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This set compiles two albums from crooner Rivers, 1965's IN ACTION and the following year's CHANGES. On both sessions, the vocalist demonstrates the ability to straddle the fence between jazz/pop and rock/pop. Features 24 cuts including "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," "Shadow Of Your Smile," and "Strangers In The Night." Personnel: Johnny Rivers (vocals, guitar); Tommy Tedesco (guitar); Bud Shank (flute, saxophone); Jules Chaikin (flugelhorn); Larry Knechtel (keyboards); Gary Coleman (vibraphone); Hal Blaine, Mickey Jones (drums). Liner Note Authors: Steve McQueen ; Lou Adler; John Tobler. Photographer: Fred Seligo. A superb compilation of Johnny Rivers' third and eighth albums, providing a good look at two sides of his studio work, the lean, stripped down rock & roll of In Action! juxtaposed with the more ornate and ambitious sounds of Changes. Rivers became more sophisticated in many unexpected ways as time went on; In Action! shows him covering the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better" in a punchy, lively rendition, where Changes has him incorporating the string arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby" onto John Phillips' "California Dreamin'." He is in excellent voice throughout, and seldom gets too far from rock even on the most heavily orchestrated songs from Changes. The analog-to-digital transfers are excellent and the sound is genuinely impressive, even by BGO's usual high standards. ~ Bruce Eder