"THE BRILL BUILDING SOUND" disc 1 of 4

You are buying an extremely complete retrospective of the so-called Brill Building Sound that addresses the output of a number of writing collectives. These writers/producers all worked at one time or another within yards of each other in Manhattan. In a coincidence that would be laughable in a novel or movie, many of them grew up in the same area of Brooklyn…...The songs they wrote in this synergistic/antagonistic environment were invariably hits for a stable of artists associated with them. But, so fundamentally good were the lyrics, arrangements and ambiance that the songs were a key component of The British Invasion bands' repertoires and are often still covered. 'Live at the BBC' has several of these songs - including 'Don't Ever Change,' orginally done by The Crickets and Little Eva's 'Keep Your Hands Off My Baby' - being played live by The Beatles. And, speaking of Little Eva - fabulously mentioned as Goffin and King's babysitter who was given another song to sing ('The Locomotion') subsequently covered by Grand Funk Railroad.

I would also argue that the process used in creating these three minute expositions on being a teenager in the early 1960s also served as the model for other production families. Berry Gordy - whether by serendipity or deliberate calculation - followed the same model of a coterie of superb writers, musicians and producers that generated material for an equally talented set of performers. This pattern also appears almost due south of Detroit with the marvelous pieces created by the Stax/Volt label. An last but certainly not least, were the efforts of someone who functioned in the background at the Brill Building but nevertheless took excellent notes. The output of Phil Spector is best appreciated and comparable with this set on the 'Back to Mono' boxset. 

After all the praises given to the songwriters, the musicians, the producers and the performers, there is still one more thing of almost inestimable value in this collection. You are - in point of fact - buying entry into another world; one where ambiguity does not exist. Instead you find yourself in a universe where love, trust, sincerity, loyalty, honesty and scores of other virtues are given and received and experienced in naïve purity. In these songs, in these "three minute operettas," as I believe Spector called them is found a truth about life and love and all that is important. (The Jersey Kid)

trax CD 1:

1. Splish Splash - Bobby Darin 2. Dream Lover - Bobby Darin 3. Stupid Cupid - Connie Francis 4. Oh! Carol - Neil Sedaka 5. Stairway To Heaven - Neil Sedaka 6. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka 7. Where The Boys Are - Connie Francis 8. Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka 9. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis 10. Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen - Neil Sedaka 11. Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) - Barry Mann 12. Hushabye - The Mystics 13. A Teenager In Love - Dion & The Belmonts 14. Turn Me Loose - Fabian 15. I Love How You Love Me - The Paris Sisters 16. Halfway To Paradise - Tony Orlando 17. Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee 18. Run To Him - Bobby Vee 19. Bless You - Tony Orlando 20. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles 

…originally served by Gyro1966...