Customer Reviews

Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers: The Complete Recordings

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All are familiar with the Teenagers early works, and though there is considerable speculaton about who actually penned their first hit ("Why Do Fools Fall in Love"), it was clear early on that the star of this group was Frankie Lymon...unquestionably. Much like Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and even Steve Perry; they may not have been founding members of their respective groups, but were the marketable focal points nonetheless.

This may be the most compreshensive collection of the works of Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers ever released, and it contains literally ALL the hits and flops of Frankie and the Teenagers (including the Frankie-less "Flip Flop"). It saddens me to think of the lost potential that could have been realized had Frankie lived on, and this is where Discs 4 and 5 are so critical. These discs in particular are the indicators of what could have been. On tracks like "Change Partners", "Teacher, Teacher", and and "Somewhere", it is clear Frankie has an understanding of a lyric and gives a smooth delivery on pop standards; and could easily have given Sam Cooke or Marvin Gaye a run for their money on the R&B grooves. Don't wait on this one...I may even get two!!!

Phenomenal! This set shows the versality of Frankie Lymon's musical choices - from Broadway to Folk to Pop which include Johnny Mercer(Goody-Goody lyrics) Leonard Bernstein, Rodgers and Hart, Rodgers and Hammerstein, etc., etc. - not like today's so-called "artists" who can't sing or attempt to sing their own horrid originals that no one else can or would sing. Too bad he passed so young. Frankie's phrasing, incredible articulation, and at times pathos put most adult pop singers past and present to shame. Listen to "It's Christmas Once Again" - unbelievable - his ever pure Silent Night to name a few. He could sing the damn telephone book and blow your mind. And why did the Germans have to produce this and not the Americans? Anyway, DON'T MISS THIS ONE.