All 30 of these mid-'60s tracks (six previously unissued) are drawn from the vaults of , producer, and the man behind and its subsidiaries. are the only name here that might instantly click for most browsers (and even they were pretty unknown outside of the Northwest in the 1960s, prior to their retroactive emergence as a cult band starting in the late '70s). The sound is frequently overrated, but this well-selected anthology does much to highlight the best aspects of the mini-style. Indeed it's the best compilation of the sort that does not include the few well-known tracks to emerge from the region during the era. It does unavoidably emphasize what compiler rightly terms the "pounders," but it selects some of the very best of the - "pounders," like ' and Some welcome diversity is on hand via several slower-tempo organ-based mid-tempo tunes, with 's specifically emulating . Future drummer turns up as lead vocalist on ' fine 1964 recording of more familiar as done by . Several of these groups, and indeed a half-dozen of the exact same tracks, show up on , but although that disc is respectable, this collection has the edge in quality. ~ Richie Unterberger