Customer Reviews

My Heart Is an Open Book

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It is very good to see that even the short lived music stars of the early 60's are still in demand. Carl's biggest hit went on to be performed on plastic and on stage by many other great singers. He also had an occurence similar to Elvis. His early songs went big and he was called into the service. I really like the single "Exclusively Yours" and for some reason, hum it every now and then. He may have made a small mark in the music industry but it will be a permanent mark.

It was very nostalgic. It brought me back to the late fifties and early sixties when I loved to listen to rock and roll for the melodies and the memories. It made me feel great when I was dating and at parties. Now I love to listen to it when I'm joggin or just want to feel upbeat. The music is simple but fun and it makes you want to sing. It is a nice change from the bombastic music of rap, heavy metal and the messages from the "me" generation. Carl's voice is clear and reminiscent of Paul Anka in his prime. The lyrics are easy and the melodies stay with you. Try it.

Carl Edward Dobkins was born in Cincinnati on January 13, 1941 and had the "Jr." added to his name when he began singing professionally at age 16. In 1958, by which time he was proficient on both ukelele and guitar, as well as being a singer, he went under the tutelage of noted DJ Gil Sheppard who began promoting him as "the Teenage Rage" and got him his first recording contract with Fraternity.

His only cut there - Take Hold Of My Hand b/w That's Why I'm Asking [neither is in this collection] - failed to make any national charts, but he did well enough to garner attention from Decca where his initial recording - If You Don't Want My Lovin' b/w the driving Love Is Everything, with the backing of a vocal group called The Seniors and an instrumental group known as The Orbits [tracks 2 and 3] - was supervised by the legendary Owen Bradley. It did well on a regional basis.

Bradley was also front and center on the early 1959 release, My Heart Is An Open Book and its flipside, My Pledge To You [tracks 1 and 4], and when this too floundered on the national charts they began to have their doubts about this young Rockabilly-style singer. But the label brass, including Bradley, kept the faith and worked hard at promoting the disc, an effort that paid off in June when it suddenly streaked to # 3 on the Billboard Pop Hot 100 AND # 11 on the R&B charts.

Between that and his next charter late that fall [a re-release of If You Don't Want My Lovin' in an attempt to take advantage of the big hit], he was a busy lad, graduating from high school, making national TV appearances, which included American Bandstand, and even put in six months of army reserve training. Unfortunately, the re-release, although charting this time, pulled up short at # 67 Hot 100 in late October.

In late December/early January 1960 the rocking Lucky Devil got as high as # 25 Hot 100 b/w [There's A Little Song A-Singing] In My Heart [tracks 5 and 10], but after that it was tough going. In June Exclusively Yours reached # 62 Hot 100 b/w One Little Girl [tracks 18 and 24] - and that was it for hit singles. Again, tunes like Pretty Little Girl In The Yellow Dress [track 13], which was featured in the western film The Last Sunset, did well on a regional basis but could not get him back into the national spotlight.

However, he kept making personal appearances in package shows with some of the biggest names at the time, including three of the "Bobbies" - Freeman, Rydell, and Vee - as well as two of the "Frankies" - Avalon and Ford, along with Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon and swamp-rocker Jimmy Clanton. After leaving the music scene in the mid-1960s in the face of the British Invasion, he eventually returned and, at last report, is still active in oldies concerts.

There are only two Carl Dobkins, Jr. CDs currently available - both from Bear Family of Germany - but aside from the cover art both seem to be the same compilation. Either one is a good bet with excellent sound reproduction and informative liner notes.

Great CD! Glad we ordered from you. Continue with your excellent service.

Am very pleased to have done business with you.

Thanks!

this artist is a bit hard to find, so I was glad to find this CD, and it seems to have most of Carl's hits on it. they seem to be the original hit versions, too. recording quality is good, too.

Anybody who loves the rock and roll of the 50's etc will adore this great CD. Most of Carl's hits are included along with some of his rarities. A must for lovers of early R & R music.