Frankie Lymon

Frankie Lymon was just 14 years old when he burst onto the scene as leader of an R&B doowop group in the wake of the first flush of rock 'n' roll in the charts during the mid-50s, and the precociously talented teenager, already writing his own songs, made a huge impact on both sides of the Atlantic with his landmark debut hit with The Teenagers "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?". His chart career was telescoped into a few short years, his hits drying up in 1960, and his career declining until his untimely demise in 1968 at the age of 25 from a drug overdose. This 62-track 2-CD set comprises the A & B sides of his singles with The Teenagers and as a solo artist on the Gee and Roulette labels during what was the primary era of his career, along with selected titles from the album "At the London Palladium" and the titles not otherwise released as singles from the album "Rock 'n' Roll" for Roulette. It features all his ten US pop and R&B hits, and his UK chart entries from these years, including the Top 10 hits "Why Do Fools Fall In Love", "Who Can Explain", "I Promise To Remember", "The ABC's Of Love", "Baby Baby" and "Out In The Cold Again". His music represented a fascinating strand of pop/R&B which was a significant part of the musical zeitgeist of the era, and this collection is a substantial showcase for his highly distinctive style and talent.

The Four Seasons were never in a class with Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers or Little Anthony & the Imperials, and Franki Valli's voice tended to sound shrill. But despite their imperfections, Valli and friends came up with their share of fun, enjoyable teen pop in the early '60s. In fact, it's hard to imagine the early '60s without teen pop favorites like "Candy Girl" and "Big Girls Don't Cry." Spanning 1962-1965, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 boasts many of the Newark, NJ, group's definitive early hits, including "Stay," "Walk Like a Man," "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry." and "Candy Girl." One hears the group maturing somewhat on 1965's classic, Beach Boys-influenced "Bye, Bye, Baby," which became a major hit for the Bay City Rollers in 1975. Obviously, Greatest Hits, Vol. 1 isn't meant to be an in-depth study of Valli and the Four Seasons, but for the casual listener, this CD and its companion, Vol. 2, are easily recommended.

Above the album worked the Rhino '100 Greatest 50s', and his release took place on 2020. The album has got songs with a total duration of more than an hour. A compilation is a compilation of original music.