Customer Reviews

Best of 1959-1964

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The wait is over. This collection brings us the official release of the original Cameo recordings of one of the most successful male solo artists of the first decade of rock 'n roll. The set consists of 25 tracks total, including twenty Hot 100 hits. All 25 tracks are in mono with the one exception "That Old Black Magic" which is in stereo. The only top 40 hit not included (Bobby had a total of nineteen) is "The Fish," which peaked at #25 during the summer of 1961. Instead, the flip side (the up-tempo "The Third House") is added. The tracks are not in chronological order, but the digital sound is crisp and clear. Sprinkled among the hits are a couple of b-sides, his first Cameo single releases that never hit the charts, plus a rare album cut. A four page essay (written by Jeff Tamarkin, who also authored the essay for the Cameo Parkway box set released in May 2005) plus five pages of credits and chart info detail the career of the drummer turned teen idol. Most fans and collectors will be satisfied (you can't beat the price). Highly recommended.

Bobby Rydell was one of the biggest teen idols of the early Sixties. Between 1959 and 1963, he placed nineteen singles in the top 25. For the first time on a legitimate CD release all of his original Cameo hits are here on one disc, including the holiday hit "Jingle Bell Rock" with label mate Chubby Checker. [The only single not included is "The Fish" from 1961.]

Not only are the big hits included, but this collection opens with his first two Cameo singles: "Please Don't Be Mad" and "All I Want Is You." [Both failed to dent the charts.]

After Rydell's last big hit, "Forget Him," the British Invasion changed the pop music landscape and the hits ended abruptly. His cover of Peter and Gordon's "A World Without Love" (written by Paul McCartney) stalled at No. 80. His final Cameo single, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" (not included here), spent one week at No. 94.

At the ripe age of 22, Bobby Rydell's career as a hit-making teen idol came to an end, but it's fun to relive these songs again. If you enjoyed these singles when they were first released, you will find much to enjoy here! RECOMMENDED

In 1959 a 17 year old Italian/American from South Philadelphia, Bobby Ridarelli, hit the national charts with "Kissin' Time" as Bobby Rydell.
He didn't look back after that intial hit (#11 1959 on Billboard). For many, many years the only Bobby Rydell CDs featuring his Cameo Records hits were re-records. The original versions were not available. Now, ABKCO (Allen B. Klein Company) has finally released almost the entire Cameo & Parkway labels' late '50s & '60s hits on CD. This Bobby Rydell collection is proof positive that he could sing, whether on rockers like "Wild One" or "Kissin' Time"..........or more adult oriented material like "Volare" , "That Old Black Magic" and "Sway".
Bobby fell into the "teen idol" category of early rock & roll.
Unlike many of Bobby's teen idol peers, he was a musician as well. With 25 tracks here, this compilation CD is generous and moderately priced.
Standout tracks are: "Volare", "Sway", "We Got Love", "Kissin' Time", "Forget Him" and "That Old Black Magic".
Bobby Rydell was one of the first 10 personalities to be included in Philadelphia's "Walk of Fame".....and this CD belongs in any comprehensive '60s music collection!

I just received this long awaited cd yesterday and must say it was more than worth the wait. The digital re-mastering is superb and all the vintage tracks come alive again with all the hits of this great artist. Bobby Rydell was always a polished performer with great vocal range and style. This compilation of virtually all of his hits is a testimony to that fact and a tribute to one of the best and revered teen ldols of all time!

In the four year period between 1960 thru 1963 Bobby Rydell was pretty hot stuff. As a reigning teen idol Bobby's face was plastered all over the teen magazines and his records were selling like hotcakes. Then in 1964 the phenomenon known as the British Invasion caught everyone by surprise and suddenly stars like Bobby Rydell, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison and so many others were cast aside. Times had changed and youngsters in the mid sixties were movin' and groovin' to new and different sounds. At about that same time Bobby learned that his longtime record label Cameo-Parkway had been sold and was moving its operations out of his native Philadelphia. Bobby's record sales plummeted and things went from bad to worse when a couple of years later Allen B. Klein purchased the entire Cameo-Parkway catalog. Not long after acquiring the rights to these recordings Klein did a very bizarre thing. He withdrew virtually all of the Cameo-Parkway recordings from the marketplace and kept them out of circulation. For the next 30 years no one in the U.S. would be able to purchase any of these original recordings and to this day I have never heard a plausable explanation as to why all of this took place. In any event fans and collectors all over the country have been clamoring for reissues of the these legendary Cameo-Parkway recordings for years. Finally in 2005 ABKCO records has made available many of these classic recordings in a wonderful series of new anthologies. I was particularly thrilled to learn of impending release of "The Best of Bobby Rydell". This is a collection I have been waiting for since the mid 1970's.

"The Best of Bobby Rydell" features a total of 25 tunes covering the golden years 1959 thru 1964. To be honest with you with the exception of "Wild One" I was not all that impressed with Rydell's first few hits. I can take or leave songs like "Kissin' Time", "We Got Love" and Swingin' School". These were actually among his biggest hits but I am of the opinion that Bobby Rydell really began to hit his stride in late 1960 with tunes like "Volare" and the unforgettable dance number "Sway". Bobby maintained a constant presence on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1962 with great records like "I've Got Bonnie", "I'll Never Dance Again" and of course "The Cha-Cha-Cha". My all-time favorite Bobby Rydell song has to be his 1963 hit "Wildwood Days". Hearing this song immediately brings to mind lazy summer days, American Bandstand and Top 40 radio. A real period piece. In the late fall of 1963 Bobby would have his last big hit "Forget Him".

