Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006 [Original recording remastered]

Johnny Rivers | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Shout Factory
• ASIN: B000H7JDAY
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,321 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Memphis

2. Maybelline

3. Mountain of Love

4. Midnight Special

5. Seventh Son

6. Where Have All the Flowers Gone

7. Secret Agent Man

8. (I Washed My Hands In) Muddy Water

9. Poor Side of Town

10. Baby, I Need Your Lovin'

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Help Me Rhonda

2. Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancin')

3. Curious Mind (Um, Um, Um, Um)

4. That's Alright Mama

5. Honey Don't

6. Big River

7. Matchbox

8. Down at the House of Blues

9. Closer to You

10. Blue Suede Shoes [Tribute to Carl Perkins]

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Produced by the legendary Johnny Rivers himself, the 36-song, two-CD set Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006 is the most comprehensive collection of his music ever released. The anthology features 19 of his chart hits, including 15 hard-to-find tracks released on his own label. This set also features two brand-new recordings.

Johnny Rivers vaulted to worldwide fame during the height of Beatlemania, when he released a series of albums recorded at the world-famous Whisky A Go-Go, all featuring hard-charging versions of rock Â’nÂ’ roll standards. In the late Â’60s, he changed direction with the self-penned #1 hit, Â"Poor Side Of Town,Â" a soulful ballad that he soon followed up with another hit in a similar vein, Â"Summer Rain.Â" In the Â’70s he returned to his rockinÂ’ roots and over the next 30 years released album after album of vibrant rock Â’nÂ’ roll. Secret Agent Man is the definitive collection from this legendary artist.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars POOR MASTERING JOB, November 2, 2006

By 

BOB (LOS ANGELES, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006 (Audio CD)

This disc continues an unfortunate trend that began earlier in the decade: The practice of jacking the gain on every channel to its maximum level, then deeming the result "remastered".

The previous "best audio quality" stereo JR compilation was the 1998 "The Original" on Disky Records from the Netherlands. So, that disc was my comparison source for an A/B test for this new set.

When you cue up "Secret Agent Man" on the Disky release, the channels are balanced and all instruments can be heard distinctly.

However, on this disc, the guitar in the left channel has been jacked up so loud that it drowns out the bass and drums in the right. That great twangin' bass is just buried.

JR's web site states he "personally" remastered these recordings. However, the disc booklet credits him with producing the compilation, while the actual mastering credit is listed to Mark Chalecki at Capitol Mastering.

One wonders of JR ever stepped in the door while the actual mastering work on this compilation was being done.

And, Mark? You blew it, babe. BIG TIME.

For my money, although this set has double the number of tracks, the Disky CD is the way to really enjoy JR.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rivers Keeps Rock Roots Alive on "Secret Agent Man", October 21, 2006

By 

Anthony G Pizza "trivialtony" (FL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006 (Audio CD)

Roots-rocker Johnny Rivers dedicated the songs on "Secret Agent Man" - and by extension, his career - to "the grand master, C.B. (Chuck Berry)," who jams with Rivers in an opposing page photo. It's not surprising, as this fine 2CD set shows an artist flying under the radar, jump-starting and maintaining a more than 40-year career playing groove-driven, no nonsense rock, blues, and country covers.

Disc One covers Rivers' hits for the Imperial and United Artists labels (1964-73), and its first eight tunes drop you onto the Whiskey-A-Go Go's dance floor circa 1965. Rivers, bassist Joe Osborn and producer Lou Adler created an infectious series of fortified live hits ("Memphis," "Midnight Special," "Muddy Water") whose stinging guitar, groove-driven base and even hand claps sound better than ever with 21st century remastering.

Rivers was among the era's few stars of the early stars- Dion immediately comes to mind - who smoothly transitioned mid-decade to folk-rock's introspective approach. This stems not only from the memorable Beatles line in "Summer Rain," but lush, soulful Motown covers (1967's "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "Tracks of My Tears") and 1966's co-written #1 masterpiece, "Poor Side of Town." No Rivers cover here, from Berry to Van Morrison to Bob Dylan, tops its original ("Positively 4th Street," where Rivers substitutes heartfelt anger for the original's sneer, comes closest). But each respects the original, and Rivers delivers them gimmick-free in his trademark Cajun, R&B-flavored voice.

Disc Two cleans up his other 70s hits, then slides into first-rate oldies covers recorded over the last 15 years. He rocks on Memphis' Sun catalogue ("That's Alright Mama," "Big River," "Matchbox,") in tribute to legendary guitarist Carl Perkins, and sings jangly mid-60s folk-rock (the Beatles' "I'll Be Back," the Byrds' "Feel A Whole Lot Better." Those only knowing Rivers from Disc One's hits will be pleasantly surprised: he's in fine voice and in full command of songs he's loved and built his career around.

That career, left Rivers painfully short of superstardom but with 30 million records sold and many memorable hits. He crossed paths with seminal figures and events like Alan Freed, the Monterey Pop festival, the songs of Jimmy Webb and even country-rockers like the Eagles and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Rivers wrote and recorded with extended members of those groups). If he doesn't make Rock and Roll's Hall of Fame, Johnny Rivers should be hired as a curator; "Secret Agent Man" shows him a first-class steward of classic American rock and roll.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Artist, Great Anthology!, September 18, 2006

By 

John A. Gregorio (Castalian Springs, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secret Agent Man: The Ultimate Johnny Rivers Anthology 1964-2006 (Audio CD)

I know some people are dedicated to the previous anthology on Rhino, but this anthology is just as good in its choice of songs. The key factor is Johnny Rivers.
In all "periods" of his musical career he has produced great music. From Chuck Berry's "Memphis" to the Lennon-McCarthy "I'll be Back." He just gets better with age.
The sound of the early tracks is much improved over the old 45's which I originally owned. I have never regretted the demise of vinyl as the main course of music.
If you haven't heard much of Johnny Rivers I highly recommend this anthology. Even if you have heard all the songs this is a great collection to have.