The Orchestra And Chorus Of Henry Mancini - Dear Heart And Other Songs About Love (RCA - 1964)

The Orchestra And Chorus Of Henry Mancini - Dear Heart And Other Songs About Love

If you don't like choirs and easy-listening, pass this one. Dear Heart And Other Songs About Love is devoted to choral arrangements conducted by the master Henry Mancini. You'll find of course soundtracks cuts (Dear Heart, Soldier In The Rain, Man's Favorite Sport), a show theme (How Soon), a vocal version of Mr Lucky and a couple of covers (The Girl From Ipanema, Can't Buy Me Love). Designed for early 60's suburban interiors, you'll hardly find any break or anything psyche in it but it will nonetheless make your newborn sleep in no time.

Paul Revere & The Raiders - Greatest Hits (Columbia - 1967)

Paul Revere & The Raiders - Greatest Hits

Paul Revere & The Raiders were The Black Lips of the 60's: a band of clowns playing a perfect garage rock'n'roll that took no prisonners. The band, headed by Paul Revere (which was his real name and became later the name of a Beastie Boys song) and Mark Lindsay, liked its shit raw even if they were TV Shows regulars. Mark Lindsay voice sounded definitely punk while the band played well crafted songs with an unmatched and inflammatory spontaneity. This Greatest Hits album serves them very well: 11 songs, 4 bonus tracks and 40 minutes of unmatched rock'n'roll that never slows down.

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons - My Eyes Adored You & Other Hits (Flashback - 2001)

Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons - My Eyes Adored You & Other Hits

If you read Frankie Valli bio, you might get scared at first. Born Francis Stephen Castelluccio in New Jersey, Frankie Valli was the frontman of the 4 Seasons, a pop band he created with three other Jersey italo-americans, Tommy De Vito, Nick Massi and Bob Gaudio. But believe me or not, those guys and especially Frankie Valli are not mob affiliated wannabe Frank Sinatra for your grandma for three reasons. Frankie Valli & The 4 Seasons benefited at first of Bob Gaudio and producer Bob Crewe brilliant songwriting habilities. The pair knew well how to craft a blue eyed soul song and use big ass production techniques. Secondly, those guys could sing anything and didn't sound corny, form tear jerking ballads (My Eyes Adored You) to disco (Decembre, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) covered and burned out by cheesy French disco singer Claude François). At least, Frankie Valli acting career lead him to play Rusty Millio in, what else, The Sopranos. And that itself deserves the uppermost respect.