Even though they had only a few hits, the Clasics IV made their impression in 60's pop with unforgettable songs, and Dennis Yost's distinctive voice. For content, this collection gets 5 stars. My Amazon 4 star review is for the flat uninteresting sound. These songs sound better on my vinyl copy of the same collection. E.M.I. has given better treatment to lesser artists..I hope they will give these worthy gems the T.L.C. they deserve in a future re-issue...E.M.I...are you listening?

DENNIS YOST AND THE CLASSIC FOUR DO BELONG ON THIS PAGE AND
IN THE ROCKNROLL HALL OF FAME.THEY ARE ONE OF THE BEST BANDS
IN THE 60S.DENNIS YOST VOCALS IS ONE OF THE BEST.THEY ARE A
VERY GOOD BAND IN MY OPINION. DOUG.

On the basis of "Spooky"--and, especially, the guitar lick that never lets up (until it's time to sound that from-a-B-horror-flick whistle and that curdling saxophone solo, that is)--this Georgia quintet should have developed into an insinuating and harmless white soul band, with one unforgettable piece of blue-eyed soul kitcsch to show for it. There are far worse ways to be remembered.

Unfortunately, the Classics found them. The trouble was, "Spooky's" was also the guitar lick they couldn't let go of if they tried and--when derived and applied to progressively lighter-weight followups, from the wannabe-jazzy "Stormy" to the intro of the sugary weepie "Traces" (the lyric, especially the first verse, is actually very effective, and deserved much better music) to the truly unforgivable "Everyday With You, Girl"--it proved only that rare are the birds who can forge entire careers upon or spun off one lick on any instrument, never mind a guitar, never mind when anything other than their singles was barely worth a sample hearing.

The shame was that the Classics were a solid enough little band otherwise, and Dennis Yost was a pleasant enough singer who might have gone further with superior material, but as things turned out it was the other way around: Yost all but disappeared, for years, into the land of trivia contests and the occasional oldies show, while various Classics members went further, for awhile. You have heard of them, perhaps: the Atlanta Rhythm Section.

That the Classics IV have reformed testifies either to stubbornness or to chutzpah. Whether they manage to eke out a new full career, considering the stillbirth of their old one, is anyone's guess. If you can find a CD single of "Spooky," you are far better served. And so, in the end, are they.