Very Best of - Original Legrand Masters

Gary US Bonds | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 11, 1998)
• Original Release Date: August 11, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000009QKX
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,206 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. New Orleans

2. Not Me

3. Shine on Lover's Moon [#]

4. Quarter to Three

5. School Is Out

6. School Is In

7. Dear Lady Twist

8. Havin' So Much Fun

9. Twist, Twist Señora

10. Seven Day Weekend

11. Gettin' a Groove

12. Copycat

13. I Dig This Station

14. Where Did the Naughty Little Girl Go

15. I Wanta Holler (But the Town's Too Small) [#]

16. Take Me Back to New Orleans

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars additional note, December 20, 2001

By 

Joseph J. Pasko (Albany, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Very Best of - Original Legrand Masters (Audio CD)

Just want to add this to the review posted by "a music fan", who is asking who the sax player was on these classic US Bonds tracks. The sax player was Gene Barge, a/k/a "Daddy G". That's why Bonds shouts "Blow Daddy!" on so many of these recordings, and why the lyrics to "Quarter to Three" include the line "dance with Daddy G". Daddy G was the leader of the Chuch Street Five, the house band for Legrand Records, who backed up US Bonds, as well as Jimmy Soul (eg, "If You Wanna Be Happy"). They also recorded many hot instrumentals on their own, which bascially sound like US Bonds records with the vocals removed. Gene Barge went on to work for Chess Records in Chicago, and can be heard on many recordings, such as "Rescue Me" by Fontella Bass. There...now you know!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Sound. Were the songs were recorded in traffic?!, July 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Very Best of - Original Legrand Masters (Audio CD)

This album gets five stars for the great hits that seem to have been unjustly forgotten. That's too bad, these records have a very defined sound that sets it apart from any other recorded music. For my money, no two songs have more party power than "New Orleans" or "Quarter to Three." Though Gary put out some quite good stuff in the 80's, with help from Bruce Springsteen, this original stuff from the early 60's is even more unique. I don't know who played the sax on these tunes, but it is rock n roll hall of fame quality. Need to party? Put on Gary "U.S. Bonds!"

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A defining sound from the 60's, May 27, 2002

By 

Dr.D.Treharne (Exeter, Devon, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Very Best of - Original Legrand Masters (Audio CD)

Bought solely to replace a copy of LeGrand #202 " I dig this station" purchased on my first ever visit to the States, I was amazed and delighted to rediscover all those other hits that had slipped from my consciousness. Of course remastering has done nothing to the sound quality, all the early material was recorded on a monaural Ampex, with overdubs simply appearing on top of what had appeared on the last take. What still shines through is the sheer power and delight that each of the sessions must have had. It was, apparently, much aided by the intake of alcohol, Bonds admitting in an interview in the 80"s that they were "steaming...absolutely bombed" when they recorded the early stuff.As well as the wailing sax which marked out all the hits, it's also worth mentioning the double bass drum sound that underpinned it all, Emmett Shields did the drum duities on the early hits. These records were for dancing to, not anlysing, and although I like the very big hits, I like the lesser known stuff as well; "Seven day weekend" in particular.Thankfully "I dig this station" has also stood up well! This was revolutionary stuff when we first heard it in the UK (courtesy of a deal done with Top Rank records) and when he toured with Tony Orlando and Gene McDaniels, his primitive sound absolutely stole the show. Don't think about it - get those legs out there doing it. A fine, fine reissue!