Peter Rabbit

Dee Jay & The Runaways | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 23, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arf Arf
• ASIN: B000003604
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #548,984 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Bug Crawl

2. The Pickup

3. Boney Maroney

4. Jenny, Jenny

5. Peter Rabbit

6. Three Steps to Heaven

7. Are You Ready

8. The Gorilla Song

9. She's a Big Girl Now

10. He's Not Your Friend

11. Keep on Running

12. Don't You Ever

13. Doesn't Matter Anymore

14. My Gal

15. Small Town Girl

16. Sunshine Morning

17. And I Know

18. Take a Look at My Baby

19. Love Tender Love

20. While You Were Sleeping

See all 32 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars doesn't rock enough for me, June 16, 2011

By 

Jersey Kid (Katy, Texas, America!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Peter Rabbit (Audio CD)

Dee Jay and The Runaways came together in the early 60s as the merger of two older bands, the Chevelles and the VanDels; some material from the former group is included on this CD. Both outfits broke up in 1964 and a few of the guys got together and formed Dee Jay and The Runaways. The next year, the band recorded and released singles on an obscure local label and then - in a move that is surprising - went ahead and formed a recording company Iowa Great Lakes Recording or IGL. This was done so that they - and to provide support and revenue - other groups would have access to an in-state recording studio.

Success came to the band in terms of `Peter Rabbit,' a regional hit that actually made the Billboard top 40. The group toured off the hit; made an appearance on Where the Action Is and opened for groups such as BJ Thomas, The Young Rascals and the Knickerbockers. They were signed to a subsidiary of Mercury Records. But, success was fleeting as band. The three singles deal with Mercury collapsed after two 45s were issued with little or no support (Another case of - to paraphrase Graham Parker whose experiences with that label in the 70s count as a "second verse; same as the first - `Mercury Poisoning) There were also problems with the line-up as members came and went; the result of "the rest of their lives." Finally, the plug was pulled in 1968.

The CD contains the all recorded material done by the band, some 28 cuts. The liner notes say 17 were released commercially (which makes no sense if they were 45s with two songs each) and the remaining 11 were demos/outtakes. There are four more songs recorded by The Chevelles and - leaping to the other end of the band's life and afterlife - three songs cut by a couple of the members in 1981. The band is highly competent in performing the material, some original pieces; a number of covers ('Satisfaction' - "Jenny Jenny' - 'Little Latin Lupe Lu') and some lesser known songs written or performed by the likes of Roy Orbison, Dicky Lee. The notional tip-of-the-hat to Buddy Holly comes with `It Really Doesn't Matter Anymore;' though there is no mention in the notes as to whether they played the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. There are even some cuts - the three from 1981 in particular - that have a decidedly country/country-western feel to them. While the sound quality is a bit tinny on some cuts - not surprising given the time and the place - the overall production values are high. The balances are good, the vocals clear; there are even some pretty good backup singers.

Maybe it's a case I am feeling a little harsh as I write this review, but the band comes across as a little dull for my taste. The performances are by and large pretty safe; the sort of stuff your folks wouldn't mind if they heard it. Even the more raucous songs are delivered in a rather flat manner. The band's version of 'Louie, Louie' falls into that category, though I'll admit that after having heard versions of this classic from folks as varied as Iggy Pop and The Kinks, I don't think anyone can do the piece better than The Kingsmen. As for their big hit 'Peter Rabbit;' it's a gimmick song, isn't it?

I am glad to hear some of the original members are still performing.