' stay at , immediately preceding their hookup with the production team, saw them land three strong- to mild-charting singles. But even though they had nearly a decade of recording under the belt, they really didn't hit their stride until becoming a big part of the sound. With , as documented by this compilation, they were a good sweet harmony group, though not one with the kind of ace material and production needed to make them big stars. So this 20-song CD, including all of their 45s and LP tracks (along with five previously unreleased cuts), is something for the serious fan or serious '60s buff, rather than something on par with their famous '70s work. These are still respectable late-'60s productions, sometimes strongly echoing or the emerging genre, and featuring strong counterpoint/trade-off harmonies. a Top Ten hit and their biggest single, is the most memorable performance; two lower-charting 45s, and are also here. Yet it's interesting to hear them venture, if tentatively, into more sinister early sweet on and mimic the harder-rocking sides on If you want ultra-sweet that's almost sickly sweet, though, you can turn to where they moan in ecstasy about strawberry ice cream chills -- quite literally -- up and down their backs. ~ Richie Unterberger