I’ve listened to a number of AM GOLD compilations (you can read my review of 1967 here, 1968 here, 1976 here, and 1977 here. AM GOLD 1965 from 1994 features plenty of hits from the mid-1960s but dodges most of the British Invasion groups from that era: no Beatles, Stones, Kinks, Who, etc.

The first James Bond film I ever saw was Goldfinger. When the soundtrack to Goldfinger came out in 1965, I bought it and wore out the groves!

“Movie producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman allowed him [John Barry] to write the theme song for Goldfinger in addition to the soundtrack.^[1] Barry created the melody of the song before drafting the lyrics with the help of Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse.^[2] The theme was first sung by Newley at a demo session on 14 May 1964. At the behest of Barry, Shirley Bassey was chosen to sing the track. On Bassey, Barry was quoted saying ‘Nobody could have sung it like her; she had that great dramatic sense.’ The theme was recorded on 20 August 1964 after an all-night session in the recording studio.^[3] The session was produced by EMI in-house producer George Martin, who also was the Beatles‘ producer at the time. Guitarist Vic Flick, who played on the track, recalled at a 2012 Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences salute to the music of James Bond that Bassey was having difficulty getting a proper take. Martin spoke to her and then over the recording baffle her brassiere came flying. She nailed it on the next take.” (Wikipedia]

Peter and Gordon don’t show up on many of the compilation CDs but they’re here with “I Go To Pieces.”

“Do You Believe in Magic” by The Lovin’ Spoonful still gets regular airplay on our local Oldies radio station, as does The Seekers’ “I’ll Never Find Another You.” I remember the Smothers Brothers singing this song as”I’ll Never Find Another Ewe.”

Mix in some Motown classics like The Temptations’ “My Girl” and Smoky Robinson and The Miracles’ “Track of My Tears” and overall this may be the best of the AM GOLD series. Do you remember these songs? Any favorites here? GRADE: A-

TRACK LIST:

1	Sonny And Cher*–	I Got You Babe Music By, Lyrics By – Sonny Bono	3:12
2	Petula Clark–	Downtown Music By, Lyrics By – Tony Hatch	3:05
3	Jackie DeShannon–	What The World Needs Now Is Love Lyrics By – Hal David Music By – Burt Bacharach	3:11
4	The Temptations–	My Girl Music By, Lyrics By – Ronald White, William Robinson*	2:43
5	Peter And Gordon*–	I Go To Pieces Music By, Lyrics By – Del Shannon	2:22
6	Wayne Fontana And The Mindbenders*–	Game Of Love Music By, Lyrics By – Clint Ballard Jr.	2:08
7	Tom Jones–	What’s New Pussycat? Lyrics By – Hal David Music By – Burt Bacharach	2:06
8	The Lovin’ Spoonful–	Do You Believe In Magic Music By, Lyrics By – John Sebastian	2:05
9	The Beach Boys–	California Girls Music By, Lyrics By – Brian Wilson	2:34
10	Barbara Lewis–	Make Me Your Baby Music By, Lyrics By – Helen Miller, Roger Arkins	2:32
11	The Righteous Brothers–	You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ Music By, Lyrics By – Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Phil Spector	3:44
12	The Miracles–	The Tracks Of My Tears Music By, Lyrics By – Marv Tarplin, William Robinson, Warren Moore	2:55
13	Gary Lewis And The Playboys*–	This Diamond Ring Music By, Lyrics By – Al Kooper, Bob...

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