Jet Harris & Tony Meehan - Diamonds & Other Gems: The Complete Decca Singles 1962-1964

The twang’s still the thang

This glittering collection opens a window to the 18-month period from June 1962 to early 1964, when it seemed that Jet Harris, initially in his own right and then in partnership with fellow ex- Shadows member Tony Meehan, could do no wrong. Chronologically sequenced, this 20-track collection comprises all the Decca singles originally released on 45 or EP, from Besame Mucho, Harris’ twang-heavy solo debut, through to his flop comeback single Big Bad Bass.

Highlights here include covers of Elmer Bernstein’s Main Title Theme from The Man With The Golden Arm, Wild One (Real Wild Child), the big chart hits Diamonds, Scarlett O’Hara and Applejack, and two previously unreleased tracks: Lonesome Part Of Town and Again, from an Ivor Raymonde session recorded in late 1962. Comprehensive to the end, there’s also the one-off 45 recorded by the Tony Meehan Combo in late 1963, when Jet Harris was recuperating from a near-fatal car accident.

RPM | RETRO 825

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
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