JUMPIN' GENE SIMMONS "Haunted House" The Complete Gene Simmons (Hi Recordings)

Gene Simmons is remembered for his 1964 novelty hit "Haunted House," but his career was longer and more varied than the term one-hit wonder suggests. He had only one other hit, "The Dodo," which peaked at number 83 in the wake of "Haunted House," but he recorded an entire album and numerous singles for Hi Records in the '60s. The era covered by this collection, 1959-1965, found Simmons abandoning the rockabilly of his Sun years in favor of a straight rock & roll sound that edged toward soul as the '60s wore on, with practically no hint of his former hillbilly vocal mannerisms. Simmons fell in line with other old-school rock & rollers of the early to mid-'60s who tried to stick with '50s rock formulae (Ronnie Hawkins and Jimmy Gilmer, for example), and consequently his music was a little retrograde in the face of the British Invasion. But fans of old-fashioned rock & roll who appreciate Simmons' history and "Haunted House" enough to splurge on this comprehensive two-disc set won't be disappointed. (Greg Adams, AMG)

trax:
disc 1
01 Teddy Bear 02 Your True Love 03 No Other Guy 04 The Shape You Left Me In 05 Twist Caldonia 06 Be Her #1 07 Haunted House 08 Hey, Hey Little Girl 09 The Dodo 10 The Jump 11 Skinny Minnie 12 I'm A Ramblin' Man 13 Folsom Prison Blues 14 Mattie Rae 15 The Batman 16 Mossy Boss 17 Keep That Meat In The Pan 18 Go On Shoes
disc 2
01 Haunted House 02 You Can Have Her 03 Boney Moronie 04 The Green Door 05 Rock Around The Clock 06 Hotel Happiness 07 Teen-Age Letter 08 Don't Let Go 09 Slippin' And A-Slidin' 10 (I'm) Comin' Down With Love 11 Just A Little Bit 12 No Help Wanted 13 Goin' Back To Memphis 14 Bad Boy Willie 15 Cold, Cold Heart 16 Frankie And Johnny 17 Down In The Alley 18 Come On Over, Put Some Love On Me 19 Listen To Me Lie 20 Wedding Bells 21 Invitation To The Blues
...served by Gyro1966...