Search - Freddy Cannon :: Big Blast From Boston: The Best of Freddy "Boom-Boom" Cannon

Cream of the rock crop!

Lee Hartsfeld | Central Ohio, United States | 06/16/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"These are extraordinarily good singles, though the effect of hearing them in one sitting can be monotonous, even overwhelming. For this reason, it may be best to savor these gems a few at a time. Anyway, Cannon lays waste to the longstanding myth that Nothing Was Happening Just Before the Beatles. In fact, the Invasion bands owe more than a slight debt to these loud and high-energy rock classics. So does Brian Wilson. In their early days, the Beach Boys drew heavily upon the influence of Cannon, Eddie Cochran, and, of course, Chuck Berry.The sound quality is first-rate, though I almost think some of these sounded better on vinyl--in particular, the magnificent "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans." But this is hardly the fault of the Rhino label, which should be praised for giving us one great compilation. The liner notes by the late Cub Koda are most excellent."

The last rock and roller

mike simms | Hong Kong | 10/21/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Freddy Cannon was unique in the late 50s and early 60s -- the period between the dumbing-down of rock and roll and its final destruction by the Beatles -- as the only new performer who really rocked. On the hit list of 1959, we find `Everybody's Somebody's Fool' by Connie Francis, `Heartaches by the Number' by Guy Mitchell, `I Guess Things Happen that Way' by Johnny Cash, `It Doesn't Matter Anymore' by Buddy Holly (what a shame such pap is the last song we were given to remember this great rocker, who didn't live to see it climb the charts), `Forty Miles of Bad Road' by Duane Eddy (not bad but you only have to compare it with with his first hit, `Rebel Rouser' to see what was happening), `There'll Never be Anyone Else but You' by Ricky Nelson and, Ladies and Gentlemen, `Tallahassee Lassie' by Freddy Cannon. Not only was it fast and noisy, but it had the goofy, lascivious lyrics (``She comes from Tallahassee, she's got a hi-fi chassis'') that have always characterised a good rock and roll number. I remember being surprised that this song was actually allowed onto the airwaves in those Days of Blandness and even more surprised -- as well as delighted -- when he followed it up with jumpers like `Way Down Yonder in New Orleans' and `Palisades Park'. He might have changed the course of musical history had his success inspired others but sadly it did not, and even he vanished under the British onslaught of 1964. Nevertheless, he deserves more recognition than he has received to date. The four-star rating is awarded because a couple of the songs don't quite fit in -- even Freddy didn't like `Jump Over'."

Lots of energy,sounds like fun, a big sound, great hits.

mike simms | 08/07/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I liked his hits in Australia in the 60s. Transistor Sister, If You Were A Rock & Roll Record are representative of the era. Jump Over is a great tune and typical of the "catchy" love tunes."