VA - The Beach Music Anthology Box Set (1992)

The Beach Music Anthology Review by Jeff Burger
A four-CD, 90-track "beach-music anthology" with not a hint of Jan and Dean or the Beach Boys? The official explanation is that this is beach music from the other coast, specifically from the Carolinas. But this collection's definition of Southern beach music is loose, to put it mildly. It extends beyond records created in the South (there's at least one track by a British group), beyond tunes popular during the summer (some of these hit the charts in mid-winter), and way beyond the subjects of sun and surf (there is a smattering of songs on the subject, but most have nothing to do with it). So what is the theme? It appears that any R&B-spiced rock that got played on Carolina beaches from the mid-'50s to the mid-'90s, no matter where it came from or what it was about, was fair game. One suspects a more honest title for this package would be 90 Songs the Label Could License Rights To. That said, the anthology holds together well musically, the quality level is rather consistently good, and the collection includes quite a few national hits and regional obscurities that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. Among the many highlights: Jackie Wilson's "Lonely Teardrops," Chuck Jackson's "Any Day Now," the Corsairs' "Smoky Places," the Foundations' "Build Me Up Buttercup," and Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park." This may not all be what you'd call "beach music"; it may not even contain much of what you would call beach music. Still, you could do a heck of a lot worse for a soundtrack for your next beach party.

Tracklist
Disc 1
1. The Catalinas – Summertime's Calling Me (03:19)
2. The Fantastic Shakers – Myrtle Beach Days (03:05)
3. The Embers – I Love Beach Music (03:06)
4. Billy Scott and the Prophets – I Got the Fever (03:00)
5. Jewell & Rubies – Kidnapper (02:54)
6. Lloyd Price – Stagger Lee (02:29)
7. Gary Bass & the EBS All-Star Blues Band – Soothe Me (03:14)
8. Bill Pinkney and The Original Drifters – Gonna Move Across the River (03:18)
9. The Clovers – Drive It Home (04:04)
10. Globetrotters – Rainy Day Bells (03:10)
11. The Foundations – Build Me Up Buttercup (03:03)
12. The Trammps – Hold Back the Night (03:51)
13. The Platters – With This Ring (02:50)
14. The Showmen – 39-21-46 (03:07)
15. Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs – Stay (01:41)
16. Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman (02:59)
17. The Drifters – You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book (03:22)
18. Jackie Wilson – Lonely Teardrops (02:37)
19. The Tymes – Ms. Grace (03:15)
20. Professor's Blues Review – Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On (04:41)
21. Tams – Tams Medley (03:23)
22. The Embers – Brenda (04:10)
23. General Johnson – Carolina Girls (03:21)

Disc 2
1. Ravens – Green Eyes (02:26)
2. Billy Stewart – I Do Love You (03:06)
3. Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces – Searching for My Baby (02:37)
4. Tony Clarke – The Entertainer (02:39)
5. The Radiants – Ain't No Big Thing (02:53)
6. Etta James – Tell Mama (02:28)
7. The Dells – There Is (03:39)
8. The Fantastics – Something Old, Something New (02:54)
9. Fontella Bass – Rescue Me (03:01)
10. Billy Stewart – Fat Boy (02:38)
11. Cash McCall – That Lucky Old Sun (03:03)
12. Arthur Alexander – Anna (02:55)
13. Chuck Jackson – Any Day Now (03:24)
14. Bob Meyer & The Rivieras – Behold (02:34)
15. Etta James – Pushover (02:57)
16. The Radiants – Voice Your Choice (02:38)
17. The Dells – Wear It on Our Face (03:30)
18. The Swinging Medallions – Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) (02:24)
19. Billy Stewart – Summertime (05:02)
20. Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure – You'll Miss Me (When I'm Gone) (02:37)
21. The Corsairs – Smoky Places (03:05)
22. Billy Stewart – Sitting in the Park (03:22)
23. Rockin' Louie & Mamma Jammers – Club Savoy (03:20)

Disc 3
1. The Showmen – It Will Stand (02:29)
2. Bill Deal & the Rhondels – What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am) (02:22)
3. Bob & Earl – Harlem Shuffle (03:00)
4. Barbara Lewis – Hello Stranger (02:47)
5. Deon Jackson – Love Makes the World Go Round (02:36)
6. Betty Everett – Shoop Shoop (It's in His Kiss) (02:21)
7. Benny Spellman – Lipstick Traces (On a Cigarette) (02:33)
8. Mel & Tim – Backfield in Motion (02:37)
9. Chuck Jackson – I Don't Want to Cry (02:26)
10. The Poets – She Blew a Good Thing (02:51)
11. The Winstons – Color Him Father (03:13)
12. Robert Knight – Everlasting Love (03:04)
13. Robert Parker – Barefootin' (02:39)
14. The Esquires – Get on Up (02:27)
15. Gene Chandler – Duke of Earl (02:30)
16. The Platters – Washed Ashore (02:52)
17. Jerry Butler – He Will Break Your Heart (02:53)
18. Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson – Lover's Holiday (02:44)
19. Barbara Lewis – Baby I'm Yours (02:36)
20. Ernie K‐Doe – Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta (02:42)
21. The Catalinas – You Haven't the Right (02:23)
22. The Platters – I Love You 1000 Times (02:41)

Disc 4
1. Billy Scott & The Georgia Prophets – California (02:36)
2. The Intrigues – In a Moment (02:54)
3. The Embers – Far Away Places (02:56)
4. The Part Time Party Time Band – Party Time Man (03:46)
5. Mel & Tim – Good Guys Only Win (02:50)
6. Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford – I Need Your Lovin' (05:48)
7. Buster Brown – Fannie Mae (03:06)
8. Jerry Butler – For Your Precious Love (02:50)
9. Gloria Taylor – You're Got to Pay the Price (03:40)
10. Bill Deal & the Rhondels – I've Been Hurt (02:15)
11. The O'kaysions – Girlwatcher (02:41)
12. Ernie K‐Doe – Mother-In-Law (02:40)
13. Wilbert Harrison – Kansas City (02:33)
14. The Tams – Too Much Foolin' Around (02:32)
15. Clifford Curry – She Shot a Hole in My Soul (02:26)
16. Patty & the Emblems – Mixed Up Shook Up Girl (02:13)
17. Barbara Lewis – Think a Little Sugar (02:25)
18. Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs – May I (02:23)
19. Little Anthony & the Imperials – Goin' Out of My Head (02:36)
20. The Monzas – Hey I Know You (02:49)
21. Band of Oz – Shaggin' (03:23)
22. Doug Clark and the Hot Nuts – Baby Let Me Bang Your Box (02:33)