Adult-oriented Apollo recordings in the mid 50s
detakoizu | Naha, Japan | 08/08/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This compilation is the Apollo set cut in his high-teens or twenty. His own composition called "Christmas Presents" is in the gospel style without chorus. The only tune predicting his reign as the King of Rock'n'Soul. Others are standard and jazzy in the format of Roy Hamilton or Ivory Joe Hunter. His crooning and soaring voice shows us his flexibility and versatility and sometimes sounds like Elvis, however, there's little soul essence, that's what we are anticipating to him. This is between the Wonder Boy Preacher days ( I wish I could hear it !) and the great Atlantic years."