Lost Gems of 50's

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: September 14, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Madacy Records
• ASIN: B00000K55S
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,104 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I've Had It

2. Guess Things Happen That Way

3. Gingerbread

4. The Angels Listened In

5. Problems

6. The Ballad of Davy Crockett

7. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

8. Little Bitty Pretty One

9. Mona Lisa

10. Pretty Girls Everywhere

11. Linda Lu

12. Come on, Let's Go

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars One Of Several Themes Used By Madacy For This Series, September 4, 2007

By 

AvidOldiesCollector (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lost Gems of 50's (Audio CD)

Back when I began seriously collecting Oldies hits I became leery of anything to emanate from Madacy and St. Clair after being burned with some dreadful re-makes being passed off as "greatest hits" etc. But I have to say, this 1999 Madacy series under the generic heading "A Lifetime Of Music for the 21st Century" was - and remains - a hidden gem as they offer 12 songs each in a collection of CDs with secondary themes like this one [others include Boys Of Rock 50's, Love In The 50's, Ladies Of The 60's, Love In The 60's and Rockin' 60's]. All show "Vol. 1" so there may well have been more, but finding them listed as a group has so far proven fruitless.

Each CD covering the decade in question carries the same liner notes written by Dave Roy, but each offer different cover art by New York Times/Wall Street Journal illustrator Brad Hamann, who also has done work for Honda, The Outback restaurant chain, the National Hockey League, and Sports Illustrated For Kids.

The artists - not shown in the listing above - are: I've Had It - The Bell Notes; Guess Things Happen That way - Johnny Cash & The Tennesse Two; Ginger Bread - Frankie Avalon; The Angels Listened In - The Crests; Problems - The Everly Brothers; The Ballad Of Davey Crockett - Bill Hayes; Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On - Jerry Lee Lewis & His Pumping Piano; Little Bitty Pretty One - Bobby Day; Mona Lisa - Carl Mann; Pretty Girls Everywhere - Eugene Church & The Fellows; Linda Lu - ray Sharpe; Come On Let's Go - Ritchie Valens.

All the hits are original renditions, and at times offer some selections that are not that easy to find. In this particular volume there are no less than five that fit that category: I've Had It by The Bell Notes (6 Billboard Pop Hot 100/# 19 R&B in spring 1959); The Ballad Of Davey Crockett by Bill Hayes which, with the backing of Archie Bleyer's orchestra, went to # 1 Billboard Pop Top 100 in 1955, and stayed there for 5 weeks; Carl Mann's Rockabilly rendition of the Nat "King" Cole classic Mona Losa, which checked in at # 25 Hot 100 in summer 1959; Pretty Girls Everywhere by Eugene Church and The Fellow (# 6 R&B/# 36 Hot 100 in late 1958/early 1959); and Ray Sharpe's Linda Lu which, featuring Duane Eddy and Al Casey on guitar, made it to # 11 R&B/# 46 Hot 100 in late summer 1959.

The reverse of each package shows the list of songs and their chart performance in the year in question. The sound quality is excellent.