The Turtles - You Baby / Let Me Be (Deluxe Edition) (2017)

The Turtles second album was released in 1966 and it was their last attempt at folk rock before ditching it for their signature happy sound. As a fan of their later stuff, I rate this album on the bottom of their five major record releases but that doesn't mean it's not good. It is good, there is no doubt about it. It's just that this album doesn't sound like "The Turtles" for the most part - it sounds like a producers attempt to make The Turtles sound like The Byrds. Now, The Turtles do a very good job at that so it's hard to pass up this album. But the album, overall, does not carry the uniqueness of "Happy Together", "The Turtles Present: The Battle of The Bands", and the underrated "Turtle Soup". For example, an angrier and more aggressive sound can be found in "House of Pain", written by lead singer Howard Kaylan, and the P.F. Sloan hit tune "Let Me Be". My favorite tracks on the album are "I Know That You'll Be There", "Can I Get To Know You Better", and "You Baby". These tracks symbolize the movement from folk to light-hearted psychedelia infused rock 'n' roll. Also, "All My Problems" is a very special track and it was written by all of The Turtles (well, minus Volman). The 2012 reissue has the somewhat unreleased track "Teardrops" featuring a very solid vocal performance by Turtles' background vocalist Mark Volman and it's pretty cool. Of course, those of you looking for head trips should surely enjoy "Santa and The Sidewalk Surfer" which is also available on the 2012 reissue. It could almost be a Flo & Eddie tune in my opinion.

Tracklist
CD1
01 Flyin' High (Mono) 1:48
02 I Know That You'll Be There (Mono) 2:17
03 House Of Pain (Mono) 2:50
04 Just A Room (Mono) 2:32
05 I Need Someone (Mono) 2:25
06 Let Me Be (Mono) 2:25
07 Down In Suburbia (Mono) 4:10
08 Give Love A Trial (Mono) 2:20
09 You Baby (Mono) 2:20
10 Pall Bearing, Ball Bearing World (Mono) 2:57
11 All My Problems (Mono) 3:19
12 Almost There (Mono) 2:15

CD2
01 Flyin' High (Stereo) 1:49
02 I Know That You'll Be There (Stereo) 2:17
03 House Of Pain (Stereo) 2:50
04 Just A Room (Stereo) 2:31
05 I Need Someone (Stereo) 2:25
06 Let Me Be (Stereo) 2:26
07 Down In Suburbia (Stereo) 4:08
08 Give Love A Trial (Stereo) 2:18
09 You Baby (Stereo) 2:20
10 Pall Bearing, Ball Bearing World (Stereo) 2:56
11 All My Problems (Stereo) 3:18
12 Almost There (Stereo) 2:12