From the Vault...

05/31/2009
#1153

info
The Gentrys
"Keep On Dancing"


© Collectables Records
Year of Release: 1995
Rating:

track listing
  • Keep On Dancing
  • Everybody To Their
    Own Kick
  • Sometimes
  • Hang On Sloopy
  • Hey Girl Don't Bother Me
  • Brown Paper Sack
  • Do You Love Me
  • Hand Jive
  • So Sad (To Watch
    Good Love Go Bad)
  • Don't Send Me Flowers
  • Little Girl Next Door
  • Make Up Your Mind
  • Spread It On Thick
  • Everyday I Have To Cry

  • WSVNRadio Archives
    A B C D E F G H I J K L M
    N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    The Gentrys related sites:

    The Gentrys Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #1152
    P.D.Q. Bach--1712 Overture
    Next Review: #1154
    Mary Wells--The Ultimate Collection
    The Gentrys
    "Keep On Dancing"



    The Gentrys are one those bands hthat their name may not ring memory bells, but their biggest hit, "Keep On Dancing" would set those bells off. Collectables Records released Keep On Dancing, assumed an original album; they do have a Very Best Of release, from the same record company. I used to have a 45 rpm single, "Spread It On Thick"/"Brown Paper Bag". Finding this single, likewise their biggest hit on one CD was a treat.


    In reading other reviews of this release, I would have to agree: Some of the remaining songs are lightweight, or in my opinion, pretty lame. Songs such as "Sometimes," "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me," "So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)," "Don't Send Me Flowers" and even "Brown Paper Sack" are just uninteresting and lame. Definitely the song "Little Girl Next Door," where the vocals were just plain BAD. I'm not sure if this particular song was sung by Larry Raspberry; it might have been by another singer in this band, who would later become more popular in the World Wrestling Federation -- Jimmy Hart


    Remakes of popular songs are not as bad as the others just mentioned: "Hang On Sloopy" (The McCoys), "Do You Love Me" (The Contours), "Hand Jive" (Johnny Otis) -- the original versions are far better. "Everybody Is Their Own Kick" has a more Dylan-ish Rock style, and Doug Sahm comes to mind on "Everyday I Have To Cry."


    Keep On Dancing - A Golden Classics Edition by Collectables Records is a good introduction to The Gentrys music. It's always interesting to listen to the other songs and "hits" they recodred. But the "Keep On Dancing" hit and "Spread It On Thick" are the standouts for me. "Everyday I Have To Cry" has more hope than many of the remaining tracks. Both of the latter songs mentioned are bonus tracks on this CD.


    It was interesting to learn that Jimmy Hart was one of the vocalists. In fact, he would reform The Gentrys in 1969, and record through 1974. My guess on the Very Best Of The Gentrys collection would feature more of Jimmy Hart & The Gentrys. Hart would be more famous as a wrestling manager in the 1980s. But its nice to learn that he was a singer before he became more popular in another entertainment field.


    But for the oldies fan, "Keep On Dancing" would be the hit most recognized with The Gentrys name.


    © WSVNRadio.net. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Collectables Records and is used for reference purposes only.


    Previous Review: #1152
    P.D.Q. Bach--1712 Overture
    Next Review: #1154
    Mary Wells--The Ultimate Collection