Johnny Preston Running Bear - A Golden Classics Edition

Also available as an import on CD on Bear Records [0127 15473].

Includes liner notes by Mark Marymont.

Johnny Preston charted five hits on the Billboard Top 100 in 1959-1961, the biggest of which was the number one hit "Running Bear." That song is here, along with three of his other charting singles ("Free Me" is omitted) and over a dozen miscellaneous tracks, including two Christmas songs. Preston's style is light rock & roll comparable to that of Buddy Knox, and many of his songs were written and/or produced by J.P. Richardson, aka the Big Bopper. Bear Family Records has released two Preston CDs that collect most if not all of his Mercury recordings, but Running Bear is a concise and entertaining distillation that will satisfy most listeners. ~ Greg Adams