I'm posting this second lengthy post on the chance that something I say here or the links will cause someone reading to try some of the Everly Brothers recordings. I hope they will experience some of the same joy and awe that I have when they listen.

I've become something of an Everly Brothers completist. I have several box sets, including the 3 box sets from Bear Family.

I think there are dozens of stellar Everly Brothers' recordings, many more than their monster hits. I've included links to a few (non-hit) tracks from one CD to (hopefully) arouse curiosity.

My favorite album (of thousands) is by the Everly Brothers, "It's Everly Time" (1960).

I found my first vinyl copy (from the Netherlands) in the early 1980's.

Within a couple of years, it was clear to me that this was my favorite album. It has remained so to this day.

In the 1996 (?) Warners UK issued "It's Everly Time" (1960) / "A Date With The Everly Brothers" (1960) on CD, with a few bonus singles included, among them "Ebony Eyes", "Walk Right Back", and "Temptation".

Excluding greatest hits compilations, this is by far my favorite CD. These are their first two albums for Warner Brothers, and their 2 best albums on Warner Brothers.

The players are Nashville's "A" team, including Chet Atkins, Floyd Cramer, Buddy Harmon, Bob Moore, Hank Garland, etc.

The recording engineer was Bill Porter

These personnel are the same on both albums and they were each recorded in Nashville's RCA Studio "B".

The guitars and the drums are elevated in the mixes on "A Date With..."

The recording is exquisite, matching the sound of the vinyl album. I have used the vinyl and then the CD to audition speakers.

Though the recording equipment was rudimentary in 1960, these recordings are STUNNING on high end equipment (speakers) or high end headphones.

"Walk Right Back" is one of the final tracks (the singles follow the 2 albums). It features a rather complicated rhythm section and this track is presented with a preceding false start.

You listen to take 5, and then it hits you. You've just listened to 25 tracks with unbelievable musicianship (not just the Everly Brothers)

AND

they have all been LIVE studio recordings. No overdubs, no pitch correction.


It's mind blowing.


"It's Everly Time" is the perfect antidote to an "expressway parking lot".

It mellows you out.

These two albums, and especially "A Date With" with the elevated guitar and drum amplitude are clearly the blueprint the Beatles used for their initial albums.

There was only one single release (hit) from "It's Everly Time"; Don wrote "So Sad (to watch good love go bad).

Here are 3 songs from the album's remaining 11 tracks. These show the quality of tracks present on this album.

These internet mp3's pale in comparison to the incredible sonics on the Warners UK "It's Everly Time / "A Date With The Everly Brothers" CD.


"Sleepless Nights" was never released as a single by the Everly Brothers. Most Everly-heads (including me) feel this would have been a million selling single.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPkmQ525VHk "Sleepless Nights" (1960)


It isn't apparent on the mp3, but there is astonishing "air" in "Carol Jane" when Phil goes high on the harmony (Warners UK CD, high-end speakers / headphones).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azvlRMpnKGs "Carol Jane" (1960)


"Some Sweet Day" captures the vibe of "It's Everly Time". It features absolutely perfect guitar fills by Chet Atkins.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42DwLSPVxD0 "Some Sweet Day" (1960)

Here are two album tracks from the companion "A Date With The Everly Brothers" album on the CD.


"Donna Donna" has an astonishing mistake by the rhythm guitarist (probably Ray Edenton who was the BEST) 20 seconds in. God Bless them for keeping this take. This song includes killer lines and banal ones too. I posted this link because on the runout the Everlys are acappella and you can
clearly hear what they are doing, sliding from note to note, in perfect harmony. (!!!) They do the slide thing on "Stick With Me Baby" too, one of my all-time favorite EB recordings, also on "A Date With..."!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BJVqoqL8Yo "Donna Donna" (1960)


"A Change of Heart" is simple (one tune) song, but a beautiful one. On the first phrase the harmony is just better than everyone else. After that it's perfect. Punctuated by perfect guitar fills by Chet Akins in the first half. Then a key change and Floyd Cramer comes in with a beautiful piano part leading to a lovely piano coda.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSLFB5LmF7g "A Change of Heart" (1960)



Hopefully somebody out there hears something in these links and decides to investigate the Everly Brothers further.

I can't emphasize enough the sound quality of the Warners UK CD, especially as compared the sound over the internet.

Also the liner notes (booklet) are about as good as it gets!

Amazon shows the Warners UK CD at a little over $15, but as temporarily out of stock. I'm assuming this is because of Phil's death.

There is a 5 CD compilation on Amazon called "5 Classic Albums - Everly Brothers" on Amazon for a little over $13. This has the complete "It's Everly Time" and "A Date With The Everly Brothers" albums, the singles mentioned, and it appears nearly all of the Cadence Records recordings.

This is currently the #1 Pop / Rock /Oldies album in sales on Amazon and is also currently temporarily out of stock.

The label is "Real Gone". One of the reviews has all the tracks listed.

Many of the reviews comment on the great sound, but I have no idea if it is really great, or equal to the sound of the Warners UK release.

But the number of tracks and the price are astonishing.