The Everly Brothers of England!

As much as the Hollies or Peter & Gordon might have traded on the “Everly Brothers of England” tag early in their careers, no British act so fully embraced the famous American duo’s harmonies as did the Brook Brothers. Graduating from skiffle music in the late ‘50s, the brothers (Geoff and Ricky) refashioned themselves in the image of the Everlys and scored a minor off-shore hit with a cover of the Brothers Four’s “Greenfields.” They subsequently signed with Pye, scored a top 5 with the Brill Building “Warpaint,” recorded an album, toured with pre-Beatle crooners, appeared in a teen film and recorded sessions with Tony Hatch before fading into obscurity amidst the British Invasion. This 42-track set collects the brothers’ output on Pye, including follow-up UK hits “Ain’t Gonna Wash for a Week,” “He’s Old Enough to Know Better,” “Welcome Home Baby” and “Trouble is My Middle Name,” and a wealth of B-sides and album tracks that are incredibly charming. Yes, it’s heavily derivative of the Everlys, but it’s written, sung and played so well, you’ll be swept away. [©2014 Hyperbolium]