Cameo Parkway 1962-1966: The Best Of Dee Dee Sharp CD

Personnel: Dee Dee Sharp; Dave Appell, Joe Sgro, Joe Renzetti , Norman Harris (guitar); Fred Nuzzullio, Georgie Young & the Rockin 'Bocs, Buddy Savitt (saxophone); Rick Kellis, Roy Traigis, Robert Martin , Luther Randolph, Jimmy Wisner, Leon Huff (keyboards); Ronnie Baker, Joe Macho (bass instrument); Karl Chambers, Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats, Joe Sher (drums); Vivian Dix, Charlotte Walker, Willa Ward, Lillian Washington, Eddie Custis, Elfay Willis, Sandy Person, Jim Meeley, Cindy Scott, Raun MacKinnon, Kenny Gamble (background vocals); Roland Chambers, Bobby Eli (guitar); Dan Dailey (saxophone); Thom Bell (keyboards, background vocals); Earl Young, Bobby Gregg (drums); Chubby Checker.
Liner Note Author: Jeff Tamarkin.
Arrangers: Dave Appell; Jimmy Wisner; Kenny Gamble; Leon Huff ; Rick Kellis; Joe Renzetti ; Luther Randolph; Riley Hampton; Charles Calello.
Dee Dee Sharp reached the big time with the novelty hit "Mashed Potato Time" in 1962, while the follow-up, "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)," hit the Top Ten as well cemented her status as a novelty singer. As The Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962-1966 shows, despite being unfairly remembered as such she in reality was a powerful singer blessed with a wonderfully clear voice. Indeed her soulful and direct style makes even the silliest song ("Do the Bird!," "Baby Cakes") sound real and gives the better songs here ("Just to Hold My Hand," "Why Don't You Ask Me") an extra kick. That she never really had a hit after the "Mashed Potato" saga meant that Sharp and Cameo-Parkway tried different sounds and styles, looking for that elusive next smash. Sharp sounded at ease with every style, lightly bopping through dance numbers like the slinky "Let's Twine," the hard-hitting girl group sound of "You Ain't Nothin' But a Nothin'," the gospel soul of "Rock Me in the Cradle of Love," the silky Chicago-styled soul of "(That's What) My Mama Said," and the proto-Philly soul of "I Really Love You." At least one song, the bouncy and nearly perfect Motown facsimile "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do for You," should have been a huge smash, and many others should have gotten more than just a toe on the charts. It wasn't for lack of talent. Both Sharp and her collaborators, who included Bob Crewe, Carl Davis, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, were loaded with the stuff. Whatever the reason, Sharp isn't usually on the list when great female singers of the '60s are discussed. Perhaps this collection, the first to put the spotlight on her Cameo sides, will help to change that. Even if it doesn't, fans of the '60s girl sound will be overjoyed to finally have a legitimate Dee Dee Sharp collection. ~ Tim Sendra
This release from the Cameo-Parkway catalogue generously collects the output of Dee Dee Sharp, the artist behind "Mashed Potato Time," one of the biggest dance hits of the early 1960s. In the mold of the girl-group pop of the era, Sharp churned out a remarkable number of infectious tunes, which she delivered in a bright, soulful voice. Twenty-four of those are collected here, including her mid-'60s work, the best of which ride sinuous, funky grooves. Other tracks boast early production work by Gamble and Huff --the duo who went on to help sculpt the legendary Philly Soul sound--and, not surprisingly, the strings and lush back-up vocals play like proto-TSOP.