Customer Reviews

The Everly Brothers Sing

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The Everly Brothers were often accused of trying to "sound hip" when they performed or created music in the late 1960s - early 1970s, and why should that be? Some listeners forget just how young they were when they first hit the charts in 1957. Phil was 18, and Don had just turned 20. They were still young men in the late 60s and early 70s. Why wouldn't their music (and hair!) reflect the contemporary times they were living in? Many of the 1960s musicians who followed and were influenced by the Everly Brothers were in the same age bracket as their mentors. Note that Don was born in 1937, Phil in 1939, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones in 1936, John Lennon of the Beatles in 1940, and Eric Burdon of the Animals in 1941.

So why buy "The Everly Brothers Sing" and their later albums? My answer is for the voices ... and to hear recording artists, who may have changed the times, but also allowed themselves to be changed by the times. On this album, the hit, "Bowling Green," Don's solo, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and the reissued "It's All Over" - with Phil singing lead - are all excellent songs. A listener will never find better voices. Both Don and Phil are exceptional lead ... and harmony singers.

If you like mellow psychedelic and sunshine pop from the late 60s', you may find this 1967 offering from the Everly Brothers enjoyable. It is obvious that the Everlys were endeavoring to stay in step with the rapidly evolving music styles of the mid and late 60s, as this album is quite a departure from their previous material. It features the 1967 hit `Bowling Green', a lovely tune that has plenty of happy "ba-ba-ba-ba's" so prevalent in many hit songs from that magical year. I am subtracting two stars from my rating due to the audio quality, which I grade as a C+. For example, `Bowling Green' is distorted such that the bass and flutes sound "grainy or scratchy", and there is also hum. I have this tune on a various artists CD titled, `Sunshine Days Vol. 4' with no such distortions. It is obvious that Collector's Choice did not cull these recordings from the best sources. But I am grateful to Collector's Choice for re-issuing this fine album.

The Everly Brothers were during the 1960's very succesful at reading and following current trends. Although their releases were of varying quality their fine vocal work was usually put into a meaningful and contemporary context.

"The Everly Brothers Sing" from 1967 is probably the closest brothers got to recording a pop-psych album, with "Turtles" vocals and flower-power arrangements. Five of the album's songs were written by bassist Terry Slater, who comes out as a competent, though not a particularly original songwriter. He is the man behind the album's absolute highlight, the hit-single "Bowling Green ". "Bowling Green" is nicely arranged and besides having a nice catchy melody it is well suited to the brothers' voices. Most of Slater's other songs are arranged in the aforementioned pop-psych style - none of them, however, really succeed manages to stand out. The strongest is probably "Talking To The Flowers".

The brothers temselves have written ithe up-beat pop song "I Do not Want to Love You ", which is very cute, but really not more than that. Don Everly's own "It's All Over" is available here in a remake which does not exceed the original version from "In Our Image ".

Album last three tracks appear somewhat misplaced. They are well-known song from other contexts and stylewise they slightly miss the overall approach of the album.

"Somebody Help Me" is a Spencer Davis hit, which incidentally also is found the brothers' previous album. "A White Shade of Pale" is an honest attempt to give different interpretation of one of that year's big numbers. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" shows great vocal strength and versatility, but it's hardly a genre duo will be remembered for.

Although the album definitely has its moments, it should probably be counted among the brothers' least interesting, which it very tame album title nicely indicates.

I'll agree with others who have reviewed this LP - yes, this is not an essential Everly Brothers album. However, in the CD age [and even then], the last two tracks on the album - A Whiter Shade Of Pale and Mercy, Mercy, Mercy - can be listened to once, then deleted from future playings. Whether as a ten track LP or a ten track mix [ah, the shuffle button - the savior of all uneven albums], this outing by the Brothers somehow works. Sure, they are trying to be 'hip'; but the guitars, harmonies and songs are ambitious and isn't that what an artist should be trying to do? For my money, I'd rather hear them slightly fail, then count on the same old formula and 'oldies' as the previous record released. Their choices definitely fit well with what other vocal groups were doing at the time [see rhino handmades Nuggets CDs as an example]. If anything, it puts the wonderful 'Bowling Green' in the proper context of its time. Give it a deserved listen!

This album reflects The Everly Brother's career being at a absolute low point. Ironically it's the one album of the mid sixties lot (1965-1967) that has the questionable honor of carrying a US hit with the magical 'Bowling Green'. The previous album lacked direction but this album has even more a cash-in grab bag approach to it. After 'Bowling Green' hit the charts the Everly's were rushed into the studio to record some tracks for the upcoming album. The record company was in such a hurry to get product out that 'Somebody Help Me' was picked from Two Yanks In England and added to the tracklist. Terrible. The Everly's had had a minor hit in the UK with Love Of The Common People' and it would've been a positive boost if that song was added to the tracklist instead. Don's It's All Over was re-recorded in an arrangement close to Cliff Richard's because he had scored a hit with it the previous year. The Everly's even try their hand recording some psychedelic songs like Talking To The Flowers and mary Jane, but these songs sound very outdated and forced. On the other hand, A Whiter Shade Of Pale is an absolute delight.
This CD should be bought only by diehard fans who already own everything else. Some of the better tracks of this album are also available on compilation albums.