VA - "Yesterday Has Gone: The Songs Of Teddy Randazzo" [[Ace UK) - 9/27/2019

[Motown Eddie]

Description
Not before time, Teddy Randazzo joins lauded names such as Randy Newman, Goffin & King, Laura Nyro, Serge Gainsbourg, Bacharach & David, Leonard Cohen and Harry Nilsson in Ace Records’ highly regarded Songwriters series.

Having paid his dues as a recording artist in the 50s and early 60s, by 1964 Randazzo had turned his focus to writing for others. With sumptuously produced classics such as ‘Goin’ Out Of My Head’, ‘I’m On The Outside [[Looking In)’, ‘It’s Gonna Take A Miracle’ and ‘Hurt So Bad’ to his name, few would disagree that he became one of the finest American songwriters of his time.

Spanning 1964 to 1979, this collection features 25 of his best compositions, performed by Little Anthony & the Imperials, the Royalettes and Derek Martin – the artists with whom he worked most prolifically – and top-tier names such as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Esther Phillips, Timi Yuro, Billy Fury and Mel Tormé.

The definitive recordings of Randazzo’s songs are invariably the ones he himself produced, and it’s significant that he did so on most of the tracks here. The few exceptions include three superb covers of songs from the Little Anthony & the Imperials catalogue and ‘Buttercup Days’ by the Kane Triplets, a delicious piece of sunshine pop.

Comes with a stylish 24-page booklet packed with colourful memorabilia, rare photos, an introductory essay by Ian Chapman and track commentary by compiler Mick Patrick.

Tracklist
1. I'm On The Outside [[Looking In) - Little Anthony & The Imperials
2. Can't Stop Running Away - Timi Yuro
3. Baby Are You Puttin' Me On - The Royalettes
4. You Don't Need A Heart - Teddy Randazzo
5. Think Before You Act - Tony Orlando
6. You Better Go - Derek Martin
7. It's Gonna Take A Miracle - The Royalettes
8. Rain In My Heart - Frank Sinatra
9. We're On Our Way - The Vogues
10. Buttercup Days - The Kane Triplets
11. Let Me Dream - Georgia Gibbs
12. Let Me Know When It's Over - Esther Phillips
13. Lonely Girl - Annabelle Fox
14. Better Off Without You - Ritchie Adams
15. I'm Lost Without You - Billy Fury
16. Or Not At All - Jimmy Rice
17. Good For A Lifetime - Al Hibbler
18. Goin' Out Of My Head - Dionne Warwick
19. Better Use Your Head - Mel Tormé
20. I Watched You Slowly Slip Away - Howard Guyton
21. Yesterday Has Gone - Anthony & The Imperials
22. Think Twice Before You Walk Away - Porgy & The Monarchs
23. Hurt So Bad - The Delfonics
24. Love At First Sight - The Stylistics
25. A Million To One - The Manhattans
Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5CDXM2/?tag=imwan-20
Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W5CDXM2/?tag=imwan-21

[alanh]

I’ve always loved Teddy Randazzo’s productions and songs, especially his work with Little Anthony and The Royalettes. This looks a top notch Ace compilation, with some very unusual and rare choices. Sound samples are available on the Ace website. Who’d have recognised Tony Orlando, for example?.....sounding like a typical Tony Randazzo uptown soul power ballad. Looking forward to getting this.

By the way, on the same day of release, Ace have another songwriter compilation featuring the songs of Paul Simon...including a good number of soul covers.

[daviddesper]

Not sure if I will partake of this one, but I just LOVE the fact that people are still thinking outside the box and bringing us all these re-issues and retrospectives, since it sadly appears as if the idea of brand new studio CDs is on the way out.

[Bluebrock]

Description
Not before time, Teddy Randazzo joins lauded names such as Randy Newman, Goffin & King, Laura Nyro, Serge Gainsbourg, Bacharach & David, Leonard Cohen and Harry Nilsson in Ace Records’ highly regarded Songwriters series.

Having paid his dues as a recording artist in the 50s and early 60s, by 1964 Randazzo had turned his focus to writing for others. With sumptuously produced classics such as ‘Goin’ Out Of My Head’, ‘I’m On The Outside [[Looking In)’, ‘It’s Gonna Take A Miracle’ and ‘Hurt So Bad’ to his name, few would disagree that he became one of the finest American songwriters of his time.

Spanning 1964 to 1979, this collection features 25 of his best compositions, performed by Little Anthony & the Imperials, the Royalettes and Derek Martin – the artists with whom he worked most prolifically – and top-tier names such as Frank Sinatra, Dionne Warwick, Esther Phillips, Timi Yuro, Billy Fury and Mel Tormé.

The definitive recordings of Randazzo’s songs are invariably the ones he himself produced, and it’s significant that he did so on most of the tracks here. The few exceptions include three superb covers of songs from the Little Anthony & the Imperials catalogue and ‘Buttercup Days’ by the Kane Triplets, a delicious piece of sunshine pop.

Comes with a stylish 24-page booklet packed with colourful memorabilia, rare photos, an introductory essay by Ian Chapman and track commentary by compiler Mick Patrick.

Tracklist
1. I'm On The Outside [[Looking In) - Little Anthony & The Imperials
2. Can't Stop Running Away - Timi Yuro
3. Baby Are You Puttin' Me On - The Royalettes
4. You Don't Need A Heart - Teddy Randazzo
5. Think Before You Act - Tony Orlando
6. You Better Go - Derek Martin
7. It's Gonna Take A Miracle - The Royalettes
8. Rain In My Heart - Frank Sinatra
9. We're On Our Way - The Vogues
10. Buttercup Days - The Kane Triplets
11. Let Me Dream - Georgia Gibbs
12. Let Me Know When It's Over - Esther Phillips
13. Lonely Girl - Annabelle Fox
14. Better Off Without You - Ritchie Adams
15. I'm Lost Without You - Billy Fury
16. Or Not At All - Jimmy Rice
17. Good For A Lifetime - Al Hibbler
18. Goin' Out Of My Head - Dionne Warwick
19. Better Use Your Head - Mel Tormé
20. I Watched You Slowly Slip Away - Howard Guyton
21. Yesterday Has Gone - Anthony & The Imperials
22. Think Twice Before You Walk Away - Porgy & The Monarchs
23. Hurt So Bad - The Delfonics
24. Love At First Sight - The Stylistics
25. A Million To One - The Manhattans
Amazon USA
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5CDXM2/?tag=imwan-20
Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07W5CDXM2/?tag=imwan-21


This looks great Eddie. Ace rarely disappoint with their releases. They don't usually use the obvious choices on their compilations. I always find something i have not previously heard on these compilations. Thank you for the heads up.

[snakepit]

Some great beat ballads on here. Essential purchase .
Worth the money for Annabelle Fox alone.