Radio Gold 5: 30 Original American UK Chart Hits 1956-1962 Various Artists (Radio Gold)

£11.70

Genre:
Pop
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1171

Radio Gold Volume 4 was released way back in 2001. It’s been worth that long wait for this, the fifth entry in the series. Not that you can tell from the very generous selection of terrific music featured, but Vol 5 differs from the previous editions, in that its 30 tracks were selected from US radio favourites by an American, Marty Wekser, while oVols 1-4 were compiled by Britons and comprised tunes to which UK listeners were exposed by the good old BBC Light Programme, or Radio Luxembourg, back when we referred to it “the wireless”.

As usual with Ace collections such as this, the sound quality is sparkling throughout, with over half of the tracks in stereo. And for all those who rely on Ace Records for their regular supply of oldies, you won’t find 25 of the 30 selections on any other Ace CDs. Each and every one of the tracks was a hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In fact, all bar just two – Lucky Lips, written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller for Ruth Brown, and the Shirelles’ Burt Bacharach-penned Baby It’s You – were British hits too.

The material covers the period 1956 – the Chordettes’ dreamy Born To Be With You and Moonlight Gambler by that great old belter Frankie Laine – through to 1962 – Neil Sedaka, Bobby Darin, Johnny Tillotson, the Drifters and Roy Orbison – and ranges in style from the pure rock’n’roll of Eddie Cochran’s Everybody and High School Confidential by Jerry Lee Lewis to the MOR of Perry Como, taking in along the way some R&B, country and teen idol sounds.

Personal faves of this listener include the finger-snapping Everybody Loves A Lover, which reached the Top 5 for Doris Day, Be My Guest by Fats Domino, the first ever hit from the pen of Tommy (Last Train To Clarksville) Boyce, and the Drifters’ original version of Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s When My Little Girl Is Smiling. Carole and Gerry’s songwriting colleague Neil Sedaka gets a look in too, with his own hook-laden Next Door To An Angel and Another Sleepless Night, which he wrote for Jimmy Clanton. You can’t go wrong with the Everly Brothers, Jimmy Jones or the Coasters either.

The Four Preps, Jimmie Rodgers, the Tarriers, Clarence “Frogman” Henry and half a dozen other classic hit-makers complete the bill on what is apparently the final volume in the Radio Gold series. But who knows, maybe there’ll be another along in another six years time.

By MICK PATRICK

Share

Track listing

Show

Side 1

  • 01 Preview C'mon Everybody - Eddie Cochran

  • 02 Preview Walk Right Back - The Everly Brothers

  • 03 Preview Good Timin' - Jimmy Jones

  • 04 Preview Kisses Sweeter Than Wine - Jimmie Rodgers

  • 05 Preview Lucky Lips - Ruth Brown

  • 06 Preview Be My Guest - Fats Domino

  • 07 Preview Born To Be With You - The Chordettes

  • 08 Preview Next Door To An Angel - Neil Sedaka

  • 09 Preview If A Man Answers - Bobby Darin

  • 10 Preview You Always Hurt The One You Love - Clarence "Frogman" Henry

  • 11 Preview Heartaches By The Number - Guy Mitchell

  • 12 Preview Cradle Of Love - Johnny Preston

  • 13 Preview Kewpie Doll - Perry Como

  • 14 Preview Banana Boat Song - The Tarriers

  • 15 Preview Language Of Love - John D Loudermilk

  • 16 Preview It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - Johnny Tillotson

  • 17 Preview Everybody Loves A Lover - Doris Day

  • 18 Preview Run To Him - Bobby Vee

  • 19 Preview Got A Girl - The Four Preps

  • 20 Preview Look For A Star - Garry Mills

  • 21 Preview When My Little Girl Is Smiling - The Drifters

  • 22 Preview Another Sleepless Night - Jimmy Clanton

  • 23 Preview Poison Ivy - The Coasters

  • 24 Preview High School Confidential - Jerry Lee Lewis & His Pumping Piano

  • 25 Preview Baby, It's You - The Shirelles

  • 26 Preview Moonlight Gambler - Frankie Laine

  • 27 Preview Little Boy Sad - Johnny Burnette

  • 28 Preview Dream Baby - Roy Orbison

  • 29 Preview Burning Bridges - Jack Scott

  • 30 Preview Sea Of Heartbreak - Don Gibson

Delivery & Returns

Show

We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Customer reviews

Show

Related products

Customers who bought this item also bought