The Turtles Release Vinyl Singles Box

THE TURTLES 45 RPM VINYL SINGLES COLLCTION FOR YOUR HOLIDAY AND GENERAL CONSIDERATION

This is the time of the year that seems to race by and before we know it, it’s the holidays and then New Year’s Eve. Why not give your readers a shopping suggestion before the Thanksgiving sales kick in? 60s pop enthusiasts, vinyl-philes and just plain old great music lovers of all ages will enjoy this new 45 boxed singles collection from iconic 60s band The Turtles. Even if you aren’t planning a holiday gift guide but are looking to expose your audience to some cool new vinyl, consider this fun new collection.

The band has released a box set of eight 7-inch vinyl singles celebrating their biggest hits from that decade. The Turtles 45 RPM Vinyl Singles Collection was recently released via FloEdCo/Manifesto Records. The collection includes the #1 hit, “Happy Together,” and the band’s top 10 cover of Bob Dylan’s “It Ain’t Me Babe.” Also included are other various singles which should have been hits. The Turtles music exists somewhere between early 60s pop and the psychedelia of the latter part of the decade. This collection provides an opportunity for today’s vinyl enthusiast to relive the songs the way they first appeared; as 7- inch singles.

The band was often compared, back in the day, to acts such as The Beatles, The Byrds, and The Lovin’ Spoonful but upon listening to the Turtles body of work there is something unique and avant-garde about the songs. The Turtles formed in Los Angeles in 1965 and quickly scored a hit with their Dylan cover. This debut was the first in a series of top 40 charting singles in 1965 (“Let Me Be”) and 1966 (“You Baby”). But it isn’t just the hits that are worth a listen; some of their most interesting and innovative singles were not hits.

Their second LP featured a single that didn’t chart, “Outside Chance.” The song is included in this collection and is a hidden gem written by the late Warren Zevon. This collection features both the instantly recognizable tracks as well as work by the band that deserves another look by aficionados of late 60s music.

This compilation of singles also includes the Ray Davies (Kinks) produced track, “Love in the City;” yet another example of a song deserving reexamination by music fans. Sometimes the moderate hits and non-hits shine as bright as the #1 smashes.
The Turtles have an interesting history beyond the five year duration of the band. After their five years together (with some personal reshuffles) the he band broke up in 1970 with founders Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman joining Frank Zappa’s The Mothers of Invention and subsequently striking out on their own again as Flo & Eddie. The duo also sang backup with T Rex and continued to be a force in rock music just outside the mainstream.

Their body of work is of particular interest today with the resurgence of interest in both pop bands and psychedelic rock from the late 60s and early 70s. The music is a precursor to bands today such bands as The Black Angels, Rain Parade, of Montreal, The Wytches and The Horrors. The music is as relevant today as 40 + years ago when it was released; in fact the intervening years have, if anything, burnished these tunes, demonstrating their timeless appeal. The Turtles featuring Flo and Eddie tour annually and their website can be viewed at http://theturtles.com/

Full box singles listing:
It Ain’t Me Babe #8 b/w You Don’t Have To Walk In The Rain #51
Let Me Be #29 b/w Love in the City #91
You Baby #20 b/w You Know What I Mean #12
Happy Together #1 b/w Grim Reaper Of Love #81
She’d Rather Be With Me #3 b/w Story Of Rock And Roll #48
She’ s My Girl #14 b/w Can’t I Get To Know You Better #89
Elenore #6 b/w Outside Chance NA
You Showed Me #6 b/w Sound Asleep #57