Search - Bruce Channel :: Keep on

One-hit wonder's comeback attempt

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 04/28/2002

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Though he had five top-100 pop charted hits to his credit, few people would recognize Bruce Channel for anything other than his 15-minutes-of-fame 1963 chart-topping "Hey Baby". With little real musical distinction and follow-up material that was vastly inferior and of little note, his chart appearances quickly dried up after his monster debut. After five years and several label changes with no success, Channel managed a very minor comeback with "Mr. Bus Driver" on the Mala label. Though no further progress with his career ensued in the states, a follow-up effort, "Keep On" made more noise in the U.K. and mainland Europe. That interest generated more recordings that became the "Keep On" album, the basis for this CD reissue. Making up this CD is the "Keep On" album with its "Keep On", "Mr. Bus Driver" and other non-charting singles along with four bonus cuts not part of the original album. But as before, the material was not commercially viable enough to maintain the momentum and Channel again and finally disappeared from musical recognition. Produced by the German Repertoire label, the execution is decent with acceptable though not stellar sound quality (all tracks are in mono) and a liner notes booklet with details on Channel's musical history. Although this piece does serve the purpose of filling a gap in the reissues of 60s music, unless you are a collector or diehard Channel fan, there is little here to recommend to the casual listener."