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Pop Music: Golden Era 1951-1975
Various Artists
Pop Music: Golden Era 1951-1975
Genres: Dance & Electronic, Country, Blues, Folk, Jazz, Pop, R&B, Rock, Soundtracks, Classic Rock, Metal, Broadway & Vocalists
 
  •  Track Listings (27) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (24) - Disc #2

Home of the Columbia and Epic labels, CBS Records (now Sony Music) was late getting into the rock & roll game, despite issuing some classic '50s R&B singles on the subsidiary OKeh. Corporate aversion to the music w...  more »

     
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Home of the Columbia and Epic labels, CBS Records (now Sony Music) was late getting into the rock & roll game, despite issuing some classic '50s R&B singles on the subsidiary OKeh. Corporate aversion to the music was largely due to Mitch "Sing Along with Mitch" Miller, the A&R head whose philistine bent helped run Frank Sinatra from the company in 1952, shortly before he revived his career at Capitol with some of the greatest American music ever recorded. Not surprisingly, the The Golden Era volume of Sony's massive Soundtrack for a Century project is a mixed bag. Pre-Elvis gems such as Sinatra's "Birth of the Blues" sit alongside unforgivable schlock by Miller and the Four Lads before rock & roll-based pop finally shakes things up. With everyone from Dylan and the Yardbirds to the Cyrkle ("Red Rubber Ball") and the Looking Glass ("Brandy [You're a Fine Girl]") on hand, these two CDs are a mishmash, but highly representative of what CBS had to offer Top 40 once it realized Buddy Greco (not included) wasn't the future. --Rickey Wright

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CD Reviews

Two CDs of great pop music that STILL shines brightly !!!
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/10/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pop Music: The Golden Era 1951-1975 is a strong two CD set that contains wonderful pop music numbers from 1951 to 1975. There are really quite a lot of great tunes here; and the sound quality will not disappoint you. The artwork is very nicely done as well.



The first CD begins with Frank Sinatra performing a sublime rendition of "Birth Of The Blues;" Frank adds a few lines at the beginning to put his own stamp on this ballad and when Frank goes into the main lyrics of the song it really takes off like a jet! The horns sound great on "Birth Of The Blues," too. There's also the great Rosemary Clooney doing one of my very favorite pop tunes entitled "Come On-A My House;" that keyboard work fits in great--I believe it's an organ and this works so well as Rosemary never misses a beat. There's also Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads performing a huge Johnnie Ray hit entitled "Cry." "Cry" really showcases just how well Johnnie could deliver a ballad with heart, soul and true passion; this always stuns me with its beauty. It tugs at my heartstrings, too!



Doris Day sings one of her signature songs, "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)." Doris' voice is as clear as a bell and "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)" is a wonderful highlight of this two CD set. Listen for Andy Williams to sing "Moon River" with panache; this always amazes me! In addition, the first CD also has Tony Bennett singing "I Left My Heart In San Francisco" to perfection and beyond; and Barbra Streisand gives us a stunning interpretation of a classic hit, "People." "People" really lets Barbra open up and display the operatic qualities of her voice--it's wonderful.



The second CD continues the hits. The Byrds do their incredible `60s rock tune entitled "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season);" they harmonize so well and it's beautifully done. There's also a great performance by Scott McKenzie, who sings "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" with a whole lot of feeling. "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" uses hand-clapping as a type of percussion that also helps to mark the beat--how creative! I love this tune by Scott. Moreover, "You've Made Me So Very Happy" by Blood, Sweat & Tears combines a soft rock style with a smooth jazz flavor to make this number very strong; I could never forget this awesome number. Simon and Garfunkel also do a timeless, moving ballad that was so well associated with them; "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is a very tender love song that never fails to move me with its beauty.



Looking Glass does good on "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl);" this tune tells the story of a young woman who wants love from one of the sailors who come to port where she works--but, sadly, she doesn't get what she wants. "Brandy (You're A Fine Girl)" is easily a highlight of this two CD set. Billy Swan's "I Can Help" is infectiously catchy and Billy sings this brilliantly--what a great voice he had! In addition, Labelle does a great job with "Lady Marmalade" even if the French isn't always translated correctly!



Fans of pop music would do well to consider this two CD set. It's constructed in such a way that even the tunes you don't know will entertain you a lot. I am baffled as to why this is currently out of print; and I hope that changes soon.

"
Great sampling of pop music!
F. Lowell | Highland Mills, NY USA | 06/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a great mixed bag of pop music from the 50's through the mid-70's. Like any collection, it is missing many pieces that you or I might have chosen to include, but let's face it...there is so much music to choose from and a limted number of songs that can fit on 2 CDs! Keep in mind too that if some of your favorite stars are missing, it is probably because they did not record for labels that today fall under the umbrella of Sony Music...essentially, these are all artists who recorded for Columbia or Epic.This entire series "A Soundtrack for a Century" is a great opportunity to obtain some of the best songs of the 20th century as well as some very obscure ones...seek out the entire series and buy those volumes that appeal to you!"