AllMusic 2015 Year in Review
Favorite Compilations
From celebrating 50 years of British Invasion icons Herman's Hermits to the heady weirdness of Dr. John to anthologies collecting deep punk cuts and northern soul rarities, there was a multitude of worthwhile compilations released this year.
A career-spanning collection that cherry picks classic singles and album tracks from one of America's best indie pop bands ever.
The Complete Atco/Atlantic Singles, Vol. 1: 1960-1966
Features 40 songs from the R&B great's tenure with the iconic soul label, including many rare B-sides mastered in their original mono.
The Very Best of Bettye Swann, 1964-1975
Excellent compilation of the elegant soul singer Bettye Swann, containing all her Money sides plus a selection of her Atlantic singles.
The Storyteller: The Anthology 1960-1983
First-ever double-disc anthology to cover the entirety of Bobby Bare's career.
![Buck 'Em!, Vol. 2: The Music of Buck Owens [1967-1975]](https://fastly-s3.allmusic.com/release/mr0004472168/front/400/a6di70nH7eyFaw4lO8wOGlWnbEN5fCjifro6xhIBuB4=.jpg)
Buck 'Em!, Vol. 2: The Music of Buck Owens [1967-1975]
Exceptional chronicle of the second half of Buck Owens' prime, built upon hits, live tracks, and rarities.
Career-spanning collection of singles and albums by the undeservedly underrated Scottish indie pop group who featured on the legendary C86 cassette.
The Atco/Atlantic Singles 1968-1974
A dynamite collection of all the A- & B-sides from Dr. John's hot run at Atco/Atlantic between 1968-1974.
First legitimate reissue of rare mid-'70s material from this lesser-known soul and disco diva.
Excellent double-disc history of the Dead told through studio recordings.
The Best of Herman's Hermits: 50th Anniversary Anthology
Exhaustive 66-track collection that shows there was more to these well-scrubbed pop idols than you thought.
Thorough set of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's 45s for the Atlantic subsidiary, 1958-1971, plus both sides of a shelved one.
A small treasure trove of "lost" ultra-poppy synth pop recordings made by ex-Strawberry Switchblade singer between 1986-88.
Disco 2: A Further Fine Selection of Independent Disco, Modern Soul and Boogie 1976-1980
Another round of underground classics and obscurities from the Soul Jazz label, issued as a companion to a disco artwork book.
Compilation of early Flying Nun band's full discography, including a batch of well-preserved live recordings.
To Those of Earth... And Other Worlds
BBC DJ Gilles Peterson mixes a two-CD selection of Sun Ra favorites, providing an accessible entry point for novices.
A Little Bit Is Better Than Nada: Prime Cuts 1990-1996
Double-disc collection of the Texas Tornados' '90s recordings, including unreleased material and Spanish-language versions.
Heady Nuggs 20 Years After Clouds Taste Metallic: 1994-1997
The Oklahoma psych-pop veterans revisit their excellent 1995 album with a deluxe package including rarities, covers, and live recordings.
Splashdown: The Complete Creation Recordings 1990-1992
This set covers a two-year span of dream pop, shoegaze, and psych-pop brilliance from the criminally overlooked band.
The Valentinos / Womack Brothers
Lookin' for a Love: The Complete SAR Recordings
A collection of rare and unreleased sides from Bobby Womack's '60s R&B group; also includes four early gospel performances.
The Irish R&B act's legendary recordings with Van Morrison, collected in one package with plentiful outtakes and live cuts.
Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics
Trevor Jackson compiles an indispensable selection of Adrian Sherwood's influential post-punk/dub label On-U Sound.
Various Artists
Second Helpings: Sequels to the Songs That Left 'Em Hungry for More
Fun collection of sequel singles to big hits of the '60s.
Various Artists
Punk 45: Burn, Rubber City, Burn!: Akron, Ohio: Punk and the Decline of the Mid-West 1975-80
18 rare sides (including early material from Devo and the Waitresses) reveal the unexpected pleasures of Akron's new wave scene.
Various Artists
Features 18 rare sides from a time in the '70s when Cleveland was home to some of the edgiest music on Earth.
