Shane Fenton & The Fentones - The Complete A-Sides And B-Sides (Remastered) (2003)

Shane Fenton had a career that is unusual, to say the least. The material on this CD is from the early 60s, when with the Fentones he had a modestly successful career. There's one top 20 hit (Cindy's Birthday) and a number of quite pleasant songs, some of which made the lower reaches of the UK Top 50. The group was a popular club act and also appears in the movie 'Play It Cool', with Billy Fury.

After The Beatles changed the face of popular music, Shane and the Fentones faded away. However, he reappeared in the 1970s as a glam rocker, Alvin Stardust, and in that incarnation had a lot more success.

This CD is a good example of the Cliff Richard-inspired sound of the early 1960s in the UK. It's noteworthy to me because one song 'Too Young For Sad Memories', was one of the first pop songs I really enjoyed. Mind you, I was only 13 at the time! These days it sounds very dated and naive, but still brings back good memories. (John D. Muir)