"...Come
Go With Me..."
The
sixth instalment of Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll"
CD Series follows the same route as Volumes 1 to 5 – 30 cleverly sequenced Mono
US 7" singles that hit the American Pop charts with a nice combo of the
obvious and the obscure. "I Wonder (If Your Love Will Ever Belong To
Me)" by The Pentagons, "The Shape I'm In" by Johnny Restivo,
"Lover Please" by Clyde McPhatter and "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" by
The Rivingtons are in Stereo - while only the Vocal Group classic "Little
Star" by The Elegants made the British charts. And all this hipster
material is presented to fans by a record company that gives a damn - with a
hard-won reputation across four decades of reissue quality (best tape sources
used – no needle drops). The full 18 volumes up to late 2015 are listed below.
So lets sip on a 'Tall Cool One', succumb to that 'Itchy Twitchy Feeling' and
do the 'Love Bug Crawl' with that 'Real Wild Child' (all in the best possible
taste of course)...
UK
and USA released January 1997 - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll
Volume 6: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records
CDCHD 650 (Barcode 029667165020) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows
(73:03 minutes):
1.
Shirley – JOHN FRED and The Playboys
December
1958 US 7" single on Montel SJM 1002 (peaked at 82)
Not
released in the UK
2.
Come Go With Me – THE DELL-VIKINGS
January
1957 USA 7” single on Dot 15538 (peaked at 4)
April
1957 UK 7" single on London HLD 8405 (didn’t chart)
Originally
released in the USA December 1956 on Fee Bee FB-205
3.
Black Slacks – JOE BENNETT and THE SPARKLETONES
July
1957 US 7" single on ABC-Paramount 9837 (peaked at 17)
August
1957 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 399 (didn’t chart)
4.
Lollipop – RONALD and RUBY
February
1958 US 7" single on RCA Victor 47-7174 (peaked at 20)
March
1958 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA1053 (didn’t chart)
Lee
"Ronald" Morris and Beverley "Ruby" Ross
5.
Ten Commandments Of Love – HARVEY and THE MOONGLOWS
August
1958 US 7" single on Chess 1705 (peaked at 22)
October
1958 UK 7" single on London HL-M 8730 (didn’t chart)
Featuring
Harvey Fuqua
6.
Love Bug Crawl – JIMMY EDWARDS
October
1957 USA 7" single on Mercury 71209 (peaked at 78)
January
1958 UK 7" single on Mercury 7MT 193 (didn’t chart)
Originally
issued on Wednesday Records H8OW-0976/7 in the USA – a private pressing of a
few hundred copies.
The
British issue on 78" and 45" are known Rockabilly rarities – 78"
at £50 and the 7" at £500.
7.
Do You Want To Dance – BOBBY FREEMAN
March
1958 USA 7" single on Josie 45-835 (peaked at 5)
June
1958 UK 7" single on London HLJ 8644 (didn’t chart)
8.
Hard Times (The Slop) – NOBLE "THIN MAN" WATTS & His Rhythm
Sparks
November
1957 USA 7" single on Baton 249 (peaked at 44)
May
1958 UK 7" single on London HLU 8627 (didn’t chart)
Instrumental
9.
Imagination – THE QUOTATIONS
November
1961 USA 7" single on Verve VK 10245 (peaked at 79 on Cashbox)
January
1962 UK 7” single on HMV Records POP 975 (didn’t chart)
10.
I Wonder (If Your Love Will Ever Belong To Me) – THE PENTAGONS
September
1961 USA 7" single on Jamie 1201 (peaked at 84)
Not
released in the UK
Rick
Nelson recorded a version of the "I Wonder..." song – US released
April 1964 as the flipside to "The Very Thought Of You" on Decca
31612
11.
At My Front Door – THE EL DORADOS
August
1955 USA 7" single on Vee-Jay VJ 147 (peaked at 17)
Not
released in the UK
12.
You're So Fine – THE FALCONS
March
1959 USA 7" single on Unart UR 2013 (peaked at 17)
June
1959 UK 7" single on London HLT 8876 (didn’t chart)
13.
