The Turtles - The Complete Original Albums Collection (2016) {6CD Set FloEdCo MFO 48047 Official Digital Download rec 1965-70}

Judging from their radio hits, the Turtles were one of the best American pop bands of the '60s, crafting a series of engaging singles that were tuneful, witty, and fueled by a potent mix of Brill Building professionalism and knowing musical experimentation. But while one could certainly get a perspective on their genius through hits like "Happy Together," "Eleanor," "She's Rather Be with Me," and "You Baby," it was on their albums (and the B-sides of their 45s) where they let their imaginations run free and cut their wittiest and most ambitious material.

The Complete Original Album Collection is just what the title suggests, a box set that includes the five albums the Turtles recorded during their original 1964 to 1970 run (1965's It Ain't Me Babe, 1966's You Baby/Let Me Be, 1967's Happy Together, 1968's The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands, and 1969's Turtle Soup), as well as 1970's Wooden Head, a set cobbled together from unreleased material that emerged just as the band and its label were flaming out. The first album is dominated by the band's early folk-rock influences (it includes four songs written by Bob Dylan, as well as P.F. Sloan's very Dylan-esque "Eve of Destruction"), while You Baby/Let Me Be and Happy Together find them celebrating their command of the pop single, as well as Al Nichol's superb guitar and keyboard work and the outstanding harmonies and songwriting of leaders Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan. The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands is the group's masterwork, a hilarious and remarkably accomplished set in which they impersonated a dozen different acts in just as many styles. And while Turtle Soup was recorded during a chaotic time for the Turtles, it's a mature and thoughtful album featuring some splendid songs and sympathetic production from Ray Davies of the Kinks. For this set, the first three Turtles albums are presented in both their stereo and mono mixes (the differences in the mixes are usually minimal, though obsessives will be glad they're both available), while the other discs feature the original albums along with a healthy serving of B-sides, rarities, demos, and alternate takes. For some people, this box set may be more Turtles than they want or need, and those folks are advised to either pick up the individual albums they favor, or get the concurrently released compilation All the Singles. But despite its bulk, The Complete Original Album Collection is a breezy and entertaining collection all the way through, and this music really does rank with the best, smartest, and wittiest pop music of the final half of the '60s. The Turtles were a unique band, and this set is joyous proof.

Track Listing

It Ain’t Me Babe

1. WANDERIN’ KIND (MONO)
2. IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (MONO)
3. YOUR MAW SAID YOU CRIED (MONO)
4. EVE OF DESTRUCTION (MONO)
5. GLITTER AND GOLD (MONO)
6. LET ME BE (MONO)
7. LET THE COLD WINDS BLOW (MONO)
8. IT AIN’T ME BABE (MONO)
9. A WALK IN THE SUN (MONO)
1o. LAST LAUGH (MONO)
11. LOVE MINUS ZERO (MONO)
12. LIKE A ROLLING STONE (MONO)
13. WANDERIN’ KIND (STEREO)
14. IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (STEREO)
15. YOUR MAW SAID YOU CRIED (STEREO)
16. EVE OF DESTRUCTION (STEREO)
17. GLITTER AND GOLD (STEREO)
18. LET ME BE (STEREO)
19. LET THE COLD WINDS BLOW (STEREO)
20. IT AIN’T ME BABE (STEREO)
21. A WALK IN THE SUN (STEREO)
22. LAST LAUGH (STEREO)
23. LOVE MINUS ZERO (STEREO)
24. LIKE A ROLLING STONE (STEREO)

You Baby

1. FLYIN’ HIGH (MONO)
2. I KNOW THAT YOU’LL BE THERE (MONO)
3. HOUSE OF PAIN (MONO)
4. JUST A ROOM (MONO)
5. I NEED SOMEONE (MONO)
6. LET ME BE (MONO)
7. DOWN IN SUBURBIA (MONO)
8. GIVE LOVE A TRIAL (MONO)
9. YOU BABY (MONO)
10. PALL BEARING, BALL BEARING WORLD (MONO)
11. ALL MY PROBLEMS (MONO)
12. ALMOST THERE (MONO)
13. FLYIN’ HIGH (STEREO)
14. I KNOW THAT YOU’LL BE THERE (STEREO)
15. HOUSE OF PAIN (STEREO)
16. JUST A ROOM (STEREO)
17. I NEED SOMEONE (STEREO)
18. LET ME BE (STEREO)
19. DOWN IN SUBURBIA (STEREO)
20. GIVE LOVE A TRIAL (STEREO)
21. YOU BABY (STEREO)
22. PALL BEARING, BALL BEARING WORLD (STEREO)
23. ALL MY PROBLEMS (STEREO)
24. ALMOST THERE (STEREO)

