Ames Brothers - Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown CD

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown buy CD music Collecting recordings from throughout the first five years of early-1960s heartthrob Bobby Rydell's career, this compilation features his first hits, like the Doc Pomus composition "I Dig Girls," standards like "That Old Black Magic," a wide variety of Brill Building classics like "The Third House (In From the Right)," and one early Lennon and McCartney composition, "A World Without Love." Significantly, Rydell's version of the latter song lost out to Peter and Gordon's British Invasion hit--the onetime teen idol was one of many U.S. pop stars supplanted by Beatlemania. Recording information: Bell Sound Studios, New York, NY (01/1959-09/1963); Cameo Parkway Studio (01/1959-09/1963); Capitol Recording Studios, New York, NY (01/1959-09/1963); Mira Sound, New York, NY (01/1959-09/1963); Pye Recording Studios, London, England (01/1959-09/1963); Radio Recorders, Hollywood, CA (01/1959-09/1963); Reco-Art Sound Recording, Philadelphia, PA (01/1959-09/1963); RPL Studios, Camden, NJ (01/1959-09/1963); United Recording, Hollywood, CA (01/1959-09/1963); Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA (01/1959-09/1963). Personnel: Bobby Rydell (vocals); Dave Appell, Joe Sgro, Bob DiNardo, Joe Renzetti (guitar); Dan Dailey, George Young , Fred Nuzzillio, Buddy Savitt (saxophone); Jimmy Wisner, Roy Stragis (keyboards); Pete Cozzi, Joe Sher, Ellis Tollin, Bobby Gregg (drums); Blanche Norton, Vivian Dix, Willa Ward (background vocals). Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown CD music The Chubby Checker installment in the Cameo Parkway series, an excellent string of discs highlighting the label's artists from the late 1950s and '60s, will disappoint neither long-time fans nor those looking for a compilation of Chubby's biggest hits. Naturally, "The Twist" is here, as are all of the singer's follow-up cash-ins ("Let's Twist Again;" "Slow Twistin,'" etc.), and a host of other dance-craze songs ("The Hucklebuck;" "Limbo Rock," "The Fly"). The mood is light, buoyant, and fun throughout, as anyone familiar with any of Checker's singles would assume. Excellent sound and liner notes make this a fine choice for anyone seeking a one-stop set of Checker's best moments. Unknown Contributor Role: Kenneth Salinsky. Arrangers: Dave Appell; Dave Stephens . Personnel: Chubby Checker (vocals); Dee Dee Sharp, Bobby Rydell (vocals); Joe Sher (guitar, drums); Joe Sgro (guitar); Dan Dailey, Fred Nuzzullio, Georgie Young & the Rockin 'Bocs, Georgie Young (saxophone); Fred Bender (keyboards); Joe Macho (bass instrument); Joe Sher (drums); Dave Appell, Joe Renzetti (guitar); Buddy Savitt (saxophone); Roy Stragis (keyboards); Ellis Tollin, Bobby Gregg (drums). Recording information: Bell Sound Studios, New York, NY (01/1959-11/1963); Cameo Parkway Studio, Philadelphia, PA (01/1959-11/1963); Cherry Hill, NJ (01/1959-11/1963); Reco-Art Sound Recording, Philadelphia, PA (01/1959-11/1963).

