Best compilation of her early sixties music
Peter Durward Harris | Leicester England | 10/13/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Success was slow to come for Sue, who was in her late thirties when she had all the hits that people remember her for. Those songs were generally lightweight, upbeat songs but they are very enjoyable to listen to.
Sad movies make me cry, Norman, James hold the ladder steady and Paper tiger were her four big pop hits from the early sixties. They were somewhat less successful in Britain, partly because Britain's own Carol Deene (a fine singer destined to remain forever obscure) covered most of Sue's hits and they generally competed against each other.
As well as the four big hits, Sue had top fifty American hits with Have a good time and Two of a kind, both included here. Willie can, a very minor American pop hit for Sue, is omitted but I've heard other versions of this song and I can understand why it was omitted. Ace records wisely chose to include other songs that stand the test of time much better.
The collection also includes her first single for Hickory (Angel angel, written by Felice and Boudleaux Bryant) and the three singles that followed Paper tiger (Sweet honk of misery, Walking my baby, It's break up time), none of which charted. In between, there were other failed singles, best of which may be It's twelve thirty five, which was written (like many of Sue's big hits) by John D Loudermilk
Sue's distinctive voice can also be heard on covers of Tonight could be the night, Love me to pieces, 'Til I kissed you, Oh lonesome me and Bonaparte's retreat.
After the pop hits dried up, Sue switched to country music, which was her natural calling anyway. She was modestly successful in that genre for several years, most notably with Big Mable Murphy, but this compilation does not cover those tracks.
This is the strongest collection of Sue's early sixties music yet released on CD."
Tell Them "Willie Can" is Missing
Superboy Forever | 04/19/2009
(1 out of 5 stars)
"As a fan of both Sue Thompson and Ace Records, I was very disappointed when I saw the track list for this product. Every one of her singles from 61-65 were included, EXCEPT "Willie Can"!.
People from Ace, if you are reading this, why is this song missing?
This is not a complete collection from this time period."
Track Listings (26) - Disc #1