Spanky & Our Gang Greatest Hits

• Artist: Spanky & Our Gang
• Rating:
• Release Date: August 24, 1999
• Total Time: 38:37
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rock

Review

This 15-song compilation supplants a 12-song CD of the same name dating from the 1980s, which, in turn, was adapted from an LP from 1969. This time out, in addition to improving the sound somewhat, the producers have de-emphasized the cheerful, faux hippie pop sound of the group (though that is definitely represented) to show off some other sides of their output. All of the hits are here: "Sunday Will Never Be the Same," "Making Every Minute Count," "Lazy Day," "Sunday Morning" (in its hit version, not the interesting but bizarre outtake from the earlier hits collection), "Like to Get to Know You," "Give a Damn," "Yesterday's Rain," "And She's Mine," and "Anything You Choose." The real inspiration (and limitations) of this compilation lie in the other tracks, which include "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" and "Prescription for the Blues," the latter featuring Little Brother Montgomery, who taught Elaine "Spanky" McFarlane the song originally, and their live version of "For Lovin' Me," which features a quote from Sergie Prokofiev's "Lt. Kije Suite." And isn't it amazing how that piece of music manifests itself here and there in popular music, in locales such as this and Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "I Believe in Father Christmas," among others? On the down side, the producers have removed one gorgeous and playful number, "It Ain't Necessarily Bird Avenue" and "Three Ways From Tomorrow," the latter a brilliant showcase for guitarist/banjoman Lefty Baker and the closest thing to a heavy psychedelic guitar track that this group ever issued. One gets a broader overview of the group's sound, but one wishes that they could've seen fit to work at least those two songs in, if not the third "missing" track, "Commercial." ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Sunday Will Never Be the Same (Lyrics)	Terry Cashman, Gene Pistilli	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:59)
Making Every Minute Count		Spanky & Our Gang	(2:36)
Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?	E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, Jay Gorney	Spanky & Our Gang	(5:01)
Like To Get To Know You	Stuart Scharf	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:19)
Lazy Day (Lyrics)	Bob Hadley, George Fischoff, Tony Powers	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:09)
Prescription for the Blues	Little Brother Montgomery, R. Saunders	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:08)
Sunday Mornin'	Margo Guryan, Gregory Isaacs	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:56)
Stardust	Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish	Spanky & Our Gang	(4:03)
Anything You Choose	Stuart Scharf	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:51)
And She's Mine	Kenny Hodges	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:42)
Yesterday's Rain	Dave Koz, Evan Rogers, Lefty Baker, Carl Sturken	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:46)
Without Rhyme or Reason	Bob Dorough	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:33)
For Lovin' Me [Live]	Gordon Lightfoot	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:29)
Everybody's Talkin'	Fred Neil	Spanky & Our Gang	(3:16)
Give a Damn	Bob Dorough, Stuart Scharf	Spanky & Our Gang	(2:55)

Credits

Jimmy Wisner (Arranger), Andy McKaie (Compilation Producer), Bill Pitzonka (Liner Notes), Geary Chansley (Photo Research), Nigel Pickering (Vocals), Kenny Hodges (Guitar), Spanky McFarlane (Vocals), Junie Osaki (Design), Joe Sidore (Engineer), Jim Phillips (Assembly), Suha Gur (Remixing), Spanky McFarlane (Liner Notes), Andy McKaie (Compilation), Jim Phillips (Editing), Bill Levenson (Compilation Producer), John Seiter (Drums), Dick Kunc (Producer), John Seiter (Vocals), Joe Renzetti (Arranger), Malcolm Hale (?), Lefty Baker (Banjo)