Sands of Time & Wax Museum

The two most accessible and durable albums ever recorded by this group make a natural pairing on one CD, both sets of 12 songs being, respectively, plunges back into music's past, from the late '50s through the mid-'60s. The first dozen tracks, off of Sands of Time, are indispensable listening, while the second dozen, off of Wax Museum, are less polished but perhaps even more fun in their relatively loose performances. The disc also offers excellent sound and comes with very thorough annotation. This mid-priced disc is a genuine bargain and makes just about as good an introduction to the group as EMI's Come a Little Bit Closer: The Best of Jay & the Americans.