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Live From The Rock N’ Roll Palace Volume 2 was recorded live at the Rock N' Roll Palace in Orlando, Florida. While no actual date is given, looking at the clothing and hair styles I would place this somewhere in the mid-seventies. The music is all early rock and roll, but the clothing looks a bit disco.
Live From The Rock N’ Roll Palace Volume 2 features Johnny Thunder (whose hit "Loop De Loop" reached #4 in 1963), Johnny Tillotson (who charted 26 hits between 58 and 65), The Crickets (originally backed Buddy Holly, but went on to perform and record after his death), The Diamonds (who sold a ton of cover records where the original versions wouldn't be acceptable), Tommy Sands (reassured millions that rock 'n' roll is not as dangerous as they think), Bobby Vee (placed 38 songs in the Billboard Top 100), The Platters (one of the first doo-wop groups in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame), and Ace Cannon (saxophone virtuoso).
The show started off with Tommy Sands. He began with the 1957 top three single, “Teenage Crush” and finished with “The Beat Goes On” both were well done although the end of “The Beat Goes On” occured abruptly, cutting directly into the next artist.
Next on the bill was Johnny Thunder. A former member of the Drifters and the Inkspots, Thunder began his set with a really good rendition of “Suzy Q” and finished with his trade mark hit “Loop De Loop”. Both were well done.
Then came Bobby Vee with his break through top ten single “Devil Or Angel”. It was followed up by the song “Rubber Ball”. Both songs were done in that smooth Bobby Vee style that made him famous as a teenager.
The Diamonds were next on the bill with their 1961 song “One Summer Night” which, while good, was not as good as their second tune, 1957’s “The Stroll”. Doing what they did so well in the '50s & and '60s with their R & B style.
Johnny Tillotson then did “Earth Angel” which was in his pop style. In his second song, “It Keeps Right On Hurting”, he showed his crossover country style. Then came the Platters with their number one on the R & B charts single “Only You”. This was done in the traditional Platters sound and was followed up with 1957’s “He’s Mine”. I like the way the voices interacted and the smooth transition from the male to female lead.
The Crickets were then up with “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be The Day”. The performance was good and the vocalist did a good Holly sound. I know that the Crickets have been performing since Holly’s death, but I would have preferred at least one original Crickets only song.
Last up was Ace Cannon, sax virtuoso extraordinaire. He finishes up with “Cottonfields and “Tuff”. He is amazing to listen to. Truly he is the “Godfather of Sax”. Just so no one can say that I didn’t notice, his name is incorrectly spelled on the front cover as Canon!
My personal favorites and the main reasons I would purchase this DVD would be for Ace Cannon, The Platter, and the Diamonds. This is another piece of rock and roll history well worth owning.
