So I'm sitting here thinking, "Wow, this sounds like 60s soul, down to the lingo." Even the production has that blurry, warm 60s feel. Who goes through that much effort?

The Ad Libs Presenting . . . the Ad Libs (Org Music)

A vocal group that recorded these songs in the 60s, of course. The Ad Libs had a hit, "The Boy from New York City," (you may not know the title, but trust me, you've heard the song) but their debut album never arrived. This set, which collects other singles and b-sides, tries to rectify that issue.

The Ad Libs recorded over a number of years, and the songs on this set run the sonic gamut from 50s doo-wop to mid-60s orchestral soul. That range does make this sound more like a greatest hits than a cohesive album, but the ability to hear classic soul that has been buried for years is exciting.

So this is not a re-issue. It's not a greatest hits. And it's not the Ad Libs debut album (as they had their hit at a time when albums weren't exactly the thing). But it is a wonderful portrait of an act that was a lot more than a one-hit wonder. Lovely.

Jon Worley