Clark Want me

"The greatest songs never grow old, they just get better as a select wine." In this collection are collected 3 generations of romantic music of the 50's, 60's and 70's.

Peter Gabriel, Chris Martin, Youssou N'Dour, Cat Stevens, Paul Shaffer, Linda Rondstadt, Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Glenn Frey, Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, E Street Band, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Courtney Love, Wendy O'Connor, Joan Jett…

Four-CD, 80-song box set of Clark's '60s material contains all of her big U.S. and U.K. hits, numerous singles that were only hits in other countries (usually France), and a bunch of interesting covers, B-sides, and LP tracks, some quite rare. If you're enough of a fan to want more than what you'll find on the usual thorough hits anthology, but not enough of a fan to want everything she ever did, this is perfect. It's got all of the classics, serviceable (although not terribly extensive) liner notes, and a host of interesting items that aren't well-known.

The Dave Clark Five are usually compared with their British contemporaries, the Beatles. Though clearly not in the same league, they don't deserve to be completely dismissed.

There are almost more Petula Clark collections than there were actual songs (that's saying something), and Sanctuary's three-disc Songs of My Life: The Essential Petula Clark is one of the better ones. Split into three themes, "Swinging Times," "Mellow Moods," and "Beautiful Sounds," Songs of My Life relies heavily on the English pop sensation's peak '60s and '70s output. All of the key radio hits are here ("Downtown," "I Know a Place," "My Love," "This Is My Song"), as well as countless ballads, uptempo pop gems, and choice covers. Fans looking for a decent career overview (sadly, none of Clark's vast arsenal of French hits are here) may find the 78 tracks that populate Songs of My Life a bit overwhelming, but they're well worth spending some quality time alone with.

Heart of Gold is an impressive showcase for W.C. Clark's deep talents, giving him the opportunity to flaunt his chops and prove that he can play nearly anything. Clark's foundation is in greasy roadhouse Texas blues and while there's a number of wonderful cuts in that style here, he doesn't limit himself to Texas shuffles. Instead, he turns out some sweaty soul — including a seductive, passionate reading of Latimore's "Let's Straighten It Out" — and some organ-drenched Tex-Mex workouts which not only give the album diversity, they also give the album depth. And that's the reason why Heart of Gold is the definitive W.C. Clark release — it's the first (and arguably only) time he's gotten it completely right on record.

The album box is topped of by a mammoth hardbound book featuring a 1966-1973 day-by-day chronology of Everly Brothers' recording sessions, concerts, as well as radio and television appearances by noted Everly Brothers historian, Andrew Sandoval.

Clark had her brief moment in the sun, then languished in near obscurity, save for the die-hard loyalists of the Northern soul scene, who relished every move she made from her Motown years and beyond. Thankfully, the folks over at the U.K. imprint of Motown had the good sense to include her in their recent onslaught of catalog reissues highlighting the minor players of Motown.