Greatest

by Thee Midniters

Overview

Before the release of this 2003 compilation, the absence of a Thee Midniters CD collection was one of the most egregious omissions in the catalog of 1960s rock on compact disc. This 20-track anthology happily rectifies that situation, including everything from the fine 14-song 1983 Rhino LP Best of Thee Midniters, and adding half a dozen other worthy selections. All of the band's very best cuts are here, whether it's the soul covers ("Land of a Thousand Dances," "Sad Girl," "Giving Up on Love," "The Town I Live In," "It'll Never Be Over for Me"); raucous bluesy garage rock ("Whittier Blvd.," "Jump, Jive and Harmonize," "Love Special Delivery," "Empty Heart"); or tasty romantic soul-pop originals ("Dreaming Casually," "Making Ends Meet"). There are, too, a few songs that sample the unpredictable directions into which the group occasionally flew, like the ghostly cover of jazz singer Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Brother Where Are You?" and the Latin jazz-rock fusion of "Chicano Power." Audio purists might regret that some surface noise can be heard as the music was mastered from the best vinyl sources possible, rather than the original tapes, but really the vinyl noise is very faint and not a significant hindrance. It's also too bad that enjoyable oddities-rarities from the Thee Midniters discography like the psychedelic "Breakfast on the Grass," the Spanish ballad "Tu Despedida," and the searing instrumental "Thee Midnite Feeling" didn't make the cut. But given a 20-track cutoff point, it's hard to argue with the selection on this worthy summary of one of the finest 1960s American rock bands never to have a big national hit. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	11/15/2024
Label:	Thump Records
UPC:	0720657991727

Tracks

1. Land Of A Thousand Dances
2. Whittier Boulevard
3. That's All
4. Empty Heart
5. I Need Someone
6. Giving Up On Love
7. Sad Girl
8. Brother Where Are You?
9. It'll Never Be Over For Me
10. Love Special Delivery
11. Are You Angry?
12. Don't Go Away
13. Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
14. Dreaming Casually
15. Never Knew I Had It So Bad
16. Making Ends Meet
17. Welcome Home Darling
18. The Town I Live In
19. Jump Jive And Harmonize
20. Chicano Power

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Thee Midniters   Primary Artist
Jimmy Espinoza   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Little Willie G.   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Trombone,Harmonica
Ronny Figueroa   Organ,Congas,Vocals
Danny Lamont   Drums,Piano
Romeo Prado   Vocals,Trombone
George Dominguez   Guitar,Mandolin
Larry Rendon   Flute,Organ,Piano,Saxophone

Technical Credits

Solomon Burke   Composer
Bert Russell   Composer
Bob Haymes   Composer
Chuck Portz   Composer
Richie Unterberger   Liner Notes
Fats Domino   Composer
Lenny Welch   Composer
Jay Wiggins   Composer
Lloyd Smith   Composer
Roy Marquez   Composer
McKinley Mitchell   Composer
Jerry Wexler   Composer
Jim Tucker   Composer
Jimmy Espinoza   Composer,Group Member,Compilation Producer
Thee Midniters   Composer
Alan Brandt   Composer
Bruce Morgan   Engineer
William Garcia   Composer,Compilation Producer
Bert Berns   Composer
Keith Richards   Composer
Chris Kenner   Composer
Kurt Neumann   Composer
Little Willie G.   Group Member
Mick Jagger   Composer
Oscar Brown, Jr.   Composer
James Espinoza   Composer
Danny Lamont   Group Member
Romeo Prado   Composer,Group Member
Brian Schuman   Project Assistant
George Dominguez   Composer,Group Member
Verlie Rice   Composer
B. Feldman   Composer
Gene Aguilera   Creative Consultant
Norman Blagman   Composer
Sam Bobrick   Composer
Julee Stover   Project Assistant
Larry Rendon   Composer,Group Member
Nanker Phelge   Composer
George "Rico" Rodriguez   Cover Photo
Jerry Peterson   Remastering
Sam Llanas   Composer