This second volume chronicling the history of Philadelphia's Chancellor Records holds more musical surprises than its reputation as an execrable teen-idol label would lead you to believe. Never really a rock & roll label in the pure sense of the term, Chancellor was responsible for foisting
Frankie Avalon
and
Fabian
on an unsuspecting public, and it's
Avalon
who account for eight of the tracks here, all of them big hits. But the inclusion of rockers, country-pop and R&B tunes like
"I'm Happy"
by
the Four Dates
, "Party Lights" and "Walkin' Through a Cemetery" by
Claudine Clark
, "Tag Along" by
Johnny Burnette
, "Lonely Heart" by
the Five Satins
and "Blue Summer" by
the Royalettes
show that the label nonetheless had their ear to the ground and were willing to experiment beyond their standard teen idol fare. ~ Cub Koda