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America's Greatest Hits 1962
Various Artists
Styles: America's Greatest Hits
Catalogue Number: ACQCD7057
This release is the latest in the series of “America’s Greatest Hits” which over the years has provided annual collections of the biggest hits of each year in the Billboard pop charts. The collection for 1962 is an excellent value 115-track 4-CD set which includes every record that appeared in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 during the year. Many of the tracks are, inevitably, well-known hits, which went on to score chart success in the UK, but there are no less than 53 tracks which did not make it into the UK charts despite their major US success, including classic tracks by well-known artists alongside more obscure hits by artists that never made any kind of impression in the UK – Barbara George, Don & Juan, The Sensations, Claudine Clark, Dickey Lee, Bent Fabric, Marcie Blane and others. The whole collection is a highly entertaining trawl through the American music scene of the times, a rather different musical experience from listening to our British Hit Parades collections from the UK charts, which naturally feature a high proportion of home-grown talent. It captures the essence of the strands of musical creativity that were active at the time, including early Motown hits from the likes of Mary Wells, The Marvelettes and The Contours, many fine R&B records, plus hits in genres as diverse as teen angst, pure country and complete musical novelties. As ever, it includes comprehensive booklet notes with commentary on every track as well as the distinctive series packaging. It is likely to appeal to the many collectors who enjoy these completest anthologies, and will hopefully provide useful programming for the specialist radio programmes which feature pop nostalgia. |