Search - Brenton Wood :: 18 Best

Baby you're castin' your spell on me

My Uncle Stu | Boston | 07/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"


Our buddy Don Desroches has returned from a decade underground and it is just like old times. And with him comes his musical recommendations, great offerings for my holy iPod. That's right. My coffee mug served an honorable fifteen year reign as my higher power, and I wouldn't have guessed that it could ever be deposed. But that was before the iPod, the single most important technological advance in human civilization. As I've said before, that shuffle never gets it wrong. It always picks the perfect song for the occasion, even when it works in mysterious ways.



The reason I tell you all this: As you know, Don does not chuck compliments around casually. When he says "you should listen to this," I guarantee it will be worthwhile.



I can't believe I just heard of this guy for the first time, and I can't stop listening to this album. It's just got a great sound. Just about every track on this album hooks you quickly. And if, by chance, you're looking for a song for you and your newborn to slow dance to, "Great Big Bundle of Love" is perfect. "Oogum Boogum" is another very catchy song.



Seriously, buy it now and thank me later. I'll be sure to pass the gratitude along to Principal Dondelinger.



"

Don't pass this one by

Robert M. Chikos | 07/24/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I knew Brenton Wood from "Gimmie Some Kind of Sign" but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Just about every song on here is great. If I had just 10 cds, this would be in my collection."

How Can You Claim "18 Best" And Leave Off Two Hits?

Robert M. Chikos | 09/04/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Here's yet another "best of" that fails to deliver, a promise that somehow couldn't accommodate but six hits. Because, between 1967 and 1977, that's all Brenton Wood would manage to put onto either the R&B or Billboard Pop Hot 100 charts.



Born Alfred Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana in 1941, he began his recording career in 1958 with a group called Little Freddy & The Rockets, but with no chart success. It wasn't until the summer of 1967 that he made the big time for Double Shot Records with the novelty hit The Oogum Boogum Song. With "I Like The Way You Love Me" as the B-side it reached # 19 R&B/# 34 Hot 100.



A few months later, Gimme Little Sign b/w I Think You've Got The Fools Mixed Up, became his top seller when it peaked at # 9 Hot 100/# 19 R&B in September. Then, late in the year, Baby You Got It b/w Catch You On The Rebound was released, topping out at # 30 R&B/# 34 Hot 100 early in 1968. A very minor hit then followed in March when Lovey Dovey Kinda Love just barely made the Hot 100, settling it at # 99 b/w Two-Time Loser, but missing out on the R&B charts.



So far, so good, as all eight sides are in this compilation. However, whereas they chose to leave off Some Got It, Some Don't, which made it to # 42 R&B in August 1968, they did include the uncharted B-side, Me And You!! How is that among his "best" when they didn't consider a legitimate hit to be one?



Nine years would pass before he had another hit, this time for the Cream label, when Come Softly To Me b/w You're Everything I Need struggled to reach # 92 R&B in September 1977. Neither side is in this set.



It isn't a bad compilation, but if you're going to claim to give us his "18 best" then do so! Anything less is false advertising."