Teenybop pop performer Gary Lewis was one of the kids able to use his showbiz connections to gain a foothold in the mid-Sixties music scene (Gary's father was none other than Jerry Lewis). While other aspiring singers took advantage of "Hollywood nepotism", Lewis possessed a decent (if somewhat nasal-sounding) voice, and, with the help of producer Snuff Garrett, scored some now-classic Top 40 hits, the best of which was "This Diamond Ring". By 1967, his budding career as a pop/rock chartbuster had screeched to a stop, on account of Lewis having been drafted by the bad ol' Uncle Sam. Nevertheless, with brilliant arranger Jack Nitzsche and Wrecking Crew session players on board, Gary cut the album Listen!. Released in October 1967 and easily the best thing he ever lent his voice to, the record was met with a resounding...thud.
Listen! album-buyers sadly did not, preoccupied with the groundbreaking LPs that the likes of The Beatles, Jefferson Airplane, and The Doors were putting out, along with bubble-garage records by The Monkees, who easily replaced Gary Lewis and his erstwhile group, The Playboys, in teenagers' affections. Which was a real doggone shame, because Listen! is THE orchestral pop jewel in Lewis' catalog. Kicking off with the finest song Brian Wilson never wrote, the gorgeous ballad "Jill", the album also contains convincing covers of The Lovin' Spoonful's "Six O'Clock" and not one but two Tim Hardin compositions. Alongside "Jill", the talented songwriting team of Alan Gordon and Gary Bonner contributed three other standout tracks on Listen!.
Gary Lewis' vocals never sounded better than on this disc, as he toned down his adenoid tones and sang in the softer style the songs' lush settings required. Despite flopping commercially at the time, the sheer pure pop power of Listen! can now be fully enjoyed on this delightful reissue, which includes both mono and stereo mixes, as well as comprehensive liner notes.