Customer Reviews

Classic Masters: Robert John

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Robert John's recordings dented the top-100 pop charts sporadically over four decades. Many of his tunes were falsetto-infused reworkings of others' hits, with minor sales impact although his 1972 remake of the Tokens' "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" pushed him into the top-10 for the first time. More of John's remakes dotted the charts in the subsequent years but his signature tune and pinnacle musical achievement came in the form of the self-penned "Sad Eyes", a number one hit in the closing year of the 70's. Unfortunately, few more original chartable tunes were forthcoming and John's remaining chart successes were mostly decent but unremarkable remakes.

This collection, one in the EMI Classic Masters mid-priced series, gathers up most of his charting singles. Though not totally comprehensive, amazingly this piece does include tracks licensed from the disparate labels for which he recorded over the years, a not-too-common occurance for mid-priced CD's done by the major labels. Included here are eight of his top-100 singles, a single that just missed it, a couple of b-sides and an album track. Missing are his first charting single on Big Top, "White Bucks and Saddle Shoes" as done by Bobby Pedrick, Jr. and the just-inside-the-top-100 "Hushabye" from 1972.

Production quality is decent with all tracks in stereo and a six-page flopover liner notes booklet with some backround and track details. Even with the omissions singles-wise, this is by far the best Robert John compilation to come along to date.

ROBERT JOHN-CLASSIC MASTERS: The rock & roll game has always had room for a cat with an abnormally high pitched voice, and while Robert John was never accorded the name brand recognition of Frankie Valli or the Bee Gees, he still managed a small handful of worthy entries. Perhaps the reason John never established a real identity of his own was due to his inclination towards remaking other artists' dog whistle efforts. Sometimes, as on his note-for-note cloning of the Tokens' THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT, it paid off handsomely with a #3 hit. More often, he just seemed to be proving what an expert mimic he was on covers of HEY THERE LONELY GIRL and BREAD AND BUTTER. His only chart topper, the melancholy SAD EYES, was one he wrote himself, though the BEE GEES-like follow-up LONELY EYES, and John's inevitable take on the Four Seasons' SHERRY fared less spectacularly. Taken on its own merits, CLASSIC MASTERS is a pleasant journey showcasing major wasted potential from a somewhat minor artist.

RATING: THREE HIGH NOTES