The Everly Brothers - The Price Of Fame (7-disc set)

R.I.P. to Isaac Donald (Don) Everly yesterday at the age of 84, the last surviving member of the Everly Brothers (Phil Everly died in 2014) - if not THE greatest, certainly the most influential rock 'n' roll duo of all time. The Everly's close harmonies were a major influence on rock greats like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees, and especially Simon & Garfunkel. They hold the record for the most Top 100 U.S. singles by any duo, and trail only Hall & Oates as the duo with the most Top 40 hits. The Everly Brothers are recipients of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, have a star dedicated to them on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and have been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Musician's Hall of Fame (for Don's innovative rhythm guitar riff on their early hit "Wake Up, Little Susie"), the Country Music Hall of Fame, and of course the Rock Hall of Fame, where the group was included as part of the inaugural class of genre pioneers in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Everly Brothers at #33 on its list of "The 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time". 

(I list all of these superlatives because, although it seems the duo are all but forgotten today, they were the real deal, and no joke.) 

With their greatness basically pretty self-explanatory, I don't think I need to go into great length here with this posting on the background, whys and wherefores of The Everly Brothers.  I'll just cut to the chase, and pony up the music...

The duo had their first breakout hits on Cadence Records in the late 1950s, finding massive and widespread success with classic songs like "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up, Little Susie" (both 1957), "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Bird Dog" (both 1958).  

After three years at Cadence, the Everlys signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1960 and stayed with the label for a decade.  Their early years at Warners were their most successful, with their first label release, "Cathy's Clown", topping the charts and selling eight million copies.  Other early '60s Top Ten hits included "Walk Right Back" and "Crying In The Rain".  Although their star faded somewhat in America with the advent of the British Invasion, The Everly Brothers remained very popular and successful in the United Kingdom and Canada for the remainder of the decade.

Here for your listening pleasure is the Everly Brothers compilation The Price Of Fame, covering the first five years (1960-1965) the group was at Warner Bros., and including not only every release from that period, but a number of alternate takes and outtake sessions.  Every early huge label hit is here, along with re-recordings of some of their early Cadence music.  This is a massive set... but I feel it's an essential one for fans of the Everlys and for rock fans in general.

The compilation was put out by the celebrated German label and reissue specialists Bear Family Records on January 31st, 2006.  Since its a Bear Family release, you know it's going to be thorough!

Anyway, enjoy, and let me know what you think.  Thanks and farewell to you, Don - the choir in Rock 'n' Roll Heaven just got a little better.  All the best to you and your brother, wherever you are.

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