Best of [Import]

Jocelyn Brown, The Essex | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sequel Records UK
• ASIN: B000000PSC
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #337,778 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Easier Said Than Done

2. Whenever I Need My Baby

3. Where Is He

4. Every Night

5. I Love Her

6. Come On To My Party

7. A Walkin' Miracle

8. She's Got Everything

9. More Than It Would Help

10. Marriage License

11. In My Dreams

12. You Talk Too Much

13. There's No Fool Like A Young Fool

14. Where There's A Will (There's A Way)

15. Make Him Feel Like A Man

16. Don't Fight It Baby

17. When Somethin's Hard To Get

18. Just For The Boy

19. I'm Making It Over

20. Everybody's Got You (For Their Own)

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Lead Singer, Great Sound Quality, September 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

The lead singer (Anita Humes) had a very smooth and powerful voice for belting out early sixties doo-wop. "Easier Said Than Done" was their big hit in the early sixties. The rest of the songs on this CD are not just filler material. Almost all of the other songs are well done. Most of these songs were recorded in the 1963-64 time frame. Especially noteworthy is the sound quality on this CD. All songs (except tract 8) are in flawless true stereo suggesting they came from master tapes recorded at a state of the art recording studio. These could have been recorded yesterday. Track listing is as follows:

(1) Easier Said Than Done (2) Whenever I Need My Baby (3) Where Is He (4) Every Night (5) I Love Her (6) Come On To My Party (7) A Walkin' Miracle (8) She's Got Everything (9) More Than It Would Help (10) Marriage Licenses (11) In My dreams (12) You Talk Too Much (13) There's No Fool Like A Young Fool (14) Where Theres A Will (15) Make Him Feel Like A Man (16) Don't Fight It Baby (17) When Somethin's Hard To Get (18) Just For The Boy (19) I'm Making It Over (20) Everybody's Got You (21) Be My baby (22) Be Sure (23) When The Music Stops (24) Real True Lover

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars US Marines stormed the pop charts, April 30, 2005

By 

Peter Durward Harris "Pete the music fan" (Leicester England) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

The Essex were originally formed by a group of marines who were still in active service when they had their biggest hit, Easier said than done, which gave them an American number one hit in 1963. The single also became a minor UK hit although Britain was already gripped by Beatle mania, which hadn't yet crossed the Atlantic. The follow-up single, A walking miracle, nearly made the American top ten but missed the UK charts completely - however, this song eventually made the UK top ten in the seventies via a cover by Limmie and the family cooking. Their singles chart history ended with the minor American hit, She's got everything.

The main appeal of the Essex was that they always appeared in full military uniform. Another unusual aspect was the racially mixed composition of the group - a rarity in 1963 - with a female lead singer (Anita Humes) and three harmony vocalists (Walter Vickers who also played guitar, Rodney Taylor who also played drums, Billie Hill). A fifth member, Rudolph Johnson (vocals, guitar), was posted to a location that forced him to leave the group after completion of the group's first album.

This compilation contains their hits and a selection of tracks from their two albums as well as failed singles and B-sides. Most of the material is original although they recorded a fine cover of Be my baby (Ronettes). Among the failed singles, Don't fight it baby and Just for the boy are particularly noteworthy but by the time of their 1964 release, the Beatles had captured the attention of America and nobody was interested in the Essex any more. Furthermore, once they had secured discharges from the marines, they no longer appeared in uniform and some of their distinctive identity was lost.

If you enjoy girl group music of the early sixties, you will surely love this although the Essex were not a girl group themselves.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Fun, September 2, 2009

By 

Bernard (Detroit, MI USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Best of (Audio CD)

I bought this to get "Easier Said Than Done" and "A Walking Miracle", their two big 1950s hits, which don't seem to be available as downloads anywhere. The album is good value and fun if you like 1950s "bubblegum pop", and I found 6 or so of the 24 tracks to be 'keepers'. Anita Humes' voice is so enjoyable, I'm surprised she did not experience more success.