The Everly Brothers Album: “Heartaches & Harmonies [Box Set]”

Some Americans called the Beatles the "British Everlys". And the Beatles themselves cited the Everlys and their razor sharp harmonies a major influence. But listen to some of the lesser known material toward the end of CD 2 and on CD 3 and you'll hear not simply those trademark harmonies but a true stylistic prequel to the British Invasion.

The Everlys also lent substance to the British groups - even after the invasion was well underway. As one example, "Man with Money" was subsequently recorded by the Who and Wild Uncertainty.

A familiar feature of the boxed set is the "top-and-tail" - which reminds me of some of Paul McCartney's albums - perhaps the source of inspiration working in reverse. Listen to "Don't Let our Love Die" - the very first track, sung when Don and Phil were young teenagers. Then listen to it again as the very LAST track - some 40 years later.

Die-hard fans will enjoy the written information that come with the set, including a little about their father, Ike Everly; Chet Atkins taking them under his wing; their relationship with Felice and Boudleaux Bryant, who wrote so many of their smash hits; their association with the Crickets ("Walk Right Back" was written by Sonny Curtis) - there's plenty to interest you.

Any fan of the Everly's will not be disappointed with this comprehensive and lovingly compiled 4 CD set. Not only are nearly all the hits the duo produced included, but there are also many rare and previously unreleased tracks. The early tracks are the original Cadence recordings (not the remakes for Warner Bros) and sound fantastic in the excellent remastering. "Let it be me" appears in stereo for the first time. The later warners tracks have never sounded better and include such rarities as "man with money" "bowling green" and "love of the common people" Even on the later tracks the boys (both individually and together)show that they still had what it takes to make great music but unfortunately their time had passed.

The booklet is packed with informative track info. and revealing interviews with both Don and Phil. If only other compilations were put together with such love and care. I think Bill Inglot deserves an award for the work he and his team at Rhino do to allow fans of classic music to hear it the way it should be heard. In short, buy this one and you won't be sorry.

This compilation of Everly tunes is AWESOME! FANTASTIC! OUT OF THIS WORLD! I am thoroughly impressed with this set. This set starts out with their dad introducing them and their ages. Actually, the first song is quite cute for young boys but it is evidence of their blossoming talent. The first song is not a very good one, but is excellent for a beginning. The Everly's talent is quite evident from CD1/Track 1 right on through to CD4/Track 23. The booklet enclosed in this set gives a detailed description of their decades long career. This box set has all their hits that most of us are familiar with and some songs we probably never heard before. One song that I always thought was a beautiful Everly's ballad is So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad). In my opinion, this song is full of sadness and emotion and has the listener feeling what they are feeling in this song. I think that next to George Harrison's (and the Beatles) song Something, So Sad ranks right up there next to it. So Sad is one of the most beautiful love songs of emotion and feeling that has ever been written. This box set is a must for all true-blue Everly fans and even for those who aren't Everly fans. This is a superb compilation worthy of at least one listen. Guaranteed you will listen over and over again.

I would have appreciated more Cadence and early Warner Bros cuts on this 4 disc set...the later songs tho fine in their recasting into the sixties sound, then later into progressive country reveal the ongoing talent of the Everly's but dominate too much of the selections here...How could you leave off "Change of Heart" from A Date with the Everlys????

I've always loved the Everly Brothers' harmonies- for my money, Phil Everly sang the best high harmony in all of popular music. As others have said, almost every act which featured harmony took inspiration from the Evs, though no-one really matched them.

This is a wonderful box set; over 100 songs, spanning almost the entire career of the duo. From the earliest tentative songs, though the golden period of the 50s and early 60s, past the break-up and back together again, it's all here and it's all wonderful. Many of the songs will be familiar, but there are gems that never made the charts or sat on albums without ever getting much radio play here and they are amazing, too.

This is a great box set for sound and content. It's music everyone can enjoy, whatever your taste in popular songs. Very highly recommended.