The Four Preps - The Four Preps Collection 1956-62 (2021)

The Four Preps were a band and vocal quartet who came together at Hollywood High School in the 1950s and won a talent contest that secured them a contract with Capitol Records in 1956. They are best-known internationally for their distinctive 1958 hit composition “Big Man”, featuring the piano of their long-time arranger/conductor Lincoln Mayorga, which was a US No. 3 and a UK No. 2, and remains a landmark classic of the era, although in the US they had already had a No. 2 with “26 Miles (Santa Catalina)” and went to have hits into the 1960s, exploiting their deft vocal harmonies and notable songwriting talents. This excellent-value 60-track 2-CD set comprises the A & B sides of their singles for Capitol during these years, plus the tracks from their album “The Four Preps” not otherwise released on singles, and selected titles from their albums “The Things We Did Last Summer” and “Dancing And Dreaming”. It features the twelve of their thirteen career Top 100 entries which they achieved during these years, including “26 Miles” and “Big Man”, plus their Top 20 hits with “Down By The Station” and the brilliant parody medley “More Money For You And Me”. The Four Preps were one of the most unusual and distinctive groups of the post rock ‘n’ roll era, and this substantial collection of their output provides an entertaining showcase for their talents.