Fabian was “rockin’ hot” in 1961 though mainly in film rather than music.
His days as a music teen idol were already behind him and he was 18 years old (he started when he was 14). His chart career lasted one, maybe two, years (1959-1960). He had three Top 10s, one Top 20, and another three Top 40s in 1959 alone. Impressive, though short lived. In 1960 he had charted only one Top 40, his last chart appearance.
This was his last studio album (his fifth in three years).
But, by then, he was concentrating on his film (and television) career which had started with “Hound-Dog Man” (1959) and had the hit films “High Time” (1960) with Bing Crosby, “North to Alaska” (1960) with John Wayne, and “Love in a Goldfish Bowl” (1961) with Tommy Sands. He would follow those up with A Grade features “Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation” (1962) with James Stewart, “Five Weeks in a Balloon” (1962), the all-star spectacular The Longest Day” (1962), “Ride the Wild Surf” (1964), “Dear Brigitte” (1965), again, with James Stewart, and “Ten Little Indians” (1965) before slipping into American International B features and drive in films, which are not without merit. In fact, Fabian was quite a good actor. He really stretched his skills but he is always pleasant and natural on the screen.
Colin Larkin in his "Encyclopaedia of Popular music" somewhat at harshly says … "Fabian's limited vocal range should not be held against him: he became a puppet and he danced; out of it he traded a doomed musical career for a credible career". There is some truth in that. For a year (1959) he was continuously in the charts though there is no doubt his film career had more legs.
Most of the rock ‘n’ rollers / poppers (Elvis, Bobby Darin, Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson, Bobby Rydell, Tommy Sands, Frankie Avalon, Connie Francis, Johnny Cash) just like the trad poppers before them (Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Bing Crosby, Guy Mitchell) had a crack at films and film stardom.
It also doesn’t hurt that Fabian came out in that time when Elvis was in the army and there was a softening in rock ‘n’ roll.
He returned to singing in about 1973 and hit the “oldies” circuit though he recorded no further music (well, a couple of singles).
Fabian made the most of his career and did exceptionally well. Teen idols are difficult enough to maintain at the best of times and he wasn’t as natural or strong a singer as his Philadelphia contemporaries, Bobby Rydell and Frankie Avalon.
During the payola scandal of the 1960s. Fabian testified before Congress that his recordings had been doctored electronically to "significantly improve his voice." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Forte
He was pursued by manager, record label owner, Bob Marcucci, on his looks alone (pompadour, youth, youthful rebellion) before he even heard him sing.
But, there is a playful innocence in Fabian’s music that always makes it interesting to me. Because Fabian is not naturally gifted or a trained singer his awkwardness around a song actually becomes somewhat charming and makes him sound like a boy everyman, though with spunk. Something the teens could relate to.
What the music does have (intentionally) is Fabian’s verve, and the backing of some smart pop rock producers, arrangers and musicians.
That for me is enough.
This album is an album of recent hits, and songs written for Fabian all arranged for his voice and personality which is what makes this listenable (and even enjoyable). There is some quirky music work going on also which is a lot of fun. The backing are an orchestra and chorus by Russell Faith and Peter DeAngelis. The sound is a little full but, if there was an orchestra most, of the instruments were isolated to concentrate on the beat instruments. The chorus is pure Jordanaires type backing.
As reflected in the album title, here all the tracks lean towards rock 'n' roll. And, surprisingly a lot of it works. It is perhaps Fabian's most complete rock 'n ' roll album. He isn't stretched in any of the songs but he is convincing in most. And he is, inadvertently, a precursor to the Lou Reed style of speaking singing.
Which is smart.
The producers are playing to his strengths and not accentuating his weaknesses.
And, check out that album cover … image is everything.
For biographical detail check my other comments on Fabian.
Tracks (best in italics)
Side One
- Tongue Tied – (Don Covay, John Berry, Mark Lewis) – First recording and first release by Wanda Jackson in early 1961. It was also recorded by Betty McQuade in the same year. “Dungaree Dolls” get a mention here as they did in Little Richard’s “Ready Teddy” from 1956 (and Eddie Fisher’s song “Dungaree Dolls” 1956). Fabian is channelling Elvis circa 1956 here. This is quite good, actually, very good.
- Nobody – (Claude DeMetrius) – Written by Claude Demetrius ho is often associated with Elvis Presley for whom he wrote (he wrote for Elvis' publishing company) specifically “Hard Headed Woman” (#1 1958). The beat is hard with some nice guitar work. The vocal is pop. Still, it's fun.