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown songs 2 LPs on 1 CD. BLUEBERRY HILL (1965)/THE END OF THE WORLD (1973). In 2004 Collectables combined Skeeter Davis' 1965 album Blueberry Hill and her 1973 album The End of the World on one disc. Blueberry Hill finds Davis firmly in country-pop territory. Her strong vocals are surrounded by strings and syrupy arrangements and many of the songs are simple and corny ("The Little Music Box," "Lost to a Geisha Girl"). Davis sounds fully invested in the songs, though, and her aching sound manages to overcome the less than invigorating surroundings. The best songs are those that she wrote or co-wrote herself. "Somebody Else on Your Mind," "Homebreaker," and the bleak "Give Me Death" are the least over-produced and therefore most honest sounding tracks here, and unsurprisingly perhaps Davis sounds the most honest too. Not a great album by any means, but there are glimmers of Davis at her best. The End of the World shows how Davis' earnest, almost childlike vocal approach didn't fare very well when straying outside the realm of country. She turns in a fine version of the chestnut "Am I That Easy to Forget," sweetly harmonizing with herself, and her take on the country-pop "Angel of the Morning" is okay, though no patch on Marrilee Rush's original. The rest of the album is fairly dire, over-produced, and uninspired product that is easy to forget. The remake of her classic hit "The End of the World" is pretty pointless as it comes nowhere near the majesty of the original, same with a new version of the Davis Sisters' hit "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know." "Son of a Preacher Man" is truly terrible with a weird arrangement replete with a male backing chorus, kazoos, and trilling flutes. "Little Arrows" is a cutesy tune with wah-wah guitars that Davis sings like a 12 year old with a lollipop, at one point threatening to break glass as she hits some wild high notes. Her take on Johnny Nash's "Hold Me Tight" suffers from a slapped-together arrangement and stiff-as-a-corpse background singers, not to mention her amateurish singing. Davis sounds just plain bad on many of the songs; her signature double-tracked style falls flat as she often is out of synch with herself. This album is not a representative work for her as her records were usually well put together and at least you could count on some fine singing, like there is on Blueberry Hill. Collectables' pairing of the two albums is unsuccessful. They probably should have left The End of the World in the vault and dug up an early record. Anyone looking to discover Skeeter Davis should stick to a hits collection. ~ Tim Sendra

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown album for sale Digitally remastered by Eliot Goshman (1998, Taragon Studios, Deer Park, New York). While modern-day audiences will perhaps have a tough time equating their old-time singing style with their massive success, this collection does a pretty fine job of putting it all in perspective. The Ames Brothers were the purveyors of strong, smooth vocal harmonies that soared, soothed, and came to national prominence, largely prospering in the pre-rock & roll times of the 1950s. Drawn entirely from their hitmaking days at RCA Victor (it omits their 1950 original of "Rag Mop," the group's first hit on Coral), this "straight from the master tapes" compilation runs chronologically from the Ames' 1953 signing with the label to their last charting record, 1960's "China Doll." With 17 of the 20 tracks aboard being chart entries (and ten of those landing in the Top 20), this is a most hit-laden package, their one MIA hit notwithstanding. There's a strong theory among musicologists that sibling harmony is the best vocal harmony there is, and The Very Best of the Ames Brothers presents a bunch of good reasons why that theory holds water. There's some great empathetic singing here, and pop music fans will love the way they put a song over. Great liner notes by Colin Escott complete the package. ~ Cub Koda Their greatest RCA recordings remastered, including "You You You", "The Man With The Banjo" & "Pussy Cat". Additional personnel includes: Hugo Winterhalter, Joe Reisman, Al Semola, Sid Ramin (conductor). Includes liner notes by Colin Escott. Liner Note Author: Colin Escott. Recording information: 06/27/1953-02/29/1960. The Ames Brothers: Vic Ames, Joe Ames, Ed Ames, Gene Ames (vocals).

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown CD music Vol. 1 of Collectables' Ray Conniff Singles Collection series collects songs from the easy listening giant's prolific 1960s and early-'70s period. Longtime fans will savor this release, as none of the 26 tunes have ever made the jump from their original 45-rpm wax to digital. This is classic Conniff in the "Happiness Is" tradition, songs that are both nostalgic and innocent without the overwhelming sense of kitsch that invaded some of his mid-'70s work. Highlights include "We Must Forget We Ever Met," "Sleepy Shores," "Moonlight Brings Memories," and "Songs Are for Lovers." ~ James Christopher Monger Audio Remixer: Debra Parkinson. Recording information: Sony Studios, New York, NY (01/17/1963-05/10/1974). Arranger: Ray Conniff.

Hello Italy/Knees Up, Mother Brown buy CD music This two-fer CD combines the Four Lads' 1954 album, Stage Show, with Love Affair, released six years later. These LPs were originally issued on Columbia and had been out of print until being reissued in 2004 on Collectables. This close harmony vocal set includes pleasant interpretations of standards including "Fly Me to the Moon," "Like Someone in Love," "Time After Time," and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing." While Stage Show is a short program, it contains the highlight of this disc, "Swixie Bop," a medley that clips along for seven minutes featuring snippets of "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," "Wa-Ha," "Frankie and Johnny," "Muskat Ramble," "Charleston," "Little Brown Jug," "More," and "This Is the Music We Love." Those who appreciate easy listening music with beautiful harmonies will find this a welcome addition to their collections. ~ Al Campbell 2 LPs on 1 CD: STAGE SHOW (1954)/LOVE AFFAIR (1960).