- For every major hit that posed a lover's question, or had you crying in your beer back in the sixties, there was the reassuring certainty of the 'answer'song. Answer records were a prevailing American phenomenon. Usually rendered by female artists, they were an expedient way to hitch a ride on the coat tails of an existing hit. Deejays favoured them for their topical value and many answer records from the Golden Age made the charts in their own right.
- Here are 28 of the best, all by female performers save for one tune by 'guest boy' Bertelle Dache whose 'Not Just Tomorrow, But Always', a riposte to the Shirelles' smash 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow', is among the sought-after highlights of the set. Others include Gerri Granger's sinewy 'Just Tell Him Jane Said Hello', produced by Leiber and Stoller in the wake of Elvis' 'Just Tell Her Jim Said Hello', Tracey Dey's 'Jerry (I'm Your Sherry)', which features a couple of the 4 Seasons on background vocals and Jody Miller's Grammy award winning 'Queen Of The House', which became a smash to rival 'King Of The Road'. Even wackier than the original is 'They Took You Away - I'm Glad, I'm Glad' by Josephine, a timely 'answer' to They're Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!' by Napoleon XIV. Regarded as the better of the two records, this suffered a radio ban and is extremely rare.
- Many of the titles on this extremely potent and novel compilation appear on CD for the first time and all are sourced from the best master tapes. It is the only comprehensive answer song compilation on the market and we have given it our best attention.
- Compiled and annotated by Rob Finnis, it comes with a gorgeous booklet full to bursting with a reviews, ads and label shots that evoke the phenomenon almost as much as the music itself.
Track listing:
- 1. There Is Nothing On My Mind - THE TEEN QUEENS
- 2. The Sound Of My Man - THEOLA KILGORE
- 3. He'll Have To Stay - JEANNE BLACK
- 4. Not Just Tomorrow, But Always - BERTELL DACHE*
- 5. Queen Of The House - JODY MILLER
- 6. I Don't Like It Like That - THE BOBBETTES
- 7. Gary, Please Don't Sell My Diamond Ring - WENDY HILL
- 8. You Should Know I'm Still Your Baby - SAMMI LYNN
- 9. I'll Believe It When I See It - THE SIERRAS
- 10.You Don't Have To Be A Tower Of Strength - GLORIA LYNNE
- 11.I'm No Runaround - GINGER DAVIS & THE SNAPS
- 12.Tell Tommy I Miss Him - MARILYN MICHAELS
- 13.Long As The Rose Is Red - FLORRAINE DARLIN
- 14.I'm The Girl From The Sugar Shack - GEORGIA LYNNE
- 15.Son-In-Law - THE BLOSSOMS
- 16.Well, I Told You - THE CHANTELS
- 17.Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight - DODIE STEVENS
- 18.Don't Let Him Shop Around - DEBBIE DEAN
- 19.I'll Be There - DAMITA JO
- 20.I'll Just Walk On By - MARGIE SINGLETON
- 21.Jerry (I'm Your Sherry) - TRACEY DEY
- 22.Duchess Of Earl - THE PEARLETTES
- 23.I'll Bring It On Home To You - CARLA THOMAS
- 24.They Took You Away - I'm Glad I'm Glad - JOSEPHINE
- 25.When A Woman Loves A Man - ESTHER PHILLIPS
- 26.Sorry, Daddy - THE SWEETHEARTS
- 27.Just Tell Him Jane Said Hello - GERRI GRANGER
- 28.Oh Neil - CAROLE KING
* The only 'Guest Boy' on this collection!
