R

Music Week review March 26, 1977

While most mainstream UK record companies today approach the repackaging of oldies with concern for historical perspective and documentation, the TV merchants often maintain the "rag-bag" approach, witness K-Tel's (very successful) Heartbreakers, now Arcade's Rock On. The repertoire vintage here is roughly mid-Fifties through to early Sixties, and a couple of the 20 tracks (Danny & The Juniors' At The Hop and Dion's Runaround Sue) have been re-issue hits recently. No particular theme is evident, with the Surfaris' beach instrumental, Wipeout, mixing with the New Orleans r&b of Lloyd Price's Stagger Lee, for example, and Lesley Gore's punchy pop classis, It's My Party, alongside the Big Bopper's creaky Chantilly Lace. Others represented include Bruce Channel, Jerry Lee Lewis, Paul & Paula, Brenda Lee. Johnny & The Hurricanes and Buddy Holly. It's a fine party record, mainly for those in their mid-twenties and upwards, and Arcade's TV campaign will punch home the message.