The 'commercial' roots of British rock n' roll is all here on this album. Jack Good, who is still alive at the age of 86, was a pioneer for rock n' roll TV. His British show "Oh Boy!" was the first variety program devoted to British (pre) rock artists such as Cliff Richard and Billy Fury. The show lasted for 30 minutes and it was packed with non-stop music. No song lasted more than a minute, and it was like a variety show with an Amphetamine approach to its timing and management. The other significant wrench is that Good allowed the audience to be part of the show, with the artists surrounding themselves with the audience, most if not all teenagers.
"Jack Good's 'Oh Boy!" album is a live soundtrack to the show. Listening to it now in 2017, it's a weird reminder of how rock was packaged almost 60 years ago. Cliff Richard sings seven songs, but also includes the talents of the incredible John Barry Seven, way before his work on the James Bond films. Other artists here are Vince Eager, Two Vernon Girls, and Neville Taylor & The Cutters. The beauty and the essence of this recording are not really the music, but a snapshot view of British showbiz before the Beatles hit the scene. Jack Good eventually made it over to America where he created the show "Shindig!" (1964-1966) which focused on the British Invasion at the time, as well as popular pop/rock acts.
"Oh Boy!" is one of the first shows specifically made for the British teenage market. It's interesting how the teenager became a vocal/social, and even more important, an economic model that fueled an industry. The 'beat' cannot be ignored anymore!
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