Phil Phillips - Sea Of Love: The Collection (2014)

Born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Phil Phillips (born John Phillip Baptiste in 1931) only scored one hit, but what a hit it was. "Sea of Love," in which Phillips attempted to woo the woman of his dreams as a cascading piano buoyed the melody and a doo wop chorus bomped away in the background, became a local hit in New Orleans in 1958 before it was picked up by Mercury Records for nationwide release and rose to number two on the pop singles charts. Phillips never enjoyed another major commercial success, but not for lack of trying, and he lent his voice to a handful of fine R&B singles before he cut back on his performing career for steadier work in radio. Sea of Love: The Collection features Phillips' legendary hit along with 19 other tunes, revealing that Phillips was a gifted vocalist who deserved to be remembered for more than one great song.