Search - Acker Bilk :: Some of the Best

Chill Pill

David Bradley | Sterling, VA USA | 04/21/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard "Stranger On The Shore" on an old vinyl double-LP called "The Roots Of British Rock," which eventually slipped away from me. It was a great piece of work, which featured Acker Bilk, Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Lonnie Donegan, and a few other artists who had hits in Britian prior to 1963. There are quite a few Acker Bilk CDs out right now. I can only assume "Stranger On The Shore" must have popped up in a commercial or some soundtrack. It is without a doubt the highlight of this record. There's something magic about that mix of strings and clarinet.It's a magic that is never repeated again. "South of The Border," "Don't Fence Me In," "Autumn Leaves" and "Jean" are the absolute definition of Schmaltz, Schlock, or whatever else you want to call it. If you've ever sat in a dentist chair, having your teeth drilled with just a bit too little novacaine, and thought even that would be OK if they'd just turn off that gawd-awful dentist office music...here's the CD version. You can have your very own copy."