One of the more overlooked artists that had a long run on the R&B and pop charts gets a second listen on this two disc, 55 song collection set of Delecta “Dee” Clark (1938-90), with a collection of hit singles and swinging albums that stand well the test of time.
The collection begins with his earliest days with the Kool Gents and The Delegates, getting some traction with the novelty tune “The Convention” (get the political connection?). Clark goes through styles ranging between Clyde McPhatter (“Seven Nights”) and Little Richard (“Oh, Little Girl”) before coming into his own on a rich upbeat love tune “Nobody But You”. From there, Clark mixes rockers like the Bo Diddley-ish “(Hey) Little Girl” and a run of hits like “How About That” “(Crazy Little Mama) At My Back Door”, “Your Friends” and finally the big cherry, “Raindrops” that scored on both pop and R&B charts.
His albums are quite wide-ranging, as his 1959 self-titled debut includes gorgeous ballads like “Nature Boy”, with his 1961 How About That! mixing standards like “A Foggy Day” and “Moonlight In Vermont” with the rich original “They’re Talkin’”. His next album is more bluesy with “Baby What Do You Want Me To Do” and a cover of “What I Say” while the last album featured here has Clark veering into Johnny Mathis territory with “What Kind Of Fool” and “Cindy”. Check this guy out for a missing link of a Soul Brother.