Customer Reviews

Last Kiss Sessions

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

For those of us who still get chills when we hear the original "Last Kiss" this CD is a must have. Sounds as if they were playing in the gym at the prom 35 years ago. Brings a great group back to us for another enjoyable evening. Buy it and play it.

Warning #1: Be aware that the sound quality of Last Kiss on this CD is the worst I've ever heard on any song put on CD. Someone added a horrible reverberation effect in a completely failed attempt to produce simulated stereo. As a long time collector of oldies, I've heard a lot of simulated stereo affects. Some good, some bad. This is the worst simulated stereo I've ever heard. Straight mono would have been better. Try to imagine recording a band in a large parking garage with a $20 dollar cassette tape recorder and you get a picture of what this song sounds like. I have a 45 re-issue of this song I purchased in the early eighties. It sounds much better than this.

Warning # 2. Last Kiss on this CD is an alternate take. It is very close to the original 45 and was apparently recorded during the same sessions as the released version. None the less it is slightly different. "Collectibles" put out this CD. They've put out some other good stuff. This is not one of them. This song was never released in stereo. The CD pamphlet makes it clear why. Last Kiss was recorded in a small upstart recording studio in San Angelo, Texas. Not exactly RCA or Mercury.

Do you want a much better copy of Last Kiss? Currently there is a CD called "Love Songs From The Age Of Innocence" produced by Sony Music Entertainment. It contains the original released version of Last Kiss and the sound quality is the best I've heard so far. It too is in simulated stereo, but here the affect is very pleasing.

This disc has good songs, Last Kiss is my favorite. but as most of the people whoalso reviewed this said, the sound quality is poor. whoever was operating the recording equipment sure had no idea what they were doing!

J. Frank Wilson Was Born In Lufkin, Texas (1941)
He Began his achieved Success while still a Senior In Highschool
" Last Kiss " Still too this day remains a timeless classic and J. Frank Wilson's only ranking smash hit. I recall this song from my child-hood and the song has still carried with me for nearly 20 years. It's only a shame this man's success hadn't blossomed to it's full potentiality, but nonetheless a great artist attributed for a great song " Last Kiss ". J. Frank Wilson had passed away in 1991 from Alcoholic abuse, May He Rest In Peace.. His music will continue on, and I hope " Last Kiss " will still be played for many, many years to come...

"Last Kiss" is a great song and a classic. One reviewer here said that it is a bad song and they do not know why anyone would want to remake it. My response to that is that even if they themself dislike the song, the song was liked by very, very many -- it was a huge hit in the fall of 1964 when it was originally released -- #2 on the pop charts -- and by the end of 1964 was #9 on the Top 100 Hits of 1964 Billboard list -- now that is NOT a bad song!!

When I was about 4 my parents got a divorce, and my mom, sister, and I moved to Ohio while my dad was still in Kentucky. After we moved I only got to see my dad every other weekend. Every night Dad and I would sing this song together before we went to bed, it instantly became my favorite. Years ago he moved to our home town in Kansas, I only see him in the summer and every other Christmas. Every time I hear "Last Kiss" by Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers I think of the times when Dad and I would sing it together.

Mostly I want to comment on all the negative comments surrounding Pearl Jam's remake of "The Last Kiss." What good is a remake if it doesn't make some substantive change from the original, e.g. Bonnie Raitt's version of "Runaway" versus Del Shannon's. Frankie & the Cavaliers definitely capture the time & style of the pre-Vietnam U.S.A., much the same way Eddie Vedder & Pearl Jam capture the style & angst of an entirely different generation. What version I would play would depend on what kind of mood I was in. BOTH ARE GREAT!

As a weekend warrior (musician) turn DJ. I believe there is nothing like the original new or old! I do give credit to new and up-coming stars to point there talent where our music roots began. Showing tribute to our past shows respect and playing from the heart shows talent. I believe pearl jam shows the respect and there God given talent with this remake.

Maybe the other songs aren't that good, the last kiss makes up for it. When I first heard the Pearl Jam version I fell in love with that song. It is so amazing, it really pulls at your heart. I can't wait until Pearl Jam's single comes out, I'll be first in line to buy it.

I still prefer J. Frank Wilson & Cavaliers' original. Although most people my age remember the 45 being released on the JOSIE label, the best version is on the green TAMARA label. It was recorded with tons of reverb which is great for a song of this genre.

You may also want to check out the 1973 version by Wednesday that charted.