The Brook Brothers - Warpaint - The Pye Anthology (2001)

The Brook Brothers, England's answer to the Everly Brothers, scored their biggest hit with a cover of an obscure Barry Mann song titled "War Paint." With their superior remake, the brothers climbed to the British Top Five and created one of the most memorable hits of early British rock & roll. War Paint: The Pye Anthology is a two-disc set that reissues all of the brothers' recordings for the label -- a catalog of Everly Brothers soundalikes so well-produced and well-performed that the anthology easily ranks among the best in Castle's Pye series. The first disc rounds up 13 singles from 1960-1963, including the group's five British hits. All of the Brook Brothers' hits are covers of American songs by artists such as the Crickets, Shelley Fabares, Bobby Vinton, and Eddie Hodges, but their interpretations are so fresh and energetic, they often equal or even transcend the originals. Their arrangement of "One Last Kiss" from Bye Bye Birdie, for example, makes Bobby Vee's rendition seem limp by comparison. The non-hits and B-sides, too, are mostly covers of American hits, although the brothers penned a handful of originals and recorded British songs such as Tony Hatch's "Tell Tale." The second disc contains all 14 songs from The Brook Brothers Album (1961), which boasts the brothers' interpretations/updates of pop oldies ("The Trolley Song"), classic country hits ("Please Help Me, I'm Falling"; "Half as Much"), current hits (Gene Pitney's "I Wanna Love My Life Away") and the original song "I Love Girls." Two alternate takes of singles from the first disc appear at the end as bonus tracks. Recommended for Everly Brothers fans, who are certain to wonder why "War Paint" didn't cross the pond and become an American hit as well.

Tracklist:
1.01 - The Brook Brothers - Say the Word (2:27)
1.02 - The Brook Brothers - Everything But Love (2:28)
1.03 - The Brook Brothers - Warpaint (1:59)
1.04 - The Brook Brothers - Sometimes (1:47)
1.05 - The Brook Brothers - Little Bitty Heart (1:59)
1.06 - The Brook Brothers - Tell Her (2:04)
1.07 - The Brook Brothers - Ain't Gonna Wash for a Week (2:00)
1.08 - The Brook Brothers - One Last Kiss (2:08)
1.09 - The Brook Brothers - Married (2:13)
1.10 - The Brook Brothers - I Love Girls (2:12)
1.11 - The Brook Brothers - He's Old Enough to Know Better (1:46)
1.12 - The Brook Brothers - Win or Lose (1:48)
1.13 - The Brook Brothers - Tell Tale (2:11)
1.14 - The Brook Brothers - Too Scared (1:49)
1.15 - The Brook Brothers - Just Another Fool (2:01)
1.16 - The Brook Brothers - Double Trouble (2:18)
1.17 - The Brook Brothers - Welcome Home Baby (2:01)
1.18 - The Brook Brothers - So Long (2:21)
1.19 - The Brook Brothers - Town Girl (1:59)
1.20 - The Brook Brothers - I Can't Make Up My Mind (2:33)
1.21 - The Brook Brothers - Trouble Is My Middle Name (2:11)
1.22 - The Brook Brothers - Let the Good Times Roll (2:16)
1.23 - The Brook Brothers - I'm Not Jimmy (2:15)
1.24 - The Brook Brothers - Side By Side (2:09)
1.25 - The Brook Brothers - Whistle to the Wind (2:13)
1.26 - The Brook Brothers - Crosswords (2:11)
2.27 - The Brook Brothers - The Trolley Song (2:31)
2.28 - The Brook Brothers - Little Devil (2:15)
2.29 - The Brook Brothers - That's the Way It Goes (1:50)
2.30 - The Brook Brothers - Please Help Me, I'm Falling (2:10)
2.31 - The Brook Brothers - I Wanna Love My Life Away (2:07)
2.32 - The Brook Brothers - Little Bitty Heart (Alternate Version) (2:00)
2.33 - The Brook Brothers - I'm In Love Again (2:16)
2.34 - The Brook Brothers - Hello Mary Lou (2:15)
2.35 - The Brook Brothers - I Love Girls (Alternate Version) (2:28)
2.36 - The Brook Brothers - Look for a Star (2:04)
2.37 - The Brook Brothers - Like Making Love (1:51)
2.38 - The Brook Brothers - Half As Much (2:32)
2.39 - The Brook Brothers - Honey 'Cause I Love You (2:03)
2.40 - The Brook Brothers - Your Cheatin' Heart (2:11)
2.41 - The Brook Brothers - Too Scared (Alternate Version) (2:09)
2.42 - The Brook Brothers - Side By Side (Alternate Version) (2:04)