Just The Right Sound; The Association Anthology

Association

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 5, 2002)
• Original Release Date: February 19, 2002
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00005Y1Y5
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,207 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #51 in	Music > Pop > By Decade > 1960s
  #80 in	Music > Pop > Oldies > Baroque Pop

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Machine

2. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

3. One Too Many Mornings

4. Forty Times

5. Along Comes Mary

6. Your Own Love

7. Don't Blame It On Me

8. Cherish

9. Standing Still

10. I'll Be Your Man

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Come On In

2. Everything That Touches You

3. Barefoot Gentleman

4. Time For Livin'

5. Birthday Morning

6. Like Always

7. The Time It Is Today

8. Six Man Band (Single Version)

9. Goodbye, Columbus

10. Under Branches

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Music fans couldn't be blamed for thinking the reissue boom had run out of both steam and artistic merit. Then along comes this revealing 51-track double-disc anthology by the Association, much misunderstood purveyors of surprisingly enduring '60s hits such as "Along Comes Mary," "Cherish," "Windy," and "Never My Love." With their roots in the same potent Sunset Strip folk revival that yielded the Byrds and Buffalo Springfield, the Association's music embodied a more formal, pop-conscious wedding of folkie influences and the same affinity for adventurous vocal harmonies that fueled many of Brian Wilson's legendary productions during that epoch. Ironically, it was their very sense of cohesive unity that undermined them at the end of the decade, as more individual talents--and larger egos--came to the fore. But lovers of their rich SoCal pop sense--an ethos an attentive new generation of fans and musicians have perfectly dubbed "sunshine pop"--will find this collection rife with old friends (the aforementioned perennials and lesser hits like "Six Man Band" and "Goodbye, Columbus"), as well as some previously unreleased material, a few key solo outings, and a wealth of unheralded gems like the ambitious "Requiem for the Masses" and vibrant, upbeat tracks like "Come On In" and "Like Always." --Jerry McCulley

Product Description

'Just The Right Sound-The Association Anthology'. This 2 CD set includes 51 tracks released between 1965-1981, including 2 previously unreleased outtakes ('The Machine' & 'Better Times') from 1966 'And Then...Along Comes The Association'. Also includes hard-to-find original single mixes, extensive liner notes written by Dawn Eden, quotes and track notes from band members and tons of rare photos. Rhino Records.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars STILL Not Their Entire Catalog, But It's A Wonderful Start, February 21, 2002

By	Alan Caylow (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I'm a huge, HUGE fan of the Association, and I've already reviewed a few of the Association's other CD's, currently available only as Japanese imports. When closing my review of the band's "Waterbeds In Trinidad" CD, I said that it would be really, really great if some sort of box set or 2-CD anthology retrospective were put out, as I've always been disappointed that most Association fans could only buy the band's "Greatest Hits" CD at their local music stores. Facts are facts: The Association are a fabulous band, having created some of the greatest, most beautiful pop/rock music ever recorded, and yet, most fans only had total access to a mere 13 songs in the band's very impressive catalog of recorded work (seven studio albums worth, in fact, not to mention the "Goodbye Columbus" movie soundtrack, and a double live album). So, it's with great pleasure that I say a hearty THANK YOU to the folks at Warner Bros. & Rhino for this brand-new, 51-song Association anthology set, "Just The Right Sound." Spanning two discs, this set comprises not only the "Greatest Hits" material in it's entirety, with the usual suspects like "Windy," "Cherish," and "Never My Love," but various other amazing tracks from the band's studio albums, as well as rare singles, occasional solo material, and previously unreleased songs, t'boot. Overall, this is a very excellent collection that answers the prayers of many Association fans, myself included.First, the good news--along with all of the hits, "Just The Right Sound" happily contains many songs that I, personally, would've included had *I* had a hand in compiling this set. Disc 1 features their masterful cover of Bob Dylan's "One Too Many Mornings," and other excellent gems like "Standing Still," "Remember," "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies," "Looking Glass," "On A Quiet Night," and "Happiness Is." Right on! Disc 2 features brilliant Association tunes like "Come On In," "Barefoot Gentleman," the breezy theme song to the film "Goodbye Columbus," FIVE songs from the band's self-titled 1969 masterpiece LP, including "Under Branches," "Yes I Will," and "Goodbye Forever," the lovely "Along The Way," and the fine Lovin' Spoonful remake, "Darling Be Home Soon." ALL fantastic songs, ALL greatly appreciated in their inclusion here. (Also, the tracks *sound* great, too, having been digitally remastered.)But there is a disappointment. Naturally, with any anthology set devoted to any one recording act, for every great song included, there's a great song left out. In the case of this Association retrospective, many of the band's greatest tunes are still not represented. My list is too long to mention entirely, but some of the tunes on my Association wish list include "Message Of Our Love," "Angeline," "Wasn't It A Bit like Now," "Rose Petals, Incense & A Kitten," "Toymaker," "So Kind To Me," "Love Affair," "Dubuque Blues," "Funny Kind Of Song," "It's Gotta Be Real," "Midnight Wind," & "Kicking The Gong Around." For these classic Association songs, you can only get them on Japanese import. But DO seek them out, 'cause the CD's these missing songs are contained on are all quite wonderful. Seriously, I don't think these guys *ever* recorded a bad song during their late 60's-early 70's heyday (although their "comeback" material from 1981, as sampled from this set, is certainly listenable, but doesn't quite have that good ol' Association magic of yor).In the meantime, "Just The Right Sound" will do very nicely, indeed. It's not a perfect collection, but all things considered, this is an excellent representation of why this Los Angeles-based group were--and are--so great. If you've been hungry for years for more Association material on CD, now, at last, you've got it. But DO check out those Association CD imports! They're worth every penny, just like this greatly-appreciated anthology set. :-)

