Search - Rivieras :: California Sun: Best of

Frat boy rock

07/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Rivieras had to be one of the definitive frat-boy rock group of their era. Their lone, big hit "California Sun" is a classic, later covered by the Ramones but never bettered. It just makes you want to get up and dance. As with most surf-frat groups of this era they recorded a lot of cover songs as typified by this compilation, The Rivieras , however , took these covers and made them their own. Songs such as Danny Boy, Rockin Robin , Church Key and Keep a Knockin are all top notch. The songs come fast and furious and this is one good party platter. This reissue contains both of their original albums on one cd. The only question to ask is "why did it take so long"?"

Lost in the California sun

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 06/24/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Not the 50s R'n'B group but the Indiana(!) rock band that took the "California Sun" into the top 5 in the 60s. While titled "Best Of...", this CD is actually a two-fer of their two albums with some 45 versions substituted for the album versions. While the grinding organ and hyperenergy of "California Sun" are maintained through most of the tunes (even unlikely ones such as "Danny Boy"), they were never able to capitalize on the success of "Cal-Sun". Instrumentally, they are a progression of the early 60's Johnny and the Hurricanes' sound. Except for scraping the bottom of the charts with a few follow-up singles, they disappeared from the national spotlight, relegated basically to one-hit wonder status. With the freshness of "California Sun" exhausted, and without unique new material, their promising sound couldn't be sustained in the pop charts. Sound quality is reasonably good with all tracks in mono. Includes a comprehensive history of the band in a 12-page booklet. A welcome release by the small indie Norton Records."

As Complete As You Can Get

Zub | 08/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll say one thing for this Norton release - it is complete, giving you all six sides of their four hits (one was a double-sided hit) from 1964, coupled with excellent sound quality.



But if ever a group was said to have "fallen off the table" following their initial hit it's this bunch from South Bend, Indiana. With Marty Fortson providing the lead on California Sun, and taking their name from the Riviera label, they fairly exploded onto the scene early in 1964, taking it all the way to # 5 Billboard Pop Hot 100. Not bad in the very midst of the earliest stages of the British Invasion and at a time when The Beatles alone had SEVENTEEN hits competing for chart positions.



Both B-sides to that hit are here as well, with H.B. Goose Step appearing on some and Played On on others. Perhaps they should have hung on to Fortson, because after he left following that hit Bill Dobslaw took over on Little Donna. By May, however, the British Invasion was in full force and this blatant rip-off of Chuck Berry's Sweet Little 16 struggled to a # 93 Hot 100. The flipside, a cover of Wanda Jackson's 1960 hit, Let's Have A Party, just made the Hot 100 at # 99.



Their final hit came that September when their cover of Rockin' Robin clocked in at # 96 Hot 100 b/w Battle Line. That would turn out to be the poorest showing for this bouncy tune, first taken to # 2 in 1958 by Bobby Day, and then to # 2 again in 1972 by Michael Jackson.



After that they faded quickly from the scene. So, not exactly a memorable group, but one that did flirt briefly with fame with that one big hit. And speaking for completist collectors everywhere, may I say this is what we like to see when it comes to an artist or group with but a handful of hits. Take note Collectables."