CROCODILE ROCK: COMMNETARY

At this moment, the #1 album on the Billboard chart is Barry Manilow's THE GREATEST HITS OF THE FIFTIES. Manilow has not been this high on the charts in years. Some thing is going on.

As albums and singles disintegrate to  iPod, there is an audience of boomers and Silent generation that still buy albums. Along with the Beatles, the Beach Boys are the king of compilations. Here is one to the fifties. There could be roughly 20 songs for retail $9.95 to $13.95.

They are:

CROCODILE ROCK- Originally recorded for a tribute to Elton John, this song introduces the concept. Crocodile Rock refers to Bill Haley's 'See You Later Alligator" Beach Boys do fine on this and few casual consumers have heard of it.

WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE- SHUT DOWN VOL. 2 and SPIRIT OF AMERICA

has Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers top hit. B.B. have excellent hook.

DO YOU WANT TO DANCE?- Pretty song with excellent harmony and hard driving' beat by Bobby Freeman, the song was in top albums TODAY and SPIRIT OF AMERICA.

PEGGY SUE- Buddy Holly died about now nearly 40 decades ago. This was big and was a chart hit on Al Jardine produced MIU album. It still sounds good and was reprised by Jardine's own

band.

HUSHABYE- It is time for a ballad and this really show cases B.B. harmony. Consumers first heard it on SPIRIT OF AMERICA and the original ALL SUMMER LONG.

JOHNNY B. GOODE- This is the first Chuck Berry song. It was on the #1 album CONCERT.

ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC- This was a big hit of the 70's and the B.B.'s carried it higher on the charts than Chuck Berry.

I'M SO YOUNG- The alternative version is really primitive 50's ballad with pretty harmonies.

SCHOOL DAYS/ RING, RING, GOES THE BELL- This Chuck Berry was on KEEPIN' THE SUMMER ALIVE. It still has that 50's flavor with Al Jardine lead.It was also on TEN YEARS OF HARMONY.

RUNAWAY- This Del Shannon hit was in 61', however that is close enough. The concert version is only on the special produced compilation vynil for Sunkist. For years, it was a favorite of the concert circuit.

COME GO WITH ME- The Del Vikings cover was a nice hit in the 80's and still is performed in concert. It was on MIU and SUNSHINE DREAM.

DISNEY GIRLS- This Bruce Johnston hit for the B.B.s was a solid for Surf's Up and other compilations. The song is about the 50's. "Patti Page and old cape cod...hi rick, hi dave, hi mom and pop.." It is a beautiful ballad that was also on GOING PUBLIC.

BLUE BIRDS OVER THE MOUNTAIN- This 20/20 hit showcases Carl's guitar work. It is perhaps one of the hardest hitting pop rock songs of it's time. There is lots of harmony too.

DUKE OF EARL- It is still a current hit for the concert for the touring Beach Boys. Steal it from a bootlegger. They deserve it.

GRADUATION DAY- This Four Freshman hit of the mid 50's is the other part of the Beach Boys. Graduation Day is the last rite of passage for many who stroll down the mid-century

memory lane.

NOTE: The shrink wrap CD has 6 Beach Boys chart hits. Further, many may not have heard some of the pretty album cuts. Additionally, they will recognize almost all the song names. There is enough gold and enough rarities to attract a sizable market. Further, there are some bonus tracks. Originally, I thought that ending this collection with the BEACH BOYS MEDLEY would really attract consumers, because you have a bundle of hits that folks recognize. So that is a consideration. Additionally Carl's YOUNG BLOOD may also be an option. He does a fine job on an old Coasters hit.

The following bonus tracks are not produced or mastered as well as the others. However, many will like them.

They are: BLUE BERRY HILL/TALK TO ME, TALK TO ME/ CASUAL LOOK/IN THE STILL OF THE NITE/ SEA CRUISE. All but one come from 15 BIG ONES. SEA CRUISE

is from 10 YEARS OF HARMONY.

THANK YOU.

Prof. Joel Snell

Applewood Mesa

3105 Alleghany Dr. N.E.

Cedar Rapids, Ia.

52402-3315

jsnell@kirkwood.edu

319-366-0063