The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball (A Collection) (1966)

Not to be confused with the Cyrkle's debut album, A Red Rubber Ball (A Collection) collects the breezy highlights of its two proper albums, including the hit singles "Red Rubber Ball" and "Turn Down Day." It's true that songs like "Why Can't You Give Me What I Want" and "How Can I Leave Her" are slight even by the Cyrkle's standards. However, the productions, harmonies, and arrangements -- often featuring sitars and harpsichords -- elevate them to enjoyable, if not essential artifacts of mid-'60s folk-pop. Mellow songs like "Cloudy" and "Visit (She Was Here)" define the sound of sunshine pop, while the woodwinds, harpsichords, and elaborate harmonies on "Please Don't Ever Leave Me" recall a less-ambitious version of the Left Banke's music. "Our Love Affair's in Question" and "We Got a Good Thing Going" are some of the few songs here that approach the appeal of the Cyrkle's hits, with bright harmonies and bouncy rhythms that make them stand out among the rest of the tracks. Most of the collection is drawn from the group's first album, but some of Neon's more notable tracks, like "Turn of the Century," "Where Are You Going," and "Red Chair, Fade Away" lend a trippier feel to the compilation's second half. The best Cyrkle collection available, A Red Rubber Ball (A Collection) should satisfy anyone who doesn't need Sundazed's expanded versions of the band's full-length albums.