Customer Reviews

Best of Trini Lopez

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I first heard the music of Trini Lopez when I was a kid, listening to my parents' scratchy LPs of "Live at PJs", and "Greatest Hits". There is still something indefinably amazing about this artist who, I believe, came close to bridging the '60s generation gap.

It was the Trini Lopez version of "If I Had a Hammer" (a protest song, remember) that sold 5 million copies. Though many try crossing over musical/political boundaries, few succeed at making it fun and uplifting to do so.

"Lemon Tree" was always my particular favorite. A fairly cornball tune in the hands of the Kingston Trio or even Peter, Paul and Mary, Trini Lopez made it rock! His impeccable sense of rhythm on a 12-string acoustic guitar drives the song to downright danceable heights, assisted only by an electric bass and drum kit.

While this GNP/Crescendo disc doesn't feature the superb selection of hits and immaculate sound of the Japanese release "From the Original Master Tapes", it is an excellent sampling nonetheless. Do yourself a favor and check it out.

Trini Lopez got his start touring with Buddy Holly before being discovered by Frank Sinatra in the early 60s. Sinatra took Trini under his wing and signed him to the Reprise label. However, Trini's music sounds nothing like Sinatra or his Rat Pack colleagues; in fact, it's rather difficult to classify. I like to refer to Trini's music as "folk: go-go style," as he reminds me of a combination of Johnny Rivers and the Kingston Trio. A perfect example is the lead-off song, "If I Had a Hammer," a cover of the Pete Seeger-written classic that was a #10 hit in 1962 for Peter, Paul, & Mary. Trini's version was, somewhat shockingly, an even bigger hit in 1963 (#3) and sounds very different - like it was recorded at a kicky cocktail party.

He scored a second hit with another Peter, Paul, & Mary song - "Lemon Tree": it peaked at #20 and is Trini's second biggest hit. Much of this CD is comprised of covers of hits from the 50s or 60s, including "La Bamba" (#22 for Ritchie Valens in 1959), "Bye Bye Love" (#2 for the Everly Brothers in 1957), "Walk Right In" (#1 for the Rooftop Singer in 1963), and "Kansas City" (#1 for Wilbert Harrison in 1959). Other remakes are more rock-oriented versions of traditional folk songs, such as "Michael" (#1 for the Highwaymen in 1961), "This Land Is Your Land," and "You Are My Sunshine." I enjoy some of these songs; however, after awhile, this CD's reliance on remakes becomes somewhat oppressive.

Trini did record some originals, such as the fantastic "Sad Tomorrows" - a real highlight of this CD. Perhaps my favorite song, though, is a cover of a Sinatra signature tune - "Fly Me to the Moon." Trini's version is quite fun, and I actually bought this CD for that song. I have to admit that I have not subsequently become much of a Trini Lopez fan. However, this collection is a pretty good synopsis of his career and includes his biggest and most memorable hits. On the downside, the liner notes are skimpy, consisting primarily of an over-the-top essay by Neil Norman. If you're a fan, however, then you may want to add a star to my rating, as this CD is a solid greatest hits collection.

OK, so maybe this disc sounds like it would be kitschy fun. But seriously, this is terrific music! Trini Lopez was a fine guitar player and spirited vocalist, and his three-man combo idea was later swiped by Johnny Rivers. Best of all, all these songs (the essence of a swinging '60s cocktail party) still rock with a punchy, slightly boozy energy. Someday, the world will wake up to the fact that Trini Lopez is cool.

If you grew up in the sixties, there is a pretty good chance Mom or Dad had a Trini Lopez LP or two playing on that old magnavox stereo console that we all had in our living rooms. Frank Sinatra himself was an admitted Trini Lopez fan and he helped get the wheels moving for Trini's career. What we have here is a collection of some of the best folk/contemporary sing alongs ever waxed. Not only will adults like it, but children will enjoy the hell out of most of these songs as well. Not every great song Trini made during the sixties is here, but there is enough on this collection to make this the best career overview available. Songs like "If I Had A Hammer", "Michael", "This land Is Your Land","Bye Bye Love" and "Walk Right In" bring back instant memories of this forgotten legend who deserves to be recognized for his many contributions to popular music.

The Best Of Trini Lopez has 20 tracks that showcase Trini's excellent talent. Trini learned early on how to perform and he always gave so much that his fans adored him. This album is certainly not all of Trini Lopez's best so I can't quite give it five stars; but it is a strong single CD compilation and that's good. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is nicely done.

The CD starts strong with Trini performing "If I Had A Hammer;" this classic folk ballad gets a somewhat 1960s sounding twist and Trini delivers this with lots of positive energy. Trini's excellent diction bolsters his performance and you can tell he had a very good rapport with his audience. "Kansas City" gets the royal treatment from this masterful artist; Trini never skips a beat and the guitars work wonders for this tune! I really like "Kansas City;" and listen also for Trini Lopez to out do even himself on the timeless folk song entitled "Lemon Tree." "Lemon Tree" is a major highlight of this album--and just one listen will tell you why! Trini's keen sense of timing makes his singing all the better.

