Turtles PLAYLIST: VERY BEST OF THE TURTLES

Recording information: The Bottom Line, NYC (1991).
One of the truly great pop bands on the '60s, the Turtles brought together superb pop songwriting (both from within the group and from iconic tunesmiths such as Bob Dylan and Harry Nilsson), clever arrangements, excellent harmonies from group leaders Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, and a keen sense of humor. The group racked up an impressive number of hits during its heyday, including "Elenore," "Happy Together," "You Baby," and "She'd Rather Be with Me." Kaylan and Volman later performed with Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, and they recorded several albums under the name Flo & Eddie. Playlist: The Very Best of the Turtles is a budget-priced live album, recorded in 1991 at the Bottom Line in New York City, that features a latter-day version of the group, led by Kaylan and Volman but featuring no other original members. The set list includes many of their best-known hits with the Turtles, as well as a few numbers from their days as Flo & Eddie, performed in polished but irreverent fashion. ~ Mark Deming

• Format: CD
• Genre: Folk