Petula Clark CD Recommendation?

I need a good sounding Petula Clark CD which contains at least her 15 top 40 U.S. hits ... after a little research, I see there are a lot of choices ... any recommendations?

 

I have these two sets...I like them both!


This set was amazingly CHEAP! I got it from Disc Collector a while back..under $20.00!

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70305191102&sql=Adukcikckbb79



http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70305191102&sql=A7jpsa9wgu23h



both cover much Petula!

 

There must be a hundred Pet CD's, Chip, in and out of print, and probably not one is alike....just from memory, I can tell you there is a 2-CD set from the UK on the Snapper label that is kinda rough for the older tracks, but by the time you get to "Downtown" things perk up a bit, and I think those cuts tend to be stereo except for(have no idea why)"The Cat In The Window(The Bird In The Sky)."

One very interesting(and inexpensive)collection is a Warner Special Products deal from Oz titled GREATEST HITS that has quite a few MONO mixes that have turned up elsewhere, but for $8 I was surprised and delighted to get what was there. Those mixes are well worth having if you want a real trip down memory lane though, to be fair, the stereo mixes were fine, too.

Whatever you decide, there sure is enough Pet to go around, including, IIRC, an unreleased 1970 Lp that's pretty good(can't remember the title--yet to be shelved properly). She was a prolific lass...


ED

 

Re: Re: Petula Clark CD Recommendation?

"The Cat In The Window(The Bird In The Sky)." is in GLORIOUS STEREO on the 4 Cee Dee Set "The Classic Collection" I mentioned...

 

Thanks ... Michael ... Ed ... I'll keep my eyes peeled.

 

Cool Cat, somehow that Avatar fits ya!

mud-

 

Coming from you ... I am not sure how to take that remark ... how did you know that I have stripes?

 

Hey, it's a compliment! Seriously!

I knew you had stripes because you mentioned once that you were on parole!

mud-

 

My recommendations would be "Downtown: The Pye Anthology" (2CD, UK issue, 50 songs in total), and "Pet Songs", a budget comp from 1992, which I love because it has the version of "The Lights Of Night" that is on my old Warner LP (the UK CD reissue has a slightly different mix, perhaps an alternate take?).

You gotta be careful with Pet comps; some of them have utterly horrid sound quality.

 

Graham has a cool avatar too.

What kind of pooch is that, Graham?

mud-

 

Gee, Mud ... I told you that in strict confidence ... now everybody knows.

 

Damn! Me and my big mouth.

mud-

 

It's an English Bull Terrier (not to be confused with a Pit Bull).

 

I also have the 2CD Pye Anthology. Sound is OK.

However, for absolutely stunning sound this one can't be beat:

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70308160141&sql=Avt8m968ohepf

 

Graham, thanks. I wouldn't confuse that fella with a Pit Bull.

mud-

 

There is also the Petula Clark Anthology on Hip-O which has nice sound, 2 CDs, and spans her entire career except that it doesn't include any of her pre-Downtown recordings.

 

Yes nice collection and very good sound. I think it was mastered by Elliott Federman (is that right?). He's been doing very good work lately...

 

Dan Hersch without Bill Inglot did the mastering on the Hip-O collection. Avoid the GNP Crescendo compilation as it sounds lousy.

 

Right you are... I was thinking of something else. Still great sound...

 

The Elliott Federman mastered disc is the one I posted a link to above.

Pity it only has 12 tracks but the sound is amazing.

 

BMG Heritage recently issued this collection....

http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?style=MUSIC&pid=5742048&cart=154359717

It has a pretty complete overveiw of her American hits. Has anyone here heard it?

 

It's funny that you bring up this thread now. Just yesterday I was listening to a "new" Petula Clark 3-disc comp that I found at a Tower Records sidewalk sale for just five bucks. I was gonna post that I thought it sounded very good for being a cheapo BMG Australia import. Mostly (all?) stereo, some good ol' tape hiss in spots, and no compression that I can here (though I was listening in the car). Anyway, here's its AMG link...

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=MISS70305220158&sql=Afmdfylk3xpeb

 

Pet Clark Anthology

Hi Chip,

I've had a number of Pet Clark CD's and anthologies. I a/b'd them all and to my ears, the 2000 Pet Clark 2-CD Anthology "Downtown To Sunset Boulevard" sounds the best. You can't go wrong with this set.

Tom

 

Yeah, you can find that one cluttering up the bargain bins all over Sydney along with many other titles with similar packaging.

I've never listened to it. I guess it's the cheapo packaging!

 

I read your recommendation concerning "Downtown: The Greatest Hits of Petula Clark," and I was able to get a copy. You are absolutely correct- the sound is fantastic. I haven't heard anything that can match the quality. Thanks for the tip.

AJH