Customer Reviews

Teenage Crush, Vol. 3

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here we find the third installment in England's Ace Records' "Teenage Crush" series of compilations of pre-British invasion American r'n'r. As the title infers, the songs fall into the "clean-cut" category so there is none of the grittier r'n'b stuff here. Ace continues to outdo itself with its work with this material.

While similar to its "Golden Age of American Rock and Roll" series, there are more higher-charting singles here and therefore more familiar material to the casual listener such as Terry Stafford's "Suspicion", Dee Clark's "Raindrops" and Ray Peterson's "Corrina, Corrina". Beyond the many familiar tunes, there is still a wealth of seldom-found songs here that either only made it into the lower reaches of the pop charts or those that, while very popular in their day, are seldom, if ever, found on CD. Among the great rarities here are Johnny Ferguson's "Angela Jones", Randy Starr's "After School", Gino and Gina's "Pretty Baby" and the Fireflies' "I Can't Say Goodbye" and Glen Campbell's "Turn Around, Look At Me".

As Ace has set the standard, most of these tracks appear in their best-sounding version to be found. Tracks 3,5,8,10,12,13,21,22 and 25 appear in stereo. Two tracks, "Midnight Mary" and "Turn Around..." - in an unusually forthright and refreshing admission for CD producers - are noted as not having been transferred from tape but still sound clean and full. Great liner notes with numerous pics in a 20-page booklet are included as well.

This is a superb effort new offering from the masters of cd reissues at Ace. For this genre, you'd be hard pressed to get a better collection than this.

As someone who has been a collector for nearly 40 years, it is a rare day when I find a oldies compilation containing 9 songs I do not already own. Yet this is the case with "Teenage Crush Volume 3" This marvelous collection contains a whole bunch of tunes you just won't find anywhere else. In fact, there are about a half dozen songs in this collection that were Billboard chart hits that I had never even heard before!! For me, the biggest coup was Glen Campbells original recording of "Turn Around, Look At Me." This 1962 hit is extremely rare. I have only heard the song once and have never ever seen the 45!!! I was also extremely pleased to find James Gilreath's "Little Band of Gold" from 1963 and Ken Copeland's "Pledge of Love" from way back when in 1957. I had never heard either one of these tunes and both were big hits. In all, there are a generous 28 tracks in this collection. Other hard to find songs include Gino and Ginas "Pretty Baby" and Rod Laurens "If I Had A Girl." from 1959. Lauren was being groomed by RCA to be yet another teen idol but that simply never happened. You will also find some of the more familiar songs you remember from the period including Jerry Kellers classic "Here Comes Summer" and Dee Clarks memorable hit "Raindrops". Also included are some terrific group sounds like Ronnie and the Hi-Lites "I Wish That We Were Married" and "Over The Rainbow" by the Demensions. There is also a colorful 20 page booklet that includes information on each song and artist as well as some great promo material from the record companies. Wait until you see Glen Campbell. You would never know him!!! This is another great value from Ace Records. Jump on this one!!!!

I am a enthousiastic collector, and have almost all the Time Life rock n roll stuff, as well as Eric Records cds of this era. Although they are essential to any 50s 60s collection, nothing can top ACE series.
I could comment like this on all the 50s remasters of this fabulous record label, not only these issues, but especially the Golden Age of American Rock n roll. I can not add anything to the positive reviews than simply summing up my personal view:
28 tracks per cd, and sometimes 30! (Time life is also excellent, but you get 15 per cd!)
excellent booklets with background info (not surpassed by any label).
not the same old songs over again, but many rare and still excellent tracks!
last but not least amazing sound quality.
So although you might have some songs there on other collections, it is for above mentioned points alone worth it to always have an ACE copy as well.

