Search - Shirelles, THE :: The Best Of The Shirelles

Appealing to My Base

Giordano Bruno | Wherever I am, I am. | 10/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Thank you. Thank YOU. THANK you. It's so good of you all to turn out in force like this. You know, as your candy date for vise-president with the Metamorphic Party, I have to make sure you all realize that I'm just an ordinary small town guy, a drum major in my high school marching band, champion bluegill scaler, and Girl Scout cookie eater. These four young ladies, the Shirelles, were my heart-throbs when I was seventeen. They came to my home town to give a concert in the Oddfellows Hall; I played alto sax in the warm-up band for them -- Bill Haley covers, mostly. They sure were tight, not like some of the doo-wop quartets on tour who couldn't sing their own harmonies on a live stage. Every time I hear that goldie oldie "Soldier Boy" I choke up, remembering the thrill of getting my own draft card, which i promptly doctored up to show my age as twenty-one.



Now that I've traveled a little in wider musical circles, I've learned a secret, but I'd better warn you it takes a firm faith in reincarnation to accept it. The Shirelles didn't just learn to sing in their junior high music appreciation class. They were actually the soul sisters of four Italian noblewomen who lived in Ferrara in the 16th Century and who sang exactly the same kind of love songs, in Italian of course, in close harmony just like doo-wop only they called it "madrigals", with lyrics about broken hearts and false promises. So naturally, the second time around, they had to be better than the average "girl group" and they were. They were mighty cute, too."

The Shirelles--one of the best girl groups ever !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/14/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Best Of The Shirelles has fantastic hits by this very famous girl group. The Shirelles enjoyed great popularity because they were just so good; they could take a song or ballad and inject so much passion and energy into it that you could never forget it. I could swear I'm listening to pure silk when I hear them sing! The quality of the sound on this album is nothing short of excellent; and I like that artwork, too.



The CD starts off with these most talented ladies performing a huge hit for them entitled "Will You Love Me Tomorrow." "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" makes good use of the strings and they never miss a beat! "Dedicated To The One I Love" is a ballad so many couples could identify with when they had to be apart; and "Mama Said" still rings true all these years later. In addition, "Soldier Boy" was one of then biggest hits The Shirelles ever had; and just one listen will tell you why they went so far with this ballad--it's absolutely wonderful!



"Baby It's You" has a rock flavor with a touch of soul and even pop to make this a magical tune; I really like "Baby It's You." "Everybody Loves A Lover" sports that early rock and roll flavor with a touch of soulful pop that makes it absolutely irresistible. "Everybody Loves A Lover" is truly a major highlight of this album. "What A Sweet Thing That Was" has a fine musical arrangement that accompanies these women faultlessly; this works very well. "Big John (Ain't You Gonna Marry Me)" also has that classic Shirelles sound to it; The Shirelles deliver this like the champs they always were and still remain.



"Stop The Music" makes good use of the strings and the guitar work is also very well done; but of course it's The Shirelles who are in the spotlight; the music never drowns them out. "Welcome Home Baby" is very sweet and pretty; and I love to hear The Shirelles singing "Boys." "Boys" gets a very spirited treatment from The Shirelles and that's grand.



"Maybe Tonight" has some mighty fine percussion and The Shirelles deliver this with all their might; they truly put their hearts and souls into "Maybe Tonight." "I Saw A Tear" is very soulful. "Look A Here Baby" has great key modulations to make this tune a standout--just listen and you'll be just as charmed as I was when I first heard this! The Shirelles also make good on "Tonight You're Gonna Fall In Love With Me." The CD also ends strong with The Shirelles performing "It's Love That Really Counts." "It's Love That Really Counts" has great harmonizing and that percussion is terrific.



Few girl groups could ever hope to match the quality of the work that The Shirelles turned out on such a consistent basis. The Shirelles will always remain one of the best 1960s girl groups; and I highly recommend this for their fans. It's also the perfect starter CD for anyone just discovering the magical artistry of The Shirelles.

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