Various Artists
Reaching Out: Chess Records at FAME Studios
Excellent collection of Chess soul artists recorded at Muscle Shoals' FAME studios in the late '60s.
Various Artists
Rhythm 'N' Blusin' by the Bayou: Mad Dogs, Sweet Daddies & Pretty Babies
Another roaring collection of little-heard Southern Louisiana blues and R&B from the late '50s.
Various Artists
Sweet Things from the Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry Songbook
A third volume of selections from the Ellie Greenwich & Jeff Barry songbook has a lot of hits plus some nifty rarities.
Various Artists
Sherwood at the Controls, Vol. 1: 1979-1984
This fertile, essential comp picks not only rare tracks issued by On U, but includes productions for artists on other labels as well.
Various Artists
Famed soul DJ revisits his original Solid Soul Sensations project for a collection of dynamite rarities from the Stax vaults.
Various Artists
Excellent collection of rare danceable funk that flirts with proto-disco.
Various Artists
Northern Soul's Classiest Rarities, Vol. 5
By expanding the definition of "Northern soul," this collection of rarities is a cut above the normal NS collection.
Various Artists
The London American Label, Year by Year: 1966
Entertaining and diverse collection of American rock & roll, R&B, and pop licensed to be released in the U.K. on London.
Various Artists
Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy Angels: The Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock Vol. 3: 1970
Bear Family's country-rock chronicle covers 1970, a year with the Band, the Grateful Dead, Kris Kristofferson, and more.
Various Artists
A second volume of excellent '60s soul rarities -- singles in the vein of Motown, tempered by Northern soul -- from the Detroit label.
Various Artists
32 crazed frat rock singles are rescued from obscurity on this collection suitable for dancing and drinking.
Various Artists
Features 24 songs from local artists showing the range of talent that passed through one recording studio in Kansas.
Various Artists
Last of the Garage Punk Unknowns, Vols. 1-2
More rare (and in some cases unreleased) garage rock gems are uncovered in this solid collection.
Various Artists
Jon Savage Presents 1966: The Year the Decade Exploded
Excellent double-disc soundtrack to Jon Savage's pop culture history of 1966.
Various Artists
Here Today!: The Songs of Brian Wilson
A collection of songs written by Brian Wilson -- some recorded by the Beach Boys, some not -- but performed by other acts, most during the '60s.
Various Artists
Happy Lovin' Time: Sunshine Pop from the Garpax Vaults
A bunch of sunshine pop and swinging '60s L.A. studio nuggets -- many of which were unreleased -- from the vaults of Gary S. Paxton.
Various Artists
Groove with a Feeling: Sounds of Memphis Boogie, Soul & Funk, 1975-1985
A bunch of dynamite funk, smooth soul, and disco from the Sounds of Memphis studio.
Various Artists
Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats: A New Music City
Companion set to Country Music Hall of Fame exhibit showcases the '60s birth of country-rock.
Various Artists
A second -- and equally entertaining -- collection of uptown and Northern soul from the Los Angeles imprint Dore.
Various Artists
Don't Be Bad! 60s Punk Recorded in Texas
Unheard and newly discovered mid-'60s Texan garage and proto-punk recorded by Huey P. Meaux.
Various Artists
Martians, Demons & Fools Like Me: The MCI Records Story, 1954-61
Lively and weird collection spotlighting the odd '50s Phoenix indie MCI Records.
Various Artists
Boppin' by the Bayou: Rock Me Mama!
One of the wilder, raggedy collections in Ace's ongoing By the Bayou series.
Various Artists
All Aboard! 25 Train Tracks Calling at All Musical Stations
Entertaining collection of songs about trains, pulling from rock & roll, R&B, blues, reggae, and country.
Various Artists
Essential, ambitious compilation celebrating the 20-year history of Mike Paradinas' visionary electronic label Planet Mu.
Various Artists
Truckers, Kickers, Cowboy Angels: The Blissed-Out Birth of Country Rock Vol. 4: 1971
The fourth volume of Bear Family's country-rock history focuses on hard-driving bands and funkier songwriters.