Dee Clark, real name Delecta Clark, was born in Arkansas in 1938 and started out in gospel before recording at the age of 14 with a group called The Hambone Kids. His mother, Essie Mae Clark, was a gospel singer and encouraged her son to pursue his love of music and Clark made his first recording in 1952 as a member of the Hambone Kids. By the mid-50s he was a member of R&B vocal group The Kool Gents, who signed to Vee Jay. The group recorded for Falcon/Abner in 1956, and also recorded a novelty record as “The Delegates”. He moved on to a solo career in the pop/soul/R&B style, for a while taking over Little Richard’s band when he went into the church, and had a string of hits in the late ‘50s and early ’60s in the pop and R&B charts, the biggest a pop No.2 with Raindrops.
This 55-track set includes the A- and B-sides of singles from these years by The Kool Gents, The Delegates and Dee Clark on the Vee Jay, Falcon and Abner labels, plus selected tracks from his Abner albums Dee Clark and How About That and his Vee Jay albums You’re Lookin’ Good and Hold On… It’s Dee Clark. It features all his 12 chart entries from this era, including his biggest hit Raindrops. A power ballad augmented by heavy rain and thunder sound effects, the track reached No.2 on the US pop chart and number three on the R&B charts. The collection also features the Top 40 hits Nobody But You, Just Keep It Up (also a UK Top 30 hit), Hey Little Girl, How About That and Your Friends, most of which also made the R&B Top 10.
He was a stylish and versatile performer, his recordings transcending the genres, enabling him to handle Great American Songbook classics alongside soul rockers. An entertaining showcase for those talents.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
This Is The Night |
Kool Gents |
2 |
Do Ya Do |
Kool Gents |
3 |
You Know |
Kool Gents |
4 |
I Can't Help Myself |
Kool Gents |
5 |
The Convention |
The Delegates |
6 |
Mother's Son |
The Delegates |
7 |
I'm Gonna Be Glad |
The Delegates |
8 |
Gloria |
Dee Clark |
9 |
Kangaroo Hop |
Dee Clark |
10 |
Seven Nights |
Dee Clark |
11 |
24 Boy Friends |
Dee Clark |
12 |
Oh Little Girl |
Dee Clark |
13 |
Wondering |
Dee Clark |
14 |
Nobody But You |
Dee Clark |
15 |
When I Call On You |
Dee Clark |
16 |
Just Keep It Up |
Dee Clark |
17 |
Whispering Grass |
Dee Clark |
18 |
Hey Little Girl |
Dee Clark |
19 |
If It Wasn't For Love |
Dee Clark |
20 |
How About That |
Dee Clark |
21 |
Blues Get Off My Shoulder |
Dee Clark |
22 |
At My Front Door |
Dee Clark |
23 |
Cling-A-Ling |
Dee Clark |
24 |
You're Looking Good |
Dee Clark |
25 |
Your Friends |
Dee Clark |
26 |
Because I Love You |
Dee Clark |
27 |
Raindrops |
Dee Clark |
28 |
I Want To Love You |
Dee Clark |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Don't Walk Away From Me |
Dee Clark |
2 |
You're Telling Our Secrets |
Dee Clark |
3 |
You Are Like The Wind |
Dee Clark |
4 |
Drums In My Heart |
Dee Clark |
5 |
Dance On Little Girl |
Dee Clark |
6 |
Fever |
Dee Clark |
7 |
I'm Going Back To School |
Dee Clark |
8 |
I Can't Dream |
Dee Clark |
9 |
Lucky Me |
Dee Clark |
10 |
Nature Boy |
Dee Clark |
11 |
Count On Me |
Dee Clark |
12 |
They're Talkin' |
Dee Clark |
13 |
I Love You Darling |
Dee Clark |
14 |
Foggy Day |
Dee Clark |
15 |
Silently Lovin' You |
Dee Clark |
16 |
Moonlite In Vermont |
Dee Clark |
17 |
The Time Has Come |
Dee Clark |
18 |
Come To California |
Dee Clark |
19 |
Baby, What You Want Me To Do |
Dee Clark |
20 |
Just Like A Fool |
Dee Clark |
21 |
What'd I Say |
Dee Clark |
22 |
Hold On |
Dee Clark |
23 |
Portrait Of My Love |
Dee Clark |
24 |
Cupid |
Dee Clark |
25 |
Always Together |
Dee Clark |
26 |
Cindy |
Dee Clark |
27 |
What Kind Of Fool |
Dee Clark |