Letter-Neon Rainbow / Cry Like a Baby / Non Stop / Dimensions

Pretty much the complete recorded output by this seriously underrated -- and underappreciated -- 1960s Memphis group. The 16-to-19-year-old Alex Chilton is a stone wonder as lead vocalist and the band, in and out of sessions at American with the Memphis Boys, always lend him solid support. The Letter, Neon Rainbow, Cry Like a Baby, Choo-Choo Train, I Met Her in Church, Sweet Cream Ladies, Soul Deep are the best-known singles highlights, but every one of the four albums collected on these two discs offer a wealth of musical treasures. From great covers (Trains and Boats and Planes, I'm Your Puppet, I Shall Be Released, She Shot a Hole in My Soul), to Alex Chilton originals (I Must Be the Devil, Happy Song, I See Only Sunshine), to lost singles and B-sides (You Keep Tightening Up on Me, King's Highway, Lay Your Shine on Me), the Box Tops cooked up a mighty tasty Memphis soul stew. The group's cornball name and singles band reputation worked against their being taken seriously in the day; hopefully, collections like this one will work to reappraise their work and reputation. They should be held in the same high blue-eyed soul esteem as The Rascals and The Righteous Brothers. Highly recommended.

This 2 CD set has the four original albums by The Box Tops (TBT) from 1967-69 on the Bell label, plus several (mono) tracks from the same period. The sound is pretty clean without discernible compression. There's a 10 page booklet with notes from Keith Glass along with some period photos of the band. This set of albums gets 4 "stars" for the great performances and also for the fine songs, many written by Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham among others on all four albums. Some of the later album's songs are close to being "filler" but are still enjoyable for fans (like me) of TBT, so somewhere between 3 and 4 "stars" is for many people a good rating--to each his own on that subject.I think everybody has heard "The Letter" and "Cry Like A Baby" by now, which are classics of the blue-eyed soul style of singing that was so popular in the late '60s. Alex Chilton's voice sounded much older than his teenage performances of the songs (among others) and the Southern session players gave the music a solid and soulful sound that the band itself couldn't quite attain. But the playing was so solid, and along with some good songs and Chilton's vocals, gave the band a real identity. The band's first two albums were (arguably) the best simply because there weren't any songs like "The Letter" (among other hits) on the last two albums. But each album had some fine songs sung and performed well. Session musicians played on all four albums simply because the young band didn't have a strong sound on their own at the time, but the Memphis/Southern style music is still enjoyable.Disc 1 has the first two albums, "The Letter/Neon Rainbow" (tracks 1-12) from '67, and "Cry Like A Baby" (tracks 13-23) from '68. There's five extra tracks (in mono), "The Letter", "Cry Like A Baby", "I See Sunshine", "You Keep Tightening Up On Me", and "Come On Honey". Disc 2 has the albums "Non-Stop" (tracks 1-11) from '68, and "Dimensions", (tracks 12-21) from '69. There's two extra tracks included, "Since I Been Gone", and "Lay Your Shine On Me".While the band didn't last much more than two years or so (remember Big Star), they released several very fine singles (included here), plus the albums that each have overlooked songs that were very good if you're a fan (like me) of the band. Bottom line--it's nice to have the band's four albums in one nice, neat package--that collects there best work as released on the Bell label. If you're not a fan of the band a greatest hits package may be all you'll need and want. But for long time fans, having these four albums and attendant singles all together is a small prayer that's been answered.

I can only assume these 2 Box Tops' discs are mp3 (both are 81 1/2 minutes long), although I think they sound great. Nearly everything is stereo except for a few of the bonus tracks. Comes w/an extensive 24 page bio booklet; standard sized jewel case w/an inside swing front/back CD holder, which in turn slides into an outer box (w/song titles, composer, dates listed on back). Nearly complete discography of their 1st 4 albums, 1967-69, w/outtakes.

The music is great! Brings back old memories. All 4 albums are great excellent. Good 60s and 70s songs.

If you love this group,it doesn't come any better than this collection from Australian based Raven Records.You get A-sides,B-sides and all sorts of goodies in both Mono and Stereo.It is a musical feast:ear candy that allBT devotees have waited years for,but no longer.Fret no more about wether you can or cannot afford those OOP Sundazed discs from years ago 'cause they're all in one place now and oh so affordable!!Take my word for it(and all the other posts as well):this is the penultimate Box Tops set.Your "bread" will be well spent!!!

I bought this CD because it was recommended based on my previous purchase history of other music from this era. I wasn't too familiar with their music, other than from hearing "The Letter" on the radio. The CD quickly became on of my favorites. The sound quality is fairly good, and the songs nicely reflect the spirit of mid-Sixties pop music.

An excellent group of the Box Tops' albums...don't get any better than this! I've wanted to replace my long lost Lps of the Box Tops w/ a CD & could with this set. Excellent sound quality...even on my low end Cd unit.

all these albums by the Box Tops on cd very very good.

RAS , le coffret est arrivé au pied du sapin bien avant l'heure . Et en parfait état

Four albums all of which are high quality tunes sung by Alex Chilton who has a magnificent voice. I bought the last three originals in the sixties and loved them. This 2 cd selection includes singles with some b sides. There are so many stand out tracks, including one of my favourite songs of all time," Weeping Analeah". Their version of "Whiter Shade of Pale" is the best cover of this song by far. Not many bands in the sixties made albums with a glut of very good songs. The Beatles did. So did the Box Tops. Both recorded songs which still sound wonderful and fresh today. I have never been so pleased with a re-issue as I am with this collection.

Ah! The Box Tops... so many amazing memories. I used to spend every summer vacations on my uncle/aunt/cousins' house in San Francisco, and it was during the sixties, when I was a kid. So many amazing bands, Beatles, Hollies, Mamas and Papas, Stones, Dave Clark Five and on and on and on... and, of course, the Box Tops. These albums are great. Really great. Especially The Letter/Neon Rainbow, where every song is a gem. Amazing. The sound is excellent, Raven did a great job. Congrats to everyone involved to bring this music back to life and to Amazon to make it avalilable. Cheers!!!!!

Great cd 2 cd of the box top first 4 only downside is that the 2 sided cd holder in case was damaged hence why 3 stars are given. Would have given 5 had case not been damaged

Well, well, well: here they are: Alex and the boys with a league of their pop songs in the late sixties. Very beautiful package: 4 LPs on 2 CDs.Very listenable songs which led me through the sixties were my favourites especially their main chart songs such as "The Letter", "Cry Like A Baby", "I Met Her In Church", "Neon Rainbow" etc. They deserved more attention. It seems as they were underrated by a critic.Up with a finger for this choice!