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From the Vault...
02/22/2004
#878 |
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info
Jewel Akens
"The Birds And The Bees: The Best Of Jewel Akens"
© Era Records
Year of Release: 1994
Rating:
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track listing
The Birds And The Bees
Around The Corner
(From My House)
Love Potion No. 9
Tic Tac Toe
It's The Only Way To Fly
Sukiyaki
(My First Lonely Night)
Georgie Porgie
King Of The Road
So This Is Love
You Sure Know How
To Hurt A Fellow
Dear Heart
A Slice Of Pie
Michael
The Vegetable Love Song
Sniff-Sniff-Poo-Pah-Pahdoo
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Jewel Akens
"The Birds And The Bees: The Best Of Jewel Akens"
Jewel Akens was famous for one hit, from 1965, "The Birds And The Bees."
His Best Of compilation consists of songs mostly from 1965 and some
bonus tracks, Jewel Akens may just be a one-hit wonder with his "Birds and
Bees" tune. Most of the songs on his best of are cover tunes, and songs
easily fitting the early 1960s rock and roll sound (pre-Beatles).
"Around The Corner (From My House)" has a mix of the early Beatles
and Little Richard. His version of "Love Potion No. 9" may not be as
great as the most popular versions, by such acts as The Clovers and The
Searchers, yet it's a song that everyone remembers from the early 1960s.
"Tic Tac Toe" has a distinct early 1960s sound, as in the Beau Brummels'
"Last Laugh." "It's The Only Way To Fly" has a driving beat as
heard in Sonny & Cher's "Baby Don't Go."
Another cover is "Sukiyaki (My First Lonely Night)." A hig hit
sung in Japanese by Kyu Sakomoto (#1), Akens' version is in English, and a bit
more upbeat than Sakomoto's. A common trend in the early 1960s for artists
having a big hit, is to record another song, similar in melody than the big hit
before. "Georgie Porgie" has the melody of "The Birds And The Bees,"
with different lyrics, and just a slight difference in sound.
Roger Miller was most famous with "King Of The Road," as Akens'
version is just as cool as Miller's, and a bit more jazzy. An impressive tune
is "So This Is Love," as it showcases Akens as a very good R&B soul
singer. "You Sure Know How To Hurt A Fellow" has the common
late-1950s/early-1960s rock and roll/R&B upbeat style, comparing styles to
those of Fats Domino and the screaming "Whoo!'s" of Little Richard.
"Dear Heart" is another beautiful ballad -- it's soulful, and even
the piano accompanient has an early country feel. "A Slice Of Pie" has
a more soulful sound heard in the next decade, the early 1970s.
The remaining tunes are bonus tracks: The Highwaymen's "Michael (Row
The Boat Ashore)" is upbeated to the R&B standards at the time on Akens'
version, and could be easily used in the black gospel church. "The Vegetable
Love Song" has the sound best for many of the early-1960s girl groups.
"Sniff-Sniff-Poo-Pah-Pahdoo" is an unreleased alternate studio take,
and is definitely a good R&B number, compared to the popular 1960s hit
"Peanut Butter."
The Best of Jewel Akens has the early sound of Rock N Roll -- mostly
a R&B sound, Jewel Akens may not have been a household name, and his most popular
hit "The Birds And The Bees" just may be considered a one-hit wonder.
Yet his Best Of compilation showcases good R&B music for those who enjoy
the early years of Rock N Roll.
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Era Records
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