Chubby Checker - Best of 19591963 +Album Reviews

Finally...The Original Recordings

Steve Vrana | Aurora, NE | 10/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Why it took Cameo Parkway so long to release this muisc on CD is unclear to me, but it's nice to have the original recordings finally released after being unavailable for decades.

This 24-track collection presents 18 of his 21 hits that he recorded for the label. [The only missing hits are "Twenty Miles" (#15, 1963) and "Lazy Elsie Molly" and "Let's Do the Freddie" (both peaked at #40 in 1964).]

Checker's best known song is, of course, "The Twist." The song was so popular, it is the only song to reach No. 1 on the pop chart in nonconsecutive years (1960 and 1962). He also had million-sellers with "Let's Twist Again" and "Limbo Rock." Additional dance craze top ten hits included "Pony Time," "The Fly," "Popeye (The Hitchhiker)" and a duet with labelmate Dee Dee Sharp on "Slow Twistin'." Checker also had a holiday hit with labelmate Bobby Rydell on "Jingle Bell Rock."

My only quarrel with this collection is the sequencing. It should have been in chronological order, starting with his 1959 debut "The Class." And if you aren't going to do that, at least start with his signature song, "The Twist," not 1962's "Dancin' Party." With that aside, this is an enjoyable collection of dance songs. No serious lyrical content, just plain fun music. RECOMMENDED"

Finally, the real deal!

Paul Warren | Farmington Hills, MI United States | 10/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know you've been waiting 20+ years, like me, to find a CD with Chubby's ORIGINAL hit recordings. The wait is finally over. You can now toss out all those various old and woefully inferior "Greatest Hits" and "Best Of" Chubby Checker re-recordings in your CD collection that have proliferated the market for too many years. This disc has the hits the way you remember them (or the way you younger fans should hear them the first time) and some B-sides that should please most collectors. I give it 5 stars for containing a total of 24 selections and decent liner notes for a bargain price."

It's a shame this doesn't include all his top 40 hits...

Reader | Toronto, Ontario Canada | 12/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After waiting 20 years for Chubby Checker's original cameo-parkway hits to appear on cd, why did they have to leave off three of this top 40 hits? Too bad. I guess I STILL have to keep my old vinyl copies of the three missing songs: "Twenty Miles", "Lazy Elsie Molly", and "Let's Do the Freddie".

I would have rather had these than tracks that weren't hits (like "Toot" whose background music sounds like "Short Shorts" by the Royal Teens"."

I dig it, Chubby !!!

Matthew G. Sherwin | last seen screaming at Amazon customer service | 04/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963 gives us exactly that: the best music by Chubby Checker on Cameo Parkway records from 1959 to 1963. Chubby Checker made music fun; you could dance to his music and have a great time dancing to the "Limbo Rock" over and over again. Chubby always managed to sound so energetic, new and fresh when he sang; and just one listen proves it. The quality of the sound on this CD is nothing short of excellent. The artwork is great even if it is somewhat standard for this CD series from Cameo Parkway.

The CD starts with Chubby belting out "Dancin' Party;" "Dancin' Party" has one heck of a beat and I love every minute of it--what great music. It's electric! Chubby sings with lots of enthusiasm; and his excellent diction enhances his performance all the more. Terrific! Of course, "The Twist" was probably Chubby's biggest hit ever; and he again belts this out with lots of youthful enthusiasm--just what teenagers wanted back in the day. The backup vocalists add to the number and that melody is infectiously happy and catchy, too. "Twistin' U.S.A." is a fine variation on "The Twist;" it has every bit of the same positive vibe that made Cubby Checker a major household word. Chubby could bat these hits straight out of the ballpark; and he always did!

"The Hucklebuck" is another dance tune; and I really like "Pony Time." "Pony Time" is an excellent late `50s tune that should get your feet tapping when you hear it all these years later--it's all THAT good. "Let's Twist Again" is a strong sequel song to "The Twist;" the music has a beat that couldn't be better and again the melody is infectiously happy and catchy, too. Chubby specialized in making these dance tunes so very memorable; and he succeeded every step of the way. In addition, "Limbo Rock" was a song played at many a teenage party back in the day; those teens had fun with this number and I can't imagine why they wouldn't have liked it--Chubby does this to perfection and beyond! "Let's Limbo Some More" has something of a late `50s Latin beat to it that works very well for this song.

"Birdland" is a very dynamic tune that has Chubby in his natural element; and the backup vocalists make this even more exciting than ever! I love it. "Surf Party" remains an excellent example of Chubby's remarkably fun and wonderful music; if you like music from the late `50s you're sure to love this number. "Twistin' Round The World" has another signature Chubby Checker sound to it that I really like; and the album ends strong with a fun number thrown in for a good effect; we get Bobby Rydell at the helm as these artists perform "Jungle Bell Rock."

Chubby Checker will never be forgotten; he was a king amongst kings and one of the best artists to consistently turn out song after song that young people--and anyone with a beating heart, really--could dance to, even today. I love the work of Chubby Checker and I highly recommend this album.

"

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	Chubby Checker Best of 1959-1963 Genres: Pop, R&B, Rock Chubby Checker, The Best of Chubby Checker: Cameo Parkway 1959-1963
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