CD Review: Various artists - American Diner (Inspired)

By Bev Bevan on Oct 30, 09 06:38 AM

WHAT pops into your mind when you think of American diners?

Cheeseburgers, frothy coffee and milkshakes but, most of all, that big old jukebox in the corner, pumping out that great American music from the 50s and 60s.

American Diner is loaded with original classics from that era, including Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls Of Fire, The Shangri-Las' Leader Of The Pack and The Everly Brothers' All I Have To Do Is Dream.

There's Johnny Tillotson's Poetry In Motion, Jackie Wilson's Reet Petite, Bob and Earl's Harlem Shuffle, Johnny Cash's I Walk The Line, The Turtles' Happy Together and Champ's Tequila.

There are also tracks familiar due to them being used on TV ads.

You'll hear Vauxhall's Don't Rain On My Parade by Bobby Darin and Don't You Just Know It by Huey 'Piano' Smith, plus Dream Bed's Mr Sandman by The Chordettes.

One track that sticks out like a sore thumb, though, is Venus by Dutch group Shocking Blue, which was a hit in 1970. I think the compilers meant that to be Venus by Frankie Avalon.

Same title, different song. That aside, this is a fine 42-track, double-CD collection.