With a hit like "Here Comes My Baby", the album title wrote itself. Nevertheless, this is one of the great lost British beat group albums. Lots of jangle, group harmony and an eclectic mix of originals and covers of everyone from Lennon-McCartney to Chuck Berry to Doug Kershaw. The party vibe lasts from the lid-lifter "Here Comes My Baby" through the closer "Even The Bad Times Are Good", both of which were hit singles and feature exuberant laughter and clapping in the background.
Bobby Hutcherson - The Kicker (rec. 1963, released 1999 )
Bobby's very first session as a leader, recorded when he was just 22. The liner notes to Mosaic's brand new Bobby Hutcherson box suggest that the session was held back because Joe Henderson's blowing and composing overshadowed the young vibist. Much as I hate to see such fine music languish in the vault for more than 30 years, I have to admit grudgingly that this decision made a lot of sense for Hutcherson's long term career development. Blue Note producer Alfred Lion deserved his reputation as a wise producer.