Genre: pop
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: The Italian Asphalt & Paving Co. Present Duprees Gold
Company: Colossus
Catalog: CGS-5000
Year: 1970
Country/State: Jersey City, New Jersey
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4741
Price: $9.00
Cost: $66.00
Given that it was better known for releasing material by Dutch rock bands such as The Shocking Blue and The Tee Garden, I won't even try to guess how this doo-wop group managed to score a contract with Jerry Ross' Colossus Records. If I'd known this was the same group it's doubtful I would have picked this item up.
Oh well, let's get on with it. Technically 1970's "The Italian Asphalt & Paving Co. Present Duprees Gold" was actually a reissue of 1968's "Total Recall". While the 1970 release sported new packaging (great job there guys), both albums featured a mixture of studio material and updated remakes of some of the group's early 1960s hits. To be perfectly honest most of the album including remakes such as 'You Belong To Me' and 'Why Don't You Believe Me' were pretty dismal. Over-produced MOR, most of this could have been mistaken for something out of The Tokens' catalog. That makes blue-eyed soul performances such as 'Have You Heard', 'Ring Of Love' and 'Check Yourself ' a pleasant surprise. Credited to The Italian Asphalt & Paving Co. the latter was actually released as a single 'Check Yourself' b/w 'The Sky's the Limit' (Colossus C-110). It even broke into the top-100 charts (# 97) which is more than can be said for the parent LP.
"The Italian Asphalt & Paving Co. Present Duprees Gold" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Have You Heard
2.) My Special Angel
3.) The Sky's The Limit
4.) My Own True Love
5.) People
6.) Check Yourself
(side
2)
1.) You
Belong To Me
2.) Two Different Worlds
3.) Goodnight My Love
4.) Ring Of Love
5.) My Love, My Love
6.) Why Don't You Believe Me