"...Book Of Love..."
The seventh instalment of
Ace's "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll" CD Series follows
the same route as Volumes 1 to 6 – 30 cleverly sequenced Mono US 7"
singles that hit the American Pop charts with a nice combo of the obvious and
the obscure. "I Like It Like That Part 1" by Chris Kenner and
"Hushabye" by The Mystics are in Stereo – while only Ernie K-Doe (6)
and The Cascades (23) made the British charts. And all of this rare and hip
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 avoid the 'Mother In Law' as we succumb to the 'Ling, Ting, Tong' and
do 'The Caterpillar Crawl' (all in the best possible taste of course)...
UK and USA released November
1998 - "The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll Volume 7: Hot 100 Hits
From 1954-1963" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 700 (Barcode
029667170024) is a 30-track CD and breaks down as follows (72:32 minutes):
1. Book Of Love – THE
MONOTONES
February 1958 US 7"
single on Argo 5290 (peaked at 5)
May 1958 UK 7" single
on London HLM 8265 (didn’t chart)
2. Susie-Q – DALE HAWKINS
May 1957 USA 7” single on
Checker 863 (peaked at 27)
September 1957 UK 7"
single on London HL 8482 (didn’t chart)
In the liner notes it states
that Ace has 'taken the original master and re-created the reverb to produce a
better quality master with extra length at the end'...
3. C. C. Rider – CHUCK
WILLIS
March 1957 US 7" single
on Atlantic 45-1130 (peaked at 12)
June 1957 UK 7" single
on London HLE 8444 (didn’t chart)
4. Echo – THE EMOTIONS
December 1962 US 7"
single on Kapp 490 (peaked at 76 in January 1963)
December 1962 UK 7"
single on London HLT 9640 (didn’t chart)
5. Come On, Let's Go –
RITCHIE VALENS
August 1958 US 7"
single on Del-Fi 4106 (peaked at 42)
November 1958 UK 7"
single on Pye International 7N 25000 (didn’t chart)
The American B-side is
"Framed" – a Lieber Stoller song first recorded by The Robins in 1955
6. Mother-In-Law – ERNIE
K-DOE
February 1961 USA 7"
single on Minit 623 (peaked at 1)
April 1961 UK 7" single
on London HLU 9330 (peaked at 29)
Real name Ernest Kador –
song written, produced and featuring Allen Toussaint (on Piano)
7. Ling, Ting, Tong – THE
FIVE KEYS
October 1954 USA 7"
single on Capitol F 2945 (peaked at 28)
November 1954 UK 7"
single on Capitol CL 14184 (didn’t chart)
Their first British 45 and
very rare – listed at £500+
8. Sea Cruise – FRANKIE FORD
December 1958 USA 7"
single on Ace 554 (peaked at 14)
April 1959 UK 7" single
on London HL 8850 (didn’t chart)
Written by Huey
"Piano" Smith
9. Just A Dream – JIMMY
CLANTON And His Rockets
July 1958 USA 7" single
on Ace 546 (peaked at 4)
September 1958 UK 7” single
on London HLS 8699 (didn’t chart)
Credited as Jimmy Clanton in
the UK
10. The Caterpillar Crawl –
THE STRANGERS
March 1959 USA 7"
single on Titan FF-1701 (peaked at 49)
Not released in the UK
An instrumental featuring
Joel Scott Hill on Guitar
11. To Be Loved (Forever) –
THE PENTAGONS
January 1961 USA 7"
single on Donna 1337 (peaked at 48)
April 1961 UK 7" single
on London HLU 9333 (didn’t chart)
Rare UK 45 booked at £100 -
originally released in 1960 on Fleet International F-100 in the USA – B-side to
“Down At The Beach”
12. Cherrystone – THE
ADDRISI BROTHERS
May 1959 USA 7" single
on Del-Fi 4116 (peaked at 62)
June 1959 UK 7" single
on London HL 8922 (didn’t chart)
Don and Dick Addrisi
13. Unchained Melody – VITO
& THE SALUTATIONS
September 1963 USA 7"
single on Herald H-583 (peaked at 66)
Not released in the UK
Vito Balsamo – written in
1955, the song "Unchained Melody" has been a hit for a large number
of artists – Les Baxter, Al Hibbler, Roy Hamilton, Jimmy Young and most
famously by The Righteous Brothers in 1965 (many went to No. 1)
14. Pretty Girls Everywhere
– EUGENE CHURCH and The Fellows
August 1958 USA 7"
single on Class 235 (peaked at 80)
Not released in the UK
Eugene Church and Jesse
Belvin were part of The Cliques whose song "The Girl In My Dreams" is
on Volume 3 of this series (track 24)
15. Confidential – SONNY
KNIGHT
September 1956 USA 7"
single on Dot 45-15507 (peaked at 17)
January 1957 UK 7"
single on London HLD 8362 (didn’t chart)
US 45 originally issued on
Vita V-137 – it was the reissue on Dot 15507 (78") and Dot 45-15507
(7" single) that charted. The original gold-label tri-centre 45 in the UK
