Critic's Review
Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
A fine rhythmic pianist with a thin, high voice that he strengthened by multi-tracking, Neil Sedaka turned his Brill Building pop smarts and doo wop influences into a long and successful career. These home demos find him at the very start of that process, and his melodic gifts and goofy charm are already in evidence. Working on songs written by his brother-in-law Eddie Grossman, Sedaka brings a loose, joyful enthusiasm to the proceedings, and while there isn't a "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" buried in these 34 tracks, the spare, energetic arrangements make these pieces far from throwaways. Sedaka fans will treasure this collection, and when combined with RCA's Sings the Hits, casual listeners will get an intimate and comprehensive view of this likable performer.
