Who is saying what about He's a Rebel: The Gene Pitney Story Retold
If you're a Gene Pitney fan you should enjoy these new interpretations of his songs. If you're not familiar with Pitney's work, this album will provide a good introduction. After you've heard it, you're sure to want to listen to the man himself.
(Geoff Cabin, "Rock Beat International")
Short of a full-on Gene Pitney revival, with banners and headlines, the next best thing is To M'Lou's sensational tribute record HE'S A REBEL Of course, it is near-impossible for any other artist to capture the resounding glory of Pitney's primary instrument -- that astonishing voice -- but this album's 25 songs accomplish the next best thing: To remind you just how impressive was his run of chart singles through the 1960s. So important a transitional figure does he represent, in fact, that this project enticed some heavy guns -- Michael Shelley, Al Kooper (whose "I Must Be Seeing Things" is also given a fresh, Spector-esque polishing by the Waking Hours), the Deviants -- as contributors. An exquisite album and artist, each song an almost perfectly realized three-minute melodrama.
(Stanton Swihart, "All Music Guide")
The wonderful Lisa Mychols and the always active Gary Pig Gold make sure that Gene Pitney won't be forgotten. On their compilation they gather twenty-five songs performed by twenty-five representatives of the pop underground. There is Chris von Sneidern, Ed James, Phil Angotti, and many more who create great versions of Pitney songs. Outstanding is "That Boy Belongs To Yesterday," written by Jagger/Richards and played here by the group It's My Party! And the Deviants, the only British in this collection, deliver a version of "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" which is oddly far out of the pop framework. All in all a splendid set.
(Mike Korbik, "Guitars Galore")
This is a well-structured album that all Sixties and Seventies pop lovers will enjoy again and again, because all twenty-five artists who contributed did a great job. Fresh melodies, classic forms, glamour, beach days and pop, a lot of pop. A tribute well deserved, necessary and very respectful.
(Pep Blanch, "Cultura de Nit")
These are amazing songs that hold up absurdly well in these loving covers. A Cowsill here, a sparkle*jet there, and pretty soon you have a mighty album. Highlights are the Deviants' reverently irreverent "Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," Al Kooper's mighty "One Day" and a haunting "Only Love Can Break A Heart" by Sleeping Giant.
(Waymon Timbsdayle, "Roctober" Magazine)
I've heard several dozen tribute albums in the last year. I've been bored by more than two-thirds of them. I've found some of them mildly entertaining. There have been perhaps six I thought were pretty damned good. This one, at a disc-bulging 79 minutes and 15 seconds, is the best, hands down. The difference, I believe, is that many tribute albums are made because people buy them. This one was made by serious fans of Mr. Pitney.
(DJ Johnson, , "Cosmik Debris," Magazine)
This tribute is a triumphant testament of the musicians' ability to funnel Pitney's contradictory sentiments embedded in his verse, chorus, lines, words and range into their own sounds and appeal like Gene Pitney himself, to so many ages and on so many levels.
(Ted Liebler, "Dead Flowers," webzine)
Unlike some tribute albums that are more of a show-off of influences than a thank you, HE'S A REBEL: THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD is a true classic that walks alongside Pitney's own songs without needing to feel ashamed. I'll give it an A-
(Alex Steininger, "In Music We Trust")
A uniformly solid collection of Pitney covers by the best and the brightest in today's pop music world. Both Waking Hours ("I Must Be Seeing Things") and The Now People ("Town Without Pity") manage to successfully capture the musical and emotional tension that made Pitney's mini-melodramas so compelling. Rock-solid Chris von Sneidern's smoldering "Something's Gotten Hold Of My Heart" is fraught with a subtle, yet unmistakable, anguish that ultimately bursts into flame. Gail George's "Mr. Moon, Mr. Cupid And I" is a Buddy Holly-esque romp, while The Retro's "I'm Afraid To Go Home" is downright Byrdsian. Best of all is Randell Kirsch and Billy Cowsill's collaboration on "It Hurts To Be In Love," as joyful a celebration of the dangers of romance as has been put down on aluminum. With additional strong contributions from Al Kooper, Phil Angotti, Jeremy, Michael Shelley and sparkle*jets u.k., it's nice to see Pitney finally receiving some long-overdue props.
(Rick Schadelbauer, "Amplifier" Magazine)
Although Gene Pitney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recently, many classic-rock fans have trouble accepting his booming, resonant, bittersweet voice and careful enunciation as real rock despite the fact his hits like "True Love Never Runs Smooth," "Backstage" and "Town Without Pity" hold up astonishingly well. To Pitney's rescue comes the new tribute album HE'S A REBEL: THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD, which recasts his many hits in a kinetic, melodic folk-rock and power-pop format that shows just how good they are. Except for Al Kooper and Gordon Waller (of Peter & Gordon fame), the contributors are relatively unknown. But they're excellent, energetic players and singers with plenty of empathy for Pitney's music.
