Customer Reviews

Big Blast From Boston: The Best of Freddy "Boom-Boom" Cannon

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These are extraordinarily good singles, though the effect of hearing them in one sitting can be monotonous, even overwhelming. For this reason, it may be best to savor these gems a few at a time. Anyway, Cannon lays waste to the longstanding myth that Nothing Was Happening Just Before the Beatles. In fact, the Invasion bands owe more than a slight debt to these loud and high-energy rock classics. So does Brian Wilson. In their early days, the Beach Boys drew heavily upon the influence of Cannon, Eddie Cochran, and, of course, Chuck Berry.

The sound quality is first-rate, though I almost think some of these sounded better on vinyl--in particular, the magnificent "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." But this is hardly the fault of the Rhino label, which should be praised for giving us one great compilation. The liner notes by the late Cub Koda are most excellent.

Freddy Cannon was unique in the late 50s and early 60s -- the period between the dumbing-down of rock and roll and its final destruction by the Beatles -- as the only new performer who really rocked. On the hit list of 1959, we find `Everybody's Somebody's Fool' by Connie Francis, `Heartaches by the Number' by Guy Mitchell, `I Guess Things Happen that Way' by Johnny Cash, `It Doesn't Matter Anymore' by Buddy Holly (what a shame such pap is the last song we were given to remember this great rocker, who didn't live to see it climb the charts), `Forty Miles of Bad Road' by Duane Eddy (not bad but you only have to compare it with with his first hit, `Rebel Rouser' to see what was happening), `There'll Never be Anyone Else but You' by Ricky Nelson and, Ladies and Gentlemen, `Tallahassee Lassie' by Freddy Cannon. Not only was it fast and noisy, but it had the goofy, lascivious lyrics (``She comes from Tallahassee, she's got a hi-fi chassis'') that have always characterised a good rock and roll number. I remember being surprised that this song was actually allowed onto the airwaves in those Days of Blandness and even more surprised -- as well as delighted -- when he followed it up with jumpers like `Way Down Yonder in New Orleans' and `Palisades Park'. He might have changed the course of musical history had his success inspired others but sadly it did not, and even he vanished under the British onslaught of 1964. Nevertheless, he deserves more recognition than he has received to date. The four-star rating is awarded because a couple of the songs don't quite fit in -- even Freddy didn't like `Jump Over'.

The Varese CD "Palisades Park: The Very Best Of Freddy Cannon 1959-1963" is, in my opinion, a better compilation in that it delivers ALL 19 Swan hit singles scored in that period.

And while I agree with everything the reviewer from Hong Kong says about Freddy and his career, I did not deduct one star because of the inclusion of Jump Over. Neither he nor Freddy may not have liked it but, after all, it made it to # 28 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in the early summer of 1960 and stayed on the charts for ten solid weeks. Something like Patsy Cline when she first heard the demo of Crazy by Willie Nelson. She didn't like that either.

Where Rhino slipped, in my opinion, was in not going to 25 selections and including the flip of Jump Over - The Urge - which charted as well at # 60, For Me And My Gal [# 71 in 1961], Twistin' All Night Long [# 68 in 1962 with Danny & The Juniors], What's Gonna Happen When Summer's Done [# 45 in 1962], and Everybody Monkey [# 52 in 1963]. All are in the Varese CD.

I did, on the other hand, enjoy the eleven pages of comprehensive liner notes by Cub Koda of Goldmine Magazine, and was pleased to see a discography of the contents as well as his first record - Cha Cha Doo - which he did as part of The Spindrifts for ABC-Paramount in 1958. And, as usual with Rhino, the sound quality is excellent.

I liked his hits in Australia in the 60s. Transistor Sister, If You Were A Rock & Roll Record are representative of the era. Jump Over is a great tune and typical of the "catchy" love tunes.

You have to get this one for all Cannon fans! Its rockin and the quality is superb. Themed in the 50s as "the last of the rockers" Freddy demonstates how such an apt title came his way.

Freddie Cannon should have been a greater pop star but his label folded and he was forgotten. This collection revives his memory.

I like the style of Freddy Cannon and this Cd is very good. The best songs are his numbers with old American Standards . I hope that one day there will be a CD simular his album wtyh the red cover

Freddie Cannon was unlike most of his contemporaries in the business. His early 60's sound was fun, raw, horns and heavy drums all out dancin' and singin' Rock 'n Roll.It certainly wasn't an abundance of singing talent. But, he didn't try to be a singer. Freddie was a rocker! This serving of 20 of his hits and near hits is just sensational,the definitive Freddie Cannon. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is the horrible opening cut, Cannon's very early effort as part of the Spindrifts.