Various Artist - The British Are Coming Vol 2 (2002)

Kicking off with the instantly recognizable "Wild Thing" by the Troggs, this 18-song collection gathers up some of the biggest non-Beatles or Stones hits of the British Invasion. Just check out this lineup: "Needles and Pins" by the Searchers, "For Your Love" by the Yardbirds, "She's Not There" by the Zombies, "All Day and All of the Night" by the Kinks, not to mention tracks by the Foundations, the Mindbenders, the Tremeloes, and Gerry & the Pacemakers. The producers of this CD come pretty darn close to a definitive study of the British Invasion; at the very least, they have put together a disc that is sure to brighten the day of anyone who likes '60s music. The producers were also kind enough to throw in a few relative obscurities to keep things interesting: The Marmalade's "I See the Rain" is a marvelous example of British psychedelic glory (it can be heard in a recent Gap commercial). "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" by the Move is nearly a perfect song, with its flowing harmonies and wall of guitars. Tracks by the early Status Quo, the Ivy League, and the Primitives round the disc out nicely. If you are a collector of British '60s music and already own all the songs here, it is still nice to have all these great songs together in one place. If you are a neophyte, this would be a very wise place to begin your journey. Highly recommended.