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Rhino Reissue Is Amazing!, February 20, 2002

By	Steve Vrana (Aurora, NE) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

It took more than 30 years, but reissue giant Rhino Records has finally satisfied the demands of millions of fans of The Association by updating 1968's Greatest Hits compilation by expanding that album's meager 13 tracks to a whopping 51 tracks over two CDs. [Note: The single version of "No Fair At All" IS on disc-1 despite its omission in the track listing.] Just the Right Sound boasts every single ever issued beginning with 1965's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" on the Jubilee label through 1981's reunion single "Dreamer."

In addition, a heavy dose of album tracks are included from each of their five albums from the Sixties as well as a handful of tracks from their last two albums: 1971's Stop Your Motor and 1972's Waterbeds in Trinidad. There's also a couple of solo tracks ("It'll Take a Little Time," "Pegasus")and two previously unreleased tracks ("The Machine," "Better Times"). Just to give you an idea of how hard it's been to find anything by the Association, 33 of these tracks are on CD for the first time! Among some of the gems seeing the light of day for the first time since their original release are a cover of the obscure Bob Dylan song "One Too Many Mornings" from 1965, and a tribute to songwriter P.F. Sloan from 1972.

For fans who only remember this Southern California band for their lush harmonies on No. 1 hits like "Cherish" and "Windy," this compilation will amaze and astound the listener with the breadth of their sound on mostly original material. If you are a fan of Sixties music, you MUST add this CD to your collection. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last!, March 16, 2002

By	Chuck S. (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Here is another collection which is way overdue. But alas! We finally have "Just the Right Sound". By now, you know all the hits, but if you loved their music in the 60's, there are a number of songs you may not be familiar with that make this collection worthwile. Hear songs like "Forty Times", "I'll Be Your Man", "When Love Comes to Me", "Come On In" and "Birthday Morning" as prime examples. Also, from all of the singles that the Association put out, my favorite was none other than "Pandora's Golden Heebie Jeebies", which is not on the Greatest Hits. It's nice to hear a song that you haven't heard in over 30 years. There are a few songs on the latter part of Disc 2 that I don't care for; but not enough to downgrade to 4 stars. The old orange WB label is used on these discs, and Rhino, who always provides excellent liner notes, is lacking here only in the sense that the lead vocalist for each track is not listed. Everyone in the group sang, and in many cases I can't tell who the lead singer is. Other than that, the liner notes are very informative. TITLE TIME: Yes, "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", IS the same song as the one by Led Zeppelin, although you'd hardly know it. Fortunately, "Yes I Will" is not the song of the same title by the Monkees, Hollies, etc. Those who want to hear some Association music other than the Greatest Hits and opt not to buy any of the Japanese imports should go for this; otherwise wait and see if and when a one-CD abridged version is available.