Search - Bobby Vee :: The Best of Bobby Vee

One Of The Better Bobby Vee Compilations Ever Released

10/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I must admit to being surprised, when I looked this one up, to find that it hadn't been reviewed by anyone in spite of being around for 15 years! Coming as it does from the U.K., it's easily among the best Bobby Vee hits compilations produced, with flawless sound (all stereo except tracks 3, 19 and 20) and five pages of background notes written by writer/TV producer Clive Anderson.



Are the contents really the "best of Bobby Vee?" That's something you'll have to decide for yourself because, whenever an album is released with that title for an artist having as many hit singles as did Bobby (38 on the Billboard Pop Hot 100, two of which crossed over to the R&B charts - something The Beatles never did - and four to the Adult Contemporary (AC) charts, including one that made only those charts), there will always be an argument as to whether the contents truly are "the best."



For example, I would question Buddy's Song from 1963 which was never a hit in North America for Bobby, although it may well have charted in the U.K. (this IS a U.K. release after all). I also wonder at the inclusion of A Letter From Betty, a minor # 85 Hot 100 B-side in July 1963, but not the A-side, Be True To Yourself, which was a Top 40, at # 34.



But I certainly can't argue against the other 18 tracks which were among his greatest disc performances, even including his first hit, Suzie Baby, which, billed to Bobby Vee and The Shadows, only reached # 77 in late summer 1959. Liberty had picked that up after it was initially released on the much smaller Soma label in 1959.



A little gem that should be re-released as soon as possible."

TRACK LISTING:

fudgcicle | Texas | 03/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"1. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

2. Suzie Baby

3. Devil or Angel

4. Punish Her

5. Take Good Care of My Baby

6. Rubber Ball

7. How Many Tears

8. Please don't ask About Barbara

9. Come Back When You Grow Up

10. Beautiful People

"