Description
Label Review.
The Hit Sound Of (with 5 bonus tracks), Sing (with 9 bonus tracks) & Roots (with 7 bonus tracks).
Our Overview.
With an Americana music pedigree born of their Appalachia roots The Everly Brothers ably crossed over from the pop charts to the country music charts during their hit-making heyday. During the mid sixties however they suffered a lean spell for commercial success all the while trying to update their sound. This box set focusses on the following period from November 1966 – November 1968 when the Everlys recorded mostly in Los Angeles rather than Nashville with the duo searching for a musical direction. Eventually achieving a musical cohesiveness with the release of ‘Roots’.
Disc 1 presents the ‘The Hit Sound’ album, recorded from December 1966 onwards, with contemporary rock’n’roll and pop covered in Everlys harmony style updated with the cream of the LA session crew including Glen Campbell, Larry Knechtel, Ray Pohlman, Hal Blaine.
Disc 2 presents the ‘Sing’ album, the Everlys and their label Warner’s response to the prevailing ‘youthquake’ band sound straddling the transatlantic. On the album are songs by The Buckinghams, Patrick Campbell Lyons and Procul Harum.
Disc 3 presents the ‘Roots’ album, pieced together from the LA sessions at studios like Goldstar, conducted by Lenny Waronker during April-September 1968, with the ace studio musicians known as ‘The Wrecking Crew’ aided by Van Dyke Parks and James Burton. The Everlys took the chance to pay homage to their country roots with songs by contemporary country writers Merle Haggard, Glen Campbell, George Jones as well as more from their own pen. Unreleased tracks include compositions by Neil Young and Dolly Parton.
Tracklisting:
Disc One (The Hit Sound Of): Blueberry Hill / Movin’ On / Devil’s Child / Trains And Boats And Planes / Sea Of Heartbreak / Oh, Boy! / (I’d Be A) Legend In My Time / Let’s Go Get Stoned / Sticks And Stones / The House Of The Rising Sun / She Never Smiles Anymore / Good Golly, Miss Molly // Bonus Tracks: Even If I Hold It In My Hand (Hard Luck Story) (Take 2) / When Eddie Comes Home / Nothing But The Best / A Little Bit Of Crazy / Bowling Green (Demo)
Disc Two (Sing): Bowling Green / A Voice Within / I Don’t Want To Love You / It’s All Over / Deliver Me / Talking To The Flowers / Mary Jane / I’m Finding It Rough / Do You / Somebody Help Me / A Whiter Shade Of Pale / Mercy, Mercy, Mercy // Bonus Tracks: Love Of The Common People / You’re Just What I Was Looking For Today / My Elusive Dreams / Lord Of The Manor / Love With Your Heart / Love With Your Heart (Version 2) / It’s My Time / Empty Boxes / Milk Train
Disc Three (Roots): The Everly Family (1952) / Mama Tried / Less Of Me / T For Texas / I Wonder If I Care As Much / Ventura Boulevard / Shady Grove / Illinois / Living Too Close To The Ground / You Done Me Wrong / Turn Around / Sing Me Back Home / Montage: The Everly Family (1952)/Shady Grove/Kentucky // Bonus Tracks: Lady Anne (Vsn 2) / Shop Girl / Human Race (Mix 1) / Omaha / Mr Soul (Mix 1) / Down In The Bottom (Aka Meet Me In The Bottom) (Mix 1) / In The Good Old Days (Mix 1)