Essentially a female barbershop quartet with unerring pop instincts, the Chordettes are unlike any other girl group. This 20-track collection includes their big early hits, 1954's "Mr. Sandman" and 1958's "Lollipop," along with more minor fare like 1956's "Teenage Goodnight" and a smoothed-out version of the folk song "In the Deep Blue Sea" from 1962, but lacks the group's gorgeous 1961 rendition of "Never on Sunday," perhaps the Chordettes' finest vocal moment. Listeners curious for more should check out Varese's much more expansive and balanced 25 All-Time Greatest Recordings. ~ Steve Leggett
