Show Goes on: The Very Best of Neil Sedaka

First off, always been familiar with Neil Sedaka's work since I was a kid in the 70s, but only decided to delve deeper when a friend told me he has a ton of his CDs & vinyl and might be his all-time fave artist, so I bought this superb collection as this 2CD UK collection is more diverse & comprehensive & career-spanning than any anthology released in the US...I also prefer artists (UK, UK or wherever) who have better UK collections as well...the only other anthology that covers his career in any sort of detail is the 8CD German Bear Family box called "Oh Carol" that focuses on 1955-1966...but this collection is career-spanning up to 2003 with 7 then-new songs, superb remastering & all original recordings from multiple labels...his RCA work AND MGM/Polydor UK/Universal material that was licensed to Rocket & Elektra AND recent indie work too!! Here are the details for each track...take note Bourbeau...CD1...1: "You" (great then-new song recorded in 2003...this set is from 2006)2: "Laughter In the Rain" (Original version, one of the most perfect beautiful songs & recordings ever made IMO, released 1974, title track from Polydor UK album "Laughter In The Rain"...the 1974 US album "Sedaka's Back" is a compendium compilation of songs from THREE UK albums, not two...1972's "Solitaire" (Kirshner/RCA), 1973's "The Tra-La Days Are Over" (recorded with 10cc on MGM, bought out by Polydor UK) & in their Strawberry Studios in Stockport, UK, & 1974's "Laughter In The Rain"...these 3 albums were never released in the US in their original form or track sequence, which is unfortunate...)3: "Shake A Hand" (then-new 2003 song #2)4: "Standing On The Inside" (from 1973's "The Tra-La Days Are Over")5: "The Show Goes On" (then-new song #3)6: "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" (1961 RCA single, from multiple compilations, key track on "Oh Carol", that 8CD box on Bear Family)7: "Lovely Leba" (delightful 2003 cut #4)8: "Love Will Keep Us Together" (1973 original, covered by thee Captain & Tennille, from "The Tra-La Days Are Over")9: "Been There, Done That" (2003 cut #5)10: "Oh Carol" (1959 RCA single, on the 8CD "Oh Carol" box)11: "I Fell In Love With A Dream" (2003 cut #6)12: "You Mean Everything To Me" (1960 RCA double A-side single with "Run Samson Run", on the "Oh Carol" box)13: "Laughter In The Rain" (surprisingly decent 1995 duet version with daughter Dara from "Tuneweaver")14: "Run Samson Run" (1960 RCA double A-side single, on the "Oh Carol" box)15: "Next Door To An Angel" (1962 RCA single, on the "Oh Carol" box)16: "Sad Eyes" (from 1974's "Laughter In The Rain")17: "Should've Never Let You Go" (1980 duet with Dara, from "In The Pocket", 3rd album on Elektra in the US, all those albums still on Polydor UK though, and none of them officially on CD, only bootlegs from vinyl issued)18: "Bad Blood" (1975 duet with Elton John, which IMO is similar to the Canadian band the Stampeders' "Sweet City Woman" from 1970/1971 & also directly influenced NYC dance/rock/pop band Scissor Sisters' breakout hit "Take Your Mama Out" in the early 2000's...this song is from Neil's 1975 Polydor UK album "Overnight Success" (always go by the original title) which Rocket licensed for the US & retitled "The Hungry Years"...both titles are actually good)19: "New York City Blues" (also from 1975's "Overnight Success"/"The Hungry Years")20: "That's When The Music Takes Me" (the live version from 1974's "Live At The Royal Festival Hall" on Polydor UK, the studio version from "Laughter In The Rain" & a #27 hit in the US)CD2...1: "Amarillo" (from 1977's "A Song", produced by Beatle producer George Martin...first on Elektra, a minor hit in the US, hitting #44, but HUGE in the UK!! And no, the album was never officially on CD, maybe Cherry Red should do a comprehensive Sedaka albums box on CD covering his Polydor UK period from 1973-1983...hint hint...with non-LP B-sides & unreleased material!!)2: "When You're Gone" (from 1997's indie "Tales Of Love")3: "The Hungry Years" (from 1975's "Overnight Succcess"/"The Hungry Years")4: "One Way Ticket (To The Blues)" (from 1959, the non-LP B-side of RCA single "Oh Carol"...on the "Oh Carol" box)5: "Queen Of 1964" (from 1975's "Overnight Success", replaced on "The Hungry Years" with "Tit For Tat", but on the CD reissue on Varese Vintage, is one of 4 bonus tracks, so the UK & US tracklistings are combined, like on the reissue of Nick Lowe's 1978 debut "Jesus Of Cool", retitled "Pure Pop For Now People" in the US)6: "I Go Ape" (1958 RCA single, on the "Oh Carol" box)7: "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (1975 slow "torch" rerecording, from "Overnight Success"/"The Hungry Years")8: "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" (1962 RCA single, his first #1 hit under his own name, on the "Oh Carol" box)9: "Solitaire" (the 1974 live version from "Live At The Royal Festival Hall", the studio version from 1972's "Solitaire")10: "Let You Walk Away" (1976, from "Steppin' Out" on Polydor UK, licensed to Rocket for the US)11: "Calendar Girl" (1960 RCA single, on the "Oh Carol" box)12: "(You Gotta) Make Your Own Sunshine" (from 1976's "Steppin' Out", a #52 hit in the US)13: "Inseparable" (from 1997's indie "Tales Of Love")14: "Rock & Roll Wedding Day" (from 1973's "The Tra-La Days Are Over")15: "Stairway To Heaven" (1960 RCA single, on the "Oh Carol" box, no not the Led Zeppelin song)16: "Betty Grable" (from 1974's "Laughter In The Rain")17: "Alone At Last" (from 1997's indie "Tales Of Love")18: "Going Nowhere" (from 1974's "Laughter In The Rain")19: "Our Last Song Together" (from 1973's "The Tra-La Days Are Over", the last song Neil co-wrote with Howard Greenfield, also covered by Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods, their last charting single)20: "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" (from 1975's "Overnight Success"/"The Hungry Years", again covered by the Captain & Tennille, who got another top 5 hit with it)21: "Little Devil" (1961 RCA single, on the "Oh Carol" box)22: "The Immigrant" (stunning song from 1974's "Laughter In The Rain", a #22 hit in the US, written for both John Lennon, who moved to NYC at that point, and also his parents)23: "The Other Side Of Me" (from 1973's "The Tra-La Days Are Over")The only things missing from this collection are 3 songs (3 very strange omissions)...his first-ever solo hit,1958's "The Diary" (not "I Go Ape", which flopped in the US), "The Diary" hit #14 in the US & influenced by Connie Francis & not letting Neil read her diary...why would she say yes & why would he ask?? Girls NEVER let boys read their diaries cuz it's private, jeez Neil!!! Haha!! The other two were sizable hit singles (considering the circumstances) from the not-promoted 1976 album "Steppin' Out"...the disco rock delight "Love In The Shadows" (hit #16 in the US & I totally forgot how this song went until I saw it on YouTube & I kinda remembered it) & his 2nd and last Elton John duet "Steppin' Out" (the rocker hit #36 in the US)...and nothing from his 1971/1972 cult Kirshner/RCA albums "Emergence" & "Solitaire" either, otherwise amazing & perfect...

