While Rhino Records put together the "Brit Box," Shout! has compiled the cream of the crop from the first British Invasion during the 1960s. Three CDs with 67 tracks — such as the Troggs' "Wild Thing," Los Bravos' "Black Is Black," Lulu's "To Sir with Love" and Small Faces' "Itchycoo Park" — took America by storm after the Beatles' success. Donovan's "Mellow Yellow," Petula Clark's "Downtown," Procol Harum's "White Shade of Pale," Sandie Shaw's "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" and more send out waves of go-go boots and mod fashion. — S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Chasing the Sun" (Time Life) *** 1/2

The surprise of this three-CD, one-DVD set is that it's not just '60s surf songs, but the greatest songs of summer — along side Dick Dale's "Miserlou" and the Beach Boys' "Surfin' U.S.A." are the Ramones' "Rockaway Beach" and the Platters' "With This Ring." There are some nice surprises here. — S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Classic Bluegrass Collection" (Time Life) *** 1/2

Roots music laid the foundation of folk, jazz, country and rock 'n' roll. This three-CD set chronicles bluegrass history through songs and a liner-note booklet. Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys kick it off with "It's Mighty Dark to Travel" and another legend, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys, wrap it up with "O Death." In between are Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell's trademark "Dueling Banjos," Flatt & Skrugg's "Ballad of Jed Clampett," Soggy Bottom Boys' remake of "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow," etc. — S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Flower Power: the Music of the Love Generation" (Time Life) *** 1/2

With this 10-CD box set, it is possible to feel like your radio dial is set back to the years between 1965 and 1973. This set, which is being hawked on TV by Peter Fonda, covers the soundtrack from the Age of Aquarius to the early stages of singer/songwriters. Donovan ("Sunshine Superman"), Steppenwolf ("Born to Be Wild"), the Byrds ("Mr. Tambourine Man"), the Peanut Butter Conspiracy ("It's a Happening Thing"), etc. A great gift for baby boomers and audiophiles — S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Forever Changing: The Golden Age of Elektra Records: 1963-1973" (Elektra/Rhino) ***

Back in the day, the label's roster included Judy Collins, Tom Rush, The Doors, Tim Buckley, Bread and Carly Simon, to name a few. This five-CD set covers that era, some 12 years before Metallica signed with Elektra. The song list is impressive and includes The Stooges' "Down on the Street," Phil Ochs' "Changes," the Lovin' Spoonful's "Good Time Music" and Eric Clapton's "Crossroads." A booklet documents the label's history and impact on popular music. — S.I.

VARIOUS ARTISTS; "Four Decades of Folk Rock" (Time Life) ***