The Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962-1966

by Dee Dee Sharp

Overview

Dee Dee Sharp reached the big time with the novelty hit "Mashed Potato Time" in 1962, while the follow-up, "Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)," hit the Top Ten as well cemented her status as a novelty singer. As The Best of Dee Dee Sharp 1962-1966 shows, despite being unfairly remembered as such she in reality was a powerful singer blessed with a wonderfully clear voice. Indeed her soulful and direct style makes even the silliest song ("Do the Bird!," "Baby Cakes") sound real and gives the better songs here ("Just to Hold My Hand," "Why Don't You Ask Me") an extra kick. That she never really had a hit after the "Mashed Potato" saga meant that Sharp and Cameo-Parkway tried different sounds and styles, looking for that elusive next smash. Sharp sounded at ease with every style, lightly bopping through dance numbers like the slinky "Let's Twine," the hard-hitting girl group sound of "You Ain't Nothin' But a Nothin'," the gospel soul of "Rock Me in the Cradle of Love," the silky Chicago-styled soul of "(That's What) My Mama Said," and the proto-Philly soul of "I Really Love You." At least one song, the bouncy and nearly perfect Motown facsimile "There Ain't Nothing I Wouldn't Do for You," should have been a huge smash, and many others should have gotten more than just a toe on the charts. It wasn't for lack of talent. Both Sharp and her collaborators, who included Bob Crewe, Carl Davis, Kenny Gamble, and Leon Huff, were loaded with the stuff. Whatever the reason, Sharp isn't usually on the list when great female singers of the '60s are discussed. Perhaps this collection, the first to put the spotlight on her Cameo sides, will help to change that. Even if it doesn't, fans of the '60s girl sound will be overjoyed to finally have a legitimate Dee Dee Sharp collection. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	10/18/2005
Label:	Abkco Records
UPC:	0018771923329

Tracks

1. Mashed Potato Time
2. Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes)
3. Baby Cakes
4. You Are My Sunshine
5. Ride!
6. Do the Bird
7. Slow Twistin'
8. You Ain't Nothin' But a Nothin'
9. Just to Hold My Hand
10. Rock Me in the Cradle of Love
11. Wild!
12. Why Doncha Ask Me
13. Never Pick a Pretty Boy
14. Willyam, Willyam
15. Where Did I Go Wrong
16. Deep Dark Secret
17. There Ain't Nothin' I Wouldn't Do for You
18. (That's What) My Mama Said
19. Let's Twine
20. Standing in the Need of Love
21. It's a Funny Situation
22. I Really Love You
23. (It's Wonderful) The Love I Feel for You
24. To Know Him Is to Love Him

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dee Dee Sharp   Primary Artist
Chubby Checker   Primary Artist
Bobby Eli   Guitar
Bobby Gregg   Drums
Kenny Gamble   Vocals (Background)
Buddy Savitt   Saxophone
Norman Harris   Guitar
Karl Chambers   Drums
Dave Appell   Guitar
Raun MacKinnon   Vocals (Background)
Luther Randolph   Keyboards
Winnie Walford   Bass
Cindy Scott   Vocals (Background)
Georgie Young & the Rockin 'Bocs   Saxophone
Jim Meeley   Vocals (Background)
Sandy Person   Vocals (Background)
Joe Macho   Bass
Jimmy Wisner   Keyboards
Earl Young   Drums
Thom Bell   Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Dan Dailey   Saxophone
Ronnie Baker   Bass
Leon Huff   Keyboards
Eddie Custis   Vocals (Background)
Lillian Washington   Vocals (Background)
Joe Sher   Drums
Willa Ward   Vocals (Background)
Cliff Jackson & His Crazy Cats   Drums
Charlotte Walker   Vocals (Background)
Vivian Dix   Vocals (Background)
Joe Sgro   Guitar
Fred Nuzzullio   Saxophone
Roy Traigis   Keyboards
Roland Chambers   Guitar
Elfay Willis   Vocals (Background)
Joe Renzetti   Guitar
Robert Martin   Keyboards
Rick Kellis   Keyboards

Technical Credits

Carl Davis   Audio Production,Producer
Leon Huff   Audio Production,Arranger,Producer
Kenny Gamble   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Bob Crewe   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Jimmy Wisner   Audio Production,Arranger,Composer,Producer
Billy Jackson   Audio Production,Producer
Kal Mann   Audio Production,Composer,Producer
Dave Appell   Audio Production,Arranger,Engineer,Producer
Bernie Lowe   Executive Producer
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Riley Hampton   Arranger
Barrett Strong   Composer
Roy Stragis   Vocal Arrangement
Robert Miller   Composer,Composer
Andrew Racheck   Composer
Emil Korsen   Engineer
Dan Robey   Composer
Luther Randolph   Arranger
Maria Papazahariou   Session Research
Janessa Gursky   Assistant Art Director
Bonfilio Design   Design
Joel Fein   Engineer
Tracy Alexander   Composer
David Appell   Composer
Edward Fluri   Composer
Juanita Boone   Composer
Frederick C. Gorman   Composer
Don Robey   Composer
Joe Tarsia   Engineer
William Jackson   Composer
William Garrett   Composer
Matt Boynton   Assistant Engineer
Phil Spector   Composer
Jimmie Davis   Composer
Gregg Geller   Reissue Producer
Charles Calello   Arranger
Seth Adkins   Research
Tom Psipsikas   Assistant Engineer
Joseph Wissert   Engineer
Robert Bateman   Composer
Jeff Tamarkin   Essay,Liner Notes
Teri Landi   Reissue Producer,Session Research
Jody H. Klein   Reissue Producer
Brian Holland   Composer
Georgia Dobbins   Composer
Stacin Gregson   Assistant Engineer
Iris Keitel   Art Direction
James Bishop   Composer
Joe Renzetti   Arranger
Lenne Allik   Concept
Rick Kellis   Arranger