History of Rock, Vol. 8

Collectables Records has reworked their “History of Rock” compilation series, supposedly using remastered sources. The track listing remains the same, however the packaging is new. There can be some confusion about titles in this series as Collectables changes the packaging for specific radio station markets in addition to selling their generic version of the title. The reworked version of this volume sports a red border with most of the front image being a picture of a 50s-era teenager playing 45s in front of a group of dancers, probably, one of whom sports a pair of argyle socks not to be believed. (Note: it is unclear as to whether you receive this new version if ordered from Amazon.com as their product description still displays the old packaging. It may be advisable to inquire until and unless Amazon updates the image.) Collectables has had a less than enviable record when it comes to production quality in their reissues. Here, they have done a better job than has often been the case in the past. Additionally, they indicate on the outside of the back of the package which tracks are presented in stereo, a helpful bit of information provided it is accurate but sorry to say it is not totally so on this volume. I purchased this volume to a large degree for what is indicated on the package as a stereo version of Dion and the Belmonts’ “Where or When”, a tune I once found in true stereo on a poor-quality one-off disc years ago but have never seen again on any high-quality Dion CD. My disappointment was substantial when I discovered that this track is in mono and the previous track, “Love Makes The World Go Round” is in stereo but not indicated as such on the package. True, a minor slip-up, but still frustrating and the reason for a three-star rating in my book. While this is a mainstream series and there are no rarities or first-timers to CD in amongst the tracks appearing here, at least there are a couple that are not the same old ones usually found compiled for major hit collections. This volume sports the essentially one-hit wonder Troy Shondells’ “This Time”, along with Frank Ifield’s “I Remember You” with the added bonus of it being the stereo (albeit somewhat awkward 2-channel) version, a first time on CD to my knowledge. Overall, the sound quality here is respectable, with a plus being the appearance of the very rare stereo version of the Paradons’ “Diamonds and Pearls” and the aforementioned “I Remember You”. On the down side, “Liar Liar” is pretty hissy and there are, unfortunately, dropouts in the stereo track of “Diamonds and Pearls”. One other, to this listener, uncomfortable thing here is the sequence at the end of the disc with the frenetic “Liar Liar” being followed by the soothing and melodic “Stranger On The Shore”, a track that would have segued better around “Where Or When” or “I Remember You”. The liner notes booklet provides a few comments on the included tracks but has no other track details or production credits. For the casual listener interested in the tracks presented, this is a somewhat better than average effort and for the collector, it does offer a that one rarely found stereo version. If only the labeling about the stereo had been correct…