Spanky & Our Gang - Greatest Hits [Original recording remastered]

Spanky & Our Gang | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B00000K1H5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,151 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Spanky has more hits than misses., November 1, 1999

By 

TexRex96 (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spanky & Our Gang - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

SOME PROS: Finally, a digitally remastered Spanky collection! A mix of broadway-style and cover tunes not found on the 1988 "Greatest Hits" CD really flaunts the incredible diversity and talent of the band. An innovative cover of "Stardust" has a great segue into the eerie bridge of "Like to Get to Know You." And perhaps the best ever showcase of Spanky's vocal talent: A dramatic cover of "Brother Can You Spare a Dime." "Lazy Days" is as ridiculously giddy as ever with it's newly remastered clarity. Good liner notes round out the package (Did you know "Sunday Will Never Be the Same" was first offered to the Mama's and the Papa's?). SOME CONS: The classic studio gab before and after "Sunday Mornin'" has been oddly nixed here. Such memorable tunes as "It's Not Necessarily Bird Avenue," "Three Ways from Tomorrow" and "Commerical" -- all on the last collection -- are missing here, in favor of at least one dud: The title says it all on "Without Rhyme or Reason." And the remastering is a bit inconsistent. "Give a Damn" is now clear as bell, but on other tracks, like "Sunday Mornin'" you won't be able to tell any difference in sound quality from prior versions. CONCLUSION: In the end, it probably should have been a double-CD. But we all know that would have been a tougher sell, and just having the classic tracks remastered with some new variations thrown in is well worth it. Spanky never sounded better. A must-have for any Spanky, Mama's, or 5th Dimension fan.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Under-rated vocal talents from an often-overlooked group..., December 12, 2002

By 

Bryan E. Cummins (Millersville, PA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spanky & Our Gang - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

A nice introduction to one of the more under-rated vocal groups from the '60's. Like other reviewers, I'd like to have seen a 2-disc set, or maybe a box set (wishful thinking, right?)Check out the superior version of "Everybody's Talkin'", and the jazzy "Stardust", which, according to the liner notes, influenced the Manhattan Transfer. Sound quality is also very good. I do miss the very funny "Commercial" from the original greatest hits package, and the hysterical studio chatter on "Sunday Mornin" (The references to Richard Speck and codeine are priceless!)Still, this is well worth purchasing, and serves as a fine introduction to a sorely-missed "gang"

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Where's Suzanne?, May 23, 2003

By 

John Corcoran (SoCal, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spanky & Our Gang - Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

It is a major frustration for a Spanky and Our Gang fan to be forced to shell our [money] to get an import Cd that contains one of their very best songs, Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne." Cohen, a great songwrier, and an acquired taste as a singer, wrote this veritable anthem for the sixties, and it produced at least three brilliant and totally different renditions. Judy Collins had the hit, a straightforward folkie version, perfectly suited for her voice and the general public's taste. Roberta Flack, with the ingenious production/arrangement skills of Deodato, put out a seven minute or so album cut that turns the song into a funky Gospel workout.
And then there was Spanky & Our Gang's version. Utterly different from the first mentioned styles, it had to be heard to be appreciated. Filled with rhythmic shifts, great harmonies, full orchestral backing, and Spanky's soaring, soulful voice, it gave me chills each time I heard it. With the grooves worn off my vinyl copy, I look forward to the day the original Spanky and Our gang's albums are re-released on CD.