Customer Reviews

The Greatest Johnny Otis Show

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If you love Johnny Otis' brand of entertainment, this is your cup of tea. Leave it to the folks at ACE to do it right! This cd contains all the good stuff that Johnny Recorded for CAPITOL in 1956- 1958. "Willie and The Hand Jive", "Crazy Country Hop", "Castin' My Spell", Ma (He's Makin' eyes At Me) and "A Fool In Love" are the real winners in this package. THIS WAS INDEED, THE GREATEST ROCK'N ROLL REVIEW EVER TO BE ON STAGE. IT'S A MUST BUY.

I can't say I was much aware of Johnny Otis until I stumbled across this CD. Since then, I became obsessed with finding out as much as possible about this rock n' roll hall of fame inductee. Although not a particularly great vocalist, Otis' contributions include the introducing of some of rock's earliest pioneers to the public-- including Jackie Wilson, and his live shows have been credited with giving rock its performance roots. If you like simplicity, rhythm and blues, then listen to this CD and enjoy the early sounds of great rock n' roll.

Back in 1959 I bought a single called "Telephone Baby" by Johnny Otis
that I wore out because I considered this song the best Rock & Roll
song ever and kept on playing it throughout the years. I never heard of
Johnny Otis anymore (except for the hand-jive song)until 50 years later
(2 weeks back) when I came across this CD. I didn't hesitate and bought it
to have this particular song on CD. What can I say about all the other
Johnny Otis songs? Just out of this world. Pure rock & roll, R&B, Doo Wop etc. thanks to a.o. Marie Adams, Mel Williams, Marci Lee and Jeannie Sterling. To tell the truth, I had never heard of these artists which is quite logical because their music never made it to Europe nor did they have hits in the USA or the UK except for Johnny Otis. Most of the songs are from 1957 and 1958 and still are "bathed" in that genuine raw unspoiled rock & roll flavour. Almost at the end of the CD an incredible surprise: a wonderful ballad by Johnny in a Skyliners/Crests Doo Wop style with strings that very few people must have listened to. Otherwise this would have been a #1 song without any doubt. A real must!

Being a child of the fifties, I had always thought Bill Haleys "Rock around the Clock" started the whole thing.
However, at about the same time I remember Johnny Otis, and especially Ma, he's making eyes at me". The doo wop background and the feel good songs seem to be the real birth of the blues.
If I am not mistaken, Johnny Otis had a television show.
Although with only three channels to watch, and having to go to the neighbors to watch TV I could be wrong about that.