Customer Reviews

Very Best of - Original Legrand Masters

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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!"

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!

Gary Bonds is from my home town and I remember when he hit the radio with Quarter To Three. Back then I wondered why the quality (I was about 10) was so "grainy". Not until I read the jacket that comes with this CD did I lean that sound was produced to be unique. All Gary's songs are upbeat and lively and fun to listen to. They have a good beat, good words and I give them a 10 for being what they are. Seven Day Weekend, Twist Twist Senora, New Orleans, and Dear Lady Twist take me back to those days listening on the local AM station on a transistor radio. They are great to hear again. If you are a collector, this one should be on your shelf.

Gary "US" Bonds got a second life thanks to Bruce Springsteen. At the start of his career Springsteen revived Quarter to Three as his show stopper. Because of the more serious nature of Springsteen's own work Quarter was often one of the most delightful and exiting moments in his show. During the eighties Springsteen returned the favor by donating some songs to the Little Steven van Zandt produced comeback albums, Dedication and On the Line. This comeback spawned a series of compilations of Gary's earlier singles of which this one is the most accomplished.

Bonds is an artist who makes you wonder if a full disc of material is justified. During his career he only hit a handful of times, seldom major. Follow up singles were often in the same vein as the hit and therefore often uninteresting. Yet compiled on one disc Gary hold up just fine. There is of course a lot of filler here. Gary did too many dance craze singles that are just not to convincing these days. Fun as they are they didn't really stand up to the test of time.

The singles that do stand up save this compilation with a vengeance. Of course his biggest hits are here, such as Quarter to Three and New Orleans but some other notable material as well. I Wanta Holler (But the Town's Too Small) is one of the most exiting R&R singles written, Where Did the Naughty Little Girl Go is no small feat either. Gary's voice is one of R&B's most distinct. It is raw, emotional, passionate and filled with excitement. If his career would've been better managed Gary could have been among the top. As it is now we get an overview of a promise lost.

I was 12 when I first heard `New Orleans' and it knocked me out. I also like `Not Me' but when `Quarter to Three' came out I was truly hooked. `School is Out' and `Seven Day Weekend' are my favourites although I like them all. This is truly uplifting music in that it portrays a level of `party excitement' that is rarely achieved in real life. The reviewer who talks of `crappy' sound misses the point - it was meant to be crappy. That is what gives the music its excitement. Clean up the sound and the atmosphere is gone. It is the difference between Little Richard and Pat Boone. The sound is brilliant and has never been replicated since although Phil Spector tried his best. I suppose that is why listeners will either love or hate it. I love it and am resigned to the fact that this level of excitement will not occur anymore as sounds become crisp and `clean. A fantastic CD.

It is hard not to move to the music of Gary "U.S." Bonds. This is a great album of really great music. Bonds has one of the best voices for rock music. Having seen him in concert many years ago just reinforced the dynamic sound this man has. Listen to the beginnings of his songs. They are electric. All the greats are on this album. 'School Is Out' just plain moves.
There is not a bad song on this album.

All the songs popular in the 1960s are here, this is "The original Legrand Masters".
From 1960 to 1962 Gary U.S. Bonds had 8 songs on the charts.
Five made it into the top ten, and two were top forty hits.
Those 8 are here, 2 b-sides plus 6 album cuts, make up this 16 track greatest hits c.d.

Here's 8 you may remember, and the 2 b-sides:
1. "New Orleans" 1960.
2. "Quarter to three" 1961.
3. "School is out" 1961.
4. "School is in" 1961.
5. "Dear lady twist" b/w "Havin' so much fun" 1961.
6. "Twist, twist Senora" 1962.
7. "Seven day weekend" b/w "Gettin' a groove" 1962.
8. "Copy cat" 1962.

Bond had 3 more songs chart later in 1981 & 1982 on EMI America, they're not here.
Bond's music is filled with back ground sounds of voices and laughter,
so you feel like there is a great party going on that you don't want to miss.

This is a good collection of the the original recordings of the 1960 hits,
and is a nicely presented c.d.
Included is a six page booklet highlighting his career.
The track listing also includes the chart number.
This 1998 c.d. from Varese Sarabande, has excellent sound quality.

I have recently purchased this CD and I am in love with it. Growing up with Gary US Bonds on the radio I've always been a fan. For many many years i've been searching around for those old 45s and LPs, but no need now, this compilation has 'em all.
Some people do'nt like the muffled sound, but i think its truly unique and wonderful. Gary needs alot more recognition and the new generation needs to be told about Gary. Like Gene McDaniels, Brook Benton, Marv Johnson etc. Gary US Bonds remains one of the most greatest artists to record in the early sixties.
Its worth every last penny - so buy it!

The most striking quality of this comprehensive collection of hit A-sides is the incredible atmosphere generated by Gary US Bonds' powerful vocals and the blasting sounds of the Church Street Five, the crack Legrand house band featuring Gene "Daddy G" Barge (Earl Swanson on the earlier cuts), who accompany him throughout, captured live in the studio.

Producer Frank Guida had a jazz and R&B record store called Frankie's Birdland in Church Street, Norfolk VA, and opened a studio up the road at the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Colonial Drive, where all the Gary US Bonds' records were made. "It was my deliberate intent to do Quarter To Three as if you were going by Daddy Grace's House of Prayer Church at Princess Anne Road and Church Street and hearing all the excitement," Guida is quoted as saying in the liner notes, and of course he was rewarded with a number one hit for his troubles behind the desk.

New Orleans marked the start of it all in 1960, reaching number 6, using ahead of its time production techniques - double-tracked vocals, rhythmic suspension, overmodulated sound - a year before Phil Spector formed Philles Records. Jack Good and George Martin were among early admirers of Guida's sound.

School Is Out and other top ten records captured the same frenetic spontaneity and are all included here, along with two originally unreleased recordings (Shine On Lover's Moon and I Wanta Holler) and one B-side (Havin' So Much Fun), nine being stereo mixes.