Doc Pomus died in 1991 and this album brings together a group of artists who pay tribute to the great song writer.

The album opens with what I regard to be the best track - "Lonely Avenue" by Los Lobos. Forget anything you’ve heard by them before, don’t even think of La Bamba. This track with fuzzy guitar and a voice from the Howlin Wolf school is brilliant.

Dylan has a bash at "Boogie Woogie Country Girl", the old Big Joe Turner number. For once he is in fine voice compared to most of the concert recordings I’ve have heard of him in the 1990’s.

Two ex-Presley songs are featured here - John Hiatt using his screwed up vocal cords to return "Mess of Blues" to the blues field and Shawn Colvin (where have I heard that name before ?) doing a very distinctive version of "Viva Las Vegas". Colvin slows the song down and seems to turn it on its head , providing distance from the Presley pot boiling original, something that both Springstein and ZZ Top missed from their recent remakes.

Lou Reed returns a very competent version of "Magic Moments" which has the same feel as his last album "Magic and Loss", which was itself about and dedicated to his friend The Doc. The Band although only the shell of their earlier selves since loosing Robbie Robertson, turn in a relaxed version of "Young Blood".

B.B.Kings and Irma Thomas’s performances of "Blinded by Love" and "There must be a better world" are ones that I feel will grow with repeated plays. Dr John returns his usual growling blues performance.

Two disappointments are Soloman Burkes "Still in Love" and Brian Wilsons old Drifters number "Sweets for my sweet". Both singers seem to be only weak echoes of their former 60’s selves.

There are 2 further Drifters tracks both doing what Wilson failed to do, put some distance between themselves and the original. This is strikingly so with Rosanne Cash, where I spent most of the first play trying to work out where I’d heard "I count the tears" before. Then the final track on the CD from Aaron Neville "Save the last dance for me" a fitting tribute to a man who spent most of his life in a wheelchair, but never let his condition deter him from being one of the best song writers and collaborators of Rhythm and Blues ,Rock and Roll and pop.

So why is this review appearing in Yo Frankie ? Could it be because The Doc co-wrote "Teenager in Love " - maybe - or could it be that The Last of the First Name Singers has a bash at the old Fabian number "Turn me loose". I don’t know the original but this version is a great. There’s also 3 pretty boy pictures of himself with the Doc for those interested. Is it worth £12.99 just for this track - probably not - but with so many excellent other tracks included, you can’t go wrong.

Belmonts Re issues

Finally Gordon you were desperate for reviews of The Belmonts latest CD’s so here goes :

Best of the Belmonts: "Tell me why" - great - the rest ????****!!!.

Lost Treasures of the Belmonts: "Tell me Why (alternate take)" the rest .....ugh !

My advice to Ace is don’t bother releasing these in the UK. Why not invest your money more wisely into releasing Dion and The Belmonts "Together Again" and "Reunion" as a double LP CD, so that you could then boast to be the first company to re-issue all their back catalogue?

I know the Belmonts lynch mob will be already making their way to my front door, so I’ll be on my way.