If You Wanna Be Happy: The Best of the Norfolk Sound

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 28, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00001QGTF
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,059 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #42 in Music > World Music > Caribbean & Cuba > Calypso

Track Listings

1. If You Wanna Be Happy - Jimmy Soul

2. High School U.S.A. - Tommy Facenda

3. New Orleans - Gary U.S. Bonds

4. Hula Wobble Shake - Garland Owens

5. Twistin' Matilda (And the Channel) - Jimmy Soul

6. Why Should I Dance? - The Sheiks

7. A Night With Daddy "G." - The Church Street Five

8. Quarter to Three - Gary U.S. Bonds

9. Dancing Teardrops - Barbara Redd

10. Sing a Song Children - Daddy G & The Church Street Five

11. Go 'Way Christina - Jimmy Soul

12. Raining Teardrops - The Rockmasters

13. Big Toe in the Wind - Bill Deal & The Big Deals

14. Dear Lady Twist - Gary U.S. Bonds

15. Working for My Baby - Lenis Guess

16. Church Street in the Summertime - Jimmy Soul

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars best of norfolk sound, November 16, 2001

By 

Terry Riggs (chesapeake ,va) - See all my reviews

This review is from: If You Wanna Be Happy: The Best of the Norfolk Sound (Audio CD)

A very good look at soul/r&b/ from norf,va area 1960's. All tunes orgionate from one studio in norfolk area . Alot of good area bands made it big in those days, but few laid down tracks in norfolk,va. A great piece of history. Gary US Bonds, Lennis Guess, and Bill Deal and the "big Deals" (aka Rhondels).

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Early 'Sixties teenybop party pop, January 14, 2003

By 

DJ Joe Sixpack (...in Middle America) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: If You Wanna Be Happy: The Best of the Norfolk Sound (Audio CD)

In the early Kennedy era, when rock had retreated into bland, safe Pat Boone teensploitation, some folks in the South sent out another salvo of exuberant party pop -- Gary U. S. Bonds and the irrepressible, joyously bouncy "New Orleans", on the teeny Legrand label. Other hits followed, many following the same formula -- a party ambience, with a slightly overmodulated, mildly loud sound mix, and *lots* of pep. Gathered on this delightful little disc are several hits by Bonds and his label cohorts, including Jimmy Soul's brash calypsonian novelty number, "If You Wanna Be Happy". Fun stuff -- and definitely recommended!