I'm sure you've flipped past Dion & The Belmonts 1967 reunion album at least once in your life and never gave it a thought. Dion is a lot hipper now than he was in 1967, or even 1977, for that matter. This record never had a shot. Not in 1967. But "Together Again" actually fits better alongside "Surrealistic Pillow," "Forever Changes, ""Moby Grape" and "Wild Honey" than it does the Bronx street doo-wop that made Dion & The Belmonts legends. As a matter of fact, about half of this record sounds like they were backed by the Velvet Underground.
I only discovered this record about ten years ago, but I play it often and it always works.
12 comments:
I'll stick with the live one from 1972. It's nice that they tried to break new ground on Together Again. But ... it doesn't work for me and I love Dion.
Moby Grape, Surrealistic Pillow, Forever Changes, Wild Honey, Velvet Underground? You're trippin', Sal:)
VR
VR,
Every song I posted today stands up just fine next to any of the records I mentioned. Never said better. Simply said, "fits better than."
I got you, Sal. That Kiki Dee you put up today is nice. Tough to beat Aretha but in some aspects it does. Shoulda been a hit in England and Aretha's should have been much bigger than it was in the US. I remember her doing it on Shindig! when I was a kid. She was backed by a trio and the Blossoms were doing backgrounds. Chambers Brothers were on that show too. Both were great.
VR
I think I need to learn more about Dion. I hardly know anything, other than what he looks like today, and the hits, of course.
Shit. This stuff is REALLY good. This is a HOT TIP (thanx). And YES, I have flipped past this before without much of a thought. And also yes, this record never had a chance. I can just see the aging'67 greaser seeing this in the record store and saying "Hell yeah, they're 'Together Again'!" Then getting it home, putting it on, and having that "WTF" moment, screwing his face up like he smells rotten food.
I also hear all those '67 things in there (especially early Velvets). But it's Dion and the Belmonts... WHY does this work? It just does.
Rare seems 2 b. case. can't find anywhere on web
thanks Sal another gem from the vault
any chance of an upload?
I will get an upload to go along with the Songs Of The Week on Sunday.
I really enjoyed the first and last songs you posted. The other two may grow on me. I also hear some Velvets and Beach Boys in the songs, though Dion and band don't sound like they are copying, just evolving.
On a side note, since you mentioned Surrealistic Pillow, have you heard this one from Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway? There's some tasty picking on this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlVvM3VKuEk
- Paul in DK
I thought I saw my comment posted here but now it's been deleted. Why? Whatta I do?
Mr. Baez,
You did nothing. Your house is my house. I published your comment. You said you saw it. Not sure why it isn't here.
Strange, I blame AI.
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