|
|
4/26/98 to 5/14/98
Title: Very Best Of Dusty Springfield
Label: Mercury 314558208
Comments: With this release, Mercury tries to atone for the errors made on the Dusty Springfield Anthology issued several months back. Here is the lineup of the top 40 hits included--
(M) (2:34) I Only Want To Be With You
(S) (2:53) Wishin' And Hopin'
(S) (2:47) You Don't Have To Sazy You Love Me
(M) (1:55) Stay Awhile
(S) (2:25) Son Of A Preacher Man
(M) (3:01) All Cried Out
(S) (3:20) All I See Is You
(S) (3:32) The Look Of Love
(M) (2:31) I'll Try Anything
(S) (2:23) A Brand New Me
Posted by: Pat Downey 5/14/98 e-mail
patdowney@uswest.net
Title: Sam Cooke Greatest Hits
Label: RCA 67605
Comments: Complete review was posted 5/4/98 so scroll down a few reviews if you wish to see the complete review. RCA has remastered this compact disc and reissued it under the same catalog number. The only difference between the new edition and the original is that the track "Another Saturday Night" is deleted from the new issue. The original pressing is currently in stock at Discollector and is a recommended buy because it's a collectors item.
Posted by: Pat Downey 5/12/98 e-mail
patdowney@uswest.net
Title: Vocal Treasures
Label: Polygram Special Markets 314520459
Comments: Another run of the mill special products release featuring hits of the 60's like "What's New Pussycat" (LP version) by Tom Jones, "Release Me" by Engelbert Humperdinck, The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" by Walker Brothers, "No Arms Can Ever Hold You" by Bachelors and "King Of The Road" by Roger Miller, all of which appear in stereo. However, you are treated to a first time U.S. compact disc appearance of "I Believe" by the Bachelors which is unfortunately in electronic stereo. It's cheap so if you need "I Believe" go for it.
Posted by: Pat Downey 5/9/98 e-mail
patdowney@uswest.net
Title: The Ultimate History Of Rock 'N' Roll Collection (10 cd box set)
Label: K-Tel 8069
Comments: What a great concept! K-Tel which has been much better lately regarding the quality of their releases got my hopes up when this box set was released. K-Tel which has been notorious in the past for releasing rerecorded versions of songs, moved the rerecordings over to their Dominion label several years ago but here we go with a front line K-Tel piece that reverts back to the same old shit they were famous for 10 years ago! Roughly 90% of the songs in this box set are rerecordings and to make matters worse, K-Tel prints a disclaimer on the back of each cd brazenly stating that these are new "stereo" recordings when in reality many of the rerecordings are electronically reprocessed garbage. Many of the songs which are marked as original recordings are not the original recordings. Surprised? Avoid this box set or the individual cd's (which are sold separately if you so desire) at all cost.
Posted by: Pat Downey 5/7/98 e-mail address:
patdowney@uswest.net
Title: Sam Cooke's Greatest Hits
Label: RCA 67605
Comments: Not exactly a new release but still a very important release. This cd features 5 of Sam Cooke's top 40 hits for the very first time domestically. Those hits are: You Were Made For Me, LoveYou Most Of All, That's It I Quit, Send Me Some Lovin' and Frankie And Johnny. Of course all of Sam's big hits are included up through the end of 1963. For what the liner notes say are contractual problems, RCA chose not to include any recordings beyond 1963. Total tracks are 22 with a total time of 58:51. There have been rumors of some legal problems surrounding the release of this cd and the possible recall of existing stock so to try and see what was up I called RCA's national sales office to check on current availability which was zero in stock at their warehouse and no estimated restocking date. All of this lends creedence to the rumored lititgation but at least there have been no orders for wholesalers to ship this cd back to RCA at this time. If you have not purchased this cd yet, don't wait any longer - buy it soon!
Posted by: Pat Downey 5/4/98 e-mail address patdowney@uswest.net
Reviews by-GEORGE W. KRIEGER - THE ROCK & ROLL DENTIST
Howdy boys and girls. I am the rock and roll Dentist. Accept no substitute. Read nothing by any other phony rock and roll Dentists 'cause I am the genuine article. When I used to write CD reviews for Goldmine years ago, I had a few people call me at my Dental office wanting to know if I was really a Dentist or just making it up. While I do admit that pretending you're a Dentist is obviously a cool way to get respect and all the babes you ever wanted, I cop to being an actual practicing tooth mechanic here in Colorado. You're probably thinking, "yeah, Bubba, but what qualifies you to tell me what CDs to buy?" Well my answer to that is if you can't trust your Dentist, than who can you trust?
