Georges Lang / La Collection volume two / 4CD box set

Rhino France continue to put together some excellent box sets, which can fall under the radar, largely due to not being promoted internationally and often only being available as imports outside France.

2011 brought us a generous helping of West Coast jazz-pop with Michael Franks‘ superb The Dream 1973-2011 box set, and last year the Warner Music France imprint also released a four-disc “Georges Lang Collection”. Lang is a legendary French DJ who has worked the late night shift (Les Noctures) on the RTL radio station for many decades and that box was a selection of his favourite early R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, doo wop, soul and ‘adult contemporary’ songs – mainly American classics.

In June this year Rhino France released a follow-up to this successful first release. Georges Lang – La Collection Volume 2. This new four disc set focuses on classic US West Coast soft rock, as well as some familiar soul and pop numbers. Tracks come from artists such as America, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, The Mamas and the Papas, The Beach Boys, Carly Simon, James Taylor, The Steve Miller Band, Christopher Cross and Chicago. That gives you idea of what to expect.

It’s not all oldies – Rumer’s Am I Forgiven, finds a place on the second CD and tracks from Michael Buble and Lady Antebellum also make an appearance, but they are exceptions rather than the rule.

This sets stand out because Rhino France make a real effort with the packaging and the sound quality. “High Quality Mastering” is boasted on the sticker at the front of this release and it does indeed sound very good. The fact that mastering is even being mentioned, sets the label apart from some others.

Nothing groundbreaking, to be sure, but a perfect collection to groove to, in the car, as summer turns to autumn.

Order Georges Lang: La Collection Volume 2

Track listing

CD 1

• 1. A Horse with No Name / America
• 2 – What a Fool Believes / The Doobie Brothers
• 3 – You Make Loving Fun / Fleetwood Mac
• 4 – Africa / Toto
• 5 – Baseball / Michael Franks
• 6 – Then Came You / The Spinners & Dionne Warwick
• 7 – Call Me (Come Back Home) / Al Green
• 8 – On Broadway / George Benson
• 9 – Chain of Fools / Aretha Franklin
• 10 – Lowdown / Boz Scaggs
• 11 – Fooled Around and Fell in Love / Elvin Bishop
• 12 – Baker Street / Gerry Rafferty
• 13 – Need You Now / Lady Antebellum
• 14 – Dedicated to the One I Love / The Mamas and the Papas
• 15 – Lose Again / Linda Ronstadt
• 16 – Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) / Christopher Cross
• 17 – Crazy Love / Michael Buble
• 18 – Can not Help Falling in Love / Elvis Presley
• 19 – Unchained Melody / The Righteous Brothers

CD 2

• 1 – The load out / Jackson Browne
• 2 – / Stay Jackson Browne
• 3 – Hotel California / West Coast All Stars
• 4 – God Only Knows / The Beach Boys
• 5 – Hearts / Marty Balin
• 6 – Mr. O / Bill LaBounty
• 7 – When I Get Over You / Venice
• 8 – Am I Forgiven / Rumer
• 9 – (There’s) Always Something There to Remind Me / Sandie Shaw
• 10 – Door Number Two / Walter Becker
• 11 – Magic Smile / Rosie Vela
• 12 – This Is It / Kenny Loggins
• 13 – My Happiness / Chris Isaak
• 14 – Gaye / Clifford T. Ward
• 15 – Say It Is not So Joe / Murray Head
• 16 – Nine Million Bicycles / Katie Melua
• 17 – Hallelujah / Jeff Buckley
• 18 – Orleans / David Crosby
• 19 – Louisiana / Randy Newman

CD 3

• 1 – Sweet Baby Jane / James Taylor
• 2 – Angel from Montgomery / Carly Simon
• 3 – All I Wanna Do / Sheryl Crow
• 4 – Ventura Highway / America
• 5 – I’d Really Love to See You Tonight / England Dan & John Ford Coley
• 6 – Goodbye Philadelphia / Peter Cincotti
• 7 – Silverwings / Phillip Goodhand-Tait
• 8 – Why Is Everybody Going Home / Leo Sayer
• 9 – Bird on a Wire / Tim Hardin
• 10 – You Are Everything / Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross
• 11 – Let’s Stay Together / Tina Turner
• 12 – It’s Only Love / Simply Red
• 13 – If You Do not Know Me by Now / Jean Carne
• 14 – Roof Garden / Al Jarreau
• 15 – Got to Get You Into My Life / Earth, Wind & Fire
• 16 – Rough Boy / ZZ Top
• 17 – Long Train Runnin ‘/ The Doobie Brothers

CD 4

• 1 – Evil Woman / Electric Light Orchestra
• 2 – The Joker / Steve Miller Band
• 3-25 or 6 to 4 / Chicago
• 4 – The End of the World / Skeeter Davis
• 5 – Devoted to You / The Everly Brothers
• 6 – On and On / Stephen Bishop
• 7 – Time After Time / Cyndi Lauper
• 8 – Louise / Willy Deville
• 9 – Come Rain or Come Shine / Ray Charles
• 10 – Me and Mrs. Jones / Billy Paul
• 11 – You Get Me / Seal
• 12 – I Want to Know What Love Is / Foreigner
• 13 – Holiday / The Bee Gees
• 14 – I’ve Been Loving You Too Long / Otis Redding
• 15 – Birmingham / Randy Newman
• 16 – What a Wonderful World / Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy
• 17 – Desert Raven / Jonathan Wilson
• 18 – On the Road Again / Canned Heat
• 19 – All Right / Christopher Cross