Tall Cool One – THE WAILERS
May
1959 USA 7" single on Golden Crest CR 518 (peaked at 36)
October
1959 UK 7" single on London HL 8958 (didn’t chart)
An
Instrumental - Takoma Rock 'n' Roll band (not Bob Marley's backing group)
14.
The Shape I'm In – JOHNNY RESTIVO
September
1959 USA 7" single on RCA Victor 47-7559 (peaked at 80)
July
1959 UK 7" single on RCA Records RCA 1143 (didn’t chart)
15.
Little Star – THE ELEGANTS
June
1958 USA 7" single on Apt 45-25005 (peaked at 1)
August
1958 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 520 (peaked at 25)
16.
Lover Please – CLYDE McPHATTER
February
1962 USA 7" single on Mercury 71941 (peaked at 7)
April
1962 UK 7" single on Mercury AMT 1174 (didn’t chart)
Formerly
the Lead Singer with The Drifters (on Atlantic Records)
17.
Charlena – THE SEVILLES
December
1960 USA 7" single on J.C. Records 116 (peaked at 84)
Not
released in the UK
Reissued
in the USA June 1963 on Galaxy 721
18.
Pledging My Love – JOHNNY ACE
March
1955 USA 7" single on Duke 136 (peaked at 17)
March
1961 UK 7" single on Vogue Pop V 9180 (didn't chart)
19.
Itchy Twitchy Feeling – BOBBY HENDRICKS with Jimmy Oliver's Orchestra
June
1958 USA 7" single on Sue 706 (peaked at 25)
October
1958 UK 7" single on London HL 8714 (didn’t chart)
20.
Priscilla – EDDIE COOLEY and THE DIMPLES
September
1956 USA 7" single on Royal Roast 621 (peaked at 20)
February
1957 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 3873 (didn’t chart)
21.
Hold Back The Tears – THE DELACARDOS
April
1961 USA 7” single on United Artists UA 310 (peaked at 81)
June
1961 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 890 (didn’t chart)
22.
You Can Make It If You Try – GENE ALLLISON
September
1957 USA 7" single on Vee-Jay VJ 256 (peaked at 36)
April
1958 UK 7" single on London HLU 8605 (didn’t chart)
23.
Real Wild Child - IVAN
July
1958 USA 7" single on Coral 9-62017 (peaked at 68)
October
1958 UK 7" single on Coral Q 72341 (didn’t chart)
Jerry
"Ivan" Allison – the drummer with Buddy Holly's Crickets – the song
is written by Johnny O'Keefe who put it out as a US 7" single in April
1958 on Brunswick 9-55067 credited as Johnny O'Keefe and The Dee Jays. Covered
by Jerry Lee Lewis in 1958 at Sun and by Iggy Pop in 1986 on A&M
24.
Quarter To Four Stomp – THE STOMPERS
January
1962 USA 7" single on Landa 684 (peaked at 100)
April
1962 UK 7" single on Fontana H 385 (didn’t chart)
25.
Don't You Just Know It – HUEY (PIANO) SMITH & The Clowns
March
1958 USA 7" single on Ace 545 (peaked at 9)
June
1958 UK 7" single on Columbia DB 4138 (didn’t chart)
The
Clowns featured Lead Vocalist Bobby Marchan
26.
I'm Walkin' – RICKY NELSON
April
1957 USA 7" single on Verve V 10047 (peaked at 4)
June
1957 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 355 (didn't chart)
27.
I Love An Angel – LITTLE BILL & THE BLUENOTES
June
1959 USA 7" single on Dolton No. 4 (peaked at 66)
August
1959 UK 7" single on Top Rank JAR 176 (didn't chart)
28.
Short Shorts – ROYAL TEENS
January
1958 USA 7" single on ABC-Paramount 45-9882 (peaked at 3)
February
1958 UK 7" single on HMV Records POP 454 (didn't chart)
Originally
released in the USA in 1957 on Power Records 215
29.
Hide And Go Seek, Part 1 – BUNKER HILL
June
1962 USA 7” single on Mala 451 (peaked at 33)
November
1962 UK 7” single on Stateside SS 135 (didn’t chart)
Real
name David Walker who later sang with The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
30.
