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5.0 out of 5 stars
The Godfather of British 'pop'...., January 6, 2004
This review is from: Putting on the Style: The Greatest Hits (Audio CD)
It would be hard to overestimate Lonnie Donegan's contribution to rock history - he was possessed of a hypnotic appeal which, allied to his dynamic and intense delivery, brought audiences to their feet and put a long succession of records in the charts.
From his first band onwards, he surrounded himself with the best players available (check out Denny Wright's guitar on 'Don't You Rock Me, Daddy-0' and 'Cumberland Gap', as well as the tightness of his rhythm section), and produced a body of work that rivalled anything coming from America at that time. Needless to say, he was head and shoulders above Britain's then-current crop of copy-cat rock'n'rollers!
This collection is a fitting tribute to a man who is probably still influencing - albeit indirectly - music today. It shows the range of his material as he re-invented himself again and again. While it's true to say that his strongest cuts are from the first three years of his recording career, he went on to prove himself a deft and gifted comedian - he'd have thrived just as surely if he'd been born in the Music Hall/Vaudeville era.
Most of his 'A' sides are here - listen, and try to imagine the effct this music had on a population who had been subjected to benign trivialities like 'How Much is That Doggie in the Window' (and worse!)
The accompanying booklet is well-written, and the cover picture is perfect! It shows Donegan as we'll always remember him - with evening dress and a Martin 000-28 guitar, when all his 'rivals' languished in shabby jeans and played makeshift instruments. Truly, he was the king of skiffle, and of much more besides.
It is difficult to imagine today's musical landscape might have been had he not lived....
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