Customer Reviews

Hard to Find 45s on CD, Volume 9: 1957-1959

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

They are songs you just don't hear on the radio anymore. Even the weekend specialty shows that for many years featured the great rock 'n roll and doo wop sounds of the 1950's have now largely disappeared from the airwaves. Thankfully, the folks at Eric records have once again come to the rescue with a great new collection featuring an impressive variety of genres from this period. "Hard to Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" offers up 23 of the most distinctive and hard to find records of this period. Many of these songs were by artists who were one hit wonders while others were largely regional hits. In any case, this is a collection of songs you just won't find anywhere else.

If you are a big fan of the rockabilly sound you will certainly enjoy hearing Ray Smith's "Rockin' Little Angel" and Carl Mann's pulsating rendition of "Mona Lisa". Those who dig instrumentals can savor the great sound of Dave "Baby" Cortez's #1 hit "The Happy Organ" as well as Santo and Johnny's "Tear Drop" from 1959. It was fun to hear Huey "Piano" Smith and the Clowns classic New Orleans tune "Rockin' Pnuemonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" which is also included here. Fans of great group harmony will not be disappointed either. You will surely appreciate the lovingly remastered version of The Aquatones great hit "You". One song many people have probably forgotten about is the Four Esquires "Hideaway". If you are a fan of the Four Lads then you are certain to love this one. It is probably my favorite tune on this disc. And there are some songs here that just don't seem to fit into any particular category but are highly enjoyable nonetheless. Among them is the great Art and Dotty Todd recording of "Chanson D'amour" from 1957 and Jody Reynolds Top Ten smash "Endless Sleep". There were also a number of tunes that I had never heard before that turned out to be very pleasant surprises. "Philadelphia USA" by the Nu Tornados features the string band sound while The Bluenotes "I Don't Know What It Is" turns out to be a pretty fair doo wop tune. Also, be sure to check out "String of Trumpets" from the Trumpeteers and Jivin' Gene and the Jokers "Breakin' Up Is Hard Do". Outstanding stuff!

"Hard To Find 45's on CD, Vol. 9: 1957-1959" comes with a fascinating 12 page booklet featuring biographical information and photos on just about all of these artists as well as Billboard chart information on each of these songs. As always the remastering job is first rate. If you have never purchased a collection from Eric before I urge you to give this one a try. Over the past several years this company has emerged as the top reissue label in the U.S. Highly recommended!

Whether due to tracking down original master tapes, or just plain old engineering skill, the tracks on this compilation have a warmth and vibrancy seldom encountered on similar reissues. The audio experience is similar to listening to mint 45s through a great system. If you have any interest at all in the material, don't hestitate to acquire this disc!

Vol. 9 of the "Hard to Find 45s On CD" series is an excellent anthology of singles from 1957-1959. The remastering makes these old track sound in top form technically, which is worth volumes. Jody Reynolds' spooky "Endless Sleep" has some of the era's best melodic melodrama. Glancing at the title, I was ready for a different version of the Neil Sedaka hit "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," but this song is different by Jivin' Gene & the Jokers. You're just not going to hear a song like Dicky Doo & the Don'ts' "Click Clack" anywhere you go, with the vintage smile you'll be wearing with the hokey beat. "Lucky Ladybug" is an excellent track by Billy & Lillie. Nat King Cole did a very different version of "Mona Lisa," compared to this rockabilly version by Carl Mann. "Philadelphia U.S.A." by the Nu Tornados is a joyful track. The Bluenotes' "I Don't Know What It Is" sounds like a happy hiking tune with the whistling chorus. The Shepherd Sisters' timepiece "Alone" is infectiously bubbly. "You" by the Aquatones is a track that was new to me, complete with doo-wop charm. "Hideaway" by the Four Esquires has a full-bodied 50s sound that brings a smile to my face like the Platters. Art & Dotty Todd's "Chanson D'Amour" is a joyful replay that I rarely hear anymore. "A String of Trumpets" is a great farewell to this excellent set. Enjoy!

So far I have all of the CDs in the "Hard to Find 45s" series. This is a great addition. Nearly impossible to find most of these cuts on any other CD. This CD brought back memories of many recordings that I had completely forgotten and am now enjoying with every play. Only a few cuts like "Happy Organ" are arguably not all that hard to find.

From High School USA to A String of Trumpets, this CD is packed with hit after hit that is geat to listen to all over again. Even those that weren't great hits are blended in at the right spots. If you buy only one of ERIC's Hard To Find 45's on CD (That are still in publication), Buy this one. You won't be disappointed. I haven't heard Philadelphia U.S.A, or High School USA in over 40 years! It's great to hear them anytime I want to now.

Great songs from the 60's and I have been looking for the song Peter Rabbit since 1966. When I got home from the service in late 1966 it was off the shelf in my area and I located it in 2o minutes on your web-site. Thank You

After several years, Eric Records presents another two volumes in its sensational "Hard To Find 45's on CD" series. Focusing on the late '50's, this installment unearths a new wealth of seldom-found tunes from the era, a few more familiar top-10 hits and most invigorating of all, lots of new-to-CD tracks. Among the standouts here include Dicky Doo and the Don'ts' rarely found "Click Clack", the national version of Tommy Facenda's "High School U.S.A. and the CD debuts of the Nu Tornados' "Philadelphia U.S.A.", the Bluenotes' "I Don't Know What It Is" and "A String of Trumpets" from the Trumpeteers. If one had to push the envelope on the track selection here, substituting Dave "Baby" Cortez' top-ten "Rinky Dink" for the ubiquitous "Happy Organ" would have definitively earned this collection the "hard-to-find" moniker.

But without looking overseas to the U.K.'s Ace Records, nobody here in the U.S. can touch Eric's outstanding offerings of early rock-era 45's in digital. As with their previous volumes, sound quality here is top-notch and though some tracks have, by necessity, been taken from vinyl sources, these tracks sound exceptionally clean and crisp. All are mono versions with the exception of "High School U.S.A." Finishing up this exceptional package is a twelve-page liner notes booklet with backround on the included tracks and photos of some of the artists.

Eric has come to set the standard for these anxiously awaited collections and this one does not disappoint. A must-have for the avid collector and a fun addition to the casual fan's collection as well.

Got this one 2 years ago and on the weekends it gets played as it puts me in a great mood. Whole album is fantastic with favorites that were low charters, under the radar but to me should have been in top 10! Can not go wrong on this folks, get it. Great detailed liner notes as well!! Bring back the good old days with class!

The "Hard to Find" series is very valuable. Each time they come out with a new volume, there are always a few songs I haven't heard for 40 years, which are on no other collection album (CD). I hope they never give up their search!

If you like oldies from the late 50's you will like Vol 9: 1957-59. Oldies are songs from a particular era. These are from the time of the rock n roll groups that started it all. Listening to these oldies is good stress reduction therapy.