A good CD despite having only 10 songs - but BUYER BEWARE!

In 1988/9 Rhino introduced its superb "Top Rock'n'Roll Hits" (1955-1974) series featuring 20 years of music on 20 CDs at 10 songs per year / per disc. (Hey, neat-o!)



Then in 1993 Rhino reissued the discs in the subset spanning 1960-1969 thus creating two different versions of each in the process. Because these discs are available via Amazon Marketplace, who knows which ones you'll get if you buy them used! If this is important to you, be sure to ask the seller(s) before placing your order(s).



The most obvious visual differences between the two editions are the song titles on both the front covers and the actual CDs. The 1988/9 editions feature mixed-case titles. The 1993 editions feature uppercase titles.



The 1993 editions also have the songs listed on the covers in the same order in which they appear on the discs. The 1988/9 editions list the songs in an almost random order which can be very frustrating while the disc is being played.



The song selections are also different; some moreso than others. For 1964 only tracks 2 and 7 were changed.



1988 (2) Manfred Mann, "Do Wah Diddy Diddy"

1993 (2) The Drifters, "Under The Boardwalk"



1988 (7) The 4 Seasons, "Rag Doll"

1993 (7) The Dixie Cups, "Chapel Of Love"



In this case, it's a tough call on which one I like best since I like both track 2s equally well and dislike both track 7s. I think if Rhino'd just replaced "Rag Doll" with "Under The Boardwalk" instead, they'd have had a winner on their hands with this one.



My favourite moment? When she sings, "I met him at the candy store..." Ye-e-a-a-a-ah!!! Ri-i-i-i-ight!!! I mean, that's where I always go when I ride *my* Harley, knowhutimean? Just what kind of "candy" were they sellin' to teenagers back in 1964? Hmmm??? :) Amazing how we went from songs like that to Prince's, "Dirty Mind" in only 16 short years. (Whoa!!)



On a side note, I know that it was due to licensing restrictions but given that this disc is supposed to represent 1964, it doesn't really do a very good job of that, now does it? I mean, where are England's Newest Hit-Makers, The Rolling Stones?!! :)



[Note: To my knowledge, the CDs spanning 1955-1959 and 1970-1974 have not been revised. One may also surmise that Rhino believes rock-n-roll died with the advent of disco since the title used for the discs spanning 1975-on-up is simply "Top Hits" - not to be confused, of course, with Rhino's other, similar series, "Top Pop Hits".]

No Beatles, Hurray!!!!!!!!

I still can't beleive it. America's number 1 band is a British group. Any music list without the Beatles is a good one. AMERICAN MUSIC RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Beatles?

Billboard 1964 without the Beatles? The biggest moment in rock history occurs, and it's neglected? The songs are good on this disc, though I agree with the criticism that there should have been more than ten. However, it's a serious oversight to not include the Beatles...