Musically I'm all over the map with a love of roots rock/Beatle pop/progressive music/stereo rarities and anything else that doesn't resemble rap (unless Walter Brennan counts).
I've written a feature article or two (Colorado 60's rock and Flash Cadillac&the Continental Kids, to name two) and even review Western history books for the Denver Westerner's posse not to mention having written features for the Journal of the Colorado Dental Association. I also guest host a rock talk show on Denver AM radio once or twice a month where we talk trivia and what's new in music.
I hope that tells you a little something about yours truly. I don't expect you to like everything that I like...well ok, actually I do and will be sorely hacked off if you don't buy everything I suggest. So open wide and I'll numb you with some ear candy and promise it won't hurt (at least if you pay your bill it won't).
THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS - Surfin' Rampage Mirror, 1997
These guys have made a career out of trying to recreate the garage band sound of the late 60s (think Music Machine). What has always drug them down has been a lack of vocal strength - until now! This time out the Kings have moved their sound back a few years (and styles) to lay down a killer 32 track surf/car song extravaganza. If you didn't see the date it would be easy to believe that this is a long lost Ronny & the Daytonas release or something of that ilk.
Most of the songs are covers with Gary Usher having written or co-written 12 of the tracks. A song like "Black Denim" comes from the Hondells while "Competition Coupe" was done by the Astronauts (among others). Mike Curb chips in "The Surf Is In" while "Anywhere The Girls Are" was a Fantastic Baggies track from the pens of P F Sloan and Steve Barri. These obscurities and even the few band originals like the superb "Shelby GT 356" are the highlights of the disc. If there are any weak points they are the Beach Boys covers such as "Our Car Club" and "Little Honda" that simply can't hold a candle to the originals in terms of vocal quality.
With 32 tracks its hard to fault a few weak songs, however, when the rest are so good. There are also a few cool instrumentals such as "Beat '65" that prove these guys' mettle as players.
The cover art shows five guys that still look a bit uncomfortable with the cleancut surf image. Heck they look like a bunch of hoods actually, but if they play more music this good they can take my hubcaps anytime. Krieger-the rock and roll Dentist
Posted: 4/30/98
(VARIOUS) - Surfin' Sundays Golden Sand Records, 1997
This CD showcases 24 surf bands in an attempt to raise cash for the Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach, CA. The title alludes to the Sunday afternoon concerts that the museum has hosted since 1995. Noble cause indeed, but the critical part is that this release delivers the goods when it comes to great mostly instrumental surf guitar music. The fact that most of the bands are totally unknown shouldn't scare away a fan of the genre. This disc differs from the Chesterfield Kings CD in that while the Kings' release sounds retro, this platter has a very contemporary sound to it. The guitars are a bit crunchier and the bass and drums punch a bit harder than their early 60s counterparts. The most impressive aspect is that these originals are mostly all memorable tunes which is the hardest part when you think about it.
Some of the songs are from 'name' bands (Davie Allan&the Arrows, the Halibuts), but the best ones are actually by the unknown ones. "Surfin' Spooks" - the Ghastly Ones and "Death Surf 2000" - the Black Widows" are crazed slabs of wigged out fuzz guitar laden surf that could have come from the Trashmen if they were 30 years younger. Other standout tracks include "J-Bay" by the Surf Kings, "El Nino" by the Bone Sharks and "Johnny's Noseride" by the Eliminators.
Being an old dude, the rock and roll Dentist isn't sure about headbanging 'alt-surf' like "Surf And Destroy" - the Immortals and "Scratchin' And Twistin'" - Hillbilly Soul Surfers, but it does show another side to the music. This is a very cool CD so don't be a hodad, daddy, buy it!
Krieger-the rock and roll Dentist
Posted: 4/30/98
THE VENTURES - Wild Again GNP Crescendo, 1997
An amazing return to form for these 60s kings of guitar instrumental music and the rock and roll Dentist's #1 CD for 1997. Most of the songs are covers, but they still smoke on songs like "Baja" (the Astronauts), "Wham" (Lonnie Mack), "The Happy Organ" (Dave 'Baby' Cortez) and "The Lonely Surfer" (Jack Nitzsche). Bob Bogle alternates lead guitar duties with Jerry McGee (who replaced the great Nokie Edwards back around "Hawaii 5-0" time) while Don Wilson still strums rhythm guitar and the late lamented Mel Taylor supplies the beat for what will surely be his last release.
