The Bottom Line
- A solid selection of British Invasion classics from iconic and lesser-known artists.
- The remastering is top-notch, and some of these songs have needed it.
- Covers a wide range of musical styles within the genre.
- Not the last word on Brit crossover pop of the Sixties, though it tries.
- 16 tracks per CD seems just the slightest bit skimpy.
Description
- British Invasion
- Greatest hits
- Two CDs
- Pop
- Rock
- Sixties
Guide Review - Various Artists -- British Invasion: Gold
It's only 32 tracks, which, spread over two CDs, isn't quite the bargain it should be. Then again, there are a lot of hard-to-find one-off singles here. Although it leads off with "Ain't She Sweet," the one Beatles master anyone can license (and a song which lends weight to everything negative ever said about the band), this compilation is tasteful and knowledgeable enough to touch upon The Mersey's "Sorrow," The Fortunes "You've Got Your Troubles," Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas' "Bad To Me" (along with the Silkie cover of "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away," the only Lennon-McCartney numbers here), and other songs your overprogrammed local oldies station forgot existed. It creaks from the effort at times, getting a little too literal in some places (The Troggs' "Wild Thing," which is too garage to really count) and not literal enough in others (Tom Jones' "What's New Pussycat" doesn't quite fit the bill). Still, it's a great introduction to the genre.
