Let's hear it for Dion!

[Fonz]

I love this song. One of my earliest musical memories was hearing this coming from my dad's room. He kept ABBA etc for the girlies in the house, but when he was left to his own devices, this was the sort of thing he'd put on.
It rubbed off on me.

It came out after his Belmonts days-and there's another thing-that sounded like a gang my 6 year old self wanted to be in.

[naughty boy]

Love it. Handclaps (or rimshots, or whatever) and layered backing vocals usually do it for me.

He's an artist I keep meaning to check out a bit more - isn't there a 70s album that's supposed to be some sort of classic?

[Charlie O.]

isn't there a 70s album that's supposed to be some sort of classic?

You're probably thinking of the one he did with Spector. I'm not gonna make any claims for it, myself.

But I am a Dion fan. Blessed with an exquisite instrument, obviously, but he also really knew what to do with it - you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in rock music with a better (or more playful) sense of phrasing.

I recommend this 2CD comp drawn from his Columbia period:




... and once again petition Universal to reissue his late '66 reunion with the Belmonts, Together Again.

[naughty boy]

isn't there a 70s album that's supposed to be some sort of classic?

You're probably thinking of the one he did with Spector. I'm not gonna make any claims for it, myself.

That's the one, yeah. I just remember one pretty long song (maybe the first track) that was lovely.

I might go for the comp, thanks.

[Twang]

I've been really digging the comp Norton put out last year of his '65 recordings with Tom Wilson

[Count Machuki]

She's a tramp! She goes out with everybody! For shame!



I'm the Man! I go out with everybody! What a mack!

[Dr Markus]

After the wonderful shaky thread I thought this was going to be about Celine, guess I got too greedy.

[Charlie O.]

I've been really digging the comp Norton put out last year of his '65 recordings with Tom Wilson

I almost recommended that one (it is great) - but most of its songs are on The Road I'm On, along with a lot of other stuff - including some terrific early-'60s acoustic-folk-blues (also unreleased at the time), and a full-band version of "Spoonful" that I sometimes think is my favorite one of all. Not to mention "Drip Drop"!

[Twang]

Yeah, "Spoonful" is great. I wish they'd put something out now that focused on his '64/'65 bluesier stuff. The Road I'm On is a good overview, but I'd like more.

This is one of my favorites from his Columbia years:

[Matt Wilson]

Since we're recommending two-disc comps, I'll put my two cents in. All of his solo singles of the '60s in their original mixes.

[Muskrat]

[Brickyard Jack]

Love him.

[Walk In My Shadow]

Dion

Yo Frankie

1989

The one I like most.

[Charlie O.]

The b-side of "Abraham, Martin & John":





... and from the aforementioned Belmonts reunion:

[clive gash]

That Waits cover is great.



That’s the one that caused a stir on reissue, yer Gillespies bigging it up. Dickie Ashcroft’s sticky fingers all over it.



I remember Melody Maker being very pro this on release, first time I’ve heard it - sounds like Richard Manuel.

[Loki]

[Fonz]

That’s great, isn’t it?

I was well into Showaddywaddy as an eight year old, and that’s one they covered-pretty well really, but the original is mint.