Description
A Philadelphia-born guitarist with a strong empathy for Jazz, whose career as a professional musician stretched back to the late 1930s, Dave Appell carved out an unlikely career in Rock'n'Roll as an arranger, bandleader, musical director and producer.
His name remains wholly synonymous with the Cameo-Parkway group of labels, for whom he wrote, arranged and produced countless hit records, for artists like Charlie Gracie, Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, The Dovells, Dee Dee Sharp, etc. However, several of his own - predominately instrumental - 45s, on which he was billed in various guises of The Applejacks, enjoyed success in their own right.
This compilation presents the very best of Appell's own releases between 1954-1962 and includes all his significant hits, most notably the million-selling 'Mexican Hat Rock' and its follow-ups, 'Rocka-Conga' and 'Bunny Hop'.
Many of these sides are rare collectors' items, and are impossible to find elsewhere on CD.