American Rock 'n' Roll Classics, Vol. 1 lives up to its title. The disc is wall-to-wall classic artists and classic songs. Equal parts soul (
Freddie Scott's "Hey Girl,"
Jan Bradley's "Mama Didn't Lie,"
the Dells' "Oh, What a Night") and AM pop (
the Happenings' "See You in September,"
the Fleetwoods' "Come Softly to Me," and
Bobby Vee's "Take Good Care of My Baby"), the disc can be a somewhat schizophrenic listening experience. That's what the best pop stations were like in the '60s, however, and this record plays like a very entertaining hour of great '60s radio. The only misstep is the inclusion of
the Mamas & the Papas' "Words of Love" instead of one of their more recognizable hits.