Hits of '58 RTR4151 : Nostalgia CD Reviews: Musicweb(UK)

Pat BOONE (A Wonderful Time Up There (Gospel Boogie)), Chuck BERRY (Sweet Little Sixteen), The CHAMPS (Tequila), Perry COMO (Catch A Falling Star, Magic Moments), Danny and the Juniors (At the Hop), Tommy EDWARDS (It’s All in the Game), EVERLY BROTHERS (All I Have to do is Dream, Bird Dog), The FOUR PREPS (Big Man, Twenty Six Miles), Connie FRANCIS (Stupid Cupid, Who’s Sorry Now?), Michael HOLLIDAY (Story of My Life), Buddy HOLLY and the Crickets (Oh, Boy!), The KALIN TWINS (When), The KINGSTON TRIO (Tom Dooley), Jerry Lee LEWIS (Great Balls of Fire), Laurie LONDON (He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands), LORD ROCKINGHAM’S XI (Hoots Mon), Dean MARTIN (Return to Me), Domenico MODUGNO (Volare), Ricky NELSON (Poor Little Fool), The PLATTERS (Twilight Time), Perez PRADO (Patricia), Elvis PRESLEY (Don’t, Wear My Ring Around Your Neck), Marvin RAINWATER (Whole Lotta Woman), Cliff RICHARD (Move It!), Frank SINATRA (All the Way), The TEDDY BEARS (To Know Him is to Love Him), Conway TWITTY (It’s Only Make Believe)

Re–issues of recordings made in 1957 and 1958 ADD

I write this on what would have been James Dean’s 77^th birthday! The mere mention of Jimmy Dean’s name conjures up the 1950s, the original Rebel Without a Cause who was still a potent image for those of us born in that decade who discovered him in the following decade. He was the ultimate teenager at a time when the teenager was invented, the misunderstood kid, confused and at odds with his parents.

"What do you do when you have to be a man?" Jimmy askes his father (Jim Bachus), and poor Plato (Sal Mineo) has problems dealing with parents who "don't understand." You're tearing me apart!” Jim shouts, and succinctly sums up the teenager’s lot “I don't know what to do anymore. Except maybe die.”

Dean is still an icon for people and the original Rebel Without a Cause still speaks to us, just as does this music from only three years after Jimmy’s death. Neither has lost their power to warn, in the film, and entertain, in the music, and neither has dated.

The words of Danny and the Juniors really get things going and set the party mood of much of this music:

Well, you can swing it you can groove it
You can really start to move it at the hop
Where the jockey is the smoothest
And the music is the coolest at the hop
All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop
Let's go!

And there really is some cool music on offer here. The Killer’s exhortation to

Come on baby, drive me crazy

is still as raw and elemental as it was all those years ago.

Michael Holliday gives us a more relaxed attitude to love in The Story of My Life. There is such a variety of music on offer here and there’s not one weak track. Whether you’re after something upbeat – the wonderful Oh Boy! and Sweet Little Sixteen – or something more relaxed – Magic Moments (which, together with The Story of My Life, are two of the earliest hits for the great Burt Bacharach) or Catch a Falling Star – what an artist Perry Como was! – there’s something here for everybody, even a couple of humorous tracks – Tequila and Hoots Mon!

There is so much variety and quality in these songs – I wonder at what point the high standard of popular music started to fall off? At the risk of sounding like my Dad, they really don’t write them like this anymore; the quality of the lyrics is unsurpassable. Which would you rather have?

I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever and I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and f**kloads of diamonds
I heard people die while they were trying to find them

from the current number 1, or

When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms
Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is
Dream, dream dream dream

Times were easier, love was love and didn’t denote sex, the music was raw and unsophisticated, without any electronic gimmicks, and it was totally enjoyable. How can this disk fail? It’s excellent and I enjoyed every minute of it. The transfers are very good, the sound clear and well focused. All you have to do is enjoy.

