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The Tropics : Anthology 1965-1969
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60's pop rock - beatles ~ byrds ~ stones ~ zombies ~ 60's rock ballads ~ columbia records artists and 1966 international battle of the bands first place winners, chicago illinois.
Genre: Pop: 60's Pop
Release Date: 2003
Anthology 1965-1969 Record Label: Souzaphone Records
  • Download Album (MP3) - $15.95
  • Buy CD - $17.95
SPECIAL: 10% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!
Preview Song Name Time Format Price Select
You Better Move 2:39 $0.89
Time 2:03 $0.89
Summertime Blues 2:44 $0.89
Talkin' 'bout Love 2:13 $0.89
This must be the Place 1:53 $0.89
As Time's Gone 2:14 $0.89
I Want More 2:28 $0.89
For a Long Time 2:37 $0.89
Hey Little Girl 2:24 $0.89
Laughing Again 2:42 $0.89
The Prism 2:27 $0.89
Groovy Christmas 1:56 $0.89
Toy Soldier 2:48 $0.89
Tired of Waiting 3:50 $0.89
Black Jacket Woman 2:30 $0.89
It's You I'll Miss 2:36 $0.89
Goodbye My Love 2:44 $0.80
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Album Notes

This album of original recordings has recently been digitally re-mastered as of 06/01/07.

All 17 songs are available at Apple iTunes
(see links below)

Based out of Tampa Florida, The Tropics began as a seven piece horn band featuring Mel Dryer on lead vocals, Buddy Pendergrass on guitar and Spencer Hinkle on drums, with Wayne Guida on Trumpet and Ronnie Ferrer on sax. In 1965, the band changed styles, and became a Beatle type band, adding Eric Turner on guitar and Charlie Souza on Bass, dropping the horns and hiring a new drummer, Bobby Shea, They took on manager Margie Sexton, owner of the famous "SURFER'S CLUB," at Madeira Beach, Florida, a teen-age night club in the mid 60's.
In 1966, The Tropics, AKA "The Bitchin' Red Band" when playing on the Pier in Cocoa Beach, Florida, won The International Battle of the Bands held at the famous McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The Band took first place over more than 1000 bands, which included such names as Chicago and Tommy James & The Shondells. Out of that came a recording contract with Columbia Records in New York and the single "Take the Time," produced by Teo Macero, which made it to the top of the charts and got a 92 on Dick Clark's American Bandstand! The origional recording of "Time" is on this CD.
The Tropics Documentary Video is available at the Tropics Website. www.charliesouza.com
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On this 17 song CD The Tropics Anthology 1965 - 1969, you'll find most all of the origional recordings of the records made by the band, some on Major labels like Columbia Records and Laurie Records in New York, and Malaco Records in Jackson Mississippi, and some on local Florida labels such as Thames Records. A well known pop rock band in the South East from Chicago to New Orleans!
All songs are the ORIGIONAL RECORDINGS of Florida's number one Show Band in 1965 through 1972, The Fabulous Tropics!

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REVIEWS

author: Chuck Roberts
Incredible band!. Saw them many times when living in SW Florida in the 60's. Loved this band. the Anthology is GREAT!!
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Re-living my youth as we speak. Outstanding! (the CD and my youth)
author: John
Re-living my youth as we speak. Outstanding! (my youth and the CD)
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"As time's gone"¡¡¡¡, the greatest song i've ever heard.
author: Roberto Gonzalez Gómez - From Spain
How difficult is to find an original copy of "As time's gone"¡¡¡¡, the greatest song i've ever heard. From Spain: Roberto Gonzalez Gómez
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The 1965-1969 compilation is an absolute joy.
author: Edward Tanner
The Tropics 1965-1969 compilation cd is an absolute joy. I confess to being a longtime fan of these guys. I saw them many times between 1966 and 1969, during my high school years in central Georgia and I have combed record bins for their 45s for thirty years, with little success. The release of this cd has satisfied my quest. "Time" was released in 1966 on Columbia. It was rated 94, I think, on American Bandstand and it should have been a megahit. For those who love the Zombies, you've got to hear this song. It is as good as, and in the same vein as, "Time of the Season"; but was recorded three years earlier. There is not one flaw in this tune. The vocals are great, the arrangement is beautiful and the musicianship is way beyond what bands were doing in 1966. My other personal favorites on the cd are "As Time's Gone", "For a Long Time" and "Tired of Waiting for You". "As Time's Gone" is a raw but tuneful rocker. Comparisons to the Stones and early Kinks are tempting, but, this tune has something different in addition to the energy of the aforementioned British bands. "For a Long Time" harkens to "8 Miles High", with a twelve-string guitar solo and a similar rhythm guitar part that listeners will doubtlessly recognize, but the Tropics drive much harder than the Byrds. I have a weakness for the droning Vanilla Fudgey version of "Tired of Waiting for You"; it was a highlight of their shows. On the whole, the rest of the songs range from much better than most to really, really good. In my mind, the ones I've referenced here are true classics although other Tropics fans will justifiably prefer and rave about "I Want More", which is a darn good rocking song, and "Black Jacket Woman", a cool, mournful ballad. One of the great shames of the 1960s is that these guys didn't make it to the top. Thanks to bassist, composer and vocalist Charlie Souza, guitarist extraordinaire Eric Turner and the other guys for putting this together and to CD Baby for getting it to the public. Do yourself a favor. If you like essential 1960s groups like the Beatles, Byrds, Zombies and Kinks and the exhuberance shown by young bands on the Gear Fab and Nuggets compilations, buy this now. And turn it up!
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