CD REVIEW: THE TURTLES – The Turtles 45 RPM Vinyl Singles Collection
Label: FloEdCo/Manifesto Records
Release Date: September 16, 2014
Rating: 9.5/10
Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur
I know the heading says CD Review, but I didn’t have anywhere else to put it… we don’t get many vinyl releases across our desk these days!!! The Turtles seemed to shy away from the “norm” their entire career, beginning in the mid-1960’s. They decided not to buck the trend almost 50 years later with the release of a cool box set. They went back to the basics and re-released some of the biggest hits and singles the band ever recorded. They paired up songs on vinyl 45 RPM records… yes actual black vinyl records. Opening this set was such a pleasure. To hear some classic tracks with that pop and crackle again…
Culling hits between the years 1965 and 1969, Flo and Eddie paired songs up that most people wouldn’t back the other song with, but it works on this collection of discs. The headline tracks are a virtual soundtrack to an era, with everything from the 1965 #8 single “It Ain’t Me Babe” to “You Showed Me” which hit #6 in 1969. The “A” sides were all hits in their own right, but the “B” sides presented here also had modest runs of their own, including the 1967 hit “You Know What I Mean,” which backs the #20 hit from two years earlier “You Baby.” Hearing tracks like the Top 10 classics “Happy Together” (#1 in 1966), “She’d Rather Be With Me” (#3 in 1967), and “Elenore” (#6 in 1968) are always a great time, but the addition of some obscure tracks make this set worth while. The addition of tracks like “Outside Chance” from 1966 or the minor hit “Love In The City” made this fun to listen to. The former is actually a new favorite of mine that has received more than it’s fair share of spins compared to other tracks in this collection. Other tracks that are classic A-sides are here too, including 1965’s “Let Me Be” and “She’s My Girl” from 1967. When singles or collections get re-released, it is almost comical to see songs relegated to the B-sides, when they were A-side material in their original release and incarnation, like two great songs from 1968: “The Story Of Rock And Roll” and “Sound Asleep”. I am happy to say that one of my personal favorites is backed with the biggest hit the band had. If you flip over the previously mentioned “Happy Together,” you are treated to “Grim Reaper Of Love.” Laugh if you will, but we all know what happened with the B-side classic “Beth” in 1976 when DJ’s flipped over “Detroit Rock City” and played the other track.
The packaging on the review copy is a little bland, but to actually hold a 45 rpm single again was fun, to say the least. There is a limited edition version for diehards and collectors alike of the set available HERE that includes cool sleeves, a Turtles 45 adapter, and comes autographed. If you love The Turtles, the music of the era and generation, or just a collector of cool records – yes, records – this is definitely a set you will need to add to your collection.
Full box singles listing:
- It Ain’t Me Babe (1965) #8 b/w You Don’t Have To Walk In The Rain (1969)#51
- Let Me Be (1965) #29 b/w Love in the City (1969) #91
- You Baby (1965) #20 b/w You Know What I Mean (1967) #12
- Happy Together (1966) #1 b/w Grim Reaper Of Love (1966) #81
- She’d Rather Be With Me (1967) #3 b/w Story Of Rock And Roll (1968) #48
- She’ s My Girl (1967) #14 b/w Can’t I Get To Know You Better (1966) #89
- Elenore (1968) #6 b/w Outside Chance (1966) NA
- You Showed Me (1969) #6 b/w Sound Asleep (1968) #57
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Category: CD Reviews