Three 1965

One of the better compilations of Three Dog Night material, Celebrate covers all the important bases in the popular singles band's career. There's a brief hint of pre-3DN material from co-lead singers Danny Hutton and Cory Wells (no Chuck Negron), along with one stellar, tragically unreleased track from the band's brief Redwood incarnation, the Brian Wilson-penned "Time to Get Alone." The remainder of this two-CD collection recaps the group's many Top 40 hits along with choice album tracks. The songs are judiciously chosen, and the liner notes provide insights into the band's creative process and internal skirmishes, but there's nothing in the way of remastered tracks or uncovered obscurities. Nevertheless, this is a better option for Three Dog Night fans than any of the numerous single-disc greatest hits collections available, simply because there are no glaring oversights in the song choices. The expanded selection also makes the set a great one to convert anyone not yet warm to Three Dog Night's intricate harmony stylings: just play them the gorgeous non-singles "It's for You," "My Impersonal Life," and "I'd Be So Happy" back to back.

One of the better compilations of Three Dog Night material, Celebrate covers all the important bases in the popular singles band's career. There's a brief hint of pre-3DN material from co-lead singers Danny Hutton and Cory Wells (no Chuck Negron), along with one stellar, tragically unreleased track from the band's brief Redwood incarnation, the Brian Wilson-penned "Time to Get Alone." The remainder of this two-CD collection recaps the group's many Top 40 hits along with choice album tracks. The songs are judiciously chosen, and the liner notes provide insights into the band's creative process and internal skirmishes, but there's nothing in the way of remastered tracks or uncovered obscurities. Nevertheless, this is a better option for Three Dog Night fans than any of the numerous single-disc greatest hits collections available, simply because there are no glaring oversights in the song choices. The expanded selection also makes the set a great one to convert anyone not yet warm to Three Dog Night's intricate harmony stylings: just play them the gorgeous non-singles "It's for You," "My Impersonal Life," and "I'd Be So Happy" back to back.

Burt Bacharach's soundtrack to the silly 1965 comedy was highlighted by three familiar songs, cut as singles by stars: Tom Jones' athletic attack on the theme (which was a big hit), Dionne Warwick's "Here I Am" (which was a small hit), and Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book" (which was an even smaller hit, although Love had a bigger one with their cover). The rest of the album is occupied by instrumental background filler, and while this is much better than another Bacharach mid-'60s soundtrack (After the Fox) – "High Temperature, Low Resistance," "Downhill and Shady," and "Stripping Isn't Really Sexy, Is It?" have a swinging, bachelor-pad feel – it's not nearly as good as the actual tunes with vocals and lyrics. Most fans of Jones, Warwick, and Manfred Mann (and indeed most big '60s rock fans in general) will have the three best cuts on easily available reissue compilations, so this disc is only recommended to serious Bacharach/soundtrack collectors. (Some reissues add a neat bonus track: Manfred Mann's "film version" of "My Little Red Book," although this isn't hugely different from (or as good as) the familiar take used on their single.) – Richie Unterberger

Burt Bacharach's soundtrack to the silly 1965 comedy was highlighted by three familiar songs, cut as singles by stars: Tom Jones' athletic attack on the theme (which was a big hit), Dionne Warwick's "Here I Am" (which was a small hit), and Manfred Mann's "My Little Red Book" (which was an even smaller hit, although Love had a bigger one with their cover). The rest of the album is occupied by instrumental background filler, and while this is much better than another Bacharach mid-'60s soundtrack (After the Fox) – "High Temperature, Low Resistance," "Downhill and Shady," and "Stripping Isn't Really Sexy, Is It?" have a swinging, bachelor-pad feel – it's not nearly as good as the actual tunes with vocals and lyrics. Most fans of Jones, Warwick, and Manfred Mann (and indeed most big '60s rock fans in general) will have the three best cuts on easily available reissue compilations, so this disc is only recommended to serious Bacharach/soundtrack collectors. (Some reissues add a neat bonus track: Manfred Mann's "film version" of "My Little Red Book," although this isn't hugely different from (or as good as) the familiar take used on their single.) – Richie Unterberger

Boasting 92 tracks, ‘Box Of Pin-Ups’ takes in the market leaders as well as the year’s hard-up heroes and nowhere men. Established Top Ten acts like Manfred Mann, The Hollies and The Yardbirds are joined by cult names and such glorious one-shot unknowns as Glenn Athens & The Trojans and Irish band The Spectres, both now legally included on CD for the first time.

Boasting 92 tracks, ‘Box Of Pin-Ups’ takes in the market leaders as well as the year’s hard-up heroes and nowhere men. Established Top Ten acts like Manfred Mann, The Hollies and The Yardbirds are joined by cult names and such glorious one-shot unknowns as Glenn Athens & The Trojans and Irish band The Spectres, both now legally included on CD for the first time.

The Yardbirds are mostly known to the casual rock fan as the starting point for three of the greatest British rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Undoubtedly, these three figures did much to shape the group's sound, but throughout their career, the Yardbirds were very much a unit, albeit a rather unstable one. And they were truly one of the great rock bands; one whose contributions went far beyond the scope of their half dozen or so mid-'60s. For Your Love is the first American album by English rock band the Yardbirds. Released in July 1965, it contains new studio recordings along with previously released singles. The album features some of the earliest recordings by guitarists Eric Clapton and his replacement Jeff Beck.

The Yardbirds are mostly known to the casual rock fan as the starting point for three of the greatest British rock guitarists: Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. Undoubtedly, these three figures did much to shape the group's sound, but throughout their career, the Yardbirds were very much a unit, albeit a rather unstable one. And they were truly one of the great rock bands; one whose contributions went far beyond the scope of their half dozen or so mid-'60s. For Your Love is the first American album by English rock band the Yardbirds. Released in July 1965, it contains new studio recordings along with previously released singles. The album features some of the earliest recordings by guitarists Eric Clapton and his replacement Jeff Beck.