Search - Bobby Rydell :: Best of 1959-1964

Finally the original Cameo Records of Bobby Rydell on CD.

sixties4ever | Salinas, CA | 02/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1959 a 17 year old Italian/American from South Philadelphia, Bobby Ridarelli, hit the national charts with "Kissin' Time" as Bobby Rydell.

He didn't look back after that intial hit (#11 1959 on Billboard). For many, many years the only Bobby Rydell CDs featuring his Cameo Records hits were re-records. The original versions were not available. Now, ABKCO (Allen B. Klein Company) has finally released almost the entire Cameo & Parkway labels' late '50s & '60s hits on CD. This Bobby Rydell collection is proof positive that he could sing, whether on rockers like "Wild One" or "Kissin' Time"..........or more adult oriented material like "Volare" , "That Old Black Magic" and "Sway".

Bobby fell into the "teen idol" category of early rock & roll.

Unlike many of Bobby's teen idol peers, he was a musician as well. With 25 tracks here, this compilation CD is generous and moderately priced.

Standout tracks are: "Volare", "Sway", "We Got Love", "Kissin' Time", "Forget Him" and "That Old Black Magic".

Bobby Rydell was one of the first 10 personalities to be included in Philadelphia's "Walk of Fame".....and this CD belongs in any comprehensive '60s music collection!"

They're all here....from the run-of-the-mill to the absolute

Paul Tognetti | Cranston, RI USA | 10/28/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In the four year period between 1960 thru 1963 Bobby Rydell was pretty hot stuff. As a reigning teen idol Bobby's face was plastered all over the teen magazines and his records were selling like hotcakes. Then in 1964 the phenomenon known as the British Invasion caught everyone by surprise and suddenly stars like Bobby Rydell, Gene Pitney, Roy Orbison and so many others were cast aside. Times had changed and youngsters in the mid sixties were movin' and groovin' to new and different sounds. At about that same time Bobby learned that his longtime record label Cameo-Parkway had been sold and was moving its operations out of his native Philadelphia. Bobby's record sales plummeted and things went from bad to worse when a couple of years later Allen B. Klein purchased the entire Cameo-Parkway catalog. Not long after acquiring the rights to these recordings Klein did a very bizarre thing. He withdrew virtually all of the Cameo-Parkway recordings from the marketplace and kept them out of circulation. For the next 30 years no one in the U.S. would be able to purchase any of these original recordings and to this day I have never heard a plausable explanation as to why all of this took place. In any event fans and collectors all over the country have been clamoring for reissues of the these legendary Cameo-Parkway recordings for years. Finally in 2005 ABKCO records has made available many of these classic recordings in a wonderful series of new anthologies. I was particularly thrilled to learn of impending release of "The Best of Bobby Rydell". This is a collection I have been waiting for since the mid 1970's.

"The Best of Bobby Rydell" features a total of 25 tunes covering the golden years 1959 thru 1964. To be honest with you with the exception of "Wild One" I was not all that impressed with Rydell's first few hits. I can take or leave songs like "Kissin' Time", "We Got Love" and Swingin' School". These were actually among his biggest hits but I am of the opinion that Bobby Rydell really began to hit his stride in late 1960 with tunes like "Volare" and the unforgettable dance number "Sway". Bobby maintained a constant presence on Billboard's Hot 100 in 1962 with great records like "I've Got Bonnie", "I'll Never Dance Again" and of course "The Cha-Cha-Cha". My all-time favorite Bobby Rydell song has to be his 1963 hit "Wildwood Days". Hearing this song immediately brings to mind lazy summer days, American Bandstand and Top 40 radio. A real period piece. In the late fall of 1963 Bobby would have his last big hit "Forget Him".

All of Bobby Rydell's Top 40 hits as well as several other selected gems are included on this terrific disc. Among the tunes that I had not heard before the most pleasant surprise had to be the very first track. "Please Don't Be Mad" was one of Bobby's earliest recordings. The tune was done in the classic doo-wop style. Although the record went largely unnoticed in 1959 it is actually a pretty decent song. On the other hand, "The Best of Bobby Rydell" also includes Bobby's last single for Cameo-Parkway. "A World Without Love" written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney debuted on the Hot 100 on 5/9/64. Unfortunately for Bobby, the version recorded by Peter & Gordon entered the charts the very same day and blew Bobby's version away. Frankly, it is easy to see why. All in all, "The Best of Bobby Rydell" has more ups than downs. Included is an informative 12 page booklet. These original recordings have been digitally remastered and this disc is offered at quite a reasonable price. What's not to like? Grab it while you can! Highly recommended!"

Rydell Rocks!

Robert E. Jopson | 10/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just received this long awaited cd yesterday and must say it was more than worth the wait. The digital re-mastering is superb and all the vintage tracks come alive again with all the hits of this great artist. Bobby Rydell was always a polished performer with great vocal range and style. This compilation of virtually all of his hits is a testimony to that fact and a tribute to one of the best and revered teen ldols of all time!"