This double-disc, 50-track collection of the Shadows can only be recommended to avid collectors. After breaking off with singer Cliff Richard (they were his backing band), the Shadows chalked up numerous instrumental hits in the early '60s, including "Apache," "Man of Mystery," and "Kon-Tiki." They became the British equivalent of the Ventures. While the first disc is more than satisfying, the second disc takes a quick nosedive and consists mainly of filler along the lines of "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," "Theme from The Deer Hunter," "Nights in White Satin," and "Rodrigo's Guitar Concerto de Aranjuez." With the exception of Shadows fanatics, 50 Golden Greats would have been a much better value cut in half. By the way, the artwork for this set is absolutely hideous, especially coming from a huge corporation like EMI.
© Al Campbell /TiVo