The Association – Greatest Hits! (1968/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

The Association – Greatest Hits! (1968/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 38:32 minutes | 859 MB | Genre: Pop
Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks.com | @ Rhino/Warner Bros.

Greatest Hits was originally released in 1968 and was the first compilation album by The Association. Since its debut (where it peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200), it has sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Greatest Hits was produced by Curt Boettcher, Jerry Yester, and Bones Howe.

Beyond representing the best in ’60s California pop, the Association blazed trails in album production and the folk-psychedelia genre. With the guidance of L.A. producers Bones Howe, Curt Boettcher, and Jerry Yester, the band deftly mixed airy harmonies, unobtrusive rhythm tracks, and subtle “Age of Aquarius” accents from harpsichords, Farfisa organs, fuzz-box guitars, trumpets, and bongos — at times, the sophisticated blend was held together by L.A. session players. And while the group successfully expanded their harmonic horizons on “Requiem for the Masses,” they also went a bit beyond their strengths with Jefferson Airplane-esque rockers like “Six Man Band.” Luckily, the majority of this hits collection focuses on the band’s dreamy combination of polished folk, limber vocal arrangements, and wide-screen instrumental backdrops. The summery program also includes chart-toppers like “Windy,” “Cherish,” “Along Comes Mary,” and “Never My Love,” along with progressive pop-and-harmony tracks like “No Fair at All,” “Everything That Touches You,” and “Time for Livin’.” A great introduction to the band’s prime work from the latter half of the ’60s. –AllMusic Review by Stephen Cook

Tracklist:
1. The Time It Is Today 02:20
2. Everything That Touches You 03:23
3. Like Always 03:09
4. Never My Love 03:13
5. Requiem For The Masses 04:11
6. Along Comes Mary 02:52
7. Enter The Young 02:47
8. No Fair At All 02:40
9. Time For Livin’ 02:49
10. We Love 02:28
11. Cherish 03:29
12. Windy 02:58
13. Six Man Band 02:13

Personnel:
James Gary Alexander – lead guitar, lead and backing vocals, koto
Jim Yester – rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals, harpsichord, piano, bells
Russ Giguere – rhythm guitar, backing and lead vocals, percussion
Terry Kirkman – recorder, lead and backing vocals, flugelhorn, tambourine, piano, percussion
Brian Cole – bass, backing vocals
Ted Bluechel, Jr. – drums, backing and lead vocals, percussion, bells, maracas, effects