Don Rondo was a singer with a style more akin to the middle-of-the-road market of the early 1950s but who came to the fore with hits with that approach early in the rock ‘n’ roll era.
Finding it difficult to establish a chart presence in a changing market, Rondo embraced the new musical idioms before he was overtaken by newer teen idols, and as a popular personality on TV, turned to broadcasting in the ‘60s.
This 52-track collection features selected A- and B-sides of his singles on Decca, Jubilee, Roulette and Carlton labels from these years, plus the titles from his Jubilee albums Rondo and Have You Met not otherwise released on singles. Rondo first became popular following the 1956 release of his rendition of the song Two Different Worlds. Released by Jubilee Records in October 1956, the song spent three months on the Billboard chart, peaking at No.11. It eventually sold more than a million copies. In contrast, follow-up hit White Silver Sands was an uptempo number. With words and music written in 1957 by Charles “Red” Matthews, the single peaked in the US at No.7.
Featuring as it does a significant proportion of the 60-odd titles he released during this era, it offers a worthwhile overview of his career as a chart-focused recording artist. It also provides an entertaining showcase for his versatility as a song stylist as he tackles ballads and novelty-flavoured material, as well as out-and-out teen pop and rock ‘n’ roll in search of a hit, along with old-school standards on his albums. He was certainly an artist who arrived on the scene at the wrong time and deserved more chart success than he achieved.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Evening Star |
Don Rondo |
2 |
I Offer You My Heart |
Don Rondo |
3 |
Two Different Worlds |
Don Rondo |
4 |
He Made You Mine |
Don Rondo |
5 |
Don't (Unless You Care) |
Don Rondo |
6 |
The Love I Never Had |
Don Rondo |
7 |
To Belong |
Don Rondo |
8 |
On Forgotten Street |
Don Rondo |
9 |
White Silver Sands |
Don Rondo |
10 |
Stars Fell On Alabama |
Don Rondo |
11 |
Forsaking All Others |
Don Rondo |
12 |
There's Only You |
Don Rondo |
13 |
In Chi Chi Chihuahua |
Don Rondo |
14 |
Wanderin' Heart |
Don Rondo |
15 |
Made For Each Other |
Don Rondo |
16 |
What A Shame |
Don Rondo |
17 |
Blonde Bombshell |
Don Rondo |
18 |
There Goes My Heart Again |
Don Rondo |
19 |
School Dance |
Don Rondo |
20 |
Dormi Dormi Dormi |
Don Rondo |
21 |
Her Hair Was Yellow |
Don Rondo |
22 |
As Long As I Have You |
Don Rondo |
23 |
City Lights |
Don Rondo |
24 |
Song From 'Geisha Boy' |
Don Rondo |
25 |
Gretna Green |
Don Rondo |
26 |
My Foolish Heart |
Don Rondo |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Leave Your Troubles On My Lips |
Don Rondo |
2 |
Cuckoo Girl |
Don Rondo |
3 |
Batch Of Love |
Don Rondo |
4 |
Quiet Girl |
Don Rondo |
5 |
Wall-To-Wall Tears |
Don Rondo |
6 |
The Golden Rule |
Don Rondo |
7 |
The King Of Holiday Island |
Don Rondo |
8 |
But Give Me Time |
Don Rondo |
9 |
They Can't Shake My Faith In You |
Don Rondo |
10 |
We're Not Children Anymore |
Don Rondo |
11 |
There Is No Love |
Don Rondo |
12 |
While We're Young |
Don Rondo |
13 |
Three Doors |
Don Rondo |
14 |
Bring Back My Summer Love |
Don Rondo |
15 |
Liza |
Don Rondo |
16 |
Stella By Starlight |
Don Rondo |
17 |
Ramona |
Don Rondo |
18 |
Charmaine |
Don Rondo |
19 |
Laura |
Don Rondo |
20 |
Margie |
Don Rondo |
21 |
Jeannine (I Dream Of Lilac Time) |
Don Rondo |
22 |
Mona Lisa |
Don Rondo |
23 |
Diane |
Don Rondo |
24 |
Dolores |
Don Rondo |
25 |
Peg O' My Heart |
Don Rondo |
26 |
Have You Met Miss Jones? |
Don Rondo |