Customer Reviews

Young Girl: Best of

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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If you love good vocals and solid backing horns as much as the rest of the package, then this album is for you. "Young Girl" was the first single that I ever bought, and still have. All the classics are here. "Woman,Woman, Lady Willpower,Over You etc. Keep the music alive. Sample this album, buy it and share it. Someone special will thank you for it.

In the late fall of 1967 Gary Puckett and the Union Gap came out of nowhere and found themselves with the #4 song on the Billboard Hot 100.
In fact, their debut single "Woman, Woman" would prove to be just the first of 4 Top Ten tunes this San Diego, CA based group would amass over the next ten months. It looked for all the world that Gary Puckett and the Union Gap would be a fixture on Top 40 radio for many years to come. This 2004 Sony release "Young Girl: The Best of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap" appears to be the best collection to date of this important late sixties band.
Following the impressive success of "Woman, Woman" the group scored big with another half dozen hit singles. In fact during 1968 all three of the groups releases would be Top Ten smashes. The groups biggest hit of all was "Young Girl" which peaked at #2 in the Spring 0f 1968. And the hits just kept on coming! Later that year both "Lady Willpower" and my personal favorite "Over You" would be major hits as well. Then in 1969 the rabid interest in the Union Gap began to fade just a bit. The group managed to place a couple of more records in the Top 20 but by 1970 it was all over. Their final charted hit "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance" was not a bad record but only managed to peak at #41 on the Billboard charts. As I recall a lot of people felt that the records sounded too much alike and began to lose interest. After the Union Gap faded from the scene Gary Puckett attempted a career as a solo artist. He was only marginally successful. A pair of his solo releases are included in this collection. Some may recall "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" from 1970 or Gary's version of Paul Simon's "Keep The Customer Satisfied" from 1971. Once again these are really not bad records but the record buying public had apparently decided that Gary Puckett's day had come and gone.
"Young Girl: The Very Best of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap" features a total of 14 tracks by Gary and the gang. These are the original Columbia recordings you would remember from the radio. I am also quite pleased to report that the remastering job done here is first rate. This is a fine collection at a very reasonable price! Recommended.

This cmpilation is simply worthwhile for the crystal clear sound on Young Girl - there are so many weak or even poor samples of this song on cheepo compilations.
Also, check-out the intreagueing version of S & G's Keep the Customer Satisfied. (Could have a few people puzzled at your next BBQ).

Gary Puckett's voice never sounded better!

This 2004 Columbia Legacy CD release, "Young Girl: The Best Of Gary Puckett & The Union Gap", features fourteen tracks and includes all of the group's charted hits.
The biggies included are "Woman, Woman"(#4), "Young Girl"(#2), "Lady Willpower"(#2), "Over You"(#7), "Don't Give In To Him"(#15), and "This Girl Is A Woman Now"(#9). The final charted song, "Let's Give Adam and Eve Another Chance"(#41), is here also.
Two Puckett solo singles make an appearance: "I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself" (#61 in 1970) ; and Paul Simon's "Keep the Customer Satisfied"(#71 in 1971). "Gentle Woman" is an album track from the "Gary Puckett" solo album.
Hard-to-find rarities included are: 45 RPM flip sides "Daylight Stranger" and "Could I"; the unreleased "Looking Glass"; and solo single "Life's Little Ups and Downs".
The singing and production are five star, and yes, all the hits are here with informative liner notes. If that's what you're looking for, you'll be satisfied.
However, there are other collections that go beyond the hits and offer a deeper look into the Gary Puckett & the Union Gap catalog.