I love this double-CD. Every song I wanted, is on it. I'd never heard the title track. Now, I set my car CD player to "repeat" and listen to it non-stop. It's sad. It's beautiful. I guarantee it will make you cry. But then, there's also "That's When the Music Takes Me." My word, what an energizing non-gospel gospel tune. The only proper way to listen is to crank it until the car vibrates and your ears hurt! "You," of course is always beautiful. The R&B version of "Laughter in the Rain" with Neil's daughter Dara is fun and a new (to me) spin on his timeless classic. I do slightly prefer CD #1 over #2. The second disc does feature some excellent Sedaka vocals. I marvel at his range and the strength of his voice. "I Let You Walk Away" is a powerful tune. "You Gotta Make Your Own Sunshine" is a bubble gum version of "That's When the Music Takes Me." But it's fun and you can't help but want to smile and sing along. "The Queen of 1964"...no words! lolol I'd love to know if it's based on a real person? Just be careful when you listen to this one. It got stuck in my head for 24 hours. 'Round and 'round I went with Stage Door Jenny. "Nobody wants an overaged groupie now." "Betty Grable" is a sweet, wistful tune. As a 12-year-old whose favorite singer was Doris Day, I can totally relate to this young man's infatuation with a 1940's glamour girl. The only thing missing on this double set is a classical composition (I love "Manhattan Intermezzo;" haven't yet heard "Joie de Vivre"). But still, this is about the most comprehensive compilation of Neil Sedaka's work, that I've seen offered on CD. It's worth every penny.

Some reviewers are complaining about sound quality. I have a Bose Sound Wave 4 and it picks up every sound. I find nothing wrong with the audio of this cd. I love it. I also have Neil's original R.C.A. recordings and any remakes sound as good as those recordings. Neil is perfectionist when it comes to his music and he would never short change or compromise his music to make a dollar. He is entertaining us thru this Damn paramedic Corona virus with daily mini concerts. Love the man and his music thru the decades. Thanks Ne

Mainly decent recordings but there are a couple of live versions which distort a little, e.g. Solitaire. The 60's tracks are usually the original versions, however I Go Ape is a re recording although still decent. You get plenty of tracks for your money especially as I bought mine used for very little.I do not know of the perfect Greatest Hits CD for NS, however I can recommend this one as it covers so many hits over a long period of time.See ASIN: B00005LN5S The Very Best Of, has original early hits, perfect sound quality in stereo including I Go Ape, which is usually a re recording or a terribly distorted original mono version..Also see ASIN: B00L9LVXE6 The Real... Neil Sedaka Box set has even more early hits up to 1972, decent sound, mainly stereo, except I Go Ape, which is a terribly distorted original mono version. I have done reviews of both, maybe worth reading them.Recommended and owned by me.

I bought this album for one specific track, 'Going Nowhere'. If you enter this on YouTube and listen to the late Lena Zavaronni perform this song you cannot be but impressed. Listen to the lyrics and they will leave you in no doubt about the relevance of this song to many of today's generation. Sedaka is on record as having stated that after he heard of the untimely death of a tortured and troubled soul that was Lena Zavaronni, he questioned if he could ever really perform this song again such was the excellence and power of her rendition! I recommend you listen to this performance and somehow I think the CD purchase will follow soon after!

Be warned: the first CD is fine, great and dandy. The second CD is appalling - every track has been over-cooked to the point where there is serious clipping of the sound, giving distortion and clicking artifacts. It's a great pity because this is a good selection of his works..

I Have Always Like Neil Sedaka And I Like His Song He Writes They Are Happy,Chirpy And Loving Song To Lisen To He A Very Good Song Wrigter.

An album that shows you just how successful and prolific a songwriter Neil Sedaka was. However, disappointed with the variable recording levels and final audio quality for some songs. I realise this album includes songs recorded over many years, but expected the quality to be consistent through digital remastering etc. Better quality and I would have rated as 5 stars.