Bobby Rydell Salutes The Great Ones/Rydell At The Copa contains two albums on one CD — all from a still-teenage Bobby Rydell. Out of print for over 40 years, this is more fantastic stuff from the Cameo Parkway vaults as part of the reissue campaign from Collector’s Choice Music in conjunction with ABKCO. Referring to the older standards covered on the Salutes The Great Ones LP, as well as At The Copa album, Rydell says in the CD’s booklet: “It really was the kind of material I really wanted to sing and, to be truthful, it was why I got into the business in the first place.”
Al Jolson’s “Mammy” is a big show tune with an even bigger arrangement courtesy of Cameo’s house arranger Dave Appell. This one showcases Rydell’s big and booming voice and features backing vocals from some of Ray Charles’ Raelettes. “That Old Black Magic” is one of the greatest songs ever written, although the weird poppy horn treatment doesn’t quite work; however, “All Of You,” with its swirling strings and Rydell’s rolling and smooth vocals, does. “There’s A Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” fares about as well, with 19-year-old Rydell it his own.
“So Rare” is Rydell at his sexiest, but it’s “The Birth Of The Blues” that rates as the best tune from Salutes The Great Ones. The singer’s take on this classic gives ol’ ‘Blue Eyes’ Francis Albert a run for his money and the band is in full swing, never overpowering, as they do on some of the other tunes.
The live Rydell At The Copa takes up the second half of the CD. “Black Magic” has much more snap, while the live horns in “Mammy” make it move. “Sway,” with its Bosa Nova-like vibe and “Homesick That’s All,” featuring a strong vocal from Rydell, are not to be missed.
The dated patter in “They Don’t Write Them Like That Anymore” is at times a little cringe-worthy though Rydell skips around this brief ‘history of hits’ adeptly. “Old Man River” is way too fast to be good or old, but “A Lot Of Livin’ To Do” (featuring “Bye Bye Birdie”) is obviously on its way to becoming a classic. Half of Rydell At The Copa really shines, though it’s more a historical document than anything else. Combined with Bobby Rydell Salutes The Great Ones, it makes for one helluva CD.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