All of Bobby Rydell's Top 40 hits as well as several other selected gems are included on this terrific disc. Among the tunes that I had not heard before the most pleasant surprise had to be the very first track. "Please Don't Be Mad" was one of Bobby's earliest recordings. The tune was done in the classic doo-wop style. Although the record went largely unnoticed in 1959 it is actually a pretty decent song. On the other hand, "The Best of Bobby Rydell" also includes Bobby's last single for Cameo-Parkway. "A World Without Love" written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney debuted on the Hot 100 on 5/9/64. Unfortunately for Bobby, the version recorded by Peter & Gordon entered the charts the very same day and blew Bobby's version away. Frankly, it is easy to see why. All in all, "The Best of Bobby Rydell" has more ups than downs. Included is an informative 12 page booklet. These original recordings have been digitally remastered and this disc is offered at quite a reasonable price. What's not to like? Grab it while you can! Highly recommended!

Bobby was one of the singers who achieved popularity in large part to appearances on American Bandstand which was filmed in his home town of Philadelphia. Usually classified as one of the "Frankie", "Bobby" type cleancut teenage idols of the late fifties and early sixties, Rydell recorded some infectious pop ditties that will remain in memories of that era. Whether any of them were true rock 'n' roll records, I don't know and I don't care. They probably weren't yet they are songs I remember and for the most part love. It's great to have these original recordings in a fair priced good sounding package after all these years. Bobby's last big hit was "Forget Him" followed by his version of "World Without Love", a minor hit, which ironically ends with the background singers again singing "forget him". Bobby's hit string may have come to an end, but forgotten he was not making personal appearances through the decades. The high school in the movie "Grease" was called Rydell High. The songs on this cd are swinging school poppers that in some part identify an era, or a perceptions of an era. The excellent liner notes are by musicologist Jeff Tamarkin.

Just listening to this cd makes me think of another, younger time in my
life (not that I'm that old). Real music nostalgia for those who grew up
in the 60's. This is a definitely a must have cd for fans of rock and roll
and just good listening music.

THE BEST OF BOBBY RYDELL could have been just that with a little more thought put into this CD. It could have been called ALL THE DEFINITIVE HITS OF BOBBY RYDELL. What is lacking here are too many missing hit songs. As a huge fan of Rydell back then and still now I really must say that there is too much waste on this album with non-important songs-here are hits that are missing: GEE IT'S WONDERFUL,LOSE HER,THE DOOR TO PARADISE,THE BEST MAN CRIED,DON'T BE AFRAID(TO FALL IN LOVE), and THE FISH. Instead, we get "fillers" with the likes of world without love, butterfly baby,please don't be mad,third house,all i want is you.
None of these were hits nor do i think they were recorded back then-I've never even heard of them! Adding to the plus side was the addition of JINGLE BELL ROCK with Rydell teaming with Chubby Checker who also recorded with Cameo/Parkway. This album is okay for a beginner but please note it does NOT contain all the hits. This set could have been done with the intent of not missing any of the hits-this did not happen here-too bad.

Bobby Rydell entertained millions of Americans in the late 1950s and the early 1960s while enjoying teen idol status. Fortunately for Bobby and all of us, he still remains a creative, energetic force to this day. This CD gives us twenty-four great numbers by Bobby Rydell and an extra "message from Bobby" as a type of bonus track.

The CD track set begins with the early rock and roll, doo-wop sounding "Please Don't Be Mad." Bobby sings this with all his heart and soul; and the backup chorus enhances the beauty of this opening number. "We Got Love" starts with the chorus singing these words and when Bobby comes in he positively takes flight! The chorus harmonizes so very well and the musical arrangement sports an infectiously happy, upbeat melody and tempo. Excellent!

"Wild One" speeds up the tempo even more as Bobby rocks this one to perfection! Love those ladies on backup--and the melody has a great beat to it! The percussion adds to the quality of the number, too. It's easy to understand why "Wild One" was a big hit for Bobby. In addition, Bobby sings a perfect cover of "Volare" with a stunning arrangement and a great female backup chorus. "Sway" sports an early 1960s Latin beat to it as Bobby croons this without a superfluous note!

"That Old Black Magic" gives us another example of Bobby taking a classic pop vocal and infusing it with a rock and roll arrangement to make "That Old Black Magic" his very own. Excellent! The tempo changes a few times on "That Old Black Magic;" and this only serves to enhance the number further.

"Wildwood Days" refers to that Jersey shore beach so many people always enjoyed in summertime during those simpler times. The relentlessly happy, upbeat tempo works wonders along with a wonderful female backup chorus. Bobby's voice is in perfect form for "Wildwood Days." His voice is energetic and full of masculine warmth. Who could ask for anything more?

"The Cha-cha-cha" sports a Latin beat; and "A World Without Love" shows us how well Bobby could cover a classic Beatles tune. "Jingle Bell Rock" comes off as a masterpiece; Bobby Rydell sings this along with Chubby Checker and the number comes off without a hitch! Awesome!

The CD ends with a track called "A Message From Bobby." This was originally on a 45 rpm record that came along as a bonus with a 33 rpm record. Bobby uses "A Message From Bobby" to thank his fans and reminisce a bit about his recent successes.

The liner notes include the song credits and Jeff Tamarkin contributes an informative essay about Bobby and these wonderful songs.

Bobby Rydell fans can rejoice that his greatest works for Cameo are here on this CD. I also recommend this CD as an excellent starting point for people who want to get to know Bobby's artistry for the first time. We are all much better off for Bobby sharing his talents with us; and hopefully Bobby will continue to perform as only he can for many years to come.

WITH A VOICE LIKE BOBBY'S, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE HE DIDN'T HAVE BIGGER HITS. THIS CD HAS AN EXCELLENT VARIETY OF STYLES. I RECOMMEND THIS CD TO ANYBODY WHO ENJOYS OLDIES.