Search - Various Artists :: Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 9: 1957-1959

Perhaps I live in another universe

David Pollock | Silver Spring, MD USA | 01/02/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"My experience of this cd, Vol 9: 1957 - 1959 is so different from many of the other reviews that I am a bit perplexed. I was in Junior High (a term no longer used, I believe) during this period. I love rocknroll, country, rhythm and blues and vocal/band music of the 20's, 30's and 40's. I also realize that the process of become a money making hit for records and films is often random and capricious, leaving many excellent offerings in the dust quite unfairly.

I had to remind myself, after listening to this cd that no promise was made that these were neglected gems or that they were rocknroll, an assumption I now realize that I sort of unconsciously made.

I would say about 4 or 5 songs, out of 23 could be considered neglected rockn roll songs that are fairly cool. I hadn't realized that anyone had done a rockabilly version of Mona Lisa. Rockin Little Angel, Tear Drop and Honey Love are also cool. I even enjoyed the benign mania of Everybody Out of the Pool by the Lifeguards. The few other rock songs seem pretty lame, with words obviously by middle aged tin pan ally types attempting to join with teenage music.

The rest of the songs are by bland vocal groups either singing in folk revival style or imitation Four Freshman. Don't get me wrong, I love good folk music and vocal groups from the 40's but these songs sounded lame to me. Vol 9 seems especially appropriate for the family and friends of the artists included but I'm not so sure about the rest of us esp at the price offered. You might pick it up if the used price drops to about $5 or so."

Encore!

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 09/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After several years, Eric Records presents another two volumes in its sensational "Hard To Find 45's on CD" series. Focusing on the late '50's, this installment unearths a new wealth of seldom-found tunes from the era, a few more familiar top-10 hits and most invigorating of all, lots of new-to-CD tracks. Among the standouts here include Dicky Doo and the Don'ts rarely found "Click Clack", the national version of Tommy Facenda's "High School U.S.A. and the CD debuts of the Nu Tornados' "Philadelphia U.S.A.", the Bluenotes "I Don't Know What It Is" and "A String of Trumpets" from the Trumpeteers. If one had to push the envelope on the track selection here, substituting Dave "Baby" Cortez' top-ten "Rinky Dink" for the ubiquitous "Happy Organ" would have definitively earned this collection the "hard-to-find" moniker. But without looking overseas to the U.K.'s Ace Records, nobody here in the U.S. can touch Eric's outstanding offerings of early rock era 45's in digital. As with their previous volumes, sound quality here is top-notch and though some tracks have, by necessity, been taken from vinyl sources, these tracks sound exceptionally clean and crisp. All are mono versions with the exception of "High School U.S.A." Finishing up this exceptional package is a twelve-page liner notes booklet with backround on the included tracks and photos of some of the artists. Eric has come to set the standard for these anxiously awaited collections and this one does not disappoint. A must-have for the avid collector and a fun addition to the casual fan's collection as well."

Dick Bartley Presents:Cassic Oldies 1965-1969

G. Rosenberger | SSP | 10/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great songs from the 60's and I have been looking for the song Peter Rabbit since 1966. When I got home from the service in late 1966 it was off the shelf in my area and I located it in 2o minutes on your web-site. Thank You"