20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of the Mills Brothers

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It might not strike one listening to the music on this collection--smoothly crafted, perfectly harmonized pop often set to gently loping swing rhythms--that the Mills Brothers were actually outstanding pioneers of black music. Their close harmony work, based on the barbershop quartets of a previous era, were an innovation in '30s popular music, arguably laying the groundwork for '50s doo-wop and by extension even the music of the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync (but don't hold that against them!). This collection serves as a good introduction to the Mills Brothers' legacy, serving up a dozen of their infectious hits, a few of which ("Lazy River," "You Always Hurt the One You Love") still stand among the definitive renditions of the classic American songbook. And what other band has had a seven-decade career (their sons, nephews, and grandsons now filling the ranks), scoring Top 40 hits ("Paper Doll" and "Cab Driver") 46 years apart? --Jerry McCulley --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Paper Doll
Lazy River
You Always Hurt The One You Love
Till Then
Across The Alley From The Alamo
I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)
Nevertheless (I'm In Love With You)
Be My Life's Companion
The Glow Worm
Standing On The Corner
Cab Driver

Amazon.com

It might not strike one listening to the music on this collection--smoothly crafted, perfectly harmonized pop often set to gently loping swing rhythms--that the Mills Brothers were actually outstanding pioneers of black music. Their close harmony work, based on the barbershop quartets of a previous era, were an innovation in '30s popular music, arguably laying the groundwork for '50s doo-wop and by extension even the music of the Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync (but don't hold that against them!). This collection serves as a good introduction to the Mills Brothers' legacy, serving up a dozen of their infectious hits, a few of which ("Lazy River," "You Always Hurt the One You Love") still stand among the definitive renditions of the classic American songbook. And what other band has had a seven-decade career (their sons, nephews, and grandsons now filling the ranks), scoring Top 40 hits ("Paper Doll" and "Cab Driver") 46 years apart? --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

Great Singers..........2006-09-01

The Mills brothers were a great singing group, but their style was heavily influenced by american culture, as opposed to say, the Ink Spots, whose style was totally original and arguably more influential. However, the Mills brothers are great harmonizers.

Fun music.......2002-08-31

This is a great CD to cheer yourself up with. The Mills Brothers are always good, and these songs are some of their best. Buy it and save it for those days when things feel bad...you will be whistling by the end.

"one of the oldest and long-lasting acts".......2000-04-14

Originally billed as "Four Boys and a Guitar", John Mills Sr. and is four sons John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald grew into one of the oldest and long-lasting acts in American popular music. His sons learned close harmony and the knack to immulate musical instruments with their voices and began broadcasting over Cincinnati radio stations in the late '20s.

In 1943 came one of their biggest hits - "PAPER DOLL" a sweet and intimate ballad stayed twelve weeks on top of the charts, sold six million records plus sheet music. The group made appearances in several films during the early '40s, and hit number one again in 1944 with "YOUR ALWAYS HURT THE ONE YOU LOVE". Another chart topper - "THE GLOW WORM" (1952) - plus additional hits with - "BE MY LIFE'S COMPANION" (1951) and "CAB DRIVER" (1967) which reached the charts, competing with rock n' roll groups such as The Beatles and of course "The King"-Elvis.

"The 20th Century Masters" presents another "The Millenium Collection" in an ongoing series featuring top artists and groups of our time in musical history. No other label has been more supportive of the talent and legacy that has made American Music the most popular in the world today.

Total Time: 34:26 on 12 Tracks/MCA Records - 088 112 228 2 (2000)

Almost Perfect.......2000-03-25

I would've given this collection five stars if it weren't for the last four songs. I'm something of a purist when it comes to the Mills Brothers and much prefer the "four boys and a guitar" style of their early work. On songs like "Paper Doll", and "Across the Alley from the Alamo" the brothers sound fantastic. Unfortunately, classics like "Glow Worm" are lost amidst the sound of the big band behind them. The version of "Cab Driver" on this album is apparently from their "country" period. I preferred earlier versions much more. The album is worth buying for the first seven songs alone, but look elsewhere if you want to hear the rest as they should be done.

Music:

Music

Music