"Sinner Man" is very well done; and "Are You Sincere" really impresses me. "Are You Sincere" is a pretty melody and this love song charms me with its beauty. Great! "Are You Sincere" uses the percussion well and I think you'll like it if you haven't heard this one before. Of course, "Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)" shines brighter than silver and gold combined when Trini Lopez bats it straight out of the ballpark; and there's a true gem in "This Land Is Your Land." Trini Lopez takes "This Land Is Your Land" and puts his own stamp on it with a sped-up tempo and more; the audience joins in and makes this a memorable tune.

"Fly Me To The Moon" stuns me with its natural beauty; Trini delivers this faultlessly and I love every minute of it! Trini was born to sing ballads like this; and it's quite strong even with the brass that chimes in at times a bit too loud. "Walk Right In" sounds terrific in Trini's capable hands; and we get another awesome tune when Trini tackles "Bye Bye Love." "Bye Bye Love" is another live recording and it all holds its own very well.

"I Won't Let You See Me Cry" is a man's torch song if there ever was one; Trini sings this to perfection--and beyond! It's very good. "Sad Tomorrows" has Trini squarely front and center; wisely the music never steals the show away from Trini's vocals. "Sad Tomorrows" just plain sounds good; and "You Are My Sunshine" charms me with its beauty. "You Are My Sunshine" is very sweet and Trini sings this very well; the audience has a lot of fun joining in and the lush musical arrangement helps to make this bright. The CD ends well with Trini Lopez performing "A-Me-Ri-Ca;" and it will leave you wanting more.

Trini Lopez still wows the crowds today; and you should catch him in concert if you can! This CD is a must-have for his fans; and it is especially good for newcomers to the exquisite artistry of Trini Lopez.

it is realy an great album, one of the best their is made of TRINI LOPEZ. ( TRINI has made just an new album in germany, but his '60 music is the music where we go for!) WARNER music please release more albums of TRINI LOPEZ on CD!

A fine CD, which displays Trini Lopez at his best. This record features hit's and songs both live and studio, from 1963-1968.If you want to know more about this artist, then please send me an e-mail.

Add GNP/Crescendo to the long list of companies which seemingly love to frustrate the heck out of completist collectors by promising the "best of" an artist - and then fail to deliver a complete package.

I realize, of course, that for some artists with literally hundreds of hit singles it's flat out impossible to please everyone with a single disc containing just 20 to 30 tracks. But Trini only HAD thirteen Billboard Pop Hot 100 hits together with five that scored only on the Adult Contempory (AC) charts. So, how difficult would it have been to include Jailer, Bring Me Water [# 94 Hot 100 in 1964], Are You Sincere? [# 25 AC/# 85 Hot 100 in 1965], Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now [# 6 AC/# 93 Hot 100 in 1967] and Sally Was A Good Old Girl [# 30 AC/# 99 Hot 100 in 1969], instead of the insipid renditions of Bye Bye Love, What Have I Got Of My Own, You Are My Sunshine, and Hurtin' Inside?

It's also interesting to note that NOT ONE B-side of those thirteen Hot 100 hits is included either. However, the other nine are all here for the man whose style drove record shops crazy in that they never quite knew where to place his records - in the pop or folk sections.

Yes, his first hit, If I Had A Hammer, came straight out of Peter, Paul & Mary [who'd had a # 10 with it the year before], but Trini didn't sing it in the accepted "folk" style. Instead, with Don Costa's production, he performed it at the club where Costa discovered him, PJ's in Los Angeles, and with an enthusiastic crowd hand-clapping and yelping in the background, his clear, ringing vocal and rhythm guitar licks took it to # 3 Hot 100 AND # 12 R&B early in 1963.

So successful was that record that he and the Reprise label maintained much the same formula on a string of other hits like Kansas City (# 13 AC/# 23 Hot 100 in late 1963), La Bamba Part 1 (# 9 AC/# 86 Hot 100 in summer 1966 and a re-make of a song he first did in 1963 but which did not chart then), and Lemon Tree (# 2 AC/# 20 Hot 100 in early 1965). Enormously popular in South America and Europe, Trini would maintain a club career long after the hits dried up in 1968 when Mental Journey (# 18) and Malaguena Serenade (# 24) could only score on the AC charts.

One missing hit might have garnered this 4 stars in this collector's opinion - but SIX? And NO B-sides? Come on, folks, get with the program!

I love the song. I was may be 3 or 4 when I danced with my oldest sister; a beatiful woman. Now, I listen to it, and feel my sister is still dancing with me. She passed away recently.

This is a nice collection of tracks from Trini Lopez' Reprise LPs of the '60s. While it hits a lot of the high spots, it is by no means definitive. Covers of Fly Me To The Moon, Bye Bye Love, and This Land Is Your Land are not nearly as essential as Trini favorites like Shame And Scandal In The Family, Hall Of Fame, and What Have I Got Of My Own. If you're a fan of Trini's work, though, this is still a must have.