British Invasion Volume Eight Gets Psychedelic
03/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This has been a wonderful series by Rhino. Granted the entire series has been loaded down with filler. These songs may have been hits in England, but mean little to an American audience.The entire series could have been condensed to maybe four or five CDs without the filler. On the plus side, some of these songs are gems and it is a treat to be exposed to them. It makes you wonder why they weren't hits on this side of the pond. Voume Eight is filled with such music, much of it with a psychedelic leaning.Among these are Simon Dupree's Kites, Flowers in the Rain by the Move and My White Bicycle by Tomorrow. I'm proud to add these songs to my sixties collection. I cannot say the same for the We are the Moles. What was Rhino thinking?The rest of the volume is made up of familiar tunes from the radio. Pictures of Matchstick Men is a favorite of mine and is a highlight of the CD and keeping in the Psychedelic spirit. The radio version of Cream's Sunshine of your Love also fits in nicely. Two cuts by Procol Harum are here - Conquistador and Whiter Shade of Pale. You may recall the Harum brought full orchestras to rock along with the Moody Blues. The Blues are represented here also with their signature song Nights in White Satin.Eric Burden is featured with his latter day Animals lineup with San Franciscan Nights and When I Was Young. And Love Is All Around by the Troggs is included. It is good to hear after the recent butchering it took in the movie Love Actually.This volume is a hodge-podge really. Most songs featured have a psycedelic edge, but it is clear the series was winding down and Rhino was throwing all it had left into the later volumes. That being said, this is one of my two or three favorites from the series - and I have them all!"
A great hits collection
doug | North Bay, Ontario Canada | 12/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"An excellent shortcut to collecting hits from the 60's. Sound quality is quite good. Can't believe nobody has reviewed this previously. Generaly you can make purchases of Rhino Records productions with confidence."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1