Bobby Vee Night Has A Thousand Eyes/Meets The Crikets CD

As far as the music of early teen idol Bobby Vee goes, owning anything but a greatest-hits package would seem inconceivable to all but the fanatical. However, like most singers who came up in an era known primarily for singles (albums were expensive and stuffed with easily forgotten filler), occasionally a few hidden gems tucked away on those grooves would pop up. The Collectables reissue combining The Night Has a Thousand Eyes and Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets is a good example of more substance than might be given credit. Riding on the success of the hit single "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," the 1963 album of the same name contained similar overlooked songs of equal enjoyment value (except when the Johnny Mann Singers got in the way) penned by King/Goffin ("Go Away Little Girl"), Jackie DeShannon, and David/Bacharach. Vee also had the desire to show off his rock & roll roots and, for a brief time, the Crickets backed Vee on his earliest hits. While there was no comparison concerning Vee filling Buddy Holly's shoes (although he sounds amazingly similar), he does a credible job on these rock & roll standards made famous by Chuck Berry, Roy Orbison, Little Richard, and Buddy Holly. These two enjoyable sessions deserve further examination. ~ Al Campbell

Includes liner notes by Bob Celli.

Originally released on Liberty (7285).

Originally released on Liberty (7228).

2 LP'S on 1 CD: NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES (1963)/MEETS THE CRICKETS.

NIGHT HAS A THOUSAND EYES:

BOBBY VEE MEETS THE CRICKETS:

Producer: Snuff Garrett.

Personnel: Johnny Mann Singers (vocals); Howard Roberts , Tommy Allsup (guitar); Gene Garf, Aaron Freeman (keyboards); Jerry Allison (drums, background vocals); Earl Palmer (drums); Buzz Cason, Jerry Naylor (background vocals).

Liner Note Author: Bob Celli.

Arranger: Aaron Freeman.

The Crickets