Customer Reviews

Very Best Of Bobby Vee

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The Very Best Of Bobby Vee (an import album) is not to be confused with the thirty track CD by Collectibles of the same name. This album is quite strong but you get only twenty tracks instead of thirty. Yes, you get great liner notes; but it's the music we're after so you may want to check out the thirty track CD from Collectibles instead.

The album opens with "Rubber Ball;" this early hit of Bobby's seems to be on almost all his CDs! It's a strong number with lots of zest about young love. "Take Good Care Of My Baby" is another tune I really like. Bobby sings this sweetly; and the lush musical arrangement is surprisingly strong for a teen idol pop song. The strings really make it while Bobby never misses a note.

Moreover, listen for "Run To Him," a romantic ballad if there ever was once, and "That'll Be The Day" features Bobby doing a great cover of this song. The electric guitar solo is awesome!

"Peggy Sue" showcases Bobby doing a great job on this excellent number that doesn't always get enough airplay the way it should on the oldies radio station. Bobby sings "Peggy Sue" with heart and soul and this impresses me.

"Heartbeat" is another tune that doesn't always get enough airplay even though it's really very beautiful. The strings work wonders and Bobby's voice sounds strong and somewhat more mature than on other tracks.

The album ends strong with the incredible special "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes." "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" features Bobby singing about a woman he loves although he's beginning to doubt that she's true to him. The arrangement rocks and it closes the album on the perfect note (no pun intended)!

Yes, you DO get a nice booklet of liner notes and photographs. The CD has numbers that aren't found on other albums (including "Peggy Sue" and "Bobby Tomorrow"); but if it's value you want I still recommend the thirty track CD from Collectibles. This remains a solid album, however, and of course I still recommend it for Bobby's fans.

Please note that there are at least two compilations with the same title (Very best of Bobby Vee). One of them has 20 tracks while another has 27 tracks. As Amazon post the same reviews on all of them, I've tried to adapt my review to reflect that.

Bobby Vee's first big break when his group (the Shadows - no connection with the similarly named British instrumental group) that had to deputize for Buddy Holly at a gig in Iowa soon after that singer was killed in a plane crash. As a result of that performance, Bobby was offered a recording contract. He failed to make an impact with his first three singles (Suzie baby, a cover of What do you want (Adam Faith) and One last kiss) but made the American charts with a cover of Devil or angel (Clovers). Bobby then had an international hit with Rubber ball. Bobby's version of Rubber ball had to compete in the UK charts with a cover by Britain's Marty Wilde, but both versions made the UK top ten.

Following the success of Rubber ball, Bobby was a regular on the charts for the next two and a half years but faded quickly as Beatle mania took over. In that period, Bobby had major international hits with Take good care of my baby (a number one American hit), The night has a thousand eyes (arguably the most popular of his songs now), Run to him, Sharing you, How many tears and More than I can say, all of which made the UK top ten. More than I can say became a UK hit again in the seventies when Leo Sayer covered it. Bobby's other hits include Devil or angel, Forever kind of love, Bobby tomorrow and Please don't ask about Barbara. All these hits and others can be found here.

After the hits dried up, Bobby paid tribute to Buddy Holly by recording several of Buddy's songs, some of which can be found here. Exactly which tracks you get will depend on which compilation you buy. You may also get covers of some other famous sixties songs.

Bobby made one more return to the charts in 1967 with Come back when you grow up, an American top ten hit that sold a million. It failed to chart in Britain but you'll find it on the 27-track compilation.

This compilation contains all the essential tracks from Bobby's early years. It omits some or all (deprending on which complation you buy) of those early failed singles and some American hits that didn't chart in Britain, but the cover versions are likely to appeal more to British buyers.

As a sample of Bobby's music this is ideal, at least from a British perspective, although you might consider buying the budget-priced triple CD, Singles collection, instead.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This review is provided for the CD with a purple background. For some reason, Amazon also displays it for another CD with a white background that has the same title. I unsuccessfully tried to provide a different review for that CD.

Good points: There are 20 tunes on the CD including seven that charted in Billboard's top 20 hits. Six good covers of Buddy Holly are included, and Bobby Vee was known for this association.

Bad points: Important hits are missing: "Devil or Angel" (peaked at #6 on Billboard), "Come Back When You Grow Up" (peaked at #3), and "Charms" (peaked at #13). Out of the 20 songs on the CD, there are only ten that charted out of a total of 38 songs by Bobby Vee that charted on Billboard's Top Pop Singles.

For someone who wants "the very best of" hits, this is not the CD for you. However, if you are into the Buddy Holly/Bobby Vee association, it may be a good buy.