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    • Pop Music: The Golden Era 1951-1975

    10/12/1999

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    All Music Guide Review

    To commemorate the end of the century, Sony Music assembled the 26-disc box set Sony Music 100 Years: Soundtrack for a Century. The title was imposing, as was the idea behind it -- to chronicle the life of the oldest record label in the music industry. To be clear, Sony Music has not existed for 100 years, but the heart of its catalog, Columbia Records, was founded early in the 20th century. Sony realized that most consumers wouldn't invest in a 26-disc box, so they simultaneously released a series of 12 genre-specific, double-disc sets that culled highlights from the box. As it turns out, the double-disc sets are every bit as impressive as the big box, perhaps more so, because they're easily digestible. Even so, the scope of the 51-track Pop Music: The Golden Era 1951-1975 is impressive. Columbia and its subsidiaries may have moved slowly into rock & roll, having their first rock hits in the early '60s, but that actually makes this collection more effective, since you can hear traditional pop give way to rock and soul by the end of the first disc. And that's the best thing about Pop Music: The Golden Era -- it's a genuine narrative, beginning with Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett and ending with Patti Labelle and Earth, Wind & Fire. Between those bookends are pop classics of all stripes, from a head-spinning array of artists. Sure, it's possible to spot omissions from that list, but it gives the general feel of pop's progression, and it offers nothing but good listening as it does so. And that's a testament not only to the artists, but to Columbia, Epic, and Sony, since few other labels have captured the times quite so well. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

    Track Listing

  • Track#
  • Title
  • Artist
  • time
  • 1
  • Birth of the Blues
  • Sinatra, Frank
  • 3:30

  • 2
  • Because of You
  • Bennett, Tony
  • 2:57

  • 3
  • Jezebel
  • Laine, Frankie
  • 3:11

  • 4
  • Come On-A My House
  • Clooney, Rosemary
  • 1:58

  • 5
  • Cry
  • 3:04

  • 6
  • You Belong to Me
  • Stafford, Jo
  • 3:06

  • 7
  • The Yellow Rose of Texas
  • Miller, Mitch
  • 3:03

  • 8
  • Mack the Knife
  • Armstrong, Louis
  • 3:23

  • 9
  • Standing on the Corner
  • Four Lads
  • 2:53

  • 10
  • Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)
  • Day, Doris
  • 2:06

  • 11
  • Singing the Blues
  • Mitchell, Guy
  • 2:27

  • 12
  • Chances Are
  • Mathis, Johnny [1]
  • 3:03

  • 13
  • Summertime, Summertime
  • Jamies
  • 2:00

  • 14
  • Theme from "A Summer Place"
  • Faith, Percy & His Orchestra
  • 2:26

  • 15
  • Moon River
  • Williams, Andy [1]
  • 2:47

  • 16
  • Bless You
  • Orlando, Tony
  • 2:09

  • 17
  • I Left My Heart in San Francisco
  • Bennett, Tony
  • 2:51

  • 18
  • Blue Velvet
  • Vinton, Bobby
  • 2:49

  • 19
  • People
  • Streisand, Barbra
  • 3:42

  • 20
  • Ruby Baby
  • Dion
  • 2:37

  • 21
  • The Monkey Time
  • Lance, Major
  • 2:48

  • 22
  • Hey Little Cobra
  • Rip Chords
  • 2:01

  • 23
  • Before and After
  • Chad & Jeremy
  • 2:43

  • 24
  • For Your Love
  • Yardbirds
  • 2:30

  • 25
  • Down in the Boondocks
  • Royal, Billy Joe
  • 2:35

  • 26
  • Kicks
  • Revere, Paul & the Raiders
  • 2:29

  • 27
  • Like a Rolling Stone
  • Dylan, Bob
  • 6:08

  • 28 (2)
  • Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)
  • Byrds
  • 3:35
  • 29 (2)
  • Red Rubber Ball
  • Cyrkle
  • 2:19
  • 30 (2)
  • Sunshine Superman
  • Donovan [1]
  • 3:19
  • 31 (2)
  • Don't You Care
  • Buckinghams
  • 2:30
  • 32 (2)
  • San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)
  • McKenzie, Scott
  • 2:59
  • 33 (2)
  • Carrie Anne
  • Hollies
  • 2:56
  • 34 (2)
  • Itchycoo Park
  • Small Faces
  • 2:47
  • 35 (2)
  • Stoned Soul Picnic
  • Nyro, Laura
  • 3:50
  • 36 (2)
  • Time of the Season
  • Zombies
  • 3:31
  • 37 (2)
  • Young Girl
  • Puckett, Gary
  • 3:10
  • 38 (2)
  • You've Made Me So Very Happy
  • Blood Sweat & Tears
  • 3:30
  • 39 (2)
  • Hot Fun in the Summertime
  • Sly & the Family Stone
  • 2:43
  • 40 (2)
  • Evil Ways
  • Santana
  • 2:58
  • 41 (2)
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • Simon & Garfunkel
  • 4:54
  • 42 (2)
  • 25 or 6 to 4
  • Chicago
  • 2:55
  • 43 (2)
  • Me and Bobby McGee
  • Joplin, Janis
  • 4:31
  • 44 (2)
  • Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)
  • Looking Glass
  • 3:04
  • 45 (2)
  • I Can See Clearly Now
  • Nash, Johnny
  • 2:45
  • 46 (2)
  • Your Mama Don't Dance
  • Loggins & Messina
  • 2:50
  • 47 (2)
  • I Can Help
  • Swan, Billy
  • 2:58
  • 48 (2)
  • Love Train
  • OJays
  • 3:00
  • 49 (2)
  • That Lady, Pt. 1
  • Isley Brothers
  • 3:14
  • 50 (2)
  • Lady Marmalade
  • Labelle
  • 3:19
  • 51 (2)
  • Shining Star
  • Earth, Wind & Fire
  • 2:50

  • Credits

    • O'Kelly Isley
    • Arranger, Conductor, Producer, Vocals (Background)
    • Rudolph Isley
    • Arranger, Conductor, Vocals (Background), Producer
    • Dion
    • Vocals, Performer
    • Donovan
    • Guitar (Acoustic), Performer, Vocals
    • Bob Dylan
    • Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica, Piano, Performer
    • Laura Nyro
    • Piano, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Performer, Producer


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