Twenty-four Top Hits (Tops L1510)

Yes, 24 "Top Hits"--actually, two 12 Top Hits LPs.  You'll notice that both have the same label and catalog number--Tops L1510--but sport different tracks.  You may notice in addition that the second LP (which I've numbered 3 on the zip file) features the exact same Mary Tyler Moore (?) photo from two posts ago, with a different track line-up (in the reusable white rectangle).  How to tell these things apart, then, issue-wise?  My best guess would be the numbers that appear on the L1510 labels--e.g., L1510-A-8 and L1510 B-7 on the first disc above.  Meanwhile, we see "A8" on the front cover track listing.  On the second LP above, we see 1510-G.  This doesn't suggest a consistent system of cataloging on Tops' part, and I don't even know if these digits and letters actually tell us where a given L1510 falls in the L1510 catalog.  And you thought record collecting was a piece of cake.

There may be some way of determining in what order these things were released, and I may figure it out sometime.

And I just noticed that the torn label on the second LP is a paste-over--we can see part of the originally printed track listing where the tear occurs.  Cheap labels took great pride in product quality.

These fake versions of then-current hits are a lot of fun and well worth listening to--even the misfires are entertaining, if only because the duds tend to be fascinatingly off the mark.  I'm thinking mainly of Peggy Sue and Great Balls of Fire, and maybe Rock-a-Billy, the last title featuring a singer who was no Guy Mitchell.  And the Peggy Sue vocalist's attempts to emulate Buddy Holly's style have me wondering why even a five-cent label would considering keeping the take.

However, the rest of the tracks range in quality from pretty good to astonishing so (Waitin' in School, At the Hop, The Stroll, Almost Paradise).  Get a Job is an amazing track, too, if only because the vocalists (The Toppers, yet again) were able to keep up with the tempo.  Slowed down a little, this would have been a terrific cover.  Come Go with Me is a let-down, though no disaster.  Dark Moon is quite affecting, though I haven't heard the Bonnie Guitar or Gale Storm originals for comparison.  It's certainly done with unusual care for a cheap knock-off.

Enjoy the two Tops L1510s.  More where these came from....

DOWNLOAD:  12 Top Hits 2 (Tops L1510) 

Get a Job--Wally Karmin and the Toppers

Waitin' in School--Andy Thomas

Dede Dinah--Johnny Bennett and the Toppers

Stood Up--Andy Thomas and the Toppers

Jo-Ann--Buddy Clark and the Toppers

The Stroll--Jimmy Priddy and the Toppers

Raunchy--Instrumental

April Love--Sandy Glass and the Toppers

At the Hop--Bones Howe and the Toppers

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine--Eddie Jones and the Toppers

Peggy Lee--Jack Sheldon

Great Balls of Fire--Pat Thorne and the Toppers

12 Top Hits (Top L1510)

DOWNLOAD: 12 Top Hits 3 (Tops L1510)

Rock-a-Billy--Neil Hunt

Come Go with Me--Maurice Washington

Dark Moon--Sylvia Reid

School Day--Maurice Washington

I'm Sorry--Neil Hunt

A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)--Dave Burgess

Gone--No artist credited

Why Baby Why?--No artist credited

Almost Paradise--Ernie Hughes at Piano

Party Doll--No artist credited

Mama Look-a-Boo-Boo--No artist credited

I'm Walking--Scat man Crothers

12 Top Hits (Tops L1510)

Lee