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Sings Guess Who
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You don't need to check the track listing to figure out the identity of "guess who" on this 1963 tribute album from Pat Boone. The picture on the cover says it all. Decked out in a glittering gold suit, gold shoes, and gold tie -- with his head cocked back and holdin' his guitar, Boone looks like he means serious business. But right from the start it is clear that the business he means is not rock & roll a la Elvis Presley. No, when Boone and the folks at Dot Records decided to go ahead with this Elvis tribute album, they wisely decided that it was not going to be Boone's imitation of Elvis. What they did decide was to try something entirely new and different. Employing the jazz arrangements of Paul Smith and with the backing of his jazz octet, these familiar Presley hits are given an entirely unfamiliar treatment. The plan works quite well on "Love Me," "Teddy Bear," "All Shook Up," and "Blue Suede Shoes." But it starts to thin out after that. And by the time you get to "One Night" and "It's Now or Never," you're wishin', at least on those songs, that it had been "never." Although the album cannot be considered an artistic triumph, credit must still be given for the creativity, resourcefulness, and musicianship of Paul Smith and his octet, and also to Pat Boone for his willingness to take a chance with some risky material, and for his good efforts in extending his natural versatility into yet another realm. The idea was a good one: a tribute to the world's greatest rock & roll singer from the singer Presley once called "the finest voice in music today." All things considered, this venture comes off as well as one might reasonably expect. ~ Arthur Rowe
