE AMETURES THAT PUT THESE TOGETHER I AM THE ONLY ONE HERE WHO CARES ABOUT MUSIC..?