Collection 1954-62 (CD) – Frankie Avalon

Frankie Avalon was one of the teen stars to emerge in the post-rock ‘n’ roll era, as the moguls of Tin Pan Alley encouraged the music to evolve towards a lighter style of pop which had a broader appeal to the mainstream of middle America. Starting his recording career as a boy-star trumpeter in his mid-teens, he was signed by the Chancellor label in his home town of Philadelphia, and between 1958 and the effective end of his chart career in 1962 he had 30 hits in the USA and UK, including the iconic No. 1s “Venus” and “Why”. One his pop career began to wane he developed his movie acting, and became a ubiquitous star of ‘beach movies’ during the ’60s. This great-value 61track 2-CD collection comprises tracks from his debut releases as a trumpeter for the ‘X’ label in 1954, plus all his A and B sides for Chancellor during these years, along with selected tracks from his albums during this era, albums “Frankie Avalon”, “Swingin’ on a Rainbow”, “The Young Frankie Avalon”, “Summer Scene”, “… And Now About Mr. Avalon”, “A Whole Lotta Frankie” and “Italiano”, which often show another side to his talents as a song interpreter. It naturally features all his 26 US and UK chart entries, including the No. 1s “Venus” and “Why”, and the Top 10 hits “DeDe Dinah”, “Ginger Bread”, “A Boy Without A Girl”, “Bobby Sox To Stockings” & “Just Ask Your Heart”. It’s a comprehensive and entertaining overview of the career of one of the archetypal teen stars of the years immediately prior to the cataclysmic arrival of the British Invasion, and a showcase for his versatile talents as a vocalist across rock ‘n’ roll, teen ballads and sophisticated pop

Track List

1. Trumpet Sorrento
2. The Book
3. Trumpet Tarantella
4. Cupid
5. Jivin’ with the Saints
6. Shy Guy
7. Teacher’s Pet
8. Dede Dinah
9. Ooh la la
10. You Excite Me
11. Darlin’
12. Ginger Bread
13. Blue Betty
14. I’ll Wait for You
15. What Little Girl
16. Venus
17. I’m Broke
18. A Boy Without a Girl
19. Bobby Sox to Stockings
20. Just Ask Your Heart
21. Two Fools
22. Why
23. Swingin’ on a Rainbow
24. Don’t Throw Away All Those Teardrops
25. Talk Talk Talk
26. The Faithful Kind
27. Gee Whizz Whilikins Golly Gee
28. Tuxedo Junction
29. Where Are You
30. Togetherness
31. Don’t Let Love Pass Me By
32. The Green Leaves of Summer
33. Here’s to the Ladies
34. A Perfect Love
35. The Puppet Song
36. All of Everything
37. Call Me Anytime
38. Who Else But You
39. Gotta Get a Girl
40. Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
41. Summer of ’61
42. True True Love
43. Married
44. Sleeping Beauty
45. The Lonely Bit
46. After You’ve Gone
47. If You Don’t Think I’m Leaving
48. You Are Mine
49. Ponchinello
50. A Miracle
51. Don’t Let Me Stand in Your Way
52. Dance the Bossa Nova
53. Welcome Home
54. Oooh! Look-A There Ain’t She Pretty’
55. Little Bitty Pretty One
56. She’s Funny That Way
57. Step in the Right Direction
58. Pretty Eyed Baby
59. Hold Me
60. Summer Scene
61. The Music Stopped
62. What Is This Thing Called Love
63. Italiano