Search - Jocelyn Brown :: Essential Dancefloor Artists Volume 6

Great Lead Singer, Great Sound Quality

09/23/1998

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The lead singer (Anita Humes) had a very smooth and powerful voice for belting out early sixties doo-wop. "Easier Said Than Done" was their big hit in the early sixties. The rest of the songs on this CD are not just filler material. Almost all of the other songs are well done. Most of these songs were recorded in the 1963-64 time frame. Especially noteworthy is the sound quality on this CD. All songs (except tract 8) are in flawless true stereo suggesting they came from master tapes recorded at a state of the art recording studio. These could have been recorded yesterday. Track listing is as follows:(1) Easier Said Than Done (2) Whenever I Need My Baby (3) Where Is He (4) Every Night (5) I Love Her (6) Come On To My Party (7) A Walkin' Miracle (8) She's Got Everything (9) More Than It Would Help (10) Marriage Licenses (11) In My dreams (12) You Talk Too Much (13) There's No Fool Like A Young Fool (14) Where Theres A Will (15) Make Him Feel Like A Man (16) Don't Fight It Baby (17) When Somethin's Hard To Get (18) Just For The Boy (19) I'm Making It Over (20) Everybody's Got You (21) Be My baby (22) Be Sure (23) When The Music Stops (24) Real True Lover"

US Marines stormed the pop charts

Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 04/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Essex were originally formed by a group of marines who were still in active service when they had their biggest hit, Easier said than done, which gave them an American number one hit in 1963. The single also became a minor UK hit although Britain was already gripped by Beatle mania, which hadn't yet crossed the Atlantic. The follow-up single, A walking miracle, nearly made the American top ten but missed the UK charts completely - however, this song eventually made the UK top ten in the seventies via a cover by Limmie and the family cooking. Their singles chart history ended with the minor American hit, She's got everything.



The main appeal of the Essex was that they always appeared in full military uniform. Another unusual aspect was the racially mixed composition of the group - a rarity in 1963 - with a female lead singer (Anita Humes) and three harmony vocalists (Walter Vickers who also played guitar, Rodney Taylor who also played drums, Billie Hill). A fifth member, Rudolph Johnson (vocals, guitar), was posted to a location that forced him to leave the group after completion of the group's first album.



This compilation contains their hits and a selection of tracks from their two albums as well as failed singles and B-sides. Most of the material is original although they recorded a fine cover of Be my baby (Ronettes). Among the failed singles, Don't fight it baby and Just for the boy are particularly noteworthy but by the time of their 1964 release, the Beatles had captured the attention of America and nobody was interested in the Essex any more. Furthermore, once they had secured discharges from the marines, they no longer appeared in uniform and some of their distinctive identity was lost.



If you enjoy girl group music of the early sixties, you will surely love this although the Essex were not a girl group themselves."