The British Invasion: History of British Rock, Vol. 5

Various Artists - Rock - Classic, The British Invasion (Rhino Series)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 24, 1991)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000032EH
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #99,087 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dazzling sound quality, Insightful docomentation, and a Rari, August 2, 2000

By	dev1 (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

There's little point in telling you if "The British Invasion (The History of British Rock)" is "good" or "bad." That would be pretty silly: you're quite capable of reading the track list for yourself, and making that determination. What you will find with each of these discs is exceptional audio quality, superb packaging and documentation, and an historical musical surprise.

Similar compilations are available in grocery and drug stores, and also from TV ads for five or six bucks each. As usual, one gets what one pays for, and these "budget" discs are usually unrecognizable "B" sides: the sound quality is atrocious. On the other hand, the audio quality of the Rhino compilations is stunning. Remastered by Bill Inglot and Ken Perry, it is difficult to believe that these recordings are more than thirty-years old. Rhino does a remarkable job of combing recording libraries for first-rate master tapes, then engineering these recordings to CD. I have yet to be disappointed with a Rhino "oldies but goodies" release. The sonics are immaculate - like hearing some of your favorites for the first time.

Also, each disc is packaged in a jewel case with a complete and interesting history of the songs presented: information included is the artist, composer and release date.

The surprise of "The British Invasion" is that several tracks from each disc did not, repeat did not "invade" America. Some songs "charted" in the UK, but failed to make the Top-100 in America. For collectors of British popular music, it is fascinating to note the difference between British and American tastes. The "odd" tracks may not have entered Billboard's Top-100, but there not "throwaway" either. Dazzling sound quality, insightful documentation, and a few "rarities." In my book, that ain't too shabby.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What are you guys complaining about? This disc is great..., June 17, 2000

By	Jeff Pearlman (Lakeland, FL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Actually this whole series is awesome. Looking at Vol. 5 in particular, though, I'm seeing 4 U.S. #1 hits, by the Tornados, Pet Clark, the Mindbenders, and Donovan. Pretty diverse. Rhino circumvents Capitol's oppressive licensing restrictions to bring us 2 hard-to-find, early Beatles singles recorded for other labels. (The other reviewers are right, however. Using Ringo's pic is misleading since he wasn't in the group then.) There are goodies by the three grand dames of British rock--Pet, Dusty Springfield (get her solo albums too), and Lulu. For pure rock classicism, if there is such a thing, there are 2 (count 'em) by Them. That's Van Morrison to most of us (but the drummer on "Gloria," likely Patrick McAuley, deserves equal credit). And the Moody Blues, before they went all symphonic, with "Go Now!", which they left off their first twelve greatest hits albums. You know you need "It's Not Unusual", kitsch of the highest order and I think the only Tom Jones hit on this whole series. One of the long-term pleasures of this series is the one- and two-hit wonders like Georgie Fame, the Bachelors, and the Big Three. In all seriousness, these make the series invaluable. True pop music fans should be buying the Beatles, Stones, and Who albums separately anyway; those groups' absences leave room for the lost classics that Rhino specializes in preserving on discs like this one. This mix of melodic rock and pop and, umm, Chad and Jeremy needs to be owned by everyone.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a mixed bag, but.., December 29, 1999

By	"[e-mail]" (Oakley, KS USA) - See all my reviews

In 1988, Rhino released four volumes of the British Invasion. These were great (even w.o. the Beatles, Stones, DC5 and early Animals), and probably led to this expansion to 9 volumes. Actually, Volume 5 is the weakest of the lot, and IS all over the map. But it does compile some great sides, and there ARE unfamiliar/undiscovered jems: "Shout" by Lulu, "Before and After" by Chad & Jeremy, "I Think Of You" by the Merseybeats, "Everything's Allright" by the Mojosm and "Yeh,Yeh" by Georgie Fame. If you're really interesteed in 60s British pop, you'll want to hear these, and I guarantee you'll have a hard time finding these elsewhere.

I highly reccomend the first four volumes of this series; I would give each of them 5 stars. Get those first. But if you're really into British pop, you'll want this, despite the inclusion of a dud like My Bonnie by Tony Sheridan (with "those guys"). Have to believe that this was a sin committed to have the Beatles included in the series. Greedy Capital wasn't going to let Rhino lease any of THEIR material. Also, the next four volumes improve on this one.