Hey Let's Twist!: The Best of Joey Dee and the StarlitersArtist: Joey Dee & the Starliters
While Joey Dee is generally looked upon as the quaint bearer of the twist to a mass audience (clean covers of R&B tunes palatable to White audiences), the truth is that Dee had a racially integrated band (in 1961, no less) that not only delivered the goods, but put some high voltage energy into the tunes as well. Although this 18-track...
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Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel: The Best of the Iron City HouserockersArtist: The Iron City Houserockers
A generous compilation of the best of an underrated rock & roll band from the late '70s and early '80s. Some of Joe Grushecky's songs on Pumping Iron & Sweating Steel equal the best of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Bob Seger during this period. Fans of those artists will definitely find the Iron City Houserockers worth investigating. ~...
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Capitol Collectors SeriesArtist: Gene Vincent
Community Score: 8.00
Gene Vincent may have been one of rock & roll's first great Dixie-fried wild men, but consistency was not his strong suit, and for every work of lunatic genius in his catalog (such as "B-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go" and "Woman Love"), there are a few failed ballads and novelty tunes foisted upon him by clueless A&R men back in the day. This...
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Better DaysArtist: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
A comeback album that by all rights shouldn't be this good, Better Days reunites Southside Johnny with his old cohorts Springsteen and Van Zandt and some special guests (Jon Bon Jovi, Flo and Eddie) for 11 bittersweet originals capped by the gorgeous soul ballad "It's Been a Long Time." ~ Kit Kiefer, All Music Guide
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Greatest Hits - RHINOArtist: Del Shannon
Greatest Hits features 20 tracks from Del Shannon's early-'60s heyday, including all of the big hits -- "Runaway," "Hats off to Larry," "Little Town Flirt," "Handy Man," "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)," "Stranger in Town" -- plus a generous selection of lesser-known but equally fine singles and album tracks. Completists should fill in...
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Artist: Del Shannon
At the time this 16-song collection was put together at the end of the 1980s, it was intended to fill some major gaps in Del Shannon's CD and LP catalog, and Shannon himself appreciated the effort. He has since passed on, and, ironically, the major part of his catalog is now available on CD. Some of the songs on this collection, including the...
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The Million Dollar QuartetArtist: Elvis Presley
Community Score: 8.00
One of the most important things to remember about this album is it's really just three guys in a room shooting the breeze, goofing around, and stumbling through a few old songs they happen to remember. This wouldn't be the least bit interesting under most circumstances, but the three guys in question happen to be Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis,...
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The Best of Buddy KnoxArtist: Buddy Knox
Rhino's The Best of Buddy Knox is a definitive 18-track compilation featuring all of the hits the light rockabilly cat ever had, including "Party Doll," "Rock Your Little Baby to Sleep, " "Hula Love, " "Swingin' Daddy, " "Somebody Touched Me, " "Teasable, Pleasable You, " "That's Why I Cry, " "I Think I'm Gonna Kill Myself, " "Lovey Dovey" and...
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Bronx Blues: The Columbia RecordingsArtist: Dion
After many hit singles with the Belmonts, Dion went solo and became one of the first rock & roll stars signed to the Columbia label. Although he was only with the label for four years, Dion recorded some of his most adventurous music during this period. Bronx Blues: The Columbia Recordings chronicles this phase in his career, and is the best...
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The Best of Southside Johnny & the Asbury JukesArtist: Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes
Concentrating on the highlights from Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes' late-'70s albums, Best of Southside Johnny offers a good introduction to the hard R&B-influenced rock of the New Jersey band. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
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