Beyond representing the best in '60s California pop,
the Association
blazed trails in album production and the folk-psychedelia genre. With the guidance of L.A. producers
Bones Howe
,
Curt Boettcher
, and
Jerry Yester
, the band deftly mixed airy harmonies, unobtrusive rhythm tracks, and subtle "Age of Aquarius" accents from harpsichords, Farfisa organs, fuzz-box guitars, trumpets, and bongos -- at times, the sophisticated blend was held together by L.A. session players. And while
successfully expanded their harmonic horizons on
"Requiem for the Masses,"
they also went a bit beyond their strengths with
Jefferson Airplane-esque
rockers like
"Six Man Band."
Luckily, the majority of this hits collection focuses on the band's dreamy combination of polished folk, limber vocal arrangements, and wide-screen instrumental backdrops. The summery program also includes chart-toppers like
"Windy,"
"Cherish,"
"Along Comes Mary,"
and
"Never My Love,"
along with progressive pop-and-harmony tracks like
"No Fair at All,"
"Everything That Touches You,"
"Time for Livin'."
A great introduction to the band's prime work from the latter half of the '60s. ~ Stephen Cook