The Golden Age of American Popular Music: Hard-to-Get Hot 100 Hits 1956-1965

1 rating: 5.0

2006 audio CD release

It was always going to be a dangerous mission. Trevor Churchill's brainchild, THE GOLDEN AGE OF AMERICAN POP, had been in development for some time and the prototype was about to be launched into the fray with a bundle of seemingly undifferentiated repertoire. … see full wiki

Tags: Music, Albums, Pop Vocal, Pop Vocals

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A sensational collection of rare American pop hits from the 50's and 60's !

Dec 10, 2008

by drifter51
posted in Music Matters

Rating:

If you are a serious collector of American popular music then this is one disc that should really float your boat. "The Golden Age of American Popular Music" features a generous total of 28 great pop tunes culled from the Billboard Hot 100 between the years 1956 and 1965. You probably already own a few of them, have several of them on you own "want" list and may have never even heard of some of the others. As other reviewers have already indicated, Ace records has really outdone itself with this collection.
"The Golden Age of American Popular Music" contains a few hits by artists most of us over 50 are familiar with. You'll hear the great 1957 Johnny Mathis hit "It's Not For Me To Say" as well as the late Bobby Darin talkin' 'bout "Things". But mostly, you will get to hear songs by long forgotten artists who had relatively short careers or by those who only managed to crack the Top 100 once or twice. Remember the great Gene McDaniels? "Tower of Strength" was a huge hit for him in 1961. I had not heard it in years. Adam Wade was another very popular artist for a few years in the early 1960's. Enjoy once again his great hit "As If I Didn't Know". Yes, he does sound a lot like Johnny Mathis! If you love group harmony like I do then you are sure to enjoy the original version of "See You In September" by the Tempos, "Hey Little Girl" by the Techniques and "City of Angels" by the Highlights. Along those same lines I finally got to hear the Rover Boys hit recording of "Graduation Day" from back in 1956. Great version! There are also some real oddities on this disc not the least of which is a hit record by Tony "Norman Bates" Perkins. "Moonlight Swim" climbed all the way to #24 in 1957. And you also get to sample a solo hit by one Tony Orlando nearly a decade before the advent of his 1970's group Dawn. Check it out! Finally, I was introduced to 7 or 8 songs that I had never seen nor sampled before. Of these, I most particularly enjoyed the Quaker City Boys "Teasin" and Dicky Doo and the Don'ts "Leave Me Alone (Let Me Cry)". I have to tell you that this was one CD I just had lots of fun listening to.
"The Golden Age of American Popular Music" features a remarkable 16 page booklet that includes information on all of these artists. Everything about this disc is absolutely first rate. I don't believe I have ever been disappointed by anything I have ever purchased from Ace records over the past 20 years. Very highly recommended!

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