Rock 'n' Roll

by Frankie Lymon

Description by OLDIES.com:

Forget Michael Jackson and Little Stevie Wonder - in the books of many rock historians, Frankie Lymon was the greatest "kid" act of all time. And this 1958 Roulette release, his first solo album, captures him at the peak of his powers, before the all-too-familiar music biz cocktail of early fame, cynical management and substance abuse took its toll. Though a mere 18 years old at the time, Frankie displays incredible vocal versatility here, moving easily from blues ("Send For Me"; "Next Time You See Me"; "It Hurts To Be In Love") to rock and roll ("Waitin' In School"; "Jailhouse Rock") to even jazz (his playful version of Paul Anka's "Diana"). And his takes on "Wake Up Little Susie"; "Silhouettes"; "Buzz Buzz Buzz"; "Seachin'"; "Short Fat Fannie", and "Little Bitty Pretty One" are masterful, too, further evidence that Lymon's short career is the only thing that holds him back from being mentioned in the same breath as Jackie Wilson and Sam Cooke among all-time great R&B vocalists. Produced by Hugo and Luigi.