Customer Reviews

Cruisin 1961

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

 

 

For those of us who were young teens in the Boston area in the 1960's, the radio station to be 'with' (AM, of course) was WMEX -"1510, Color Radio," and the DJ to listen to - especially on Friday and Saturday nights was old 'aching adenoids' Arnie ("Woo-Woo") Ginsberg. Originally released many years ago on cassette and later as a CD, the Cruisin' Series includes this gem - a compilation of one evening's Arnie Ginsberg Show on WMEX in 1961. Other pieces of the Cruisin' collection each have about an hour of play from one station and one DJ in one city during one year. This is the only one from Boston in that era - and it is absolutely fabulous. Like Mr. Peabody and his pet boy Sherman (from "Mr. Peabody's Improbable History" segment of the "Rocky and Bullwinkle Show") going for a ride in their WayBack machine, listening to this CD subtracts 45 from my life for about 50 minutes.... especially when listening to it in the car when driving alone.

This CD is much more than the musical selections which are, in-and-of themselves, great and includes the original (60's)versions of:
- Blue Moon / The Marcels
- My True Story / The Jive Five
- Johnny B. Goode / Chuck Berry
- But I Do / Clarence "Frogman" Henry
- Purple People Eater / Sheb Wooley
- Tossin' and Turnin' / Bobby Lewis
- Runaway / Del Shannon
- Barbara Ann / The Regents
- Ya Ya / Lee Dorsey, and
- Hideaway / Freddie King

But it is MUCH more than the singles that are played. It is Arnie Ginsberg and his 'rap' chatter about upcoming 'hops' (dances), WMEX sponsored contests and especially the commercials from that year for:
- The Heart Fund
- Adventure Car Hop ("... follow Rt. 1 in Saugus.... Home of the Ginsburger!")
- The New Widetrack Pontiac
and many others.

So, it is unlike listening to a CD of oldies. It is more like turning on your radio and being transported back to 1961, however briefly. It feels good to listen to - and can't help but evoke a long lost (or misplaced) memory or two for anyone who heard it back then.

I'm not sure how nifty this will sound to someone who grew up (or not) in the Greater Boston Area - but for any boomer who did, this CD is an absolute MUST.

I grew up in the late '50s and early '60s listening to WMEX. This really brings back fond memories. Just hearing Arnie do the "woo-woo" brought a smile to my face. The songs are great, although I wish they had all the songs from the vinyl.

For all of you that possess the original Cruisin' LP series
I don't recommend to buy these CD series because they are different.
First of all, there are 11 songs instead of 12, the playing secuence
is different and some songs aren't even the original ones. Even if
your LP version is scratchy (like mine)it's not worth to change it
for the clear sounding one because it's fake...Sorry

I love the cruisin series- I have the vinyl. When I bought the CD, I thought it would be the same as the vinyl. Unfortunately the edited out my two favorite songs- Blue Moon and Barbara Ann. It is still good, but It isn't what I expected.

This was a great CD. It brought back all the fun of high school and the music that was so popular. My wife and I gave the CD as a 60th birthday present to a friend.

When I was a little girl, my mom had this on a cassette and we listened to it all the time. The commercials are what stayed with me more than the songs themselves. Now as a mother of three, I share this music and my beloved commercials with MY kids. It is fun and wholesome entertainment that we all enjoy. Who knew 2008 teenagers would have fun singing along with songs and commercials from music that was out before their mother was born?!?! Arnie ROCKS!!!

I grew up in the Boston area and this guy is a legend.
From the whacky jingles to the great music, buy a piece of history and I promise you that it will bring a big smile to your face and make you chuckle.
Those were the days my friend............

This is the album that got me hooked on oldies. It was a Friday night back in 1973. My Army buddy, Rupert Joyner, and I were just sitting around the barracks and he put this 8-track on. I liked it so much he let me borrow it to play in my 55 Chevy. I wore it out riding all over Homestead Florida. I'll never forget, it was a great time in my life.