ROSES ARE RED, with signature

Johnny's fine performance of this album's title song, of course, was beatten to the radio stations by Bobby Vinton, who had conducted the big band that backed up Johnny when he performed DREAMIN' and YOU'RE SIXTEEN "live" on television, hosted by Merv Griffin.

LONESOME WATERS is an exceptional hard-rocker that has always been one of my favorite Johnny Burnette performances. Other rockers include CHOO CHOO TRAIN and, of course, GIRLS, which had charted as a hit for Johnny in 1961. CLOWN SHOES, however, is the more memorable hit performance on this album. Not a hit, but also memorable is ANGRY AT THE BIG OAK TREE. Other up-tempo winners here included the country flavored I'VE GOT A LOT OF THINGS TO DO, with THE WAY I AM also being another one of his expressive performances that made you sing along.

- Hank Zevallos