The Complete Liberty Singles Set

Gary Lewis & the Playboys captured my imagination back in junior high. I bought all the LPs and have bought a few re-releases of their music. This is the third compilation I have after the "Legendary Masters Series" and the "Complete" Gary Lewis discs. Surprisingly, Collectors Choice has brought something new. The two B-sides for "This Diamond Ring" were not tracks I'd previously heard. Liner notes relate how the original "Hard to Find" instrumental was replaced by the in-house "Tijuana Wedding" to save royalties. The hits sound fresh here from the addictive "Count Me In" to the single I wore out, "Save Your Heart for Me," "When the summer moon is on the rise & you're dancing under starlit skies, please don't let the stars get in your eyes." "Green Grass" never fails to bring forward hopeful emotions and "The Loser" rocks hard. On the second disc, "Mister Memory" sounds like a missed opportunity since it is a great song that was not released as a single. Although Gary Lewis & the Playboys time to record was over five years after it began, they produced an amazing quantity of music that made a joyful noise. I find myself popping the discs in the changer every few months, still striking a chord I want to hear. Enjoy!

For a more thorough review of this first-rate CD compilation, please read hyperbolium's entry here. If that doesn't make you want to order your copy today, nothing will.I simply want to share this with you: We're well into the digital age now, and I'm always updating my collection with better-sounding (i.e., thoughtfully remastered) CDs. Over the years I've purchased two or three GL&TP compilations, including EMI's single-disc "Legendary Masters Series" comp released in 1990. Until now, that CD pretty much remained the benchmark in terms of overall sound quality and track selection. This new double-disc set blows that one and every other GL&TP compilation out of the water.Look, I know some music junkies out there have an aversion to mono mixes, particularly if those folks did not first hear a particular song over AM radio back in the day or buy 45-rpm singles to pop onto their record players. (And I will admit to preferring stereo over mono in a general sense, at least when I listen to music through headphones -- which isn't very often.) But the remastering on this compilation is SO good that I would imagine even the most diehard stereo fans would have to believe their ears. These songs -- so many of them bona fide Top 40 classics -- jump right out of the speakers and fill the room. The musicianship, arrangements, and production values on these tracks are second to none.Add in the excellent liner notes (featuring insightful quotes from many of the principals involved in these recordings, as well as several full-color 45 picture sleeves reproduced for the booklet), songwriter credits, and Billboard chart positions, and this GL&TP compilation is the one to own and enjoy. (And please, crank up the volume! Yeah, I know it'll send your dogs and cats running for cover, but your speakers need exercise.)As someone who heard these songs the first time around more than 40 years ago, I can safely say this compilation does them justice.

Gary Lewis, son of a clown, and his band made a dozen hit singles, which were surprisingly good. They are contained in this two-disc set, along with many other good songs. If you like this group, this collection may be all you need.

This collection is all mono, exactly like the 1960s singles and sounds great, unless you require the stereo album versions. If your memories of this material is from the 45s or what you heard on the radio, this is the package for you. All of the original master tapes used for the 45s were resurrected, dusted off, and digitally remastered. Highly recommended!

Minor surface feature on one disc, but it plays just fine. Arrived with case broken but discs and papers in great shape.

Excellent collection with outstanding sound in mono. Package is a first class production complete with detailed history of hits. I saw Gary Lewis in the "Happy Together Tour" (earlier this year) in Peoria and he sounded great in concert. Anyway, these are the original hit singles that started it all on my tiny zenith 9 transistor pocket radio way back when... A MUST HAVE COLLECTION !!!

I've been a fan of Gary Lewis & The Playboys since their first single many years ago. Over the years I had bought their LP's & Singles on vinyl. It's great to see a well made CD come out with all the singles. For those that are not completists or need every cover version of a song from their LP's, then this set is all you need.

