Hang On Sloopy: Bert Berns Story 3 / Various Hang On Sloopy: Bert Berns Story 3 / Various CD

UK collection. Following the publication of the biography, HERE COMES THE NIGHT, and the opening of PIECE OF MY HEART, a Broadway musical based on his story, there's been a big resurgence of interest in Bert Berns. With all that in mind, the time seems right to release HANG ON SLOOPY, Ace Records' third collection of work by the talented and charismatic New York-based songwriter and record producer. Berns, who suffered from rheumatic fever as a youngster, was driven by the knowledge his days were probably numbered, and crammed a lot into his brief career. The collection spans '(I'm Gonna) Cry Some Tears' by Hoagy Lands from 1960, which numbers among his earliest recorded songs, through to 'Open Up Your Soul' by Erma Franklin from 1967, one of his final productions. Recordings by the Drifters, Ben E King, Wilson Pickett, LaVern Baker, Patti LaBelle & the Bluebelles, Solomon Burke and Tami Lynn represent Berns' time as house producer at Atlantic Records, while tracks by the McCoys, Arsenio Rodriguez, Van Morrison, Freddie Scott, Roy C and Erma Franklin stem from his own Bang and Shout labels. Berns died on the last day of 1967, aged just 38, leaving behind a very impressive body of work. Sample it here.

1. Hang on Sloopy - Arsenio Rodriguez 2. There He Is - Baby Washington 3. He's So Bad - Barbara Lewis 4. Let the Water Run Down - Ben E King 5. Mo Jo Hannah - Betty Harris 6. I've Got Nothing to Say But Goodbye - Tammy Montgomery (Tammi Terrell) 7. Open Up Your Soul - Erma Franklin 8. Am I Grooving You - Freddie Scott 9. One Girl - Garnet Mimms 10. (I'm Gonna) Cry Some Tears - Hoagy Lands 11. You'd Better Find Yourself Another Fool - Lavern Baker 12. You'll Never Leave Her - Lulu 13. All or Nothing - Patti Labelle ; the Bluebelles 14. Stop What You're Doin' - Roy C 15. A Thousand Tears Ago - Roy Hamilton 16. Hitch Hike PT 1 - Russell Byrd 17. Beautiful Brown Eyes - Solomon Burke 18. At the Party - Tami Lynn 19. Aretha - the Drifters 20. There They Go - the Exciters 21. You Better Come Home - the Isley Brothers 22. Love (Can't You Hear Me) - the Knight Brothers 23. I Wonder If She Remembers Me - the McCoys 24. Twist and Shout - the Shirelles 25. Chick-A-Boom - Van Morrison 26. Teardrops Will Fall - Wilson Pickett