What does it sound like?:

The Ace label make the best compilations around. I’ve decided to just set up a standing order as they hoover up so much of my spare cash. This latest girltastic edition ticks all the boxes – excellent sleeve notes, great images and unknown (to me) tunes that become instant favourites. Elkie Brooks delivers a Northern Soul banger with ‘The Way You Do the Things You Do’ , a Marianne Faithful b-side ‘That;’s Right Baby’ which is a brassy finger clicking gem, Dana Gillespie sweetly saying ‘No,No,No’ with little James Patrick Page on guitar. The Orchids deliver the title track in a Spectoresque stomp with tons of attitude and sexual freedom expressed in ‘Don’t Make Me Mad’ and The Exceptions simply state ‘I love you…what more do you want?”. Twinkle’s ‘Golden Lights’ is probably the most well known track here thanks to a crappy Smiths cover and Jean Martin’s ‘Save The Last Dance For Me’ sounds so much like Helen Shapiro you’ll be asking for a DNA test. Beryl Marsden from Liverpool (don’t know if she’s related to the Pacemakers fella) is a bloody firecracker of a singer who unfortunately wouldn’t play the chart game and just wanted to rock n roll. A chronological approach is ditched in favour of a mix of songs that works and flows beautifully. If any of this sounds intriguing, Just get your wallet and buy it – you are powerless to resist.

What does it all *mean*?

This mix of ballads, beat babes and dance tunes is a great snapshot of the lesser known side of the sixties.

Goes well with…

Some coffee with froth, daddio.

Release Date:

Might suit people who like…

being surprised and finding new things in music they thought they knew so well. For sound nerds, most of the tracks are in mono to get that Dansette in your hip Chelsea pad vibe.