How’s this for an opening track: Pomus and Shuman themselves helping out on backing vocals, production by Herb Abramson, and featuring King Curtis’s recording debut? That’s what you get with The Timms Brothers’ splendid (Wake Up) Miss Rip Van Winkle, and from that you’re straight into Ray Charles on Lonely Avenue, one of Doc Pomus’ strongest solo songs.
Pomus brought the younger Mort Shuman in to provide more of a teen feel, and it worked well on classics such as Hushabye, Teenager In Love, and Fabian’s actually quite decent Turn Me Loose. The pair wrote extensively for Elvis and, although we only get Double Trouble here at a lowly track 23, there is the pre-Elvis version of His Latest Flame from Del Shannon, and So Close To Heaven from Ral Donner (who, for most folks’ money comes closest in sound to The King).
Aside from all this, strength in depth comes from Ben E King, Barrett Strong, Irma Thomas, Jimmy Clanton and the still magnificent Drifters’ Save The Last Dance For Me. With a booklet brim full of label shots and great memorabilia, this is an important and highly desirable package for all those who love vintage New York pop.
