The Very Best Of

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Customer reviews

review by: Bri date: 2007-08-17 rating:
Buy This And Knock Some Punk Compilations On Floor As You Do So

What a gem this is. As a "record collector", I keep an eye out for these compilations so I can replace vinyl lost, mislaid, or guiltily left behind, during my youth. To this end I have just catalogued and listened to four "best of's" from the 60's and 70's. The others all fitted the usual pattern, the two or three hits from "back then" shinning through some fairly murky other tracks which serve to prove why those particular bands or artists ran out of steam, and then: THIS!!!!!

Now I must confess I was never a "fan" of the Rubettes and never owned any of their stuff, (The early Seventies were the years of marriage and new children for me so record buying had to stop. My "nights out" comprised working behind the bar of my local (the now defunct Beehive in Wallingford) where Mike, the Landlords son and I would drink away our wages once the punters had left.): the Rubettes were however, one of the few bands who caused me to put some of my beer money into the jukebox so I could hear clearly what the punters had been paying to listen to.

The tracks that impressed strongly enough for me to seek the band out thirty five years on are all on here, "Sugar Baby Love", "I Can Do It", and "Juke Box Jive" are all juke box classics, so imprinted from those Beehive nights that I have often found myself singing them to myself during the intervening years. I decided they belonged in my collection about a year ago but doubted (very unfairly it seems) the wisdom of forking out for a whole cd for the sake of three tracks when the collection needs so many others. Consequently I have scoured many "Seventies Hits" type cd's and ended up with three original takes of Sugar Baby but only re-recorded versions of the others (only is not supposed to be a put down here, the re-incarnations of this band are brilliant but when you know the original so well the "ambience" is not the same and the instrumentation cannot possibly be identical).
Anyway, while I have been cataloguing these "re-incarnations" the tunes have been haunting me to such a degree that I finally decided that buying an "originals" cd would be worth it regardless of the quality of the unheard tracks, at least I could check out if I remembered those tracks authentically or whether I was just being a music snob. Boy am I glad I did this.

I remember that at the time of its release we had "Sugar Baby Love parts 1 and 2", my three previous copies are all of part 2. I had hoped to find the slightly more up tempo part 1 on here and although that is not the case I now know the reason why (I think) and so I can stop searching. From the notes I learn (as is so often the case with "oldies"), of early personnel changes while the track was in the pipeline so have assumed there might be contractual issues with the unmentioned Part 1. Apart from that original slight disappointment, everything else about this cd was pure joy.
Firstly: recognising that apart from the three tracks I had set out to "collect", I have some recollection of each of the first nine tracks. The other six will also have been a part of the soundtrack of my early twenties, car radio, top of the pops, etc, but if you were aware of the size of my song library you might be as impressed as I am that these hardly listened to tracks have stuck in my mind. Absolute quality both lyrically and musically, as for the rest, well, I am gobsmacked.

This cd opens with six simply brilliant examples of what "Glam Rock", as a music Genre, rather than a costume drama, was all about. Although these tracks have all enthused me to revisit more of the Genre, "Juke Box Jive" in particular wonderfully illustrates the complete sound of the era, driving guitars and versatile pounding drumming supporting brilliantly harmonised powerful singing, all coming together and screaming "I bet you can't keep your feet still", no I can't, even when it stops.

But hold, I have yet to share the real "discoveries" I made here.
Track 9 "Baby I know", I remembered the title, but as soon as the music began I felt a thrill of anticipation. Here is one of those lost gems of my past, the tune I have hummed for thirty years wherever music is discussed, begging in desperation, "one of you must know it". Along with the aforementioned tracks, this is one of the classics of the early seventies prematurely consigned, even by me, (I'm sorry band), to the dustbin marked "obsolete". The bullies of punk, and it's supporters, (perhaps I should say bandwagon jumpers), among radio, TV, and the music press, telling us we didn't need melodies or meaningful lyrics any longer: and that we were somehow deficient if we did: as they censored what we listened to.
As I listened again To "You're the reason why", "Under one roof" and, for the first time, to "Kid Runaway" I was aware that if they were released now these would be recognised as masterpieces of "Country Cross Over", on a par with the three minute storytelling of Willie Nelson, Jim Webb, Don McLean and Ralph McTell. "Baby I know" also fits this category.
I could enthuse over all of the other tracks on here but if you still need convincing how vocally accomplished this band were, just shut your eyes and listen to "I'm just dreaming" I defy you not to hear the surf breaking in the background as the Beach Boy style harmonies wash over you, complete with subtle Mike Love style bass tones.

I have always remembered the Rubettes as a good band, I was wrong, they were a great band, buy this, and knock a few punk compilations onto the floor as you do so.

Brian.

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review by: Redneck Savant date: 2007-03-10 rating:
"BABY I KNOW"
This is fantastic!..the great Rubettes,..this is a must have CD for your collection,..whether you are like me and you can remember the Rubettes (just!..i'm not that old yet..lol)..or you've never heard of them before,.i urge you to buy this,.and just relax with 70s unsung heroes,..never got the great recognition they deserved,..just wish i had some white flares to wear out tonight(hmm maybe not..lol),..this is top 70s music,..at bargain basement prices,..don't miss it.

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review by: date: 2004-05-28 rating:
Fo-dee-o-dee-do-do
Wow! The Rubettes revisited. I can play them on my iPod now! I have a stack of old vinyl in the garage in boxes which I can't get to, so thanks to Amazon, I have raided their on line shelves and treated myself to oldies but goodies.

This is a superb album, full of the great sound of the Rubettes. Their foot-tapping, rock and roll style with sweet heavenly voices is a joy! This is heaven to me!

Great to get away from the rap (with a silent 'C').

If glam rock is your thing buy it now! It does not disappoint!

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review by: date: 2004-05-28 rating:
Foe-dee-oh-dee-do-do!
Wow! Rubettes revisited! I have a pile of vinyl in the garage in boxes which I can't ever get to... so I've been cleaning amazon out of old artistes CD's!

This one is fantastic! The great sound of the Rubettes in all their glory. I was a big Glam rock fan (still am), but the rocking, foot-tapping sound of the Rubettes with all their sweet voices is what heaven is like I'm sure.

Thank the Lord for rock and roll and we can get away from Rap (with a silent 'C'.)

Get it for your collection!


review by: date: 2001-06-06 rating:
Ru-better believe it
This is a fantastic collection of pop song from the era of the flared trouser and cheesy spoken verse.Just buy it for Sugar Baby Love a magnificent tune full of harmonies which somehow makes you fell a million dollars.Buy it lets start a Rubettes revival you know it makes sense!

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