Bobby Sox To Stockings (Digitally Remastered)

One of the first teen pop idols to emerge in the late '50s, Frankie Avalon enjoyed a series of chart successes from 1958-1962. His mix of romantically sincere ballads and dopey rockers made him a hit with kids and kept his star rising throughout the '60s as Annette Funicello's beach-flick boyfriend. This fine Ace collection includes most of Avalon's big hits, like "Venus," "Dede Dinah," "Gingerbread," and "Bobby Sox to Stockings," along with some minor bubble-gum cuts ("(I Wanna Be) Teacher's Pet" and "Blue Betty") and pop crooners ("Where Are You" and "You Are Mine"). Other low-profile material includes the mod groover "Don't Make Fun of Me" and the melancholic ballad "Why." As with all of Avalon's material from this time, the arrangements and accompaniment are top notch and the sound impeccable. And even though it leaves out a few hits ("Two Fools" and "Swinging on a Rainbow"), this is still a pretty thorough hits collection, with the added attraction of some obscure cuts. For those who want a complete hits package, look for Varese Sarabande's The Best of Frankie Avalon; for those interested in hearing more of his non-hit material from this period, get his EP Collection on See for Miles.