on London is rare – booked at £350+
16. Watch Your Step – BOBBY
PARKER
July 1961 USA 7" single
on V-Tone 223 (peaked at 51)
July 1961 UK 7" single
on London HLU 9393 (didn’t chart)
Guitarist with The Paul
Williams Big Band who played as the live back up group for huge names in the
Rock 'n' Roll field – Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Chuck Berry etc
17. Harlem Nocturne – THE
VISCOUNTS
November 1959 USA 7"
single on Madison M 123 (peaked at 52)
December 1959 UK 7"
single on Top Rank JAR 254 (didn’t chart)
This instrumental was
reissued in September 1965 in the USA on Amy 940 and charted at 39 – higher
than the original Madison release
18. I Like It Like That,
Part 1 – CHRIS KENNER
April 1961 USA 7"
single on Instant 3229 (peaked at 2)
September 1961 UK 7"
single on London HLU 9410 (didn't chart)
Chris Kenner also wrote,
"Land Of 1000 Dances" - which was a hit for him in 1962 on Instant
3252, Cannibal and The Headhunters in 1965 on Rampart 642 and Wilson Pickett in
1966 on Atlantic 2348
19. Foot Stomping – Part 1 –
THE FLARES
June 1961 USA 7" single
on Felsted 8624 (peaked at 25)
October 1961 UK 7"
single on London HLU 9441 (didn’t chart)
The US B-side is Part 2 –
the UK issue is "Foot Stomping" b/w "Hotcha Cha-Cha Brown"
20. Money (That’s What I
Want) – BARRETT STRONG
November 1959 USA 7"
single on Anna 1111 (peaked at 23)
April 1960 UK 7" single
on London HLU 9088 (didn’t chart)
The A-side is credited as
written by Janie Bradford and Berry Gordy, Jr (of Motown) but Barrett Strong
has always maintained that his name should have been in the writing credits. It
was reissued on Tamla 54027 and was only the
2nd single issued in the UK with Motown connections - and was made famous by
The Beatles who played it live and recorded in on their "With The
Beatles" LP in November 1963
21. Tear Drops – LEE ANDREWS
(and THE HEARTS)
November 1957 USA 7” single
on Chess 1675 (peaked at 20)
January 1958 UK 7"
single on London HLM 8546 (didn’t chart)
There was also an export
issued pressed in the UK on London HL 7031 – both it and the stock copy on HLM
8546 are very rare – listed at £300+ each
22. Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES
June 1957 USA 7" single
on Atlantic 45-1144 (peaked at 6)
September 1957 UK 7"
single on London HLU 8477 (didn’t chart)
They provided backing vocals
on Johnny Thunder's "Loop De Loop" on Diamond D-129 in late 1962
23. Rhythm Of The Rain – THE
CASCADES
November 1962 USA 7"
single on Valiant 6026 (peaked at 3)
January 1963 UK 7"
single on Warner Brothers WB 88 (peaked at 5)
24. I Wonder What She’s
Doing Tonight – BARRY and The Tamerlanes
August 1963 USA 7"
single on Valiant 6034 (peaked at 21)
November 1963 UK 7" single
on Warner Brothers WB 116 (didn’t chart)
Barry DeVorzon
25. Hushabye – THE MYSTICS
April 1959 USA 7"
single on Laurie 3028 (peaked at 20)
July 1959 UK 7" single
on HMV Records POP 646 (didn’t chart)
26. Clap Your Hands – THE
BEAU-MARKS
April 1960 USA 7"
single on Shad 5017 (peaked at 45)
May 1960 UK 7" single
on Top Rank JAR 377 (didn't chart)
27. Sugar Bee – CLEVELAND
CROCHET & Hill Billy Ramblers
December 1960 USA 7"
single on Goldband G-1106 (peaked at 80)
Not released in the UK
Some copies credit '...&
Hill Billy Ramblers' – others '...and Band' – first Cajun record to break Top
100
28. Shop Around – THE
MIRACLES
October 1960 USA 7"
single on Tamla 54043 (peaked at 2 in February 1961)
February 1961 UK 7"
single on London HL 9276 (didn't chart)
Featuring Smokey Robinson
29. Daughter – THE BLENDERS
July 1963 USA 7” single on
Witch 114 (peaked at 61)
Not released in the UK
30. Yea, Yea - THE KENDALL
SISTERS
February 1958 USA 7” single
on Argo 5291 (peaked at 73)
May 1958 UK 7” single on
London HLM 8622 (didn’t chart)
NOTES: all tracks are in
MONO except Tracks 18 and 25 - which are in STEREO
Volume 6 has an impressive
24-page booklet festooned with ROB FINNIS liner notes and cool pics - quality
publicity photos of forgotten names like The Strangers, Chuck Willis, Jimmy
Clanton, Dale Hawkins, The Pentagons and Sonny Knight. These snaps run
alongside rare Trade Adverts for Ritchie Valens, The Addrisi Brothers, The
Bobbettes, Lee Andrews, The Mystics, Ernie K-Doe and The Miracles. 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 72+ minutes.
