WET WILLIE Street Corner Serenade

Описание: A rare gem, for me anyway, is this early 1978 hit by the American pop band Wet Willie. Best known for their 1974 hit 'Keep on Smiling', the band released several studio and live albums during the 70's, with their last LP issued in 1979, but 'best of' CDS and other collections have kept them in record stores in the decades since.

'Street Corner Serenade', released here in Oz in the January from their 1978 LP 'Manorisms'' was a minor hit in both America and Australia - where it reached #30 in the former territory, and #41 in the latter. The spooky thing for me, is how similar in feel and sound that the song is to one of my favourite Hall/Oates tracks 'Diddy Do Wop' from their 1980 LP 'Voices'. In fact Wet Willie's lead singer, one Jimmy Hall sounds much like Daryl Hall, but from what i've read, no relation! Both songs have a strong retro feel, harking back to the 'do wops' of the 50's and 60's while also being great blue eyed soul pop.

I have come to have this great song in my collection thanks to a series of CD's that were issued in Australia in the late 90's called 'Living in the 70's'. Some 6 volumes have been released, each double cds and featuring chronological hits from 1970 through 1979.
'Street Corner Serenade' is from Volume 5. The cds have great notes and chart info too. Many wonderful 70's songs that were previously only on vinyl, were available on the CD format for the first time, bringing back fantastic memories, and thereby allowing mp3's to be utilised for such pursuits as these! I am forever thankful for such compiles.

Enjoy the upbeat and delightful harmonies of Wet Willie.