Album Review:

Al Caiola was a session musician who worked with Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Buddy Holly and a plethora of others. During the late fifties and sixties, he churned out an astonishing number of albums - mainly covering hit tunes of the day in a style more palatable to the older demographic of the record-buying public. 

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'Watermelon Man' is better skipped. The Chiffons' 'He's So Fine' would've been a listenable cover if it weren't for the frustrating female vocalists who detract from the otherwise fine cover. 'Surfin' U.S.A' is a pretty lame retread of the Beach Boys' tune, while 'Our Winter Love' is a slow ballad. The Cascades' 'Rhythm of the Rain' definitely had surf potential, but Caiola's rendition is far too cutesy for this reviewer's taste. 'Walk Right In' is equally bland. The best tune on the album is a cover of the Chantays' 'Pipeline' (spelled 'Pipe Line' here) and curiously trades the original electric guitar lead for an acoustic one. Bobby Vee's 'Charms' is always haunting and marginally interesting - even here. 'Ruby Baby' is perhaps Caiola's best performance among this collection of tracks, but surf music it is not. The rapid echo effect on 'Alley Cat' is similar in style to what the Atlantics were spinning across the ocean in Australia. 'South Street' has more in common with the Andrew Sisters' output circa 1944 than the Orlons' R & B hit. The sleepy 'Our Day Will Come' closes the album out with a bossa nova beat.

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Yes, Al Caiola performed with some of the greats, but he also performed with Mitch Miller and Ferrante & Teicher - and these are the vibes closer tied to the music on this record. There is not one exciting moment here, just a few top hits played in a subdued and frightfully old-fashioned style that was square even by 1963 standards.