The Big Top story is a relatively short one: the label only lasted for eight years, from 1958 to 1966. But during that time, Big Top managed to release records in an assortment of styles, from rock and roll to comedy, and this compilation is culled from sides cut during the labels' most successful era. Originally set up as a subsidiary of music publishing house Hill and Range-which had made a fortune publishing Nashville country music-you'd think the label would have had a stronger country presence, but based on this collection, you'd be wrong. Many of the songs here lean heavily toward soft pop (by the likes of Jamie Coe, Don & Juan, Gerri Granger, and Jeri Lynn), rousing instrumentals (by Maximilian, Johnny Gibson, The Lincoln Trio), soft R&B (by Sammy Turner and Lou Johnson), and quasi-girl group pop (The Honeytones, Bobbie Smith & the Dream Girls). The class recordings come from the Big Top's biggest hit makers, Del Shannon (Runaway/ Little Town Flirt/ The Swiss Maid) and Johnny & the Hurricanes (High Voltage/ Traffic Jam/ Down Yonder), while Sammy Turner (Always), Lou Johnson (You Better Let Him Go/ If I Never Love You, the latter written by Bacharach and David), and Bobby Pedrick, Jr. (White Bucks and Saddle Shoes and Betty Blue Eyes, both written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman) are not far behind, qualitywise. The fact that the label was run as a sideline to a successful publishing house, might account for the scattershot nature of the company's releases and the lack of artistic vision that similar labels of the time had in spades. Whatever your point of view, there's no denying-for a major talent like Del Shannon alone-Big Top's place in rock and roll history. (GMC) (Roots & Rhythm)
trax CD 1:
1. Runaway - Del Shannon 2. Down Yonder - Johnny & The Hurricanes 3. Don't Break My Heart - The Dream Girls 4. White Buck and Saddle Shoes - Bobby Pendrick Jr. 5. Lavender Blue - Sammy Turner 6. Comin' Down With Love - Mel Gadson 7. What I Really Meant to Say - Don & Juan 8. Little Lover - Mike Drummond 9. Steady Kind - Mickey Denton 10. Don't Want Your Letters - Gerri Granger 11. The Snake - Maximilian 12. If - Jeri Lynn 13. Sun Glasses - The Shades 14. Hats Off to Larry - Del Shannon 15. I Wanna Love You - Liza Smith 16. Tell Me You're Mine - The Visions 17. Rocking Goose - Johnny & The Hurricanes 18. If I Never Get to Love You - Lou Johnson 19. I Love You Like I Do - The Parakeets 20. But Yesterday - Jamie Coe 21. Garden of Eden - The Lincoln Trio 22. Crying - Rocky Hart & The Passions 23. Time to Rock - The Five Teenbeats 24. So Long Baby - Del Shannon 25. The Treasure of My Heart - Joey & The Ambers
trax CD 2:
1. High Voltage - Johnny & The Hurricanes 2. Betty Blue Eyes - Bobby Pedrick Jr. 3. Hey! Little Girl - Del Shannon 4. Baby You've Got It Made - Rocky Hart & The Passions 5. Midnight - Johnny Gibson 6. Somewhere - Willie Jones 7. That's A Step In The Right Direction - Dotty Clarke 8. Cleopatra - Jamie Coe 9. Always - Sammy Turner 10. I'll Never Let Her Go - John Price 11. You Better Let Him Go - Lou Johnson 12. The Twistin' Ghost - Maximilian 13. Traffic Jam - Johnny & The Hurricanes 14. Jilted - Spencer Stirling 15. The Swiss Maid - Del Shannon 16. Unchained Melody - Tony Middleton 17. What's Your Name? - Don & Juan 18. All Through The Night - The Visions 19. Castle In The Sky - Gerri Granger 20. Your Lovey Dovey Ways - Bobbie Smith & The Dream Girls 21. Fever - Kenny Martin 22. Let's Make Up - The Doves 23. Red Hot - The Royal Jokers 24. Little Town Flirt - Del Shannon 25. Don't Look Now, But... - The Honeytones
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9 comments:
"High Voltage" The Big Top Records Story
...served by Gyro1966...
gitit! no pw
CD1
http://www15.zippyshare.com/v/63733734/file.html
CD2
http://www15.zippyshare.com/v/80795101/file.html
BONUS 1:
BRINSLEY SCHWARZ - Surrender To The Rhythm (1991 Compilation) @320
http://www16.zippyshare.com/v/59955669/file.html
The 20-track compilation Surrender to the Rhythm is an excellent retrospective of Brinsley Schwarz's career. The compilation is culled from each of the group's albums, touching lightly on their earlier records and drawing heavily from Silver Pistol, Nervous on the Road, and The New Favourites, which is appropriate, since they were the stronger records. Although Nervous on the Road remains a necessary album, Surrender to the Rhythm compiles nearly every one of the Brinsleys' greatest tracks, including "Country Girl," "Ju Ju Man," "Down in Mexico," "Play That Fast Thing (One More Time)," "Happy Doing What We're Doing," "Don't Lose Your Grip on Love," "The Ugly Things," a ripping live version of "Home in My Hand," and the original version of Nick Lowe's classic "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding." Surrender to the Rhythm offers convincing evidence that Brinsley Schwarz is one of the great underrated bands of the early '70s, while essentially summing up the spirit of pub rock. (Allmusic)
BONUS:
BRINSLEY SCHWARZ - Nervous On The Road ’72 @320
http://www54.zippyshare.com/v/95842277/file.html
Silver Pistol wrote the blueprint for Brinsley Schwarz's pub rock, but Nervous on the Road perfected the group's sound, helping Brinsley to become the definitive pub rock band in the process. Nervous on the Road has a fuller, more detailed production than its predecessor, as well as a looser feeling -- even with the smooth production, it sounds like the band was captured on a good night at the Tally Ho. But what really makes the record is its excellent selection of songs, almost all of which were written by Nick Lowe. "Happy Doing What We're Doing," "Surrender to the Rhythm," and "Nervous on the Road" are all great rock & roll songs about rock & roll, spiked with an off-kilter sense of humor. "Don't Lose Your Grip on Love" is Lowe's first great ballad, while Ian Gomm's "It's Been So Long" is one of his best songs. And the covers of "I Like It Like That" and "Home in My Hand" are wonderful pub rockers, giving the album the feeling of an excellent concert. Nevertheless, what makes Nervous on the Road such a fine record is the combination of empathetic performances, unpredictable songwriting, and charming unpretentiousness, all of which help make the album one of the great forgotten rock & roll records.(Allmusic)
Smart savvy back to basics rock and roll and a prime example of the British pub rock movement. The writing features a great sense of melody coupled with clever and inventive lyrics. Nick Lowe continues his evolution as a songwriter, and the Brinsleys show off memorable chops. This band confidently tackles a variety of styles. and there’s not a clunker to be found on the set. What’s notable here is that the band has moved away from their earlier country-rock origins. However this shouldn’t deter perspective collectors. "Nervous on the Road" is a highly enjoyable listen and a must for those interested in English pub rock bands.(Revolver)
Thanks, good stuff. Thank you.
You had me at Del Shannon. Not familiar w/this label, but I'm very curious to hear these sides. Thanks!
Wonderful. Thanks.
Thank you,
Thanks
Thank you for the Big Top comp.
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