By Ken Paulson — Dion: The Complete Laurie Singles is another revelatory re-issue from Real Gone Music, revisiting Dion’s early career, but also chronicling the transitions of rock ‘n’ roll. This collection covers his late ’50s Doo-Wop origins with the Belmonts, his initial solo success with more ambitious material like “Runaround Sue” and “The Wanderer” and his 1968 comeback as a Tim Hardin-influenced folksinger on “Abraham, Martin and John.”
Listening to this collection makes clear why Dion is still around as a vibrant recording artist. Even within the confines of early ‘60s pop, he was striving to record something distinctive.
The sound quality throughout is outstanding, bringing new dimensions to even the extremely familiar hits. And the less successful songs sound particularly fresh. Was there ever a more conflicted song than “Sandy?” The singer learns he’s been betrayed, “left her, didn’t even want her,” but admits he’d “crawl back if I could.” And yet somehow the song sounds upbeat.
Similar treasures can be found throughout the Complete Laurie Singles.
More good news for ‘60s pop fans: Real Gone has also put Gary Lewis and the Playboys’ Complete Liberty Singles back in print.
Lewis, the son of Jerry Lewis, had a substantial career, with seven top 10 hits and five more in the top 40. The hits are all here: “This Diamond Ring,” “Count Me In,” “Save Your Heart For Me,” “Everybody Loves A Clown” and “She’s Just My Style” among them.
The odds were against that kind of success. Lewis had little more than name recognition, a limited voice and affability, but he also had some very talented players around him. Leon Russell co-wrote, arranged and played on many of the early hits; Al Kooper was a co-writer on “This Diamond Ring.” Snuff Garrett was a first-class pop producer and the Wrecking Crew was in the studio. Little wonder that these staples of AM radio are still so appealing today.