The '60s girl group sound – today remembered by mainstream media almost exclusively for big hits by the likes of the Shirelles and the Ronettes – also spawned innumerable flops, hits, imitations, and buried treasures. It took a long time for Rhino to get around to giving it the Nuggets-like box-set treatment, but they've certainly pulled no punches with this four-CD, 120-song extravaganza, packaged in an actual string-tied hatbox. There are no big hits, though there are a lot of big names (and no-names), and though many of those big names are represented as songwriters or producers, not artists.

But is it as good as those big hits by the Shangri-Las et al. – or, for that matter, as good as those other massive Rhino vintage garage-psych and soul box sets? Um, almost. There's very little on the order of "Will You Love Me Tomorrow," "The Leader of the Pack," or "Be My Baby." There are lots of fake Phil Spectorisms flying around, but just one of them, the Girlfriends' "My One and Only, Jimmy Boy" (produced by future Bread man David Gates!), is a true gem of the Wall of Sound. And there are too many songs that are more tasty frosting – be it a richly orchestrated arrangement, delectable harmonies, or a cutesy, novel lyrical angle – than classic heartrending joy and anguish, as the best girl-group productions embodied.

What is striking is just how wide a net the girl group sound cast. There are Motown stars and soft soulsters; future country stars (Dolly Parton) and past rockabilly stars (Wanda Jackson, whose "Funnel of Love" is a highlight); singer-songwriters (Carole King); British Invaders (Lulu, Dusty Springfield); even Brenda Lee (whose "Is It True" features scorching guitar by a young Jimmy Page), Cher, and Toni Basil (with the distastefully ageist "I'm 28"). What could they all have in common? The yearning combination of soulfulness, innocence, a creative producer, and a damn catchy tune. And there's enough of it on this outsized hat box to make anyone who values those qualities happy, even if it might be too many sweets for one sitting. (Richie Unterberger)