"Angel Baby" by
Rosie & The Originals
is a staple of oldies radio and one of the best female vocal records of the rock & roll era. But few have heard the rest of the story, and that's where this disc fills in the blanks quite nicely. The complete recorded output of Miss
Rosie Hamlin
is collected up on this 24-track single-disc compilation. The collection kicks off with both sides of her three singles with the
Originals
on Highland ("Angel Baby," the mysterious "Give Me Love" [whoever the vocalist is on this, it certainly isn't
Rosie
!], "Angel From Above," "Why Did You Leave Me?," "We'll Have a Chance" and "Lonely Blue Nights"), the latter four tracks of which
would recut later for her album on Brunswick. The Highland tracks are followed by both sides of her lone single for
Bob Keene's
Donna label, "Bring Me Happiness" and "So Dearly," duets sung with
Ron Holden
. Also aboard is her
Lonely Blue Nights With Rosie
Brunswick album in true stereo, making interesting comparisons with the earlier takes on Highland -- plus we get to hear
with a professional band backing her. Finishing things out are four alternate takes of the Highland material, making this entire collection slow-grind dancing material at its very best. Scant liner notes (the originals from the Brunswick album), but decent sound make this a chunk of female rock & roll history well worth owning. ~ Cub Koda