Taylor will be missed and it will remain to be seen if the Ventures carry on without him, but for now he is given the spotlight on four of the songs here. Sandy Nelson's "Teen Beat" is good (as are the two live songs: "Wipe Out" and "Caravan"), but my fave is Preston Epps' "Bongo Rock." Other standout tracks are "Ajoen Ajoen," "Exodus" and "Beethovan Five-0."
As a bonus, they through in a newly recorded medley of old hits like "Walk Don't Run" and "Let's Go" plus a remix to make it sound contemporary. To top it off, a nine minute plus interview with Bogle and Wilson closes the disc. Yours truly was a bit nervous about buying this since the Ventures haven't exactly been a hot item for a few years, but this is a great CD!
Krieger, the rock and roll Dentist
Posted 4/30/98
Title: Very Best Of Red Bird/Blue Cat Records
Label: Taragon 1029
Comments: It is finally out, the much anticipated Red Bird/Blue Cat Records story on compact disc. A rather strange track selection, as Taragon elected to use some low charting songs instead of the fairly big hits "Give Us Your Blessing" and "Long Live Our Love" by the Shangri-las With a meager running time of 41:14 you would have thought that they could have squeezed in a few more tracks. Most of the Red Bird/Blue Cat top 40 hits are here in stereo like the Dixie Cups "Chapel Of Love" (alternate take), "People Say" and "Iko Iko"; the Shangngri-las "Remember (Walkin' In The Sand)", Leader Of The Pack" (with the long lost line "one day my dad said find someone new"), "Give Him A Great Big Kiss" and "I Can Never Go Home Anymore" (with an extra line inserted at 2:30 that goes "listen, I'm not finished" that did not appear on the 45 or LP), the Jellybeans "I Wanna Love Him So Bad", Ad Libs "Boy From New York City" and the Tradewinds "New York's A Lonely Town" which is in mono and as it always has, sounds like it was recorded in a shower stall
Posted by: Pat Downey 4/29/98
Title: Johnny Rivers "Greatest Hits"
Label: Soul City 1007
Comments: Save yourself some money and avoid this cd. Songs included are Johnny's hit songs but they are all rerecorded with the exception of "Swayin' To The Music" which pales in quality to the version found on Rhino's Anthology #70793. Yes, even the "live" hits that Johnny Rivers enjoyed are rerecorded "live" versions. To add insult to injury, the printed track lineup does not match the actual compact disc lineup.
Posted By: Pat Downey 4/19/98
Title: Music From The HBO Miniseries "From The Earth To The Moon"
Label: Play-Tone/Epic 69179
Comments: Here is a cd with lots of hits-- Eight Miles High by the Byrds (M), Magic Bus by the Who (E), Rescue Me by Fontella Bass (S), Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind by the Lovin' Spoonful (S), Sugar Sugar by the Archies (S), Mustang Sally by Wilson Pickett (M), Sh-boom by the Chords (M) and Beyond The Sea by Bobby Darin (S). However you will find a hum noticeable on the fadeout of every song. Guess this is why the label is called Play-Tone. Save your money and pass on this piece of garbage.
Posted by Pat Downey 4/25/98
Title: God, Love And Rock & Roll
Label: Varese Sarabande 5906
Comments: Great theme, great cd! Two songs appear on cd domestically for the first time --Teegarden & Van Winkle's "God Love And Rock And Roll" (S) and Wink Martindale's "Deck Of Cards" (S). Other tracks include Ocean "Put Your Hand In The Hand" (S), Impressions "Amen" (S) (yes the LP version again), Norman Greenbaum "Spirit In The Sky" (S), Kris Kristofferson "Why Me" (S), B J Thomas "Mighty Clouds Of Joy" (S), Singing Nun "Dominique" (M), Impressions "People Get Ready" (S), Edwin Hawkins Singers "Oh Happy Day" (S) and Royal Scots Dragoon Guards "Amazing Grace" (S).
Posted by Pat Downey 4/26/98
01/19/08