Customer Reviews

Be Bop Mop Top

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

 

 

Echoing the other reviews, this Cd holds a place in my top 50, a unique sound and paying homage to so many references.This cd is worth it alone for the classic single second summer and the wonderful ballad of me and shirley maclaine.

I purchased a Cd in 1995 by a band called King L, produced and lead vocals Gary Clark, another classic, unable to find it on Amazon.

This follow-up release to 1987's "Meet Danny Wilson" didn't score any hits for the band, and judging from their mysterious disappearing act it apparently did nothing to further their mainstream popularity either. Which is a shame, because Danny Wilson (which is simply the band's name, there aren't any band members named Danny, or Wilson for that matter) had something special: in a business more increasingly dominated by style over substance and repetition over ingenuity, these guys had originality. I'd still be hard pressed to label Danny Wilson's music as anything other than the title of their second (and last) album, "Bebop Moptop". While not quite so diverse and solid as their first release, it certainly is one that shouldn't be passed up by anyone who enjoyed their debut. And, very much like their first release, it takes more than a few listens to really come to appreciate. Rumor has it that lead singer Gary Clarke recorded a solo album, but searches by this reviewer have proved nothing but fruitless. It's a sad thing to realize that such an excellent band will be forever relegated to the "one-hit-wonder" files (for anyone who fondly remembers 1987's "Mary's Prayer"), but I suppose that's better than nothing. ***UPDATE*** Gary Clark's solo album "Ten Short Songs About Love" can be found on Amazon.com's UK website. Race you there.

More than a decade ago, I was incredibly lucky to find Danny Wilson's second album on vinyl in a used record shop. I'd never heard about it, nor expected anything from the band beyond "Meet Danny Wilson", though because of my deep and profound appreciation of their debut album, I wished and dreamed there was more. And there was! "Bebop Moptop" is a superb example of intelligent, catchy sophisti-pop (though it's truly difficult to pin down the style). Each song has it's own life, leading the listener down a sometimes strange, sometimes bitter, but always wonderfully unexpected path of theme and emotion. I adore all the tracks, but "I Was Wrong", "Never Gonna Be The Same", "Desert Hearts", and "Goodbye Shanty Town" are at the top of my most played list. I can't say whether "Meet Danny Wilson" or "Bebop Moptop" is better than the other, but even after 20+ years, this album is still fresh, original, and packed with style.

I treasure my 2 Danny Wilson cds. EVERY song
is good, fun, unique. Shirly McClaine is
wonderful. This is probably one of the
best bands no one has heard of. Buy, it--
you will never regret it. If my house catches
fire I will grab my cats and Danny Wilson.
Thanks Vince-- I am off to order Gary Clark's
10 Short songs!

NYC Shanty is the best song I never owned. "Dont tell me that you love me, dont tell me that you care, dont say you're coming over, dont dare!" What a swinging refrain! What a bitter sentiment. Beautiful!