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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Dion DiMucci

On The Dancefloor With Dion DiMucci

Review by Gary Hill

Dion DiMucci is also known just by his first name. This collection of his music from Bear Family is, like pretty much anything from that label, a classy release. Now, I have to admit, I really don’t like doo wop music, so a lot of this comes with a disadvantage to my ears. I still really like some of the music here a lot. That should say a lot.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025  Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
Drip Drop

There is a cool downhome blues vibe meets rock and roll at the musical core of this tune. It’s a really classy number with a unique feeling and a lot of style and cool.

Runaround Sue

This classic doo-wop tune is fun, and I don’t really like doo wop. 

(I Was) Born To Cry

There is a lot of drama and style built into this beast. It’s another standout tune. I love the wailing saxophone on it.

Queen Of The Hop

The bouncy doo wop romp doesn’t really work all that well for me. Your mileage may vary if you like doo wop more than I do.

Flim Flam

In some ways this isn’t a big change from the last track. This number definitely works better, though. It’s a fun jam.

The Wanderer

Here we get another classic tune that works really well. This is one of the standouts here.

Little Star

More of a contemporary pop meets doo wop ballad, this one doesn’t do as much for me personally. It is a bit of a classic, though.

A Teenager In Love

Another doo wop classic, this is another that’s not in my wheelhouse. It’s fun, but just not my kind of thing.

Donna The Prima Donna

Somehow this doo wop number works better for me.

Sandy

I like the energy and groove on this number. Beyond that it doesn’t do a lot for me because of the whole doo wop thing.

This Little Girl Of Mine

While this isn’t a big change from a lot of the doo wop stuff here, this has some good grooves in place. I really dig the saxophone solo on the piece.

Love Came To Me

Not really any kind of divergence, this is okay, but nothing special.

Can't We Be Sweethearts

I really don’t care for this one. The doo wop really drives it more than anything else does.

The Majestic

While not a huge change, this just really grabs me a bit more. I dig the saxophone work on it a lot, too.

Gonna Make It Alone

The arrangement on this is still doo wop in nature, but it’s a bit more stripped back. It works pretty well.

Unloved, Unwanted Me

Feeling more like a crooner tune, this leaves me a little less than impressed. I do like the percussion arrangement on this a lot.

Kansas City

A bit more of a blues rocker, I really dig the guitar work on this thing. It’s one of the more effective pieces here.

Ruby Baby

Bouncy and moving, I’m not sold on the doo wop vocals, but otherwise this works well.

Little Diane

There is some driving and dramatic feeling to this cut. It’s an intriguing piece that’s among the stronger stuff here.

Lonely Teenager

This rock and roll groove is reasonably effective, but not a standout.

Sweet, Sweet Baby

I like the bluesy rocking groove, but the doo wop vocals don’t work as well for me. Still, overall, this tune is good. The harmonica brings something special to it, too.

I Got The Blues

Here we get another blues rocking tune. The backing vocals detract here for me, but overall this is a good number.

Dion And The Belmonts – I Wonder Why

This full doo wop treatment doesn’t work at all for me, really. Then again, I have that anti-doo wop thing at play. So, if you feel differently, you might really enjoy this track.

Fever

I’ve always liked this track. The arrangement here focuses on vocals over a percussive instrumental arrangement consisting entirely of the rhythm section, and barely any bass at that. The only vocals are the lead ones.

This Little Girl

A bouncy romp, this is not bad, but it’s also not a standout. The doo wop vocals detract a little from it for me.

Come Go With Me

I dig this little romp a lot. It’s a fun groove. The doo wop vocals are still there, but somehow they work better for my tastes.

Shout

I am a big fan of this song in general. While this is definitely not the best version of it I’ve ever heard, it still works well.

Lovers Who Wander

Coming in more like a rock and roll ballad, this works out to more of a mainstream doo wop groove from there. This is another classic, but also another that leaves my tastes behind.

North East End Of The Corner

Now, this thing is on fire. It has a great jazz meets rock groove to it. This is probably my favorite tune here. The horns are magic, I love the piano work later in the track, too.

 
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