Do It Again: The Best Of Jon & Robin CD

Drawing from 1965-1969 singles, their two albums, and three previously unissued tracks, this CD is a solid compilation of Jon & Robin's work that proves they had more to offer than their sole hit, "Do It Again a Little Bit Slower." That song's here, of course, as is their regional smash "Dr. Jon (The Medicine Man)," a beguiling combination of searing fuzz guitar and saucy soul-pop vocal interplay that was also written by Wayne Carson Thompson. Elsewhere, the pair fly all over the mid- to late-'60s pop/rock map, throwing in a bit of Neil Diamond-styled fluff ("You Got Style," written by hitmaking tunesmiths Jeff Barry and Andy Kim); engaging romantic teen pop (another Thompson number, "Drums"); "Gloria"-styled garage ("Love Me Baby"); very Byrds-like guitar raga-rock ("Thursday Morning"); quality lightweight blue-eyed soul (the Mouse & the Traps cover "Like I Know You Do"); a blatant Joe South knockoff ("Gift of Love"); and even a blatant if pleasing attempt by soul singer Bobby Patterson to rewrite "Do It Again a Little Bit Slower" (the previously unissued "My Heart Beats Faster"). If that's not enough variety for you, there's also "I Want Some More" (yet another Thompson number), which sounds like a raw garage-influenced variation of the Nancy Sinatra-Lee Hazlewood duets. Sure, Jon & Robin were liberal in their copping of other styles and trends; even in some of their photos, they look a bit like bandwagon-jumping weekend mod/hippies. That doesn't mean, however, that they didn't make some good, fun records, with an identifiable, ingratiating brand of teasing vocal blends and banter. That sense of fun comes through well, along with a high level of pop/rock craftsmanship, on this anthology, put together by Sundazed with their usual high standards of packaging. ~ Richie Unterberger