Fantastic box set of hits geared toward the casual fan...
Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 05/06/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Pop Parade: Hits of the '40's,'50's,60's is a very solid three CD set that works best as an introduction to the musical hits of the time. Unfortunately, it cannot be complete as each CD only has so much space for music; so this might be good for people who want a retrospective without delving into the lesser known tunes of that era even if those lesser known tunes are very good. This, therefore, is an excellent CD set for the casual fan or people who want a basic, entry-level overview of huge pop hits from back in the day.
Glenn Miler and His Orchestra start things off strong with their awesome "In The Mood." This is great swing and this is still good for dancing even today! The Ink Spots do a magnificent job on "I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire;" despite some surface noise this song is very pretty and The Ink Spots never miss a beat--they sound wonderful. The McGuire Sisters do a smash-up job on "Something's Gotta Give;" and the immortal Judy Garland does her best on "Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart." Judy's voice when she was very young is simply the best I've ever heard. Listen also for Eileen Barton's very famous "If I Knew You Were Comin' (I'd Have Baked A Cake);" this number has a great Dixieland style musical interlude and Eileen's voice is rich, warm and vibrant. Kitty Kallen's "Little Things Mean A Lot" is also a major highlight of this first CD.
The second CD continues the hits. Paul Anka's "Puppy Love" explores the angst of young love and puppy love; this touching melody always tugs at my heartstrings. "16 Candles" by The Crests is another excellent number; they sing and play this number flawlessly. The Crests don't always get the recognition they deserve; but hopefully that will change. In addition, there's The Skyliners doing a marvelous job on their "Since I Don't Have You." "Since I Don't Have You" is very sweet and it's another major highlight of this album. Rosemary Clooney also weighs in with a fantastic rendition of "Botch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina);" I love it! The Flamingos end the second CD with their awesome "I Only Have Eyes For You;" this very romantic number always makes me smile--it's THAT good.
The third CD has more recent hits. Andy Williams sings "Moon River" with panache and much grace; his excellent diction helps his performance along nicely. Peggy Lee's "Big Spender" features her incredible voice front and center--and that's OK by me! Listen also for Robert Goulet to make good on his excellent rendition of "The Impossible Dream;" Robert always sang this song so well and he shows off the operatic qualities of his voice on this number. Robert Goulet also sings a sublime interpretation of "If Ever I Would Leave You;" this stuns me with its beauty and I'm very impressed. Andy Williams also sings "Happy Heart" to perfection--and how's about that fine musical arrangement? Listen also for Jack Jones on "Wives And Lovers;" this is a great `60s hit that still shines like gold today. The third CD ends with the great Perry Como performing "It's Impossible;" this was a huge hit for Perry toward the end of his career and his rendition is THE definitive rendition of "It's Impossible."
Overall, this is a fine CD box set for casual fans or anyone who wants an entry level introduction to pop music from the 1940s through the 1960s. Diehard fans will want much, much more than can be found on both individual CDs and other box sets of CDs available for sale on this website.
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The Pop Parade: Hits of the '40's, '50's, '60's
Betsy Fischer | Greenville, PA | 10/13/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This 3 disc CD album contained a good representation from each era. Something for everyone for a trip down
memory lane.
This would be great for high school reunions or just your listening pleasure. It was well worth the investment."
Track Listings (19) - Disc #1