Compilations, even if they're good, can occasionally be misleading. The Five Keys were a solid vocal group who got their start in the early '50s, and who especially prospered with Rudy West singing lead. Dream On promises not only the best of the Five Keys, but also that it features Rudy West. What it doesn't say is that these 1959-60 recordings for King come from a time when West had left the group. His presence on the album, then, is represented by four solo tracks recorded at the same time. While this is confusing and ...
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Compilations, even if they're good, can occasionally be misleading. The Five Keys were a solid vocal group who got their start in the early '50s, and who especially prospered with Rudy West singing lead. Dream On promises not only the best of the Five Keys, but also that it features Rudy West. What it doesn't say is that these 1959-60 recordings for King come from a time when West had left the group. His presence on the album, then, is represented by four solo tracks recorded at the same time. While this is confusing and misleading, Dream On is still an enjoyable collection, and while it may not be the very best of the Five Keys, it is good music. The title track, for instance, is classic bit of doo-wop, while the plaintive "How Can I Forget You" is a lovely ballad. These tracks mingle fairly well with the West material, though his work would've been better-served by the backing of the Five Keys. One of the oddest things -- and perhaps the best thing -- about this collection, is that some genius discovered that these singles' albums had originally been recorded in stereo, though they were released in mono. Dream On's stereo restoration will probably blow some people's minds who've never heard the Five Keys with a guitar or piano on one track and the lead vocal on another. This, in fact, outweighs the collection's muddled assembly and makes Dream On worth picking up. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., Rovi
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Add this copy of Dream on: the Very Best of to cart. $5.56, like new condition, Sold by JR Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Grand Rapids, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Collectables.
Add this copy of Dream on: Very Best of to cart. $17.08, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Collectables.
