Customer Reviews

Hey, Let's Twist!/The Best Of...

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

 

 

I have this CD and love it. I personally saw The Starliters live at The Peppermint Lounge in New York City when I was a teenager of 18, back in the 60s. They simply blew my socks off, especially the organist. They have something very special that will never die! Maybe that's why, at every wedding or party I've gone to, they always play "SHOUT". It's the one song that gets everybody out of their seats and onto the dance floor, both young & old. The sound quality is excellent too. I strongly recommend adding this CD to your collection.

The only thing wrong with this fantastic album is that it doesn't include all the tracks that were on the original "Live at the Peppermint Lounge" album--which I would love to see re-released. But it includes several of them, and they are definitive early-rock live tracks. You can practically feel the heat and the crowds as these guys get into grooves that are just brilliant. The organist, in the days before those tinny electronic organs, can suddenly swoop in and move everything to a whole new level of intensity--especially on the "Hot Pastrami" jam. And the drummer's left hand must have been a blur all night long--beautiful high-speed shuffle work that just doesn't quit. I used to sit in my room in the midwest when I was about 12 and listen to this album and dream of having a club like this with music like this in my town. Unfortunately, there never was another one like this.

One thing I noticed straight off. If you search under artists name this particular volume will not pop up. Amazon may wish to correct that.

In the meantime, how many are aware that actor Joe Pesci once played guitar with this band in 1961 while at the Peppermint Lounge in New York City? OR, that Jimi Hendrix also worked briefly with the group while they performed at Joseph DiNicola's [Joey Dee] Starliter Club in 1966? OR, that later members Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish, and Eddie Brigati went on to form the Young Rascals/Rascals in the late 1960's? You can't get much more influential than that! Are you listening R&R Hall of Fame Foundation?

As for this album, it's a dream for completist collectors in that, unlike many claiming to offer the "best of", this one delivers, including five pages of informative liner notes by Steve Kolanjian, David Brigati and Kate Blacklock, and several nice shots of Joey and the group in action. There is also a complete discography of their work.

In 1962 and 1963 Joey, organist Carlton Latimor, drummer Willie Davis, and vocalists/dancers Larry Vernieri and David Brigati, put nine songs into the Billboard Pop Hot 100, and ALL are here, along with three of the uncharted B-sides.

Their first was also their best as Peppermint Twist - Part 1 [inspired by the famous Peppermint Lounge] rose to # 1 Hot 100 and # 8 R&B early in 1962 for the Roulette label (Part 2 was the B-side). Keeping with the prevalent twist theme, Hey, Let's Twist peaked at # 20 Hot 100 in March while the flipside, Roly Poly, made it to # 74 on its own.

Their second-best followed in May when Shout - Part 1 went to # 6 [Part 2 - the B-side - is omitted], and in September the Johnny Nash-penned What Kind Of Love Is This? from the film Two Tickets To Paris hit # 18 Hot 100 [its flipside, Wing-Ding, is also omitted]. 1962 then ended with I Lost My Baby, billed only to Joey Dee, reaching # 61 Hot 100 b/w Keep Your Mind On What You're Doing.

Joey was also the only credited artist on Baby, You're Driving Me Crazy which only made it to # 100 in February b/w Help Me Pick Up The Pieces. The entire group's name then appeared on their last Top 40 in May when Hot Pastrami With Mashed Potatoes -Part 1 reached # 36, while Joey again appeared as the only name on Dance, Dance, Dance, a # 89 in August 1963 b/w Let's Have A Party [not here].

Those who lament the omission of some album cuts should have heeded the title, for this is indeed, in every way, shape and form, "the best" of Joey Dee & The Starliters.

THIS ALBUM WAS A HIT I'M SURE, FOR I WAS NOT BORN DURING THE TIME IT HIT THE AIR WAVES. I AM A FAN 1ST DUE TO MY FATHER BEING ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE BAND (CARLTON LATTIMORE, ORGANIST) AND 2ND DUE TO THE BANDS DIVERSE CULTURAL BACKGROUND AND THEIR ABILITY TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE AN ALBUM SO POPULAR THAT IT MAKES YOU DANCE EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THEIR MUSIC. MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SONG IS "THE PEPPERMINT TWIST" BUY THIS RECORD EVEN IF YOU WEREN'T LIVING IN THE 60'S.

Man, talk about reliving the 1960's. This group put the Twist on the map (along with Chubby Checker) Great doo-wop and twist dance tunes. Party on big time with this one.

Since I grew up in the 50-60's I am very pleased with this music
but I always thought that Joey Dee was an exceptional artist. He used
instrumentation that was used before its time; this cd with 90hits
is just great in my opinion. I highly recommend this cd. Randy Y.

Well, I grew up on the Original Soundtrack to HEY LET'S TWIST, and it included the best of these AND some dynamite blues and jazz cuts that have been deleted for this release. I suppose this is a great CD for hardcore Joey fans, but it was the film and the texture of that period that I cherish, so I came away highly disappointed, thinking that I was getting the original soundtrack released on Roulette way back when.

Outstanding music! Joey Dee is the best as a singer and a person