Search - Various Artists :: Legends of Rock N Roll

Not all surf city, not all una paloma blanca

Regina | Brooklyn, NY USA | 03/14/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"funnily enough, i started listening to this album before i even reached adolescence, after expressing to my parents an interest in dion and the belmonts. most of the time, i would just listen and laugh at some songs' silly or over-serious treatment of otherwise serious occasions - "love potion #9" always tickled my funny bone, as did "who's that lady?" and especially "bang bang." other songs were heavier: ike and tina's two-faced "proud mary," and "the glory of love," which always seems to linger, to dwell in my ears in a way similar to fats domino's slow and penetrating croon. and somehow, "walk don't run" alone managed to instill in me the ability to see beauty and fun in a song that doesn't have well-known choruses to carry it through.Not all 24 of these sweet songs are really legendary in style, presentation and content. they did not cause shifts in musical paradigms or provoke deep contemplation. there is nothing here that you won't be able to hear on your local oldies station, if you wait around long enough. but, to dismiss this stuff because of its relative simplicity would be too hasty a move for lovers of sound.this is a great album when you are in the mood for the kind of sounds produced before rubber soul blew brian wilson's mind (and yes, a little bit after, as well): lightweight, simple, often though not entirely upbeat...i have found that it is good to unwind to. and it never fails to provide the same laughs and smiles as when i was a kid, all the way from eddie cochran's visit to his local congressman, to cher falling off her imaginary horse, to the highwaymen's perfect, quieting closing.in the words of jan and dean: "it's not very cherry, it's an oldie but a goody"..."