Critic's Review
Tim Sendra, All Music Guide
Brian Hyland was one of the more charming members of the pack of teen idols who over-ran the rock & roll scene in the early '60s. His first big hit was the innocuous "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" and it sets the scene for the rest of his early-'60s work. Namely, sometimes silly pop/rock with female vocal choruses, gentle guitars and Hyland's soft vocals. 1961's The Bashful Blond includes his big hit plus 11 other pop tunes. Most of them are novelties like the bopping "Cleo," "Cozy Little Compact Car" and the silly but catchy "Don't Dilly Dally Sally." He also takes on a couple of vocal pop standards "A" You're Adorable" and "Baby Face" as well as making a valiant but doomed effort to make something of "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire." Hyland's voice doesn't stretch quite far enough to find the melody here, but mostly he sticks to tunes that do accommodate his limited range, making the album a pleasant listen. In 2004 BGO released the record as part of a two-fer with Hyland's next album Let Me Belong to You.