The DUNCAN COWELL Remasters
are blindingly good – toppermost of the poppermost Audio quality on rarities
like the echo-marvel of "Susie-Q" by Dale Hawkins or the 'ooh wee...'
old man rhythm in my shoes of "Sea Cruise" by Frankie Ford. Despite
the disparate sources – the Audio is uniformly great throughout and will warm
the cockrels of collector's hearts.
Volume 7 opens with a
crystal-clear Vocal group classic "Book Of Love" by The Monotones
that is followed by a song that practically gave a young John Fogerty and CCR
their entire sound – the wonderful "Susie-Q" by Dale Hawkins. Beautifully
clear Audio also accompanies the rolling rhythms of Chuck Willis "C.C.
Rider" (what a great R&B tune) while layered voices swoon
"Echo" by a smitten vocal group The Emotions. You forget how cool the
jiver "Come On, Let's Go" by Ritchie Valens is – sounding just brill
on that tasty guitar solo - as does the tale of marital horror
"Mother-In-Law" where Ernie K-Doe reckons she was 'sent from down
below'. I’ve always loved The Five Keys as an R&B group and their bopper
"Ling, Ting, Tong" comes with a infectious beat and dodgy lyrics
about Chinamen.
As I said of Volumes 1 to 6
– what’s wicked about these Ace CD compilations is the oddities – finding gems
you just don’t know. The 'you'd be mine' pleader "Just A Dream" by
Jimmy Clanton is fab stuff – riddled with teenage 'won't forget you' angst and
tattoo your name on my buttocks 'misery'. A Link Wray quivering guitar fills
the stunning and slinky instrumental "The Caterpillar Crawl" while
The Addrisi Brothers sound like a happy Everly Brothers doing a bop-winner on
the impossibly catchy "Cherrystone". Bizarre is the only way to
describe Vito & The Salutations indecently speedy butchery of
"Unchained Melody" – a travesty quickly forgotten by a fantastic
sounding Eugene Church who finds that "Pretty Girls Everywhere" are
causing his teenage libido considerable botheration (you can’t even go to the
beach man and 'they're everywhere!').
Sonny Knight's smoocher
"Confidential" is a very clever choice – but it gets absolutely
stomped on by Bobby Walker's "Watch Your Step" – a barnstormer of a
tune with a wicked 60ts guitar line that makes you want to do the neck jerk and
not give a damn. Equally smart is the echoed guitar instrumental of "Harlem Nocturne" by The Viscounts
while the crowd-pleasing 'name of the place' is "I Like It Like That"
by Chris Kenner comes at you in wonderfully alive Stereo. I'd also forgotten
what a powerhouse of a tune "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett
Strong is – hardly surprising I suppose as it’s a derivative of the Ray Charles
Atlantic Records classic "What I'd Say" (those Liverpudlians covered
"Money" on their 2nd LP "With The Beatles" in late 1963).
Genius inclusions – the
gorgeous Vocal Group "Tear Drops" by Lee Andrews tells us that he was
wrong to take the chance with somebody new (my dear) – and I never tire of the
party song "Mr. Lee" – a hugely popular tune by The Bobbettes (on the
mighty Atlantic Records). It may be sappy by today's standards but its hard
even now to resist the lovely "Rhythm Of The Rain" by The Cascades.
The frisky "Daughter" by The Blenders advises its listeners that the
girl must leave those boys alone (not sure she's gonna listen to mother on this
one). We even get a little Eddie Cochran with the vocals of "Yea,
Yea" by The Kendall Sisters where the rhythm could be Eddie but fronted by
girls trying to resist 'one kiss' (not having a lot of luck either). But my
fave on here is "Sugar Bee" by the wonderfully named Cleveland
Crochet – a first time breakthrough Cajun 45 that features the most amazing
overall sound – a guitar chug that’s both Creole and Captain Beefheart at the
same time (if you can imagine such a thing). It’s a Rock 'n' Roll record – a
Cajun tune – it’s guitar boogie – what a winner...
Like Volumes 1 to 6 –
instalment No. 7 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 W*p 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 W*p Edition Volume 2 1956-1963 (Ace CDCHD 1230, May 2009)
18. The Golden Age Of American Rock 'n' Roll: Special Doo W*p 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...
