Customer Reviews

The Best of Rosie & the Originals

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I might have rated this disc a solid 5 stars except that the thread of "puppy love" which runs through most of these 23 tracks becomes, for this listener at least, a bit much after the first 15 or so.

Having said that, I must affirm that "puppy love" has, perhaps, never been captured so poignantly, so sweetly, by anyone before or after Rosie and her originals.

The stand out track here, of course, is "Angel Baby" and there are three versions to choose from on this disc - the original US cut from 1961, a previously unreleased 1999 version, and the 1961 UK version. You will have to decide which you think is best. I tend to prefer the original. This is a simple but timeless song. From the extensive liner notes comes this in regards to the origin of "Angel Baby":

". . .a song she had scribbled on the back of her notebook as a sophomore at San Diego High School. "It started out as a poem," she says, "I had a puppy love crush on a young boy, the very first boyfriend I ever had right before I joined the Originals. I wrote a poem explaining my feelings but was too shy to show it to him so I turned it into a song. My aunt had taught me a four chord progression from listening to songs like 'Maybe' by The Chantels and I realised that I could put 'Angel Baby' to those chords. . ."

With its innocent lyrics (she was only 15 at the time) and twangy, almost dissonant, guitar intro coupled with Rosie's plaintive squeak, "Angel Baby" is, well. . . simply a dreamy piece of rock n' roll.

This seminal track (apparently a favorite of John Lennon)in addition to the other fun cuts on this disc - such as the twangy lament of "Lonely Blue Nights" and the almost calypso "Why did You Leave Me?", for instance - make this a must have collection for anyone interested in oldies, female vocalists, and, yes, "puppy love".

This is absolutely the best. The quality is phenomenal, and each track can be listened to over and over again. The lead track, "Angel Baby" with three versions, including a 1999 re-recording by Rosie Hamlin is even better than the "original" (no pun). Listen to the older tracks (1960-62), and ask, why these weren't released to give Rosie back to back hits. A must have for the oldies collector or Rosie fan.

THIS C.D. IS EXCELLENT. ROSIE HAMLIN, THE LEAD SINGER OF THE GROUP HAD A UNIQUE ANGELIC VOICE SIMILIAR TO THAT OF KATHY YOUNG.IT'S REALLY A SHAME THAT SHE'S ONLY REMEMBERED FOR HER #1 HIT "ANGEL BABY" , AND NOT FOR ANY OF HER OTHER RECORDINGS. (BAD MANAGEMENT PERHAPS). THIS C.D. ALSO FEATURES HER FOLLOW-UP BALLAD "LONELY BLUE NIGHTS" AND OTHER BEAUTIFUL BALLADS THAT DIDN'T GET THE AIR PLAY THEY DESERVED.HER SINGING GENRE WAS SIDE BY SIDE WITH KATHY YOUNG AND THE INNOCENTS. IN FACT SHE DOES A VERSION OF "A THOUSAND STARS", WHICH WAS A #1 FOR KATHY YOUNG. BOTH ROSIE AND KATHY HAD MASS APPEAL WITH 60'S L.A. CHICANO KIDS.IT WAS A STYLE THAT LEANED TOWARDS POP AND RTHYM AND BLUES .A STYLE THAT LENT ITSELF TO THEIR DANCING. IT WAS A STYLE IN ITS OWN CATEGORY, LIKE SUNNY AND THE SUNLINERS "TALK TO ME". THIS C.D. IS A TRUE COLLECTOR'S DREAM THAT WILL BRING BACK ALL KINDS OF MEMORIES.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.

For someone that had just a single hit song "Angel Baby", Rosie Hamelin proves on this incredible C.D. that she should be remembered for more than that single. She sounds as good today as evidenced by the 1999 version of "Angel Baby". Her cover versions of "A Thousand Stars", I'm So Young, Confidential, The One That Really Loves You and Your No Good are superb and the original 'Lonely Blue Nights' deserved to be a hit song. All in all this is a terrific package of songs sung by an My Angel Baby, Rosie Hamelin. By the way the sound on this CD is first rate.

The song "Angel Baby" - that's all you need to know! An FYI, she still sound good today - 40+ years later!! Five stars!

No need to go into my usual superlatives about Ace of London and the quality of, not only their recorded products, but the phenominal background information they routinely provide with all their releases. They stand alone at the top when it comes to Oldies. And that is made abundantly clear in most of the other excellent reviews here.

In the case of vocalist Rosalie Hamlin, guitarists David Ponci and Noah Tafolla, saxophonist Tony Gomez and drummer Van Guida - known collectively on record as Rosie & The Originals - they have them covered every which way to the wind with not one, but two great CD releases. Not bad for a group that escaped being a member of the One-Hit Wonder category by the low entry of their second and only other hit single!

And this release has both those hits and their B-sides. The first - and best - of course was the enduring Angel Baby, which hit # 5 Pop Hot 100 in late 1960/early 1961 on Highland 1011 b/w Give Me Love. Not too shabby considering the limited promotional capability of that small California label which served mostly as a first outlet for new artists who, if showing any success there, usually moved on to larger concerns. As happened with Rosie & The Originals who next came out on Brunswick in 1961 with Lonely Blue Nights b/w We'll Have A Chance, billed as ROSIE formerly with The Originals on Brunswick 55205, with the backing of the Dick Jacobs orchestra.

But when the A-side stalled at # 66 Hot 100 in March 1961, that would be it insofar as charted material in North America was concerned (both sides would later be re-released on Highland 1032 as by Rosie & The Originals).

All this background and more is aptly covered in the liner notes. Just another gem from Ace to add to a growing list of great retrospective compilations.

i bought the original 45rpm record when it came out. still have it but no way to play it.it was great to find this complete album.no one else sounds like rosie!

True! John Lennon loved Rosie and the Originals and you will too. Pure and honest vocals with just the right touch of "teenage angst" for the times.

A rare CD with songs of the sixties with recordings and remakes of a great career.

i bought this cd for one song, angel baby. it was hard to find out who sang it but was worth the look. it takes me back to a simpler time, and when i sing along with it to my pug, he knows its his song. the rest of the cd just keeps the fun time of my youth with me.