Rating:
Genre: Rock
Release Date: 06/27/2006

Believe it or not, even the 62 songs squeezed onto this two-CD set don't quite cover all the material Freddie & the Dreamers released in the 1960s. But while this might not be the "Ultimate Collection" -- it would be necessary to wait for the unlikely prospect of a Freddie & the Dreamers box set for that to happen -- it is indeed the most comprehensive CD anthology of the British Invasion band. The first disc has the A-sides and B-sides of 16 of their 1963-1969 U.K. singles; the second disc has 30 "album tracks, EPs & rarities" from 1963-1966, though one of these, "Do the Freddie," was actually the group's sole Top 20 hit in the U.S. besides "I'm Telling You Now." Whether you need so much Freddie & the Dreamers, even if you're a die-hard British Invasion fan, is more of an open question. All of their U.K. and U.S. hits, and a good share of their best non-hit sides, are on the 25-song single-disc compilation The Very Best of Freddie & the Dreamers. Sure, this more extensive anthology has a few additional OK B-sides and stray tracks in the quasi-Merseybeat style, à la "Feel So Blue," "Don't Do That to Me," and "How's About Trying Your Luck with Me" (the latter an obscure Gerry Goffin-Carole King tune). But it also has some forgettable 45s (particularly from the latter part of their career, including their final U.K. chart entry, the odd 1965 country-pop detour "Thou Shalt Not Steal") and way too many mediocre rock & roll oldies covers. It's also unfortunate that the liner notes don't detail the exact source of each track, other than giving a date of release. In a strange way, such an extensive collection does reinforce their credentials as a legitimate rock band, rather than a novelty act, as they did write much of their own material, and played it fairly straight (if fairly lame) on the same kind of American rock & roll covers being ground out by more respected British Invasion acts. Most fans, however, will be more than satisfied with a more selective single-disc best-of.

~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

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Freddie Garrity - Vocals
Freddie Garrity - Group Member
Derek Quinn - Guitar
Derek Quinn - Group Member
Peter Birrell - Bass
Peter Birrell - Group Member
Roy Crewsdon - Guitar
Roy Crewsdon - Group Member
Bernie Dwyer - Drums
Bernie Dwyer - Group Member
Ian Jones - Mastering
Bill Harry - Liner Notes
Jon Wilson - Project Manager
Alex Creedy - Artwork
Gavin ONeill - Retouching

1
    The Beatles / CD / 2000
The Ultimate Peter & Gordon
    Peter & Gordon / CD / 2001
Ultimate Petula Clark
    Petula Clark / CD / 2003
The Best Of Gerry & The Pacemakers
    Gerry & The Pacemakers / CD / 2005
The Great Fortunes
    The Fortunes / CD / 2006

Release Date: 06/27/2006
Genre: rock