"During pop's Golden Age, there were no fights in the Buick over which radio station would prevail. No pouting in the backseat because the kids were deprived of "their" music. The whole family pretty much liked the same popular songs. That's why they called it pop music: it was popular, of the people."

So begin the liner notes of Billy Vera, co-producer of this fabulous '50s compilation which takes us back to the music which bridged the swingin' big band days and led us to the rock 'n' roll era.

When most people think of music of the 1950s, names that normally pop into mind first are Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and Buddy Holly. Often overlooked are the fantastic love songs, ballads and melodies that appealed to old and young alike. It was called pop music. The songs were not of angst and pain, they were songs of optimism, of love, of what is just ahead.

Beautifully packaged for mass appeal, including its "as seen on PBS" sticker, Shout! Factory Records presents a 3-disc collection of 60 remastered tracks that is the perfect anthology of the pop hits of the 1950s. There are no misses on this collection, only bona-fide hits.

Magic Moments is separated into three themed collections with 20 songs on each disc. Highlights of Moments To Remember, the first disc in the collection include Doris Day's hit "Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera, Sera)", Perry Como's "Catch A Falling Star", Johnny Ray's "Cry", The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman", and Percy Faith's instrumental "The Theme From A Summer Place".

Disc two, Remember When, features Louis Armstrong's "A Kiss To Build A Dream On", Les Paul & Mary Ford's "Vaya Con Dios", Frankie Laine's "I Believe", The Crew-Cut's "Sh-Boom", and other beautiful songs by Peggy Lee, Tommy Edwards, Julie London, Perez Prado and others.

The third disc, entitled Memories Are Made Of This, rounds out the collection with Dean Martin's "Memories Are Made Of This", Nat King Cole's "Unforgettable", and more classics by Jo Stafford, Rosemary Clooney, The Four Aces, Jerry Vale, Vic Damone and many more.

Magic Moments comes with a very detailed accompanying book that lists the original label, catalog number, release date and peak chart position of every song in each collection. In addition, the booklet features '50s pop trivia and other retro-culture lists that will help paint the picture of the era from which this collection was culled.

In this modern age of audio assault, I can't image a better collection of music with which I can sit back and enjoy some classic, memorable hits. Magic Moments celebrates music when it was written from the heart, and will appeal to all music lovers of any age. It will always be within arms reach of my CD player!