Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 05/05/1998
Of course, the heart of this hourlong, 20-track compilation is the series of
Snoopy novelty hits enjoyed by
the Royal Guardsmen in the mid-'60s, starting with the million-selling
"Snoopy vs. the Red Baron." The group had a few other singles chart entries, all of which are here, sometimes making reference to aerial themes (
"Airplane Song [My Airplane]"). Though cute and catchy with their martial drumming and banjo picking, the
Snoopy songs have a trash-
rock quality in the tradition of
"Louie Louie" and
"Hang On Sloopy." Elsewhere, the group veers from one mid-'60s style to another, sometimes re-creating the good-time sound of
the Lovin' Spoonful, other times using harmonies that sound like
the Association, then resorting to covers (an instrumental version of
"So You Want to Be a Rock & Roll Star," "As Tears Go By"). Though they made four albums, this best-of is a little more than anyone really needs of
the Royal Guardsmen. [
The Best of the Royal Guardsmen is identical in tracks and sequencing to the 1995
One Way compilation of
the Royal Guardsmen,
Anthology.]
~William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
;)
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