Search - Various Artists :: History of British Rock 7

Delicious Ear Candy

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 03/27/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Taken individually, Rhino's excellent British Invasion series seems like it would have a limited market. If, however, like me (and countless other Baby Boomers who see this music as the soundtrack to our adolescence), you are looking for an eclectic cross-section of British Invasion rock, then buy as many of these volumes as you can while Rhino still holds the license to these songs and keeps them in print.There are familiar Top 40 hits: Donovan's "Mellow Yellow," Dusty Springfield's "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me," the Hollies' "Carrie-Anne," and the Tremeloes' "Silence Is Golden." There are other hits that rarely get anthologized: the Easybeats' "Friday on My Mind," Los Bravos' "Black Is Black," the Walker Brothers' "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" and the New Vaudeville Band's "Winchester Cathedral."And because this is a History of British Rock (and not just British rock that were big hits in America), you get "Smashed! Blocked" by John's Children (which did not yet boast Marc Bolan as a member), the Small Faces' UK No. 1 "All or Nothing" and Wayne Fontana (minus the Mindbenders) on his solo UK hit "Pamela, Pamela." [The inclusion of Chad and Jeremy's "Teenage Failure" seems a bit odd only in that the duo had only one hit in their native England--"Yesterday's Gone"--and then moved to Hollywood. Granted, Chad and Jeremy were (and are) still British, but "Teenage Failure" was not a hit on either side of the Atlantic. (It's a pleasant enough song, but I sense that sometimes Rhino's hands are tied by the licensing agreements they can arrange.)]Overall, this album makes for enjoyable listening and is guaranteed to bring back fond memories. RECOMMENDED"

One of the best in the series.

Steve Vrana | 05/03/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first two tracks alone make this cd worth owning...I haven't seen them anywhere else and they are great!"

Jonathan King In Stereo

Joe Hamilton | 08/01/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Once again, Rhino comes through with a superb collection. For whatever reason, "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" by Jonathan King is very hard to find in stereo, while finding a CD with that song in mono is almost too easy. Rhino negotiated the rights to the stereo version, and it for me is the highlight of this out of print compilation. A must for any British Invasion fan!"