Anthology (1961-1968) (CD)

With his urgent, keening voice and pathos-ridden songs, Gene Pitney had some huge hits in the early 1960s ("Town Without Pity," "Only Love Can Break a Heart"), all just a little off-kilter and sinister, and was by far the most substantive of the era's teen idols. He was equally successful as a songwriter for other artists, though. Ricky Nelson's "Hello Mary Lou" and the Crystals' "He's a Rebel" bore Pitney's name, as did songs recorded by everyone from Roy Orbison to Nick Cave. Along the way, the eclectic, unpredictable Pitney recorded albums of country music and Italian songs, and even played on an early Rolling Stones session. He died in 2006.

• Category:  Music  »  Oldies  »  '60s
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: January 1, 1988
• Label: Rhino Records (USA)
• UPC: 081227589622
• WAPI (Tower ID): 106394797
• Average Customer Review: There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #56920 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #812 in Oldies (See Top 100 Oldies Bestsellers)
• #208 in '60s (See Top 100 '60s Bestsellers)

Browse more products related to "Anthology"

Browse more products related to "Gene Pitney"

This set, with its self-explanatory title--ANTHOLOGY: 1961-1968-- provides a valuable service in compiling 16 of Gene Pitney's best moments from the '60s. Though Pitney is sometimes dismissed as a negligible teen-idol type, or criticized for his melodramatic delivery, his vocal range is quite impressive, and his emotionally charged performances can transcend theatrics to get at something genuine and heartfelt.

Pitney's biggest hits--"24 Hours From Tulsa" and "Town Without Pity," among them--are here, of course, along with other, lesser-known gems. All of it is infused with a wrenching sense of heartache and despair. Like Roy Orbison--to whom he is often compared--Pitney's singing is the epitome of romantic yearning, yet the most revealing aspect of this well-selected collection is Pitney's remarkable stylistic range, as witnessed on tracks ranging from the "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" to the middle eastern-inflected "Mecca."

There are no customer reviews yet. Be the first to write a review!

• Great Deals on CDs under $9.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic Albums all for under $10! Great Music for Everyone's Tastes!

• Great Deals on DVDs under $12.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic DVDs all for under $13! Great Movies, TV and DVD Specials for Everyone's Tastes!

• Great Deals on Books under $14.99

  New Releases, Bestsellers and Classic Books all for under $15! Great Reads for Everyone's Tastes!