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow – THE RIVINGTONS
January
1962 USA 7” single on Liberty 55427 (peaked at 48)
February
1962 UK 7” single on Liberty LIB 55427 (didn’t chart)
Members
of The Sharps became The Rivingtons – see also "Little Bitty Pretty
One" by Thurston Harris & The Sharps (Track 11, Volume 5)
NOTES:
all tracks are in MONO except Tracks 10, 14, 16 and 30 - which are in STEREO
Volume
6 has an impressive 20-page booklet festooned with ROB FINNIS liner notes and
cool pics - quality publicity photos of forgotten names like The Elegants, (the
real) Beverly Ross of Ronald and Ruby, The Royal Teens and The Rivingtons.
These snaps run alongside rare Trade Adverts for Jimmy Edwards, Nobel &
Watts, The Pentagons and The Sevilles. The two-page colour collage of British
45s in their labels bags that was a feature on Volumes 1 to 4 has been replaced
with smaller pictures of various UK and US record labels throughout the text -
Finnis connecting all the musical and historical dots. Compiled by Trevor Churchill,
John Broven and Rob Finnis – the clever sequencing makes it feel like an old
jukebox and it features a generous total playing time of 73+ minutes.
The
DUNCAN COWELL Remasters are blindingly good – toppermost of the poppermost
Audio quality on rarities like the Rockabilly girl/guy bop of "Black
Slacks" by Joe Bennett & The Sparkletones or the 'what a
thrill...crawling up my spine...' echoed-vocal sauciness of "Love Bug
Crawl" by Jimmy Edwards. Despite the disparate sources – the Audio is
uniformly great throughout and will warm the cockrels of collector's hearts.
Volume
6 opens with the R&B drum-shuffle of John Fred promising he’ll take his
girl "Shirley" around the world (well maybe around Baton Rouge is his
bus-fare holds out). Beautifully clear Audio accompanies Vocal Groups The
Dell-Vikings and Harvey & The Moonglows who offer happiness and heartache
in equal measure - The Dells pleading for her nibs to "Come Go With
Me" while Harvey Fuqua of The Moonglows wants to lay down the "Ten
Commandments Of Love" first before he gets all kissy-kissy with his baby
(really Harvey). Rock 'n' Roll and Rockabilly fans with love the properly great
jiver "Love Bug Crawl" by Jimmy Edwards (sounds 'so' clean) - as does
the sappy "Do You Want To Dance" where Bobby Freeman sounds
suspiciously like he needs singing lessons and not another teen pose. Far
better is the instrumental Saxophone and Guitar shuffler "Hard Times (The
Slop)" by Noble "Thin Man" Watts where he sounds like he's going
to invent a dance craze like the Mashed Potato any second now (great stuff).
More Vocal Group 'my, my, my' bending of phrases hits you with an
awesome-sounding "Imagination" by The Quotations while The Pentagons
are listening to voices deep within that echo their worst manly fears - "I
Wonder (If Your Love Will Ever Belong To Me)". The El Dorados have a crazy
little mama come knock, knock, knocking "At My Front Door" while The
Falcons have nothing but swooning admiration for their baby doll in their
lovely Vocal Group gem "You're So Fine".
As
I said of Volumes 1 to 5 – what’s wicked about these Ace CD compilations is the
oddities – finding gems you just don’t know. The cymbal and piano instrumental
"Tall Cool One" by The Wailers is fab stuff – very Pink Panther in
places and surely a shoe-in for a belated TV theme. The quivering-lip-vocals of
Johnny Restivo gives the wickedly catchy "The Shape I'm In" an Elvis
Presley/Charlie Rich 60ts cool. Equally fun is the copycat Clyde McPhatter
vocals of Bobby Hendricks on the brilliantly titled "Itchy Twitchy
Feeling" - while the recorded-in-a-leaking-bucket "Charlena" by
The Sevilles is Low Fi for sure but still massively atmospheric and sounding as
vibrant as it did when first pressed in 1961.
