Definitive American hits collection

Bobby Vee's first big break when his group (the Shadows - no connection with the similarly named British instrumental group) that had to deputize for Buddy Holly at a gig in Iowa soon after that singer was killed in a plane crash. As a result of that performance, Bobby was offered a recording contract. He failed to make an impact with his first three singles (Suzie baby, a cover of What do you want (Adam Faith) and One last kiss) but made the American charts with a cover of Devil or angel (Clovers). Bobby then had an international hit with Rubber ball. Bobby's version of Rubber ball had to compete in the UK charts with a cover by Britain's Marty Wilde, but both versions made the UK top ten.



Following the success of Rubber ball, Bobby was a regular on the charts for the next two and a half years but faded quickly as Beatle mania took over. In that period, Bobby had major international hits with Take good care of my baby (a number one American hit), The night has a thousand eyes (arguably the most popular of his songs now), Run to him, Sharing you, How many tears and More than I can say, all of which made the UK top ten. More than I can say became a UK hit again in the seventies when Leo Sayer covered it. Bobby's other hits include Devil or angel, Forever kind of love, Bobby tomorrow and Please don't ask about Barbara. Bobby made one more return to the American after that (Come back when you grow up, an American top ten hit that sold a million in 1967). All these hits and others can be found here.



This compilation contains all the essential tracks from Bobby's early years, together with those early failed singles and some American hits that I haven't mentioned, but which are well worth hearing.

EMI does it again with "The Legendary Masters Series"!

I bought this back in '90 and I still play it every so often. I first listened to Bobby Vee when my parents played back their album collection everyday while I was growing up, and Bobby was one of the albums they played. He has a great singing voice that can take even the most sacchrine tunes and make them better. To me, he's what Buddy Holly might have done had he not went on that flight in '59.



This CD is actually one of the better compilations of Bobby Vee's career, and a better representative of the pop music of the early '60's, where the producers ruled the show. Liberty Records needed some artists for the young pop culture, and people like Bobby Vee, Jackie DeShannon, The Ventures, and Johnny Burnette fit the bill. Vee was also backed up by a good studio band, a great producer like Snuff Garrett, and the best of the Brill Building songwriters(Goffin, King, Bacharach, Schroeder,...). He also worked and sang with The Crickets, and The Ventures.



The best songs on this CD are

1. "Devil Or Angel" - a great cover of The Clovers original, except with strings, and the original Marlburo Man doing the "doo-doo-doo-doo"



2. "Rubber Ball" - a 'bouncy', energetic tune that if it was anyone else, it would come out very corny.



3. "More Than I Can Say" - Here's where Leo Sayer got his ideas from.



4. "Take Good Care Of My Baby" - A surefire winner if ever it was, he does a great job on it.



5. "Run To Him" - Another great tune from Goffin/King that he just

rides to glory, while the Mann Singers, the strings and the timpani accentuate this tune.



6. "Walkin' With My Angel" - A minor hit, but a fun tune to sing along and to listen to while you're walking with your 'Angel'!

It's gotta be the shoes!



7. "Please Don't Ask About Barbara" - A minor hit again, but a real good ballad about angst. Should've gotten more airplay.



8. "Sharing You" - Another Goffin/King tune that does well with him.



9. "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" - His signature tune, as well as his darkest.



Last, but not least:



10. "Come Back When You Grow Up" - His swan song, and a great ballad that took awhile to become a great hit. At least it's the full version this time around.



Unfortunately, he along with the other "Teen Idols" fell to the 'British Invasion', but not without influencing other British artists with his style of pop. The Liner notes by Steve Kolanjian are outstanding with other sidenotes from Bobby Vee and the CORRECT order of recordings that became hits for him, along with good B-Side tunes as well. I also like the behind the scenes before the music comes on a few tunes, as well as the order of takes it took to be the hit version.



I recommend this CD to those who don't want to spend a lot of money on the box sets that are available now. My regret about this CD is that it didn't include "Someday", another great tune, but that is for another time. A great compilation for an underrated, and underappreciated artist of his caliber.

Golly Gee, It's Bobby Vee!

Not only did Bobby Vee's vocals enhance any song he was given to record, he was also a talented songwriter. The first song on this collection, "Suzie Baby," was written by Robert Velline (Bobby Vee's real name) and released in 1959. "One Last Kiss," a tongue in cheek song from Bye Bye Birdie, was transformed into a great love song by Bobby's straightforward rendition. "Devil Or Angel" was Bobby's first hit song, charting at #6 in 1960. "Rubber Ball" (also #6 in 1960), with its bouncy backing vocals, would have sounded like a novelty song with a less talented singer. Buddy Holly was a big influence on Bobby Vee's vocals, so it's no surprise that he sounds exactly like Buddy on the song "Everyday." Bobby's rendition of the Goffin/King composition, "Take Good Care Of My Baby," was his only #1 song, reaching that peak on 8/21/61. It was soon followed by "Run To Him," which hit #2 on 11/20/61. "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes" (#3 in 1962) is much more upbeat than Gene Pitney's similarly themed song "Town Without Pity." The influence of the Beatles is very evident on the song "I'll Make You Mine," which was written by Bobby Vee and included in his 1964 album "The New Sound From England." The moving ballad "Come Back When You Grow Up" peaked at #3 in 1967, and is one of his best remembered songs. Bobby's medley of "My Girl/Hey Girl" was his last top forty single, peaking at #35 in 1968. It closes out this 25-song collection on a strong note. The 26th track isn't a song, but is a 1961 radio ad for Bobby Vee's then current record release.