The Everly Brothers were often accused of trying to "sound hip" when they performed or created music in the late 1960s - early 1970s, and why should that be? Some listeners forget just how young they were when they first hit the charts in 1957. Phil was 18, and Don had just turned 20. They were still young men in the late 60s and early 70s. Why wouldn't their music (and hair!) reflect the contemporary times they were living in? Many of the 1960s musicians who followed and were influenced by the Everly Brothers were in the same age bracket as their mentors. Note that Don was born in 1937, Phil in 1939, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones in 1936, John Lennon of the Beatles in 1940, and Eric Burdon of the Animals in 1941.

So why buy "The Everly Brothers Sing" and their later albums? My answer is for the voices ... and to hear recording artists, who may have changed the times, but also allowed themselves to be changed by the times. On this album, the hit, "Bowling Green," Don's solo, "A Whiter Shade of Pale," and the reissued "It's All Over" - with Phil singing lead - are all excellent songs. A listener will never find better voices. Both Don and Phil are exceptional lead ... and harmony singers.

The Everly Brothers were during the 1960's very succesful at reading and following current trends. Although their releases were of varying quality their fine vocal work was usually put into a meaningful and contemporary context.

"The Everly Brothers Sing" from 1967 is probably the closest brothers got to recording a pop-psych album, with "Turtles" vocals and flower-power arrangements. Five of the album's songs were written by bassist Terry Slater, who comes out as a competent, though not a particularly original songwriter. He is the man behind the album's absolute highlight, the hit-single "Bowling Green ". "Bowling Green" is nicely arranged and besides having a nice catchy melody it is well suited to the brothers' voices. Most of Slater's other songs are arranged in the aforementioned pop-psych style - none of them, however, really succeed manages to stand out. The strongest is probably "Talking To The Flowers".

The brothers temselves have written ithe up-beat pop song "I Do not Want to Love You ", which is very cute, but really not more than that. Don Everly's own "It's All Over" is available here in a remake which does not exceed the original version from "In Our Image ".

Album last three tracks appear somewhat misplaced. They are well-known song from other contexts and stylewise they slightly miss the overall approach of the album.

"Somebody Help Me" is a Spencer Davis hit, which incidentally also is found the brothers' previous album. "A White Shade of Pale" is an honest attempt to give different interpretation of one of that year's big numbers. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" shows great vocal strength and versatility, but it's hardly a genre duo will be remembered for.

Although the album definitely has its moments, it should probably be counted among the brothers' least interesting, which it very tame album title nicely indicates.

You can tell that the brothers didn't have much artistic control over the production. There's alot of bad late 60s pop gimmicks that pollutes most of the arrangements.