Customer Reviews

Cricket

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

 

 

I loved this CD. But to be honest, Connie could have hummed through the entire recording and I would have loved it. I am not one of crazed fans who would ever think our paths could cross, but I am one of the tens of thousands of men who began puberty having a crush on "Cricket"...and perhaps my crush went a little further. When I was 14 I was in the office of a marble factory manager and there was the most beautiful portrait of Connie I ever saw. I had no money, but I offered to work 4 Saturdays in a row for the man in his marble yard if he would just give me that painting - and he did. I then wrote a typical teen age "I love you note" and shipped the portrait off to Hollywood (or wherever her fan club told me to at the time). Why did I do it? Because teenage boys do dumb things. I know she probbly never received it, but it satisfied my need to tell her how thankful I was for her to have played a part in my life. The respect I have for women today was formed early by my respect and admiration for the character she portrayed on screen. The sensitivity of her character helped develop my own sensitivity and helped me to write several books that have helped grieving pet owners over the years (Cold Noses at the Pearly Gates - also carried by Amazon), while serving in the military for over 30 years at the same time.

I know Connie is not the character she portrayed in real life, but when you are young and impressionable, those things are not important. I know this narrative will sound corny to many who read it, but she had an impact on my life and to listen to her sing again brought me back to a much simpler and free time in my life. Thank you Connie for everything, for your portrayal of a wholesome girl every young American boy wanted, your inspiring music, your support of the troops over the years and for everything there is not room enough to record. I loved "Back to the Beach" and even find myself watching some of your infomercials. God bless.

A lovely, sparkling set, with Connie "Cricket from TV's 'Hawaiian Eye'" Stevens luxuriously crooning away on 12 songs(should've been 13 on this disc, as they left out the non-LP B-side "Little Sister", a fabulous song). "Why Try To Change Me Now" and "The Trolley Song" are also on "Conchetta", but "Sixteen Reasons" is here, along with "Lulu's Back In Town", a real kicker! Connie's ingratiating throughout. This CD never fails to lift my spirits. 'A'

Have always been a Connie Stevens fan and really liked the TV series Hawaiian Eye and that is what I thought I was buying, but I am not disappointed in the CD. I hope that someone can get the TV Series released on a DVD.

Connie Stevens was blessed with a youthful coquettish voice that is still a delight to hear. Her projection and right-on-target pitch are most impressive. My main problem with this CD is with the selection of songs (most very forgetable) and the hokey back-up arrangements, which are almost painful to listen to. I, personally, found the most listenable of her albums was the one entitled "From Me to You."

Connie stevens did a few albums in the 1950s while riding a fleeting wave of popularity as "cricket"on the warner brothers detective show "Hawaiian Eye"...She sang songs then that were already on the old side,like"slow boat to china",and,therefore,had old time back up arrangements to match the music..This fact seems to get past some of the reviewers here,who apparently weren't even gleams in thier parents eyes when connie stevens was in her prime...I for one fail to understand why such reviews appear...it is like someone reviewing the mona lisa and saying"well,it's a nice picture,but I don't like the smile"....Where do these reviewers come from?Connie's voice is strong,and the music is just right,considering the fact that she is singing older songs that merit older musical styles...

On this album Connie Stevens amply displays her ability to sing out a tune and make it sound very special using her excellent diction, pure and natural talent and an ability to perform without ever letting go of a single superfluous note! This album, originally released on the Warner Brothers record label in 1960, shows this to be true. The songs are terrific and it's a real treat for anyone who wants great songs all performed faultlessly by Connie.

"Sixteen Reasons" gives the album a most auspicious start; she sings this with panache and I love it! The backup singers harmonize well--not that Connie ever needed backup but they do sound very good anyway. "On a Slow Boat to China" has Connie in a natural element as an entertainer--her treatment of this ballad impresses me because she's truly singing from the heart. "Too Young To Go Steady" explores that universal teenage angst when we sooner or later experience young love; "A Little Kiss Is A Kiss Is A Kiss" that Connie belts out flawlessly; "Why Try To Change Me Now" with Connie doing her incredible best--and succeeding--at making this a highlight of the album; "Love of the Month Club;" a very energetic and upbeat "Apollo;" "Too Young" which gets a very sensitive treatment from Connie; "Lulu's Back in Town" with that terrific musical arrangement; the torch song "Why Do I Cry for Joey;" "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)," another fine example of Connie's superlative singing skill; and "The Trolley Song" which comes from the MGM classic film, "Meet Me in Saint Louis."

