The McGuire Sisters - The Anthology

Do you remember?

I was a teenager in the 1950s. When I heard one of the songs from the McGuire Sisters Anthology entitled, "Do You Remember?", I thought it was a good title for my review of their C.D.

The sound of the McGuire Sisters is one that I can compare in quality to the Andrews Sisters, The Four Lads, and The Four Freshmen, only to mention a few of the greats who mastered the art of close harmony.

Listening to their songs on "The Anthology of the McGuire Sisters" brought back a lot of fond memories from not only my high school days but college days and my "growing up years". Their music covered decades.

The quality of the music on their CD was as if it was just recorded yesterday. The sound is very clear and the orchestra was superb.

I will recommend this to anyone of any age with a Five Star review.

Bob Geluz
Gainesville, Virginia

August 3, 2008

Way Too Many Missing Hits For An Anthology - With A Qualifier

It seems there are two types of "anthology" collections on the market - those that give you ALL of an artist's hit singles and those that don't. This is one of the latter.

From 1955 to 1961 The McGuire Sisters - Phyllis, Christine, and Dorothy - had 30 charted pop hit singles and so, in an "anthology" containing FIFTY selections, one might reasonably expect to see all 31 hits plus a few selected uncharted B-sides or LP cuts. This omits FOURTEEN charted singles! Way too many for those of us looking for the hits, and way too many to warrant more than 3 stars for something trying to pass itself off as an anthology.

For the record, those missing are: Doesn't Anybody Love Me? [the b-side of It May Sound Silly and a # 11 Billboard Top 100 "follow-along" hit in spring 1955]; Rhythm 'n Blues (Mama's Got The Rhythm - Papa's Got The Blues], the b-side of Something's Gotta Give and a # 5 "follow-along" in June 1955; Give Me Love (# 95 Top 100 in November 1955); My Baby's Got Such Lovin' Ways (# 32 on the Billboard "coming up (cu)" charts in January 1956 b/w (Baby, Baby) Be Good To Me (# 34 cu); Missing [# 44 Top 100 in March 1956 - and isn't that ironic?]; In The Alps [the b-side of Weary Blues and a # 63 Top 100 billed to Lawrence Welk And His Champagne Music and The McGuire Sisters]; Endless [the b-side of Ev'ry Day Of My Life and a # 52 Top 100 in October 1956); Peace [the b-side of Summer Dreams and a # 85 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in May 1959]; Livin' Dangerously (# 97 Hot 100 in January 1960); The Last Dance (# 99 Hot 100 in August 1960); Tears On My Pillow (# 12 Adult Contemporary (AC)/# 59 Hot 100 in summer 1961); Just Because (# 99 Hot 100 in November 1961); and Truer Than You Were (# 30 AC in March 1966).

The most harmonious, melodious, female trio of the 1950s and we fans who grew up with them now have to search around for fourteen of their hits. However, for those of you who were not around (or were too young) when they were at their peak, make no mistake, this is a 5-star collection.
September 9, 2007

Childhood remembered

My parents had records of the McGuire Sisters that are now mine. I grew up on this music even though I was only in grade school. I can't wait to get this CD. April 24, 2006

SIMPLY FABULOUS!!

All the other reviewers have done a pretty good job of summing
up the McGuires' appeal, but I would like to add one comment--
these 3 women created the most beautiful harmonic blend of any
vocal group I've ever heard. Yes, some groups may be more
sophisticated, or more swinging, but no one has come close to
that vibrant, shimmering sound produced by Phyllis, Dottie and
Chris. The production is first-rate too. Just gorgeous!! August 16, 2004

Memories...

This set brought back a lot of memories. I was just a little kid in the 50's, but I'm surprised at how many of their hits I remember, especially Sugartime and Ding Dong (my parents had the singles) The McGuires personified the fifties, but in many ways transcended their era. Most of their stuff still sounds fresh today and even the dated stuff (can there be a sillier song than Ding Dong?) is still fun. Its too bad all their singles arent included (I've thought of 2 more b sides not included: Banana Split and Since You Went Away to School from Sugartime and Ding Dong respectively) But there are few duds on here. I never realized how versatile they were, adept at singing many different types of song styles. Their harmonies are great and so are the arrangements. Great fun for old fans and people discovering this great girl group of the fifties who are still alive and kicking. You also might want to order their 36 All Time Greatest Hits set, sold at Yesteryear Music and other sites. There are less songs, but there is a better ratio of hits to album cuts. There are also several songs not on here (Banana Split and Just Because) There is no booklet included or pictures. I bought both! March 4, 2004

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