Paul Anka - 21 Golden Hits

Paul Anka's 21 Golden Hits

I thoroughly enjoy listening to this album. However, I received 2 copies,when I'm sure I only ordered one. I'll watch that more closely when I order again.

Rey May 18, 2008

Why Would Anyone Do This?

Re-makes of Paul Anka? Are they crazy? First of all, who would want to buy this KNOWING they're remakes when the original versions are available at much the same price? Unfortunately, I received mine through the mail and, until it arrived, I had no way of knowing the selections were ALL re-done years after the originals.

For those fans lamenting the unavailability of some of his material, you might try seeking out Hello Young Lovers, first released in Europe in 1988 by CeDe International [CD 66063]. It has no liner notes, but it does contain 16 ORIGINAL hits, including I Miss You So [# 33 in 1959], (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings [# 15 in 1959], Adam And Eve [the flip of Puppy Love and a # 90 on its own], the title song [# 23 in 1960], as well as a bona fide "lost" Anka hit, Kissin' On The Phone [# 35 in 1961].

This is a little gem IF you can find it. September 8, 2007

EXCELLENT COMPILATION!!!

All of his 21 golden great songs!! certainly, all of them are re-made, but they are as great as the originals; the stereo effect is simply great, and all of the arrangements are very nice; I had this album first on vinyl, and the difference with the cd is logic; the cd is much better in qualify... Brillant songs like PUPPY LOVE, TIME TO CRY, DIANA, TONIGHT MY LOVE TONIGHT and LONELY BOY; the classics PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER, ADAN AND EVE, DON'T GAMBLE WITH LOVE, CINDERELLA and new songs like THE LONGEST DAY; one of the best cd's I've hear in my life. May 6, 2007

Improved Versions

First of all I have to say that I am 34 years old, so I wasn't even born when the original hits by Paul Anka were released. However, after having listened to the two versions of most of the hits I definitely think that the re-recordings are improved versions over the originals. I think that Paul Anka's voice changed for the better in the new versions - although not many years had passed since he recorded the original versions. I think that Anka's voice in the old versions sounds immature, as if it needed a lot of improvement, and even makes me wonder how was it that some of them were big hits - and I am being serious!.

It is very rare that re-recordings can be considered improved versions over the originals (just listen to the terrible re-recordings by The Platters, Bobby Rydell, or Herman's Hermits), but this record is the proof that that is not always the case. Being a purist, however, I will always prefer the original versions over the re-recordings because no matter what imperfections they may have, those are the ones that people liked and made hits of at a specific time, for the simple reason that they were the only versions at the moment. I think that if we played the original versions and the re-recordings to a very young person who does even know who Paul Anka is and let them choose which version, which voice sounds better, chances are that they will prefer the re-recordings. Of course, if you lived in the 50's you will always prefer the originals, but that will always be like that. In conclusion, I think that both, the original versions and these re-recordings (from 1962) deserve a big applause, but for different reasons. July 5, 2006

Not ABC-Paramount originals

With the exception of "The Longest Day", these are Paul's re-recordings of some of his 50's and early 60's ABC-Paramount material when he signed with RCA-Victor in 1962, moving away from his "teen idol" image. I was disappointed back in the 60's when I purchased the vinyl LP, thinking I was getting the originals. Rhino's "30th Anniversary Collection" covers the essential ABC-Paramount, RCA Victor, Buddah and UA hits. The Japanese 2-CD import "ABC-Paramount Original Classics" has an excellent selection from the early "Big 15" years, but I don't know if it is still in print. February 10, 2006

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