Search - Wayne Fontana :: Wayne One

Wayne Fontana minus The Mindbenders

Fredric A. Cooper | Los Angeles, CA | 01/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although The Mindbenders scored the biggest post-breakup hit with "A Groovy Kind of Love", lead singer Wayne Fontana, judging from this superb 2 CD set, had the more interesting recording career. His solo album, which I had actually not heard prior to getting this release, is orchestrated pop, and a bigger jump in style than The Mindbenders could manage. Very nice stereo sound, too. The second disc compiles all of the solo singles, including the rare unreleased demo "Give Me Just A Little More Time", which to my ears, is a better listen than the Chairmen of The Board hit version. Many of the singles got lost in the late 60s shuffle, but are quite pleasant now. "Gina", in particular, has a wonderful orchestral backing, sounding like something from a film soundtrack. Perhaps that's where Fontana's music should have been directed, rather than the very competitive pop charts. Other tracks such as "Something Keeps Calling me Back" and "Waiting for a Break in The Clouds" have become Northern Soul classics in recent times. And his biggest solo hit "Pamela Pamela" is simply one of the best singles of the '60s, as written by Graham Gouldman. In short, any '60s music lover needs to investigate this compilation."