Whenever
I hear Johnny Ace’s immortal smoocher "Pledging My Love" from 1955 -
I always think of a fabulous Aretha Franklin non-album B-side cover version of
it which was doubled with a song called "The Clock" on the flip of
"Share Your Love With Me" on Atlantic 2650 in 1969. That and Paul
Simon's name-checking of the tragic Johnny Ace in his wonderful "The Late
Great Johnny Ace” song on the massively underrated "Heart And Bones"
album in 1983 (check out both of those masterpieces). Eddie Cooley is
determined to get his ring on the finger of "Priscilla" (great Saxophone
solo in the centre) while the heartbroken Delacardos have to "Hold Back
The Tears" if the girl's name is even mentioned (tissue anyone).
Genius
inclusions – you can’t help think that Buddy Holly’s drummer Jerry ‘Ivan’
Allison teleported to some hedonistic future when he wrote "Real Wild
Child" – because two genuinely wild men of Rock 'n' Roll (Jerry Lee Lewis
and Iggy Pop) both returned the compliment by covering the fabulous rocker on
Sun Records in 1958 and A&M Records in 1986. What a great inclusion
"Real Wild Child" is and the 1958 Coral Records original sounding so
full of that Rock 'n' Roll danger. And I don't care how familiar how the 'ah ah
ah – aye o' vocals of "Don't You Just Know It" by Huey Piano Smith is
– the song is still joyous R&B fun.
Teenyboppers
might have swooned to Ricky Nelson's matinee good looks but I still prefer the
Fats Domino original of "I'm Walkin'" to his cover – better is the
slow and smoochy Saxophone of "I Love An Angel" by a fawning Little
Bill & The Bluenotes - here in awesome clarity. There are few words to
describe the 'uh man dig that crazy chick' of the marvellously naff "Short
Shorts" by The Royal Teens (but we like it anyway man). And Volume 6 ends
with a double-whammy of Audio magnificence - the shouting of David Walker
(later with The Mighty Clouds Of Joy) masquerading as Bunker Hill on the
genuinely nanny goat raucous "Hide And Go Seek" (someone literally
bleats like a goat in the background) – and the 'funniest sound I ever heard'
of "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" by The Rivingtons - whose lead singer needs to
seek psychiatric help as soon as possible...
Like
Volumes 1 to 5 – instalment No. 6 is an adventurous, period evocative, cleverly
paced compilation. But most important of all – it’s blindingly great fun to listen
to - stirring up so many fond memories. So even if you weren't there - you will
feel all "American Graffiti" after a night in with this CD
compilation. But most of all you get a real sense of why UK fans in the 50ts
and 60ts looked to the USA with such awe. The Yanks had it all – the cool - the
cars - the girls - the film stars and best of all - the music. And there are
seventeen more volumes where this came from...
PS:
Titles in "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series are:
1.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Hard-To-Get Hot 100 Hits From 1954-63
(Ace CDCHD 289, November 1991)
2.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 2: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 445, March 1993)
3.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 3: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 497, January 1994)
4.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 4: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 500, October 1994)
5.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 5: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 600, October 1995)
6.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 6: 30 Hot 100 Hits From
1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 650, January 1997)
7.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 700, November 1998)
8.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 8: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 750, November 1999)
9.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 9: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 800, February 2001)
10.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 10: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 850, September 2002)
11.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 11: Hot 100 Hits From 1954-1963
(Ace CDCHD 1200, September 2007)
12.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 12: 30 Hot 100 Hits From
1954-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1280, February 2011)
13.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Country Edition (Ace CDCHD
845, April 2002)
14.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Novelty Edition (Ace CDCHD 890,
November 2003)
15.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo Wop Edition 1953-1963
(Ace CDCHD 1000, May 2004)
16.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special "Bubbling Under"
Edition – Regional Hits That Just Missed The Hot 100 1959-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1050,
March 2006)
17.
The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll – The Follow-Up Hits: Hard-To-Get Hot
100 Hits (Ace CDCHD 1190, January 2008)
18. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll:
Special Doo Wop Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)
This review and hundreds more like it can be found in my SOUNDS GOOD Music Book Series - BLUES, GOSPEL, RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL - Exceptional CD Remasters is available to buy/download at Amazon at the following link...
