(3-CD set) If you're a fan of instrumental hits, Complete 60s
Records' first two releases left you speechless! That's because
this exciting new label's historic series Complete Pop
Instrumental Hits of the Sixties doesn't just compile the biggest
hits or rarest rarities. It brings together every single
Billboard Top 100 instrumental hit. If it made the charts, we got
it - rock, soul, jazz, country, orchestral, you name it!
Now, in the wake of the first two volumes - 1960 and 1961 - comes
Complete Pop Instrumental Hits of the Sixties Vol. 3 -1962 which
chronicles perhaps the biggest year ever for instrumentals. In
fact, more than 13% of all Top 100 records in 1962 were
instrumentals, and many were big hits. It was a magic, innocent
time. America was young, bursting with promise, and literally
twisting with energy on the cusp of its most creative, tumultuous
decade - and it showed in the crazy quilt of wordless wonders
that climbed the charts.
Across 227 minutes of music - three CDs, 92 tracks, 55 in stereo,
including 14 CD debuts and dozens of rare tracks - you'll hear
everything from the syncopated jazz of the late, great Dave
Brubeck to the pounding rock of Sandy Nelson to the ultra-smooth
sax of Billy Vaughn. In the realm of today's genized,
synthesized pop, this kind of musical diversity is unthinkable -
and enormously thrilling!
We can't begin to list the highlights (so, see the track list
below), but a few of these cuts are among the most sought-after
collectibles of the rock era. Ever heard ''Telstar'' by the
Tornadoes in stereo? Nope - because it's making its worldwide
stereo debut right here. Original producer (and genuine
eccentric) Joe Meek would be proud! And it doesn't stop there:
renowned platters ''Rinky Dink'' by Dave ''Baby'' Cortez and
''Green Onions'' by Booker T. & the M.G.'s also make their
worldwide stereo here.
Of course, big hits abound - from the bump-and-grind of David
Rose's salacious ''The Stripper'' (#1) to the spicy bravura of
the Tijuana Brass' ''The Lonely Bull'' (#6) to the wistful
fantasy of Mr. Acker Bilk's ''Stranger On The Shore'' (#1) to the
resurgent ragtime of Kenny Ball's ''Midnight In Moscow (#2).''
But you'll also hear fascinating hits from the lower rungs of the
charts like Ernie Freeman's cover of the ubiquitous ''Twist''
(#93), Henry Mancini's exotic ''Theme From Hatari'' (#95), and
Jerry Reed's first hit, ''Hully Gully Guitar'' (#99).
Complete Pop Instrumental Hits of the Sixties is an unprecedented
undertaking to compile every single Billboard Hot 100
instrumental hit of the 1960s, the decade when the pop
instrumental genre truly reached its zenith. And, when this
project is complete you'll own them all in the order they peaked
on the charts!
The research team at Complete 60s combed the vaults for the best
possible sources for these wordless wonders, making sure to
locate the original hit versions in true stereo whenever
possible. Then, no less than three sound engineers carefully
remastered the original s until the twangy guitars,
pounding drums, and soaring strings practically leap out of your
speakers. You'll be speechless! Thank goodness, however, writer
Greg Adams wasn't at a loss for words. His detailed, 28-page
liner notes include biographies of all 56 artists, plus release
notes and chart information for every track.
The same creative folks who lovingly compile those great Eric CDs
in the States are working on this project, so you know there's
the same commitment to high quality sound and attention to detail
missing from so many oldies collections. Why settle for less? Why
take a chance with risky, off-brand, mediocre mp3 downloads of
dubious origin? Simply put, if you love instrumentals (of any
kind), Complete Pop Instrumental Hits of the Sixties is the final
word!