The Kingsmen Greatest Hits is the seventh album by American rock band The Kingsmen, released in 1966.

Release and reception

The Kingsmen's seventh album completed their career arc in the 1960s with a compilation of previous releases including all eight of their Billboard Hot 100 singles. One new song, "Don't Say No" (released as a single in 1967), was also included. The album did not make the Billboard LP chart.

Both mono (WDM 681) and stereo (WDS 681) versions were released. International releases included Canada (Wand 681) and United Kingdom (Marble Arch MAL829, different cover, only ten tracks). The LP was also released in Germany in 1973 (Metronome 200 104, different cover). The album has not been reissued on CD.

The group described the album cover as a "licorice pizza".

Track listing Louie, Louie – 3:00 (Richard Berry)Previously released on The Kingsmen In Person and 15 Great Hits. The Jolly Green Giant – 1:56 (L. Easton, Don Harris, Dewey Terry)Previously released on The Kingsmen Volume 3.The LP credits the Kingsmen's Lynn Easton only, but Don "Sugarcane" Harris and Dewey Terry were added later as songwriters after it was determined that "Jolly Green Giant" was a rewrite of their "Big Boy Pete" released by the Olympics in 1960. Long Green – 2:36 (L. Easton)Previously released on both Volume II and Volume 3. Little Latin Lupe Lu – 2:22 (P. Medley)Previously released on The Kingsmen Volume II. The Climb – 2:32 (L. Easton)Previously released on The Kingsmen On Campus. Annie Fanny – 2:05 (L. Easton)Title taken from the Little Annie Fanny comic strip published in Playboy magazine. Money – 2:25 (B. Gordy-J. Bradford) Killer Joe – 2:15 (Russell-Elgin-Medley) Something's Got a Hold on Me – 3:07 (P. Woods-E. James-L. Kirkland) A Hard Day's Night – 2:20 (J. Lennon-P. McCartney) Mother In Law – 2:31 (A. Toussaint) Don't Say No – 1:58 (Bartholemew-Richardson)Bartholemew and Richardson are Barry Curtis and Dick Peterson of the Kingsmen. Released as a single on Wand 1157 in 1967. David's Mood – 2:06 (D. Lewis) Death of an Angel – 2:30 (D. Woods)

The initial 8-track tape release (Wand 821–681) had only 12 tracks and a different order (A: 4–7–11, B: 2–3–12, C: 1–10–14, D: 6–9–13), omitting "The Climb" and "Killer Joe", and with the cover listing only "12 Great Hits" vs. "14 Great Hits" on the LP. The cassette tape release likewise had only 12 tracks and a different order (A: 4-7-11-2-3-13, B: 1-10-14-6-9-12), omitting the same two tracks and switching the positions of "David's Mood" and "Don't Say No". A later 8-track tape release (Wand TWDS 681) had 16 tracks, repeating "Little Latin Lupe Lu" and "Money", and a different order (A: 1-4-5-13, 2-3-7-14, 8-9-10-12, 4-6-7-11). An early reel-to-reel release (Wand 21-681) had only 12 tracks while a later release (Wand WDX 681) had 14.

Musicians and production All tracks except as noted below:

Lynn Easton: vocals, saxophone Mike Mitchell: lead guitar Dick Peterson: drums Barry Curtis: keyboards Norm Sundholm: bass

Louie Louie Jack Ely: vocals, guitar Lynn Easton: drums Mike Mitchell: lead guitar Don Gallucci: keyboards Bob Nordby: bass

Money Lynn Easton: vocals, saxophone Mike Mitchell: lead guitar Gary Abbott: drums Barry Curtis: keyboards Norm Sundholm: bass

Don't Say No

Mike Mitchell: lead guitar, vocals Dick Peterson: drums, guitar, vocals J. C. Rieck: keyboards, vocals Jeff Beals: bass

Producers: Paul Tannen & Mark Wildey. Liner notes: Sam Goff. Art direction and cover design: Burt Goldblatt.

References