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From the Vault...
01/19/2003
#821 |
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info
Peter & Gordon
"The Best Of Peter And Gordon"
© Rhino Records
Year of Release: 1991
Rating:
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track listing
A World Without Love
If I Were You
Nobody I Knew
I Don't Want To See You Again
Love Me Baby
I Go To Pieces
True Love Ways
To Know You Is To Love You
Baby I'm Yours
Don't Pity Me
Woman
There's No Living Without Your Loving
Lady Godiva
Knight In Rusty Amour
The Flower Lady
Hurtin' Is Lovin'
Sunday For Tea
The Jokers
I Feel Like Going Out
You've Had Better Times
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Peter & Gordon "The Best Of Peter And Gordon"
The music of Peter & Gordon can best be compared to that of the very early
years ot The Beatles -- Paul McCartney wrote (though credited as
Lennon/McCartney) their biggest hit: The #1 song "A World Without Love"
(1964). There are other Lennon/McCartney written tunes on The Best Of Peter And
Gordon: "Nobody I Know," (1964) and "I Don't Want To See You Again"
(1964) Paul McCartney wrote "Woman" (1966), under a presumed name,
Bernard Webb, for the reason that if people saw McCartney's name, it would be
an instant hit. McCartney may also have had the upper hand in having Peter & Gordon
record his songs, due to the fact that he was dating Peter Asher's sister Jane,
at the time.
The early years of The Beatles is definitely a factor in Peter & Gordon's
music, just as in the song "Love Me, Baby," a song that could easily
have been written by Lennon & McCartney, yet it was actually written by
Peter & Gordon. "I Go To Pieces" (written by Del Shannon) definitely
has the 1960s Mersey sound, as heard in such groups as Gerry & The Pacemakers,
Freddie & The Dreamers, and The Beatles.
Buddy Holly's "True Love Ways" has a more current sound (at the time)
than Holly's original version, that being the new sound coming from Britain.
Likewise, Phil Spector's/
Teddy Bears' "To Know You Is To Love You," as it had the new British sound,
and also an Everly Brothers type-style.
The classic "Baby I'm Yours" is here, where The Shirelles (and others)
would also enjoy success with this song. "Don't Pity Me" returns with to
the Peter & Gordon "sound", yet this song has them trying to sound like the Righteous
Brothers, with the deep voice of either Peter or Gordon, and truthfully, it
doesn't work. A much better Peter & Gordon (in sound) is "There's No Loving
Without Your Loving" -- good instrumentation, and this song does compare
to that of the Righteous Brothers, where Bill Medley & Bobby Hatfield could
easily have recorded this song, in the same style.
A more folkish sound is heard on "Lady Godiva." I can picture The
Monkees recording this song in their later years. We can say the same for the
next song, having a pop/folk sound, "Knight In Rusty Armour."
A more pop and folk sound continues with "The Flower Lady," a song
that fits the styles of artists that would later become popular in the 1970s,
as Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce and Harry Chapin. We could even add Roger
Whittaker to this list (!!)
"Hurtin' Is Lovin'" is not a memorable song, nor is it a song that
would get regular play, where there are much better tunes than this one.
"Sunday For Tea" however, is a happy-go-lucky song, that 1960s groups
as the Herman's Hermits and even The Monkees could relate to. The British
sound is enjoyed on "The Jokers," and "I Feel Like Getting Out,"
yet the latter song is another un-memorable hit. We could also the same for
the last tune, "You've Had Better Times." The title of this song says
it all: They had much better songs than this one.
For those who enjoy the early British Invasion music of the 1960s, and
the early years of the Beatles, Peter & Gordon's music definitely has those
qualities. As this Best Of has, like in all others, it has their
biggest hits, and then some. As the end of the 1960s decade was growing near,
music was changing, as The Beatles had a big influence on how music would
change in the late-60s, with psychedelia, and love and peace; Peter & Gordon's
music tended to point in the direction of a more pop and folk atmosphere.
Yet the early years of Peter & Gordon are best remembered. And, it had
alot to do with Paul McCartney's music, as they recorded songs by Lennon &
McCartney that were never recorded by The Beatles themselves. This relates to
another artist who recorded John and Paul's music,
Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas. The Beatles were trying to make names
for themselves, as they had many songs written to be recorded by The Beatles,
and songs written to be recorded by others.
Peter Asher would later become a very popular manager/producer for artists
such as James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman,
and Warren Zevon. He would also manager and/or producer newcoming artists as
well. Gordon Waller vanished from music after Peter & Gordon broke up in 1968.
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Review or any portion may not be reproduced
without written permission. Cover art is the
intellectual property of
Rhino Records
and is used for reference purposes only.
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