The Very Best Of

With so many Archies' compilations flooding the bins, Very Best of the Archies [Cleopatra] (1999) is worthy of mention as it contains an adequate variety for enthusiasts desiring more than just their few hits. The bubblegum mastery of pop music magnate Don Kirshner is brought to life by a handful of professional studio pros, most notably Ron Dante (vocals/guitar), Andy Kim (vocals), Jeannie Thomas (vocals), and her replacement, Toni Wine (vocals). Viewers of the CBS-TV program The Archie Show, as well as the expanded Archie Comedy Hour (circa 1968/1969), will undoubtedly recall hearing these songs worked into the episodes, in much the same way that Kirshner had done during the early stages of the Monkees' multimedia project. While half a dozen LPs were issued between 1968 and 1971, the tunes selected for this collection are split between cuts derived from their second and third platters, Everything's Archie (1969) and Jingle Jangle (1969), respectively. Only the hit "Bang-Shang-A-Lang" has been included from the self-titled 1968 debut; likewise, "Over and Over" is the sole representative of their fourth effort, Sunshine (1969). Otherwise, this package provides all of the farfisa-organ driven, backbeat-intensive, syrupy love balladry that became the Archies' trademark. Among the best of the lot are the fun and slightly funky "Jingle Jangle," the up-tempo Bo Diddley rhythm during the chorus of "Hot Dog," as well as the obligatory chart-topper "Sugar, Sugar." Speaking of hits, conspicuously absent is "Who's Your Baby," which barely made it into the upper echelons of the singles chart, placing at number 40. Those seeking a more complete anthology should look for the Repertoire Records Best Of (2002) that exceeds this disc with an additional nine numbers. ~ Lindsay Planer|