MERCY, MERCY, MERCY (A COLLECTION)

Chicago's Buckinghams were one of the first examples of what music writer Eddie Gorodetsky later termed "goatee rock," a blend of British Invasion pop and Stax/Volt soul that had elements of both but didn't really sound much like either. This sound eventually transmuted into the jazz-tinged horn rock of Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, or Three Dog Night, however the Buckinghams were a much poppier group. The four big hits on this excellent 18-track compilation, the title track, "Kind of a Drag," Don't You Care," and "Hey Baby, They're Playing Our Song," are the kind of instantly familiar, yet not overplayed, singles that are the hallmark of a good oldies radio station. The other tracks, including a handful of rarities and unreleased cuts, are similarly soulful pop gems. The package includes copious liner notes, rare photos, and excellently remastered sound.

• Genre: Pop
• Format: CD
• Released: 02/01/2008