Various Artist - Look At The Sunshine (British Summer Tyme Pop) (Ripples Volume 1) (Reissue, Remastered) (1999)

Twenty-nine British pop-psychedelic (or, as it's sometimes called, "sunshine pop" or, here, "British Summer Tyme Pop") by everyone from Petula Clark and the Searchers to the Bystanders, the Ivy League, and the Others (which "Others" you may wonder? So do the producers of this compilation, who are certain -- as is this reviewer -- that it isn't the same outfit that cut sides for Fontana records in 1964). There are lots of surprises to be found here, beginning with the Ivy League's "My World Fell Down," which veers into Beach Boys territory circa Smiley Smile, with its mix of languid psychedelic sensibilities and complex harmonizing; Episode Six's "Put Yourself in My Place," which shows the future Deep Purple footnote delving into Beatles territory (à la "Not a Second Time"), with more harmonizing than Deep Purple ever engaged in; the Merseybeat-ish "The Water Is Over My Head" by the Rockin' Berries; and the ebullient folk-rock-styled "My Little Girl" by Autumn. If the Strangers' version of "Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow)" doesn't add much to the Monkees' rendition, and Steve Hammond doesn't do more than re-create "I Think We're Alone Now," the slight differences in approach are interesting to hear, the greater emphasis on certain instruments than on others and changes in vocal inflection, as one tries to make a Monkees song harder and a Tommy James hit smoother. There's gorgeous singing here throughout, and the Factotums, in particular, bring a beautiful mix of harmony and a guitar-dominated arrangement to Brian Wilson's "Here Today." Even Petula Clark manages to fit in with a laid-back, languid version of "Groovin'." The whole 79-minute CD is light pop-psychedelic, and almost too pretty for words at times -- and the perfect gift for someone who already has Rhino records' Nuggets, Vol. 2. The sound is excellent, and the annotation is pretty nifty, too.