Customer Reviews

The Very Best of The Bachelors

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

 

 

This Irish trio had a number of UK top ten hits (and a smaller run of minor US hits) in the mid-sixties with close-harmony beat remakes of mostly pre-rock-era hits. The formula varied little, which makes this collection pall after a while, but for dipping in here and there it works quite nicely. The liner notes by Ian Whitcomb are informative. Tracks :
1. Charmaine
2. Whispering
3. Diane (I'm In Heaven When I See You Smile)
4. I Believe
5. Ramona
6. I Wouldn't Trade You For The World
7. No Arms Can Ever Hold You (Like These Arms Of Mine)
8. Marie
9. In The Chapel In The Moonlight
10. The Sound Of Silence
11. Love Me With All Of Your Heart
12. Walk With Faith In Your Heart

In my review of The Bachelors' CD Charmaine I deduct one star for the omission of one of their nine charted North American hits - Can I Trust You? - which made it to # 12 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 49 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in summer 1966. Varèse-Sarabande omits the same hit in this compilation, which means it can only be found (so far) in an expensive import collection. Also missing is their final North American hit, Learn To Live Without You, which reached # 28 AC early in 1968.

Their other eight North American hits are, however, included, along with the U.K. smash hits Charmaine [# 6 in 1963], Whispering [# 18 in 1963], Ramona [# 4 in 1964], and The Sound Of Silence [# 3 in 1966 and which, as the excellent liner notes tell you, outpaced the Simon & Garfunkel original in that part of the world].

A complete discography of the contents appears on the reverse, and with the liner notes are several excellent photographs of the Dublin trio, along with reproductions of some posters promoting a few of their releases.

Six Top 40 North American hits for a would-be harmonica group which discovered they had a nice, mellow vocal sound, and in an era where few non-R&R artists could find room on the charts, is a pretty good legacy. Well worth the price.

The harmony here is BEAUTIFUL. Originally a barbershop trio in 1958,
then known as The Harmony Cords, these lads regularly performed at the local venues in Dublin.
Their reinventing of some 1920's movie theme songs, along with some classics,
evolved into a pocket of very enjoyable easy listening music during the mist of the British Invasion.
During the three years from 1964 to 1967, the Bachelors had 9 beautiful songs on the U.S.A. pop chart.
Eight of those nine are here, NO B-sides.

All original recordings, this collection is just as enjoyable and fresh today as in the 60's.
Their unison of rich harmonies make this collection timeless.

The track listing gives the chart numbers for both the U.S.A. and the U.K.
The cover is a nice 6 page booklet with a career overview, and some black & white photo's.
Produced by Varese Sarabande in 2002, this all Stereophonic collection has excellent sound.

Bachelors were an Irish vocal trio that skirted the early/mid 1960's Brit Invasion to US Top 40. They were of a "Trad Fab" vocal, liked by mums and dads and had Decca UK behind them. They reached US Top 40 by covering pop classics like "Charmaine" and "Diane". Purely vocal, and retro-sounding '50's like Ames Bros, 4 Freshmen, etc,,the Bachelors squeezed into the charts between Beatles Animals Dave Clark 5 and left a grin. As it happened, a latter day '60's vocal group, The Happenings took a clue and made Top 40 hits with older songs like, "My Mammy" and "I Got Rhythm". Maybe, The Bachelors should be RnR Hall of Fame! Nah, but lot's o' fun...

This is a fine CD of Bachelors. It includes a booklet that is informative and respectful. It is less fun than listening to the CD.

I barely remembered the Bachelors rendition of "Diane" until I heard it again at a friends home. I had to get their album; their harmony is so beautiful. My husband and I just love the other songs on their album. I am so glad I ordered it.

Debbie