It's unbelievable how these old recordings can be remastered
so well. I collect records since I was a kid in the late 50's
and early 60's and for the first time, thanks to ACE records,
45 years later I can hear all the instruments used on a "top
hit" like Dee Clark's "Raindrops". I own this single since
it was released(1961)in monoraul but after hearing it on this Teenage Crush compilation I've heard five different musical
instruments I didn't even know they were there. This happens
with most of the songs some of which can be considered as
real treasures. Another surprise to listen to was this guy
Ral Donner. I almost fainted cause I thought Elvis had come
back. I own most of all edited Elvis Presley music and never
thought there was such an incredible impersonator who just
sounds like him. I just ordered this guy's CD at Amazon as
well as the rest of the Teenage Crush compilation. Not only
does it bring back memories but sounding as if it were recorded
yesterday with all the modern today's equipments. Once again
thanks to ACE records. It really deserves 6 stars!

The folks at ACE always present the best CD's. The sound quality on this particular issue is supurb. When you hear "Turn ARound, Look At Me" by Glen Campbell, it's first class. Every cut on this package is excellent. They actually sound better than they did the first time I heard them. Thanks to Trevor Churchill, John Broven and Rob Finnis for making this CD available.

Volume 3 of The Teenage Crush CD series has lots of great music that will bring back memories; these tunes made a lot of people happy when they were originally released back in the day! The quality of the sound on this CD is excellent; and I really like that artwork, too.

Terry Stafford begins the track list with a huge hit for him entitled "Suspicion." I always enjoy hearing Terry sing "Suspicion;" his excellent voice is both strong and sensitive and the musical arrangement perfectly complements Terry's vocals. The percussion and guitar work enhance the music and those female backup singers really harmonize quite well. In addition, "Talk To Me" by Little Willie John features Little Willie squarely front and center in the spotlight--right where he always belonged and still belongs! Little Willie's voice is quite distinctive and I really like "Talk To Me." Kenny Chandler's "Heart" is another solid tune; the guitar work is wonderful and Kenny sings this with a lot of feeling.

Johnny Crawford is one of my favorite young male crooners of this era; and his delivery of "Rumors" will tell you why I like his artistry so much. The melody is very pretty, too. Ral Donner also does great justice to "Girl Of My Best Friend;" this Elvis sound-alike is underrated. Ral does this with panache and I'm very impressed. In addition, Ray Peterson's "Corrina, Corrina" shines bright in Ray's capable hands; and that's grand.

Dee Clark scored a big hit with "Raindrops;" Raindrops" is very easy on the ear and Dee sings this with all his heart and soul--I love it! The music also makes great use of the percussion. "Little Band Of Gold" gets the royal treatment from James Gilreath; and how's about that brass? "Little Band Of Gold" is one terrific song!

Ken Copeland's "Pledge Of Love" charms me with its natural beauty; and if you like this type of music you're sure to enjoy "Pledge Of Love." What a romantic number! Ken delivers this very well; and there's yet another gem in "Turn Around, Look At Me" by the highly talented Glen Campbell. Glen turns out this tune with all the grace of the masterful singer he was and still remains! The strings sound heavenly and "Turn Around, Look At Me" is clearly a major highlight of this album.

Rod Lauren does a great job on "If I Had A Girl;" and "Count Every Star" by Donnie & The Dreamers is a wonderful ballad. The Demensions perform a sublime cover of Judy Garland's signature song "Over The Rainbow;" I'm sure this made Judy proud! The Demensions are truly at the top of their game on this number. The album ends very nicely with "I Can't Say Goodbye" by The Fireflies. They sure don't let you down!

Overall, Teenage Crush, Volume 3 boasts a wonderful twenty-eight tracks that showcase just a few of the marvelous talents of yesteryear. I highly recommend this CD for fans of this genre of music.

Excellent transaction which was completed very quickly. The CD was great as I hoped and the dealer did a great job!.

Chris

Nearly every track on this CD was a hit and most of them are not available readily. Highly recommended!

Just another good mixture of oldies from ACE. I bought this mainly for Primrose Lane by Jerry Wallace, but don't think it sounds like the original I remember. So this one disappointed me a little, but it's still close enough to the original to be enjoyable. Also, I haven't yet seen that song on any other oldies CD collection. Also, the sound quality on this one is excellent, and typical of all ACE CD's.

I got this for Girl of My Best Friend, but there wasn't much else that I liked that I didn't already have.