Customer Reviews

Golden Classics

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

 

 

I have loved Roy Hamilton's version of Unchained Melody since I first heard it in the late 1950's. I heard it played over and over by other singers but Mr.Hamilton sings it best. I bought it for the one song,but listening to the rest brought back a lot of memories for me. My only regret is this most beautiful voice was silenced much to soon.

If I have listened to this album once, i've listened to it 500 times, beginning back in the late 50's I think. How I got hooked on Roy Hamilton I don't remember, but he has given me more hours of listening enjoyment than any entertainer. And this particular album is the one. His selection of music is strong and his voice carries each piece. He sings like no one else. If had to take one album with me, this would be it. It deserves six, seven stars. Roy is in nobody else's league.

Too few people, even music enthusiasts, remember Roy Hamilton. His career faded about the same time as Elvis Presley's chart toppers (before Elvis's 1968 "comeback"). Roy gives a good presentation of all of the songs here, but they are from a time when there were no "theme" albums so you may have just to enjoy the big individual hits, "Don't Let Go", "You Can Have Her" and "You're Gonna Need Magic". This album pretty well sums up Roy Hamilton's career as he did not have a long life either. The three named songs are worth the price; the rest is gravy.

This is a must CD for any R&B collection. Roy Hamilton's You Can Have Her should have been a rythmn and blues classic, but for his virtual obscurity in the music industry. Don't Let Go was one of the first 45s I ever owned and brings back memories that were dormant for several decades. This CD also contains standards done by Hamilton in his unique, but stirring style and powerful voice. I can't stop listening!

Roy Hamiltons choice of songs which are unprecedented classics along with a voice unlike any other - are all the more reason to listen many a time to this album - Roy Hamilton has a fire and a soul to go with a voice!

Hamilton charted 10 songs from 1955 to 1961, only five are here,
but for what I'm wanting, thats as good as it gets!
I especially wanted his top 3 hits, which are --
1. "Unchained melody" top 10 in 1955.
2. "Don't let go" top 20 in 1958.
3. "You can have her" top 20 in 1961.
The other two charted songs are --
4. "Forgive this fool" top 40 in 1955,
5. "You're gonna need magic" top 100 in 1961.

This 12 track set has some very good songs,
however most all are ballads except for the 2 pop tunes
"Don't let go" & "You can have her".
Hamilton had a great voice, but he is mostly easy listening music.

Some other C.D.s I checked either had more than I was looking for,
or didn't have all 3 of these songs.
NOTE that even the "Anthology" set by "Collectables" is missing the same 5 songs.

MISSING IS
1. "Without a song" top 100 in 1955.
2. "Everybody's got a home" top 50 in 1955.
3. "Pledging my love" top 50 in 1958.
4. "I need your lovin'" top 100 in 1959.
5. "Time marches on" top 100 in 1959.

These 12 tracks have great sound.
There's two pages of liner notes of Hamilton and his career.
The track listing includes the chart positions.

Hamilton died of a stroke in 1969, he was 40.

Roy Hamilton is one of the unsung heroes of the R&B genre of music and his rich baritone lives on wonderfully in Collectables' release of these 12 tracks of essential offerings.
Born in 1929 in Georgia Roy showed a penchant for vocalizing at a very early age.He would train formally in classical and operatic style of singing.He joined a professional signing group in the late 40s but left it to perform solo in various clubs and theatres,even winning a contest at the famous Apollo Theatre singing "You'll Never Walk Alone".
In 1953 he was tagged by a radio DJ in New Jersey to perform on his shows.With his help Roy was signed to a record contract with Epic Records.They released Roys' first hit "You'll Never Walk Alone".From there it was a steady climb for Roy with releases such as "If I Loved You","Unchained Melody" and "Don't Let Go".
By the mid 60s Roy's singles were not selling as well as they had been but he remained in the recording studios almost to the end.In July of /69 Roy suffered a stroke and a few days later tragically passed away at the young age of just 40 years.
Roy was an influence on many artists in the RnR and R&B world from Elvis to Cooke,but his roots were firmly planted to a large extent in gospel music and he never failed to showcase that side in his live shows and recordings.
Roy was a true original whose legacy will never be forgotten and this CD pays homage to him by giving the listeners some of his prime career cuts in this compliation.The CD comes with bio notes and chart listings.A must have.

The late 1940s and early 50s was a time of American Pop Music trying to become something, but nobody knew just what. Crooners were clinging to the Big Band model. Hank Williams espressed profound pain in a way that stretched the bounds of Country. Clyde McPhatter stretched the music of Americas Black communities in way that looks like he was fusing African American Gospel and Blues into what would later be called soul.

Roy Hamilton inhabited that realm. He was stellar at Gospel, soulful at blues and as expressive as the best crooners of his day. Hamilton had an excellent voice, and knew how to use it, always carefully controlled.

If you're drawn to the music of the 50s and early 60s, and have nothing by Roy Hamiltion, get busy and get this. I ordered a used CD, and the product delivered was perfect.

I am an avid rock n roll music collector and I have been for well over thirty years and I am very proud to add Roy Hamilton Golden hits to my library. This man in todays standards would be a true icon . This c.d. has the BEST of his songs and I can repeat them over and over again. His voice is truly unique . He can go from You Can have Her to Ebbtide and they are both great vocals. This c.d.. is a MUST have.