The most complete and best sounding Gary Lewis CD out there.The A & B sides of every single,in MONO-the way they were meant to be heard!--The stereo mixes--for the most part are really weird & off-balance--the exception being the Two-fer of the first two albums,that was remixed from the various 'stage tapes'.-Some of the same mixes appeared on the previously best Gary Lewis CD-EMI Legendary Masters-that one is all stereo.Musically,what can I say? I love this stuff!!!!---Excellent mid 60s pop,played some of the greatest musicians ever!(ie:'The Wrecking Crew').

When I was around 14 the local record shop ( remember them ?) had a large display in the window featuring Gary Lewis & The Playboys first album "This Diamond Ring" and also the single of the same name. I was attracted to a few of the songs (mostly covers) on the album but didn't have enough money to buy it. A few months later the record department of a large department store (Lewis's) in Glasgow had a copy of the album they were selling, minus the cover. for a more reasonable 10/- (ten shillings). I bought it. The whole album sounded a little bit light-weight; but was high on "feel good" and very melodic, This was in the days before I understood about dual tracking and sometimes musicians on the cover not playing on albums. I was impressed enough to pick up other Gary Lewis items as and when I found them in the deletion bins.I still have the vinyl but to now have all the US Liberty singles (many of which were not ussued in the UK) together in one package is great. It would be wrong to say they sounded just like I remembered them on the radio back in the 60s, because, as far as I am aware, very few were actually were played on the air..This album scores heavily on many counts. The songs; including many of the B sides are very strong. They are all well produced and performed. Gary isn't the strongest of vocalists but dual tracking works wonders.Very enjoyable set - First class.

I've been accused of having bought The Complete Liberty Singles set out of a sense of nostalgia. Guilty as charged: I was a preteen back in the late 1960's and had a particular affinity for much of the Bubble Gum pop hits of the time. Although GL&TP aren't usually classified as Bubblegum I think their music anticipated the Bubblegum Wave and would seamlessly fit into a compilation CD with the likes of Ohio Express, 1910 Fruitgum Company, Tommy James and the Shondells, Tommy Roe, The Cufflinks, The Archies, and The Monkees.But nostalgia isn't the only reason.What's the common denominator in all these Bubblegum bands? A producer driven sound backed by competent studio musicians. In the case of Gary Lewis & The Playboys, the creative power was Snuff Garrett and his buddies who made up the Wrecking Crew. Under Garett's direction, Jerry Lewis' son, Gary the drummer, became the lead vocalist and centrepiece of the band. Some drumming lessons by Buddy Rich and studio magic in the form of double tracked vocals shored up the weak points and a pretty good garage band became a group with some pretty well known hits.The music snobs won't get it. That's fine. But if you're a fan of GL&TP's and remotely interested in pop music history you might find that this compilation has a lot more to offer than just nostalgia.

65年〜68年辺りをピークに活躍した典型的なアメリカ産Pop-Rockのバンドでした。ゲリーは俳優ジェリー・ルイスの息子で親の七光りでのデビュー、それでもデビューシングルに関わっているのが若き日のレオン・ラッセルやアル・クーパー、おまけにバックは友達バンドと言うよりもハリウッド辺りの腕利きミュージシャン達と言うこともあってか｢恋のダイアモンドリング｣でNo.1デビューを果たして、後はとんとん拍子にスマッシュ･ヒットを重ねて行った人気バンドでした。本作はそんな彼等のヒストリーを伝えるもので、初期のビッグ･ヒッツを網羅しており、あの時代を懐かしむお年寄りには十分なクオリティーを持ったアルバムです。ポイントは懐かしむ事、今の若い人がこの音を聞いてもRockだとは思いますまい。これはPopであり、我々と同世代のアメリカの男性ロック･ファンからは風船ガム音楽だと揶揄された音かもしれません。でも、懐かしさを感じられるポップス･ファンにはたまらなく愛おしい響きでもあるのです。｢Count me in｣｢She's just my style｣｢Loves a clown｣｢Green grass｣｢Save your heart｣｢Sure gonna miss her｣等々のヒット曲は僕らの時代にとっては永遠の歌声かもしれません。ゲリー、何時までも元気で頑張ってください。