California Sun-Best of the Riv

Rivieras | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 18, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 4, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Norton
• ASIN: B00004RDRZ
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,696 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. California Sun

2. Danny Boy

3. Twist and Shout

4. Little Donna

5. Church Key

6. Killer Joe

7. Let's Have a Party

8. Rockin' Robin

9. H.B. Goose Step

10. Keep a Knockin'

11. Oh, Boy!

12. When the Saints Go Marching In

13. Played On

14. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On

15. Battle Line

16. Rip It Up

17. Let's Go to Hawaii

18. Lakeview Lane

19. Tossin' and Turnin'

20. Bug Juice

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

At long last, the pride of South Bend, IN, finally get a legally sanctioned best-of that serves their legacy well. This brings together all of their original singles, the best cuts from their two albums, and the first-time reissue of "Played On," the original B-side of "California Sun." The band storm through these tracks with an energy that's palpable, and the result is '60s garage band rock & roll at its absolute finest. Highly, highly recommended. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lost in the California sun, June 24, 2001

By 

Zub "Zubenelgenubi" (Forks Twp., PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: California Sun-Best of the Riv (Audio CD)

Not the 50's R'n'B group but the Indiana(!) rock band that took the "California Sun" into the top 5 in the 60's. While titled "Best Of...", this CD is actually a two-fer of their two albums with some 45 versions substituted for the album versions.

While the grinding organ and hyperenergy of "California Sun" are maintained through most of the tunes (even unlikely ones such as "Danny Boy"), they were never able to capitalize on the success of "Cal-Sun". Instrumentally, they are a progression of the early 60's Johnny and the Hurricanes' sound. Except for scraping the bottom of the charts with a few follow-up singles, they disappeared from the national spotlight, relegated basically to one-hit wonder status. With the freshness of "California Sun" exhausted, and without unique new material, their promising sound couldn't be sustained in the pop charts.

Sound quality is reasonably good with all tracks in mono. Included is a comprehensive history of the band in a 12-page booklet. While more than the casual fan may be interested in, this new collection is a welcome release by the small indie label Norton Records.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Frat boy rock, July 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: California Sun-Best of the Riv (Audio CD)

The Rivieras had to be one of the definitive frat-boy rock group of their era. Their lone, big hit "California Sun" is a classic, later covered by the Ramones but never bettered. It just makes you want to get up and dance. As with most surf-frat groups of this era they recorded a lot of cover songs as typified by this compilation, The Rivieras , however , took these covers and made them their own. Songs such as Danny Boy, Rockin Robin , Church Key and Keep a Knockin are all top notch. The songs come fast and furious and this is one good party platter. This reissue contains both of their original albums on one cd. The only question to ask is "why did it take so long"?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As Complete As You Can Get, August 25, 2007

By 

AvidOldiesCollector (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Sun-Best of the Riv (Audio CD)

I'll say one thing for this Norton release - it is complete, giving you all six sides of their four hits (one was a double-sided hit) from 1964, coupled with excellent sound quality.

But if ever a group was said to have "fallen off the table" following their initial hit it's this bunch from South Bend, Indiana. With Marty Fortson providing the lead on California Sun, and taking their name from the Riviera label, they fairly exploded onto the scene early in 1964, taking it all the way to # 5 Billboard Pop Hot 100. Not bad in the very midst of the earliest stages of the British Invasion and at a time when The Beatles alone had SEVENTEEN hits competing for chart positions.

Both B-sides to that hit are here as well, with H.B. Goose Step appearing on some and Played On on others. Perhaps they should have hung on to Fortson, because after he left following that hit Bill Dobslaw took over on Little Donna. By May, however, the British Invasion was in full force and this blatant rip-off of Chuck Berry's Sweet Little 16 struggled to a # 93 Hot 100. The flipside, a cover of Wanda Jackson's 1960 hit, Let's Have A Party, just made the Hot 100 at # 99.

Their final hit came that September when their cover of Rockin' Robin clocked in at # 96 Hot 100 b/w Battle Line. That would turn out to be the poorest showing for this bouncy tune, first taken to # 2 in 1958 by Bobby Day, and then to # 2 again in 1972 by Michael Jackson.

After that they faded quickly from the scene. So, not exactly a memorable group, but one that did flirt briefly with fame with that one big hit. And speaking for completist collectors everywhere, may I say this is what we like to see when it comes to an artist or group with but a handful of hits. Take note Collectables.