Neil Diamond - Velvet Gloves And Spit (Rev-Ola; CR REV 238)
Neil Diamond has always been an interesting character. Too tough to be a pop guy, too pop to be a tough guy, he falls somewhere in between. His love songs have an edge. His edged songs are tempered by romance. This delicate balance is all over his brilliant 1968 LP, Velvet Gloves And Spit… READ MORE
The Slammers Maximum Jive Band - Jive Time! (El Toro; ETCD 2036)
Lovers of old fashioned, swingin’ rhythm and blues, never fear — The Slammers are here! From across the pond comes one of the finest jive outfits in decades. There just aren’t enough superlatives in the English language to properly describe the immense cool of this group and this disc. A simple “wow” is way too little. A simple “holy mother of pearl this band is so good it’s criminal” doesn’t even do the job… READ MORE
Michael Nesmith - The Wichita Train Whistle Sings / Timerider (Edsel; EDSS 1007)
Michael Nesmith - Tropical Campfires (Edsel; EDSS 1008)
Michael Nesmith - Live At The Britt Festival (Edsel; EDSS 1009)
Michael Nesmith - From A Radio Engine To The Photon Wing / Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma (Edsel; EDSD 2005)
Michael Nesmith has always been much more than a Monkee. A genuinely unique talent, Nesmith is responsible for some of the most intriguing songs released under the Monkees brand. In 1967, at the height of Monkees mania, Nesmith took 10 of his intriguing songs and turned them into an even more intriguing instrumental piece, The Wichita Train Whistle Sings… READ MORE
Henry Mancini - Touch Of Evil (Original Soundtrack) (El; ACMEM134CD)
Henry Mancini’s pulsing Latin flavored score for the 1958 film noir classic Touch Of Evil is further proof of Mancini’s total mastery of nearly every musical form. From the white knuckle intensity of the unrelentingly dark main title theme to the sweet cocktail sway of “Susan,” from the bongo-driven swing of “Borderline Montuna” to the doo wop slow dance sound of “Rock Me To Sleep,” Mancini doesn’t just ape all these styles, he embraces them with a passion. Most remarkably, he captures the essence of 1950s rock and roll, demonstrating he was in touch with everything going on in the music scene at the time… READ MORE
Tony Perkins - The Prettiest Girl In School (El; ACMEM135CD)
Before Norman Bates, before the international acclaim Anthony Perkins received for his lead role in Alfred Hitchcock’s groundbreaking thriller Psycho, there was a young man named Tony Perkins who fancied himself a crooner. In 1956 and 1957, this callow youth recorded more than two dozen sides for the RCA and Epic labels, and scored a Top 30 hit with “Moonlight Swim.” Mixing light teen pop and adult standards, The Man Who Would Be Bates demonstrated a significant talent for song… READ MORE
Bobby Darin - Early Bobby Darin (El Toro; ETCD1018)
Bobby Darin fans have been waiting a long time for these recordings to debut on CD. Previously only available on a rare, out-of-print MCA cassette, Darin’s 1956 and 1957 Decca sides offer a fascinating glimpse into the development of the legendary performer’s unique style. El Toro’s decision to couple Darin’s 8 Decca sides with 9 early Atco tracks is a brilliant one. Taken together, the Decca and Atco work represent a revealing portrait of the artist as a young man… READ MORE
Jim Stafford - Jim Stafford (RPM; Retro 823)
Jim Stafford is a bona fide original. No one has ever looked at life or music in the same surreal way. Stafford’s self-titled 1974 debut LP was a masterpiece of novelty song writing, not to mention a welcome antidote to the easy listening acts crowding the airwaves at the time… READ MORE
The Robins - I Must Be Dreamin’ - The Robins on RCA, Crown and Spark, 1953-55 (El Toro R&B 111)
I Must Be Dreamin’, El Toro’s extensive collection of Robins singles, goes a long way toward dispelling the popular myth that The Robins were merely a footnote in the history of The Coasters. Robins gems such as “Empty Bottles” and “Ten Days In Jail” cement the group’s place as one of the finest rhythm and blues vocal acts of the 1950s… READ MORE
Bobby Darin - Sings the Shadow of Your Smile / In A Broadway Bag (Edsel; EDSS 1012)
The first disc in the UK-based Edsel label’s four volume Bobby Darin reissue series features the classic 1966 LPs Sings The Shadow Of Your Smile and In A Broadway Bag. These albums signaled Darin’s return to Atlantic Records after a 7-album stint at Capitol.
A desire for more creative control has been cited by many sources as a leading reason for Darin’s original departure from Atlantic, so it should come as no surprise that Sings The Shadow Of Your Smile finds Mr. Darin sitting in the producer’s chair. With an artist of such fine taste and talent at the helm, the result is pure magic… READ MORE