Excellent compilation / sampler
R. Riis | NY | 02/25/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"A 1998 compilation from Spain. Not a best-of, per se, but an excellent collection of FD's splendid harmony work and often stunning arrangements that leans toward pop covers. Track listing : California Dreamin', If I Were a Carpenter, Ronda Go 'Round, Canada in Springtime, Windows of the World, Where Do I Go, 59th Street Bridge Song, Quartet No. 6 in D Minor, You Are My Sunshine, Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, Make the Madness Stop, The Proper Ornaments, Michelle, Ivy on a Windy Day, Tomorrow Is the First Day of the Rest of My Life, Little Cowboy, Memories, Stay, Pineapple Crabapple, Can You Tell Me How to Get to Sesame Street? No booklet, but the inside of the digipak gives release dates and original LP information."
Leave your umbrella at home
W. Davidson | Melbourne, Australia | 01/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Raindrops compiles songs from a number of Free Design LPs ('You Could Be Born Again', 'Songs For Very Important People', 'Heaven/Earth', 'One By One' and others released around 1968 -1970). There's originals and also a bunch of covers in the distinctive FD style (just as identifiable as say Nino and April or The Carpenters, for example). Everything's great, I love what they do to California Dreamin (giving it an major energy boost) and Feelin' Groovy has rarely sounded better. They more than do justice to Bacharach (Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head, Dionne Warwick's Windows of the World) plus there's a great version of The Beatles Michelle.You are My Sunshine is the best version ever recorded and Pineapple Crabapple would simply be a great title if it wasn't such a cool song. By gum, they even cover Billy Strange! Packaging is beautiful as you may well expect from the classy folks at Siesta!"
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1