UK rock singer Dave Berry, born David Holgate Grundy 1941, started his carreer in the early sixties with his band "The Cruisers. In 1963 they signed with Decca and did good on the domestic list with covers of Chuck Berry's "Memphis Tennessee", Bobby Goldsoro's "Little Things and the Ray Davies penned "This Strange Effect". However he did a lot better with list toppers in Belgium and in Holland, where he recieved an award from the independent radio station Veronica for their best selling single of all times. This his second LP is part compilation, as it counts four 45 A-sides - "Sticks And Stones", "Mama", "Little Things", "So Goes Love" - and two flip sides - "Alright Baby" and "Green Grass". Produced by Mike Smith and arranged by Mike Leander, who worked with about everyone back then and among other things arranged the strings on Beatles "She's Leaving Home" and co-produced the original "Jesus Christ Superstar". And to me the reason this LP becomes is the arrangements and audio. Dave Berry's vocals works best in rock'n'roll, but here it's mostly mushy ballads which his rather limited voice can't do full justice. Luckily there are a couple of up-tempo cuts that do just fine - like "It's Gonna Be Fine", "Allright Baby" and "Sticks And Stones". So for me not a five star record, but with enough going for it to be a keeper. Also issued on vinyl on Decca in Holland (DU 175 003) and New Zealand (LKM 4823), but to my knowledge that was it. Premiere UK had ridged label, as shown here, in a laminated cover.
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