Search - Gerry Monroe :: Sally: Pride of Our Alley

The King of Naff Reigns!

Lally & Willetts | Northiam, East Sussex. England | 09/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Connoisseurs of naff music will revel in this superb album of easy classics. As a proud owner of the original vinyl LP (on the Page 1 label) I really never expected to find it resplendant on CD in all its digital glory. Fret ye not though kitsch lovers - you'll not be disappointed as our Gerry warbles his way through a wondrous selection of songs you used to love.

The King of Cool, Hip and Groovy kicks off with a heart rending version of 'WHISPERING'. A few verses in and up he shoots in the sort of falsetto that suggests his underpants are 4 sizes too small.

'IT'S A SIN TO TELL A LIE' we're all assured in tones so lofty that the upper ones can only be reached with a ladder, followed by the best track on the album, a funky version of that old Gracie Fields, wartime smash hit 'SALLY'. This track is so hot it burnt a hole in my CD player, through the floor and into a bucket in the lounge! Never one to understate the highest reaches of his voice, make sure that all your best crystal glasses are safe in time for the end note. I am still replacing windows after mistakenly upping the volume. Be warned!

Liberace's old theme tune is given the Monroe Magic next as he seduces us with 'I'LL BE SEEING YOU'. No fear of anything less than ultra-butch though from our Gerry, as the album cover suggests - he's all man! The tart in the background is obviously waiting for him (or other punters).

Next, the old Andrews Sisters classic (no chance of being accused of 'camp' here then!), "APPLE BLOSSOM TIME' is treated to the Monroe tonsils and it's hard to believe that the swinging lady threesome could ever have been bothered with it!

By this time it's clear that we are comfortably ensconsed in the land of tank tops and bri-nylon - the whole World seems to take on the subtle, bright orange glow of early 1970's fashion as the great man bursts through your speakers like a cricket ball through a plate glass window. Eventually we reach Gerry's biggest hit in the UK, 'LITTLE DROPS OF SILVER' - a barnstorming heart breaker backed with some really super-groovy girlie backing vocals. I am used to watching this twiddle round at 45rpm and 7 inches, and now can marvel at it whirling round at whatever a CD player whirls things round at. Like Gerry's bottle bottom glasses - science is awesome!

The World is a poorer place for the almost total disappearance of this vinyl virtuoso in trousers so tight that you can take an inspired guess as to his possible religion. What happened to him? Where is he now? Did he cop off with the woman on the album cover? We may never know . . . but in the meantime we have 'SALLY', the greatest Kitsch Easy Album ever made. If you are not wiping the tears out of your eyes (and ears) after his version of 'ANSWER ME' then you are probably stone deaf.

I emplore you all to purchase this CD, whether for someone you love or someone you can't stand, you won't be disappointed!

"