- Somebody Else – (Diane DeNota) – Diane DeNota was a close friend of manager Bob Marcucci, which led to him placing several of her songs with his charge Frankie Avalon (who had hits with two of them) and Fabian. So so.
- Singin' The Blues – (M. Endsley) – First recorded by Marty Robbins (#1 Country, #17 Pop 1956-1957) but a gigantic hit and identified forever with Guy Mitchell ( #1 1956-1957 for ten weeks). It's good hearing Fabian singing this song but that invites comparison with Guy Mitchell, and he doesn't come off favourably. Nice loopy guitar work though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singing_the_Blues
- Little Meanie Jeanie – (Dicicco, Faith) – first done by Fabian. Russ Faith was another US composer and producer (and arranger, lyricist, conductor, vocal coach, pianist, guitarist), often associated to Robert P. Marcucci as a producer, including on this album. Not too bad and one of the many adjective noun songs that came out in the 50s.
- King Of Love – (R. Faith) – first done by Fabian. Written by producer Russ Faith
Side Two
- Hey Little Girl – (Stevenson, Blackwell) – First release by Thurston Harris (1959) and then done by Dee Sharp (1959). It has been done many times since, Bobby vee (1965), Dave Berry (1966), Donny Osmond (1971), Brownsville Station (1974), by co-author Otis Blackwell himself (1977) and many others. With a nod to “Bo Diddley” this song is a hott and done well here.
- Kansas City – (Leiber – Stoller) – A staple of R&B and early rock ‘n’ roll by the great Leiber and Stoller. First release by Little Willie Littlefield (1952). Other versions include Little Richard (1959), Wilbert Harrison (#1US 1959), Freddy Cannon (1960), Bill Haley and His Comets (1960), Dion (1961), Clyde McPhatter 91962), Trini Lopez (1963), Pat Boone (1964), The Beatles (1964), Billy Lee Riley 91964), Fats Domino 9965), Everly Brothers (1965), Tom Jones (1966), Billy Fury (1977), Hound Dog Taylor and the Houserockers (1982), Paul McCartney (1987) and many others. Okay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_(Leiber_and_Stoller_song)
- A Special Kind Of Love – (Peter DeAngelis, Robert Marcucci) – first done by Fabian. DeAngelis and Marcucci co-owned Chancellor records. The narrator is looking for "plenty of loving of the "special kind of love". You can read between the lines. I know these were the supposed "tame" years between Elvis and The Beatles but this is a million miles from "I Want to Hold Your Hand" thematically.
- Written In The Book – (Diane DeNota) – first done by Fabian. Pop
- My Babe – (W. Dixon) – Blues, R&B, rock standard. Written by Willie Dixon for Little Walter (#1 R&B US 1955). Dixon based the song on traditional gospel song "This Train (Is Bound for Glory)", recorded by Sister Rosetta Tharpe as "This Train" (1939). It has been done by everyone including Ricky nelson (1958), Dale Hawkins (1958), Cliff Richard and The Drifters (1959), The Coasters (1962), Bo Diddley (1962), Peter & Gordon (1964), Ike and Tina Turner (1964), The Everly brothers (1965), Elvis Presley (1969), Chuck Berry (1975), Sleepy LaBeef (1979), Ronnie Hawkins (1979), Link Wray (1989), '68 comeback (1999), Dion (2007) and many others. A great song and its done well. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Babe
- Tomorrow – (Joe Phillips) – first done by Fabian and similar to his hit "Tiger". It has the casual swagger that Fabian loved to use in his vocals as well as some great guitar work. A hoot.
And …
Underrated and undervalued … I'm keeping it.
Chart Action
Nothing no where
Sounds
Tongue Tied
mp3 attached
Nobody
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIgTUaCgevk
Somebody Else
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYylnESQ_Qs
Little Meanie Jeanie
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jkpS0Z1ejU
King Of Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmApASrboCA
Hey Little Girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLS7pCA0EJg
Kansas City
live clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF79tXwFV0A
A Special Kind Of Love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLpDkw_b7Ng
My Babe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1XHWmAx8CI
Tomorrow
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJlRyoPtY4
Others
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVHCfBBraK0
Review
—
Bio
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fabian_Forte
http://fabianforte.net/biography.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Demetrius
Russ Faith
https://www.philadelphiamusicalliance.org/honoree.php?id=40
Website
Trivia
- Arranged By – Peter De Angelis (tracks: A1, A2, A3, B3, B4, B6), Russ Faith (tracks: A4, A5, A6, B1, B2, B5). Produced by Bob Marcucci and Russ Faith.