Bob Briggs

see also Hits of '57

*CD Reviews*	MusicWeb Webmaster: Len Mullenger Len@musicweb.uk.net
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Pat BOONE (A Wonderful Time Up There (Gospel Boogie)), Chuck BERRY (Sweet Little Sixteen), The CHAMPS (Tequila), Perry COMO (Catch A Falling Star, Magic Moments), Danny and the Juniors (At the Hop), Tommy EDWARDS (It’s All in the Game), EVERLY BROTHERS (All I Have to do is Dream, Bird Dog), The FOUR PREPS (Big Man, Twenty Six Miles), Connie FRANCIS (Stupid Cupid, Who’s Sorry Now?), Michael HOLLIDAY (Story of My Life), Buddy HOLLY and the Crickets (Oh, Boy!), The KALIN TWINS (When), The KINGSTON TRIO (Tom Dooley), Jerry Lee LEWIS (Great Balls of Fire), Laurie LONDON (He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands), LORD ROCKINGHAM’S XI (Hoots Mon), Dean MARTIN (Return to Me), Domenico MODUGNO (Volare), Ricky NELSON (Poor Little Fool), The PLATTERS (Twilight Time), Perez PRADO (Patricia), Elvis PRESLEY (Don’t, Wear My Ring Around Your Neck), Marvin RAINWATER (Whole Lotta Woman), Cliff RICHARD (Move It!), Frank SINATRA (All the Way), The TEDDY BEARS (To Know Him is to Love Him), Conway TWITTY (It’s Only Make Believe) Re–issues of recordings made in 1957 and 1958 ADD I write this on what would have been James Dean’s 77^th birthday! The mere mention of Jimmy Dean’s name conjures up the 1950s, the original Rebel Without a Cause who was still a potent image for those of us born in that decade who discovered him in the following decade. He was the ultimate teenager at a time when the teenager was invented, the misunderstood kid, confused and at odds with his parents. "What do you do when you have to be a man?" Jimmy askes his father (Jim Bachus), and poor Plato (Sal Mineo) has problems dealing with parents who "don't understand." You're tearing me apart!” Jim shouts, and succinctly sums up the teenager’s lot “I don't know what to do anymore. Except maybe die.” Dean is still an icon for people and the original Rebel Without a Cause still speaks to us, just as does this music from only three years after Jimmy’s death. Neither has lost their power to warn, in the film, and entertain, in the music, and neither has dated. The words of Danny and the Juniors really get things going and set the party mood of much of this music: Well, you can swing it you can groove it You can really start to move it at the hop Where the jockey is the smoothest And the music is the coolest at the hop All the cats and chicks can get their kicks at the hop Let's go! And there really is some cool music on offer here. The Killer’s exhortation to Come on baby, drive me crazy is still as raw and elemental as it was all those years ago. Michael Holliday gives us a more relaxed attitude to love in The Story of My Life. There is such a variety of music on offer here and there’s not one weak track. Whether you’re after something upbeat – the wonderful Oh Boy! and Sweet Little Sixteen – or something more relaxed – Magic Moments (which, together with The Story of My Life, are two of the earliest hits for the great Burt Bacharach) or Catch a Falling Star – what an artist Perry Como was! – there’s something here for everybody, even a couple of humorous tracks – Tequila and Hoots Mon! There is so much variety and quality in these songs – I wonder at what point the high standard of popular music started to fall off? At the risk of sounding like my Dad, they really don’t write them like this anymore; the quality of the lyrics is unsurpassable. Which would you rather have? I want to be rich and I want lots of money I don’t care about clever and I don’t care about funny I want loads of clothes and fkloads of diamonds I heard people die while they were trying to find them from the current number 1, or When I want you in my arms, when I want you and all your charms Whenever I want you, all I have to do, is Dream, dream dream dream Times were easier, love was love and didn’t denote sex, the music was raw and unsophisticated, without any electronic gimmicks, and it was totally enjoyable. How can this disk fail? It’s excellent and I enjoyed every minute of it. The transfers are very good, the sound clear and well focused. All you have to do is enjoy. Bob Briggs see also Hits of '57**