HARD TO FIND 45'S ON CD 10 / VARIOUS

Audio Mixer: Mark Matthews. Liner Note Author: Greg Adams . Recording information: 1960-1965. These Hard to Find '45s collections from Eric records are flat-out great. They are crazy good, and Vol. 10: 1960-1965 is no exception. In typical Eric style, the songs on Vol. 10 range from the good to the great, and the extensive liner notes make for absolutely fascinating reading. From crooner Adam Wade's decision to drop a career in biochemistry to pursue singing and acting, to the rumor that Barry Young sounded so much like Dean Martin that Dino used his considerable Ratpack power to squelch Young's career before it had a chance to really take off, the liner notes are so much fun that they hold equal entertainment value with the music. That's a high compliment, too, since the music here is so darn good. Andrea Carroll's achingly cute "It Hurts to Be Sixteen," Dorsey Burnette's goofily religious "There Was A (Tall Oak Tree)," Harold Dorman's own take on his mega-hit (for everyone else) "Mountain of Love," James Ray's sweet and swaggering "If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody" and Detroit's Dynamics' exuberant roof-raiser "Misery" are all fantastic and absolutely required listening. All of the tunes have been lovingly remastered and sound better here than anywhere else. Kudos to the folks at Eric for taking the time and care to present these songs in the best possible light. Indispensable. ~ J. Scott McClintock