TEEN IDOLS WHO HAVE THE TALENTS - PAUL ANKA & NEIL SEDAKA

PAUL ANKA'S 21 GOLDEN HITS : Paul Anka belongs to the batch of pretty boy singers popular in America during the late fifties as opposed to the more racy and rebellious rock 'n' roller's. But Paul Anka was unique among the late fifties teen idols in that he was also a successful song writer. He reportedly wrote his first million sellers 'Diana' at the tender age of 15. I got this album years after it came out and ever more years later, I bought the same CD. Purely because I can't find another better substitute. 'Put Your Head On My Shoulder', Lonely Boys', 'Puppy Love', 'My Hometown', can still stirred the heart, not to mention the theme song from the movie of the same name 'The Longest Day". Need I say more. DOP : 18th October 1997.

PAUL ANKA : A TOUCH OF CLASS : During the British Invasion, Paul Anka lie low for a while but make a come back in 1974 with the controversial '( You're ) Having My Baby', a duet with Odia Coates. Other notable songs during this period were 'Papa', 'I Don't Like To Sleep Alone', and Let Me Get To Know You'. Three of my personal favorites. Besides writing great songs for himself, Paul Anka have also written countless hits for other artists. Most notable was Frank Sinatra's 'My Way'. Originally a French song, he wrote the English lyric for it and it became Frank Sinatra's signature song.  However, there is one more song missing from this CD. 'Think I'm In Love Again'. Other than this one song, I think I have all I need from Paul Anka. DOP : 22nd September 1997.

NEIL SEDAKA ALL TIME GREATEST HITS : Neil Sedaka did not start out to be a pop singer. He was a successful songwriter together with his partner Howard Greenfield and later Phil Cody. With Howard Greenfield, he composed many hits for Connie Francis and became one of the legends of New York's legendary Brill Building. Hits here includes, 'Oh Carol', ‘Breaking Up I Hard To Do', 'Calender Girl' and 'You Mean Everything To Me', a song which I sang at my wedding to serenade my wife to be. A word of discontent, 'One Way Ticket' was not among the songs here. Neil Sedaka however was wiped out much like Paul Anka when The Beatles broke through and only recovered in the seventies with the help of Elton John in a spectacular comeback. DOP : 10th March 1996.

LAUGHTER & TEARS. THE VERY BEST OF NEIL SEDAKA TODAY : Again I first got Laughter & Tears. The Best Of Neil Sedaka Today on record, but since I couldn't find any better substitute and since it is on special discount, what the heck, I bought it and have no regrets since. Most of the songs here were hits for other artists. 'Solitaire', was a hit for both Andy Williams and The Carpenters,  'Love Will Keep Us Together', 'Lonely Night ( Angel Face)' , the last two being hits for The Captain & Tennile. Neil's own hit here were ' Laughter In The Rain', 'Bad Blood', and a jazzy rework of his earlier hit 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do' To the casual fans, this two CD will suffice but for someone like me, I am still looking for 'Baby Blue', 'The Immigrant', a song about John Lennon, and ( Is This The Way To ) Amarillo '.I first bought this album when I was 16 and I love it. Now I am in my 50s and  I bought it again on CD, my sentiments haven't change. I still love it. DOP : Unknown.

THE BEST OF BOBBY VINTON : Another pretty boy singer from the 60's but Bobby Vinton, even though he wrote occasionally, he was not quite in the same mould as Paul Anka and Neil Sedaka. But his songs were pretty enjoyable. I especially like 'Roses Are Red', 'Rain, Rain Go Away' which looks like it was cut from the same cloth. The theme being love lost shared by the two songs. Other firm favorites are 'Halfway To Paradise', 'I Love How You Love Me' and his remake of Brian Hyland's 'Sealed With A Kiss' which is even better than the original. He co wrote 'Mr. Lonely' which was of course remade by Akon in later years with a cartoonish vocal. DOP : 21th December 2004.