Customer Reviews

25 Beach Music Classics

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Although I have never visited Myrtle Beach or any other beach in the Carolinas for that matter, I have become quite curious about a genre of music known as "Beach Music". In fact, I had never even heard of it until about 10 or 12 years ago. No folks, this Beach Music is not Jan and Dean or the Beach Boys sound. This music emerged after World War II. It began with rhythm and blues and jump blues and evolved over the years. It was really a local phenonmenon in the Carolinas and Virginia region. To learn more about this interesting genre, I suggest you go to beachshag.com where you will find a wealth of information on the subject.
While by no means complete, this terrific 2003 single CD release from Varese Sarabande offers up 25 of the best tunes from the past 50 years. You'll hear the great R&B sounds of The Dominoes "Sixty Minute Man" and Hank Ballard and the Midnighters "Work With Me Annie". Beach music reached the height of its popularity in the 1960's and there is a large representation of tunes from that decade on this disc. Enjoy again classics like "Cool Jerk" by the Capitols, "Hello Stranger" by Barbara Lewis and the rousing party tune "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) by the Swingin' Medallions. Credit engineer Steve Massie for a terrific mastering job on this disc. And there are a few nice surprises on the disc as well. If you have never heard the music of the Embers, you are in for a real treat. The opening track, "I Love Beach Music" appears to be the national anthem of Beach Music. There are a couple of other tunes on this disc that I did not previously own that are surprisingly good. "Come To Me Softly" by Jimmy James and the Vagabonds would remind you very much of a Gerry and the Pacemakers tune. I was particularly impressed by a 1987 tune from O.C. Smith called "Brenda". It really makes me wonder why we did not hear more of this wonderful voice after "Little Green Apples" in 1968.
I had given some consideration to purchasing the 2 CD set "I Love Beach Music" from South Carolina's Ripete Records. But the $32.49 price tag scared me off. I thought this was the better bargain. I stopped short of a five star rating because while the Varese did a respectable job on the 8 page booklet, I would have preferred to see a bit more about the history of Beach Music. But all in all, this is one terrific buy. Highly Recommended.

As a native of North Carolina and a little town of Havelock, I grew up just 15 minutes from the beach. The cities on the coast include Morehead City, Atlantic Beach, and Emerald Isle. In the old days - 60s - 70s there were dance clubs everywhere and this was the music of choice. The radio stations inland from the beach played beach music year around. Today - those clubs are gone and replaced with hotels and water parks. But I remember those days and know great beach music. This is an awesome CD for those of you re-connecting with your beach-roots or seeking something new to listen to. It's unique, it's smooth and mellow like great jazz or R&B - but you can dance to it. I'm home sick for it and this CD gives me that "fix" till I can get back home again and get sand in my shoes. You'll enjoy this CD!

This is a great overview of Beach/Shag Music. Though I have only been to Myrtle Beach once, I saw the great Delbert McClinton and a band from New York called Set'Em Up Joe(for NEW beach music, check out their self titled debut CD which I bought right hear on Amazon years ago....) This CD really made me a fan of that kind of R & B.
Greg Durden, Nashville

The sound quality of the CD is great and so is the music selection. Everyone has enjoyed the CD!

If you like the shag/beach sounds you will love this to add to your collection.

This is very uplifting. I love the songs. It lifts my spirits. Love to have more beach music. I will be ordering more

This cd has excellent sound quality,i like a lot of the Californian Beach Music,as the beach scene is very similar to the Northern Soul which we have in England,some of the tracks having been played on both scenes.
The Artistics / I'm Gonna Miss you was one of the first American Soul records that converted me to the music in the early 60's,Marvin Smith's vocals are a joy to behold.In A Moment-The Intrigues was also a big 'Northern Soul'track in the UK,Come Softly to Me by Jimmy James & The Vagabonds which i believe is very big on the beach music scene was originally recorded by my friend Jimmy in Jamaica,before he came to reside in the UK in the early 60's,the original having a hawaiian guitar backing,this version with piano backing.When i told him his record was being played more than thirty years after its original release he was suitably impressed.He still plays many live dates to packed audiences today in England,still one of the best live acts....
The Tams,Embers and Jackie Wilson make this a 'cd' NOT TO BE MISSED!!!