Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definitive collection of an overlooked rock and roll pioneer, April 5, 2003
Gene is a very much underrated and overlooked rock and roll pioneer who died in 1971 at the age of 36 from a ruptured stomach ulcer, had the Blue Caps as his backup band (one of the greatest backup bands in rock and roll history), is one of rock and roll's first rebels who is remembered most for his top 10 charting crossover hit "Be-Bop-a-Lula" (#5 country, #7 pop and #8 R&B in 1956) which got Gene mistaken for Elvis Presley, this collection which was released in 1990 as part of the Capitol Collectors Series, will let you know throughout the music that he is one of the most overlooked and underrated rock and roll pioneers ever. Along with his signature song, which opens this CD, it does feature his other hits including "Bluejean Bop" (#34 pop in 1956), "Dance To The Bop" (#23 pop in 1958), "Lotta Lovin'" (#13 pop and #7 R&B in 1957), "Wear My Ring" (#98 pop in 1957) and "Race With The Devil" (#96 pop in 1956) along with many of his non-charting singles and key album tracks which are as great as the hits, and a backing track of "Rocky Road Blues" (the finished master recording of this track is also included). Unless you are a true diehard Gene Vincent fan, this is all you really need of his music. Although there are reissues of many of his Capitol albums and compilations of his Challenge recordings available for those who wish to go further, this should definitely suffice for most as it contains all the essentials on 1 disc.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Let's rock again!, October 13, 2004
After RCA had such huge success with Elvis Presley, every other record company set out to sign their own white rock and roller. Gene Vincent was Capitol's version of "Elvis". Having said that, he was still very talented in his own right. This CD features 20(+1) of his best recordings from 1956 to 1958. It was supposed to be followed up by Capital Collectors Series Vol 2, featuring his recordings from 1959 to 1962, but that CD never came out. Anyway, all of his best known recordings are on this CD. If you are looking for a Gene Vincent CD, this would be a good one to get.
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6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rock and Roll at its best!!, July 23, 2004
1950s Rock and Roll for me was defined by the likes of Buddy Holly,Jerry Lee Lewis,Carl Perkins,Little Richard,Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent.Originals all and none more so than Gene.Presley got an unjust and overt amount of attention(not too hard with a shameless and non stop promoter like the Colonel).To me his continued and over blown "image" is perplexing and unfortunately overshadows the accomplishments of many who were at least his equal as a singer/musician and/or better.
Gene did it "his way" in real life and he rocked like no other."Be-bop a-lula" seems to be the only song most people can recall about him which is SO unfair to Gene and to his musical legacy.
Each song on this fine Capitol disc are excellent representations of Gene at his best.Everything from cool ballads(he had a wonderfully melodic tone)such as "Wear my Ring" ,frentically paced numbers like "B-I-Bickey Bi..",or just plain gritty RnR songs like "Dance to the Bop".
Gene,despite his leg,could move quite well on stage and was really what COOL was all about.He had a slightly rough look but was nevertheless good looking and his voiced matched the persona he projected.He was backed by top flight musicians and combined they could put over a song like no other,even in Vegas where they dazzled audiences with their raucous display and music.
I give this collection only 4 stars because it was supposed to be followed by a volume 2,which obviously never materialized.Gene Vincent in the very LEAST deserves that much.Ideally he deserves a release of his entire catalogue.His later material for the label doesn't quite come up to the standards he set with his earlier material but he did the best he could with what he was given.
This collection is for anyone the least bit interested in what Rock and Roll was,should be and is.
Gene Vincent was without question one of Rock and Rolls greats.No question.
Get this CD and find out why.
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by Gene Vincent 