Happy Together

1. MAKIN’ MY MIND UP (MONO)
2. GUIDE FOR THE MARRIED MAN (MONO)
3. THINK I’LL RUN AWAY (MONO)
4. THE WALKING SONG (MONO)
5. ME ABOUT YOU (MONO)
6. HAPPY TOGETHER (MONO)
7. SHE’D RATHER BE WITH ME (MONO)
8. TOO YOUNG TO BE ONE (MONO)
9. PERSON WITHOUT A CARE (MONO)
10. LIKE THE SEASONS (MONO)
11. RUGS OF WOODS AND FLOWERS (MONO)
12. MAKIN’ MY MIND UP (STEREO)
13. GUIDE FOR THE MARRIED MAN (STEREO)
14. THINK I’LL RUN AWAY (STEREO)
15. THE WALKING SONG (STEREO)
16. ME ABOUT YOU (STEREO)
17. HAPPY TOGETHER (STEREO)
18. SHE’D RATHER BE WITH ME (STEREO)
19. TOO YOUNG TO BE ONE (STEREO)
20. PERSON WITHOUT A CARE (STEREO)
21. LIKE THE SEASONS (STEREO)
22. RUGS OF WOODS AND FLOWERS (STEREO)

The Turtles Present Battle of the Bands

1. THE OPENING: THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS BONUS TRACKS
2. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER
3. ELENORE
4. TOO MUCH HEARTSICK FEELING
5. OH DADDY!
6. BUZZSAW
7. SURFER DAN
8. I’M CHIEF KAMANAWANALEA (WE’RE THE ROYAL MACADAMIA NUTS)
9. YOU SHOWED ME
10. FOOD
11. CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT
12. THE CLOSING: EARTH ANTHEM (ALL)

BONUS TRACKS

13. SHE’S MY GIRL
14. CHICKEN LITTLE WAS RIGHT (SINGLE VERSION)
15. SOUND ASLEEP
16. UMBASSA AND THE DRAGON
17. THE STORY OF ROCK AND ROLL
18. CAN’T YOU HEAR THE COWS
19. THE LAST THING I REMEMBER (THE FIRST THING I KNEW) (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
20. THE OWL
21. TO SEE THE SUN
22. EARTH ANTHEM (ALTERNATIVE VERSION)
23. BATTLE OF THE BANDS RADIO SPOT

Turtle Soup

1. COME OVER
2. HOUSE ON THE HILL
3. SHE ALWAYS LEAVES ME LAUGHING
4. HOW YOU LOVE ME
5. TORN BETWEEN TEMPTATIONS
6. LOVE IN THE CITY
7. BACHELOR MOTHER
8. JOHN & JULIE
9. HOT LITTLE HANDS
10. SOMEWHERE FRIDAY NIGHT
11. DANCE THIS DANCE WITH ME
12. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WALK IN THE RAIN

BONUS TRACKS

13. GOODBYE SURPRISE
14. LIKE IT OR NOT
15. THERE YOU SIT LONELY
16. CAN I GO ON
17. YOU WANT TO BE A WOMAN
18. IF WE ONLY HAD THE TIME
19. DANCE THIS DANCE (DEMO)
20. COME OVER (DEMO)
21. HOW YOU LOVE ME (DEMO)
22. STRANGE GIRL (DEMO)
23. MARMENDY MILL (DEMO)
24. TURTLE SOUP RADIO SPOT

Wooden Head

1. I CAN’T STOP BONUS TRACKS
2. SHE’LL COME BACK
3. GET AWAY
4. WRONG FROM THE START
5. I GET OUT OF BREATH
6. WE’LL MEET AGAIN
7. ON A SUMMER’S DAY
8. COME BACK
9. SAY GIRL
10. TIE ME DOWN
11. WANDERIN’ KIND
12. YOU BABY (1967 STEREO MIX)
12. YOU BABY (1967 STEREO MIX)
13. SO GOES LOVE
14. MAKIN’ MY MIND UP (1966 STEREO VERSION)
15. IS IT ANY WONDER?
16. LET ME BE (1967 STEREO MIX)
17. GRIM REAPER OF LOVE
18. IT AIN’T ME BABE (1967 STEREO MIX)
19. CAN I GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER
20. OUTSIDE CHANCE
21. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
22. CAT IN THE WINDOW
23. WE’LL MEET AGAIN (ALTERNATE TAKE)
24. THE TURTLES! GOLDEN HITS RADIO SPOT