(Steve Rosen, "The Denver Post")
Warning: This is not your typical tribute album! You will actually play this CD more than once. It's been my most played CD of the last few months! You can't miss the point that Gene Pitney's strength was picking great songs and that's what makes this CD great - the timeless quality of the songs shine through in modern interpretations. THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD will probably pique your interest in Gene Pitney (I know it did mine - now I'm searching out original Pitney stuff!) and that's the whole point of this CD. The press release calls this CD a "labor of love" and maybe that's what sets it apart from all other "tribute" albums.
(GPR, "Ear Candy" Magazine)
This is a beautifully polished result of many bands coming together to pay homage to the king of canto. With all your favorites: "He's A Rebel," "Teardrop By Teardrop," "Town Without Pity," "Every Breath I Take," and "Hello Mary Lou." Twenty-six tracks in all. Then, just as you are in the middle of this slow dance with your loved one, along come The Deviants, that British craziness seeping to every pore sending your senses haywire with "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"! Thank goodness there is some sanity in the world!
(Kathy Licks, "New York Waste" Magazine)
A long overdue tribute to the great Gene Pitney. Rock 'n roll icons from the '60s and '70s (Al Kooper, Gordon Waller, Mick Farren and The Deviants, Billy Cowsill, Ron Flynt) rub shoulders with the best of today's pop underground. The result is a magical and cohesive listening experience.
(Amazon.com)
This compilation showcases the talents of Gene Pitney, an artist who was inducted this year into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's safe to say that Gene's music is a hidden trove, not as famous as contemporaries such as Carole King or Neil Diamond. But who is not familiar with the songs "He's a Rebel" or "Hello Mary Lou," hits for the Crystals and Rick Nelson, respectively. But the pleasures of this album are derived from the less familiar songs. For example, Al Kooper's "I Must Be Seeing Things," as interpreted by L.A.'s The Waking Hours, has a majestic melody with more twists than an Agatha Christie mystery novel. Tom Richards handles the difficult vocals superbly. And speaking of Al Kooper, he applies an amazingly heartfelt, upfront vocal on the dramatic "One Day," a Pomus/Shuman classic. Speaking of dramatic, "Something's Gotten Hold of My Heart" is given a very dynamic reading by Chris von Sneidern, who plays all the sounds and sings all the vocals on this rendition of the Cook/Greenaway tune. Randell Kirsch and Billy Cowsill's version of "It Hurts to Be in Love" - is it possible for such frustration to be embodied in such a joyful melody? A performance evocative of the Everly Brothers' tight harmonies.
(Sherman Boim, "The New York Power Pop Page")
Compiled by Gary Pig Gold and Lisa Mychols (and released on the fabulous To M'Lou Music imprint run by Shane Faubert and Gary Pig Gold) THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD contains twenty-six stellar tracks, making for one of the best tribute CDs of this genre. The sequencing and sound quality is supreme. Well done pop done right. Historical, educational, cultural, essential, but most of all, just plain fun!
(Jeremy Morris, Jam Recordings)
This is a bundle of wonderful, chock full of superb performances of some incredible songs. Kudos to all involved on shining the spotlight of one of the underrated giants of '60s rock.
(Mike Bennett, Fufkin.com)
When writing about "tribute" albums, I'm never really sure if the focus should be on the artist to whom the tribute is being paid, the artists who are paying the tribute, or the label who actually comes up with the idea. With a line up like this, it could never go wrong, and hats off to To M'Lou for choosing one of the ultimate pop crooners, whose songs continue to inspire bands all over the world. The Gene Pitney story is one that would've been told and re-told over and over anyway, but it's so good to have a "chapter" like this.
(Goran Obradovic, "Popism")
Gary Pig Gold and his pals at To M'Lou Music have released a very cool tribute disc entitled HE'S A REBEL: THE GENE PITNEY STORY RETOLD. Once again, the indie pop community has paid homage to a pop artist in a fine manner that continues to elude the mainstream music industry. There are 26 excellent tracks on this disc, and standout jangly tunes include Mark Johnson's "Prelude," "It Hurts To Be In Love" by Randell Kirsch and Billy Cowsill, "Dream World" by Jeremy, "I'm Afraid To Go Home" by the Retros and "Teardrop By Teardrop" by the See Saw. I dig all the tracks - these just happen to have the most chiming riffs.
(Eric Sorensen, Fufkin.com)
Articles and interviews:
http://fufkin.com/columns/pally/pally_12_02.htm
(Lisa Mychols on Gene Pitney)
http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/rrcase-pitney.htm
(Jeff Glenn and the Case for Gene Pitney)
http://www.viewmag.com/viewstory.php?storyid=741
(Rick Andrew views Gene Pitney)
http://sonicwavemagazine.com/es/discos/discos.php?idDisco=117
("Sonic Wave" Magazine on "He's A Rebel")