LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

2 ON 1 CD Both albums were first released in 1967 on the United Artists record label. Original copies of these LPs are now commanding prices of £25 each on the collectors’ marketJay & The Americans brought dramatic, sometimes operatic, kinetic energy to the sounds of 50’s doo wop. Their run of 60’s hits embraced modern production techniques and important rising songwriters (Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, Neil Diamond etc) while straddling the line between pop-rock and MORThe group comprised of various members of The Harbor-Lites, The Mystics and The Empires. After signing with United Artists, where the group spent its entire career, the label suggested the name Binky Jones and The Americans. Blanching at that, the group substituted John Traynor’s nickname Jay, and a classic doo wop band was bornLater (1971) incarnations of the group included Donald Fagen (vcls/keyboards) and Walter Becker (vcls/gtr) who of course went on to huge success later in their careers as Steely Dan track listing: Livin’ Above Your Head:Livin’ Above Your Head • The Grass Will Sing (For You) • Too Many Times Diana • Over The Mountain • I’ll Remember You • The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Any More • The Reason For Living (For You My Darling) • Monday, Monday • Baby Come Home • Stop The Clock • Look At Me - What Do You See Try Some Of This!:You Ain’t As Hip As All That Baby • (There’s) Always Something There To Remind Me • Where’s The Girl • The Show Must Go On • Truly Julie’s Blues • Where Is The Village • Nature Boy • Here There And Everywhere • (He’s) Raining In My Sunshine • What To Do With Laurie • It’s A Big Wide Wonderful World