Search - Sonny James :: Young Love & Other Rock 'N' Roll Ballads

Niche collection

Zub | Forks Twp., PA | 11/08/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD gathers up Sonny James' 50s singles along with a number of album cuts and unreleased sides from his first stint at Capitol records. When country singer James first hit big in 1956 with "Young Love", a number one pop hit, Capitol attempted to steer his subsequent output towards a wider, more pop-oriented audience. None of these follow-ups had nearly the success or appeal of "Young Love" and by the end of the decade, he had left Capitol for other labels hoping to return to his country music side. He eventually returned to Capitol and did achieve that recognition through the 60s and into the 70s. The scope of this CD is limited to those more pop-oriented tunes from the mid- and late 50s. Connoisseur (of the U.K.) has done a competent job here with clean-sounding if not dynamic audio. All the tracks appear in mono. The liner notes in the 8-page booklet provide some interesting backround on his career, focusing on the era covered by the included tracks. For its intended purpose, this piece succeeds well. If you're interested in a more comprehensive Sonny James compilation, the Razor and Tie 2-disc collection is an excellent choice. In the early 90s, EMI released a Sonny James CD as part of their Capitol Collectors series, though now out of print, is excellent and worth seeking out. The sound quality there is outstanding. This Connoisseur CD does provide more tracks for the completist and makes a good addition to other, more comprehensive, collections."