Connie Stevens' fans will surely want this for their collections; and indeed this is such a fine album that it also makes a solid introduction for newcomers to Connie Stevens' charm as a songbird (who could act on stage and screen as well as be a successful businesswoman, I might add). I highly recommend this album.

Born Concetta Ingolia in Brooklyn on August 8, 1938, as Connie Stevens she gained national prominence, of course, as nightclub singer Cricket Blake on TV's Hawaiian Eye which ran from 1959 to 1963. She could also hold a pretty good tune, as evidenced by the six charted singles she had from among 16 singles released by Warner Brothers between 1959 and 1966.

This original vinyl LP re-issue, with excellent sound and liner notes by James Ritz, gives you two of them along with both sides of her first single, which failed to chart: Apollo/Why Do I cry For Joey - Warner Bros. 5092 i8n late 1959; Sixteen Reasons - # 3 Billboard Pop Hot 100/# 10 R&B in early 1960 with the backing of Don Ralke & His Orchestra on Warner Bros. 5137 b/w Little Sister (not included); and Too Young To Go Steady - # 71 Hot 100 in July 1960 b/w A Little Kiss Is A Kiss, Is A Kiss on Warner Bros. 5159.

Before all that she and co-star Edward Byrnes had an early 1959 # 4 Hot 100/# 30 R&B novelty hit with Kookie, Kookie [Lend Me Your Comb], also with the Ralke orchestra and b/w You're The Top by Byrnes in a solo on Warner Bros. 5047.

She would also add three more Hot 100 hits on her own, two in 1962 and another in 1965 from among her remaining singles (see Comments below). So isn't it high time somebody like Eric Records, Ace of London or Jasmine gave us a definitive "best of" for this soft-voiced warbler? In the meantime, this CD version of an original LP will provide you with a nice sampling of her vocal abilities.

Fans of Connie Stevens and "Hawaiian Eye" should rejoice over this reissue. I also have the original LP (a bit scratchy, I might add), and the CD sound is ten times better.

The liner notes by James Ritz are very, very informative.

I LIKE CONNIE STEVEN'S VOICE BUT WHAT IS OUT ON HER IS NOT THE BEST YET.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A C.D. THAT CONTAINS "LOST IN WONDERLAND", "MR. SONGWRITER", "WHY'D YOU WANNA MAKE ME CRY" ETC.LIKE ANNETTE, CONNIE IS VERY UNDERRATED.YOU DON'T HEAR HER MUSIC ON OLDIES STATIONS OTHER THAN "SIXTEEN REASONS" BEAUSE IT HIT #1. O-K IF DEEJAYS REFUSE TO PLAY WHAT DID NOT HIT THE TOP TEN THEN AT LEAST WARNER BROTHERS SHOULD PUT THE SONGS OUT ON C.D.'S.ANYHOW I DO RECOMMEND THIS C.D. BECAUSE THSE SONGS ARE GOOD TOO! BUY IT!!

I LIKE CONNIE STEVEN'S VOICE BUT WHAT IS OUT ON HER IS NOT THE BEST YET.I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A C.D. THAT CONTAINS "LOST IN WONDERLAND", "MR. SONGWRITER", "WHY'D YOU WANNA MAKE ME CRY" ETC.LIKE ANNETTE, CONNIE IS VERY UNDERRATED.YOU DON'T HEAR HER MUSIC ON OLDIES STATIONS OTHER THAN "SIXTEEN REASONS" BEAUSE IT HIT #1. O-K IF DEEJAYS REFUSE TO PLAY WHAT DID NOT HIT THE TOP TEN THEN AT LEAST WARNER BROTHERS SHOULD PUT THE SONGS OUT ON C.D.'S.ANYHOW I DO RECOMMEND THIS C.D. BECAUSE THSE SONGS ARE GOOD TOO! BUY IT!!