Back at the end of the 1950s, when the "adults" in the record industry took back control over the artists and repertory, they tried foisting various packaged "teen idols," mostly guys (a few actors among them) who tried crooning what was essentially pop music for teens. It didn't really work, though it got lots of airplay next to the likes of
Chuck Berry or
Gene Vincent. This CD is a relic of that era, but a surprising one --
Jimmy Clanton tackles 24 songs, half of them pop standards, imbuing those with a youthful verve that does make them work. It isn't rock & roll by a long shot, but it is some of the best music of its kind done during this era. In a different reality, he might have been the teen idols' answer to Sinatra, with a better voice and a more easygoing style than, say,
Paul Anka. The arrangements and backing are pure late-1950s pop, but
Clanton does bring a youthful brashness that makes some of these numbers ("I'm Sitting On Top of the World," "Linda," "You're Just In Love") special for their time, even if anyone into real rock & roll would wince over numbers like "You're an Old Smoothie" or "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows." And then there are the other 12 louder, bluesier numbers, done with jazz arrangements, and here he does intersect with rock & roll and is twice as effective as he is on the pop numbers. This CD is worth owning just for "Somebody Please Help Me" and "I Feel Those Tears Coming On," and the ten numbers with them. ~ Bruce Eder