Adam Faith - Not Just a Memory

All Music Guide

With 23 tracks, this is a good-value LP compilation of some of Adam Faith's stronger work, but its focus is either confused or unstated by the otherwise detailed liner notes. Only a few of Faith's early-'60s British hits are present, and several of his biggest (like "What Do You Want?" "Poor Me," and "Made You") are absent. The spotlight seems to be on the Chris Andrews songs he recorded in 1963-1966, which comprise about half the album. Big and moderate hits are included, but so are flops and a bunch of B-sides. Those looking for a best-of as measured by chart positions are better off with the more straightforward The Very Best of Adam Faith. Those looking for some of his more artistically credible material, though, might enjoy this if they can find it. His Andrews material (with the Roulettes backing) was harder-rocking and more in line with the Merseybeat sound than his biggest ballad hits, though truth be told neither the voice nor songs were all that great when stacked against the... better British Invasion acts. There are other oddities that might be of interest to the Faith fan who wants more than the obvious hits, like his first single from 1958, the non-charting sub-Elvis Presley/teen idol hybrid "Brother Heartache Sister Tears." The unfortunate absence of "It's Alright," his sole American hit and hardest-rocking single, betrays the orientation of this anthology toward a British audience. - Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide Read more Less