Best Of Little Anthony & The Imperials CD

One of the foremost doo-wop groups of the late1950s and early '60s, Little Anthony & the Imperials enjoyed a succession of hits with classic rock & roll era songs like "Tears on My Pillow," "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop," and "So Much," all of which combined lead singer Anthony Gourdine's distinctive falsetto vocals with the group's sophisticated harmony backing. This best-of pairs these early hits with Gourdine's second incarnation of the Imperials, which performs a haunting version of "Going Out of My Head," as well as the romantic "I Miss You So."
Rhino's Best of Little Anthony & the Imperials remains one of the best collections of the group's work, spanning their tear-stained doo wop as well as their later forays into pop and soul. Along with gathering the highlights of these styles, such as "Tears on My Pillow," "Shimmy Shimmy Ko Ko Bop," "Goin' Out of My Head," and "Hurts So Bad," the album also includes 14 other notable tracks. Songs like "Two People in the World," "Diary," "So Much," and "Wishful Thinking" aren't as distinctive as the group's doo wop hits, although "A Prayer and a Jukebox" distinguishes itself with a cool, gospel-inspired organ. The wittily-named "Taking a Vacation From Love" and "I'm Alright," along with some of the other upbeat tracks, explore the more soulful direction Little Anthony & the Imperials took on their later, more successful singles. "I'm on the Outside (Lookin' In)" is a beautiful balance of their lovelorn roots and the soulful leanings of their later work, and sounds almost like a test run for the success they would have with "Goin' Out of My Head" and "Hurts So Bad." 1965's intimate "Take Me Back" and theatrical "I Miss You So" close out the collection, reflecting the directions their later work would take. 25 Greatest Hits may be the most complete single-disc look at the group's music at this point, but Best of Little Anthony & the Imperials is still a solid collection of most of their greatest moments. ~ Heather Phares

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