Showaddywaddy - The Very Best Of Showaddywaddy (1995)

Fifties rock 'n' roll has proven exceptionally resilient in terms of revival, and few have managed to resurrect it more successfully than Showaddywaddy—a friendly troupe of English singers and musicians who, between 1974 and 1980 (the prime punk years!), scored a staggering fifteen top 20 hits, including nine top 10 singles and one chart-topper. From '76 to '78, they had seven consecutive top 5 hits, and they continued to chart in the top 40 until 1983.
Taking a cue from their eccentric American counterparts Sha Na Na (the rock 'n' roll revival group that unexpectedly triumphed at Woodstock in '69), Showaddywaddy understood that humor was part of the very essence of rock 'n' roll—a quality sadly lost in most forms of pop music. So they adapted their show accordingly and built up a well-rounded repertoire, consisting primarily of rock 'n' roll and doo-wop standards. There were songs that were already huge hits: "When," "Three Steps to Heaven," "You Got What It Takes," "Blue Moon," and then there were rarer ones: "Under the Moon of Love" (a No. 1 hit and a remarkable improvement on the original Phil Spector version) and "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" (not exactly an improvement), originally written by Curtis Lee. There were also "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Hearts" (originally performed by Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans, again produced by Spector) and "A Little Bit of Soap," an American hit by The Jarmels. Other well-remembered artists given the Showaddywaddy treatment included Buddy Holly ("Heartbeat"), Chubby Checker ("Dancin' Party"), Bobby Darin ("Multiplication"), and Dion and the Belmonts ("I Wonder Why"). They also had a few original songs early on, including their #2 debut hit "Hey Rock and Roll," as well as "Rock and Roll Lady" and "Hey Mr. Christmas." Naturally, their hits were released on the Bell label, home to much of the '70s super-pop, where their labelmates included the likes of Gary Glitter and The Glitter Band, The Bay City Rollers, The Partridge Family featuring David Cassidy, Barry Blue, Hello, and others. Showaddywaddy was born in the early 1970s from the merger of two Leicestershire beat groups: eight talented guys working with the equally talented Mike Hurst, Cat Stevens' former producer. He proved astute enough to skillfully guide the band's recording career, crafting a sound that captured the spirit of the 1950s while still imbued with the essential swell of 1970s glam pop-rock.
The band included Malcolm Allured, Dave Bartram, and Billy Gask (vocals), Russ Fields, Trevie Oakes (guitars and father of Luton Town footballer Scott Oakes), Al James, Rod Dias (bass), and Romeo Challenger (drums). Showaddywaddy are still active today, some twenty years after their initial success, performing more as a '70s band than a '50s revivalist, and they still put on a great show. This complete collection features those original hits as they were released on the Bell label, reminding us of more carefree days and, above all, how wonderful and fun Showaddywaddy's music was—and remains.