Music » British Invasion Music

With his thick British accent and schoolboy good looks, singer Peter Noone carried Herman's Hermits through a string of '60s hits. From the swooning romanticism of "There's a Kind of Hush," to the bubblegum bop of "Into Something Good," to the quirky novelty of "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," The Best of Herman's Hermits gathers some of the Hermits' most memorable moments. Noone brought an undeniable charm to songs like "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter," regardless of the hokey lyrics. One of the more innocent bands of the British Invasion, Herman's Hermits made contemporary music seem safe with "Listen People," "Silhouettes," and "Wonderful World." "The End of the World" remains one of the all-time great breakup songs, made all the more maudlin by Noone's heartbroken delivery. --Steve Gdula

While they're best remembered for "House of the Rising Sun," the Animals had more than one track. What about "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" and "We've Gotta Get Out of this Place," to name but two, as well as a later incarnation's "San Franciscan Nights," Eric Burdon's ode to the flower power of 1967? Always rough and ready, the Animals were a blues band from Newcastle who never looked completely comfortable in their suits, but who nonetheless produced some great pieces of music--although whether there was ever quite enough to fill an entire album you have to judge for yourself. --Chris Nickson

Release Date: 2002-03-26, Audio CD, Sony

21 really hard-to-find HIGH-CHARTING HITS! Sixteen of these songs made the Top 20. Six tracks (**) making their U.S. CD or stereo debut. All tracks digitally mastered from the best available analog sources (master tapes in most cases), all but 9 in TRUE STEREO! Detailed 8-page booklet. A must for collectors & sixties enthusiasts.

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007.

In many respects, this relatively condensed package contains everything you need by the duo that's been called "the Everly Brothers of the British Invasion," including all the American hits--from the four that Paul McCartney wrote for them (you see, Peter Asher's actress sister, Jane, was Macca's steady gal for years) to the Buddy Holly cover, their take on Del Shannon's timeless "I Go to Pieces," and their foray into music-hall schtick via "Lady Godiva" and "Knight in Rusty Armor." Rhino's "best of" has 10 additional tracks--including the duo's self-penned nonhits--but that may be for completists only. --Bill Holdship

Greatest Hits is the budget option for those who've concluded that two discs of Donovan is a disc too many and zero is one too few. Troubadour, Sony's 1992 Donovan box set, boasts nearly three times the tracks this 15-song single-disc retrospective offers, but Greatest Hits delivers what it promises: "Colours" and "Catch the Wind" from his folkie phase and "Mellow Yellow," "Sunshine Superman," and "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" from the lad's best-pal-a-flower-ever-had period. Also included are plenty more catchy folk-rock hits cut between 1964 and 1970 as well as four bonus tracks, including the delightfully earnest "Atlantis" and "Barabajagal," with the celebrated first-edition Jeff Beck Group providing backing. Donovan's blissed-out liner notes ("Whatever you think this song is about, it probably is") round out the package quite quaintly. --Steven Stolder

Release Date: 2001-08-21, Audio CD, Sanctuary Records

Sensing that the Beatles, Stones, and Who were radically transforming rock music by turning it literate and conceptual, Ray Davies decided the Kinks should be his vehicle to explore his unusual longing for a simpler time when the English empire was not in decline. A reliance on English music hall tradition and sentiments indicated in titles such as "Last of the Steam-Powered Trains," "Picture Book," and "Village Green" clearly show Davies's nostalgia streak. Davies's singing has always been rough and non-Kinks fans may have trouble getting past his sloppy pitch. But for those listening closely, the tales are one of a kind. --Rob O'Connor

Release Date: 2001-08-21, Audio CD, Sanctuary Records