On June 27th, the great Doc Pomus would have turned 100 years of age, and it’s a great reason to release a massive box set of his original sketches for pieces that made the American songwriter one of principal architects of pop music. Solo, and with his creative partner Mort Shuman, Pomus penned such universally gems as “Viva Las Vegas,” “Young Blood,” “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “Lonely Avenue” which were recorded by Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, THE DRIFTERS and THE COASTERS, and later covered by artists like Harry Nilsson and BAD COMPANY. Quite a few of those classics appear on “You Can’t Hip A Square: The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos” whose six CDs comprise about 160 tracks.
Over 120 of this staggering number of cuts have never seen the light of day – the acetates that Doc kept were preserved by his daughter Sharyn Felder – with most of the rest making their debut on digital medium. Restored and mastered, all of it is accompanied by a 48-page hardcover book which provides further insights into the late genius’ method. Out on August 15th, the comp feels rather important and essential.
You Can’t Hip A Square:
The Doc Pomus Songwriting Demos
CD 1:
1. It’s Great To Be Young And In Love
2. A Teenager In Love (recorded in 1961, Doc Pomus’ house)
3. Love Roller Coaster
4. See That Girl
5. I Ain’t Sharin’ Sharon
6. Kiss And Make Up (Mort Shuman demo)
7. Kiss And Make Up (RnB Records single)
8. Hushabye (recorded in 1961, Doc Pomus’ house)
9. Foxy Little Mama
10. A Young Boy’s Heart
11. Whatcha Really Thinkin’
12. This Magic Moment (recorded in 1961, Doc Pomus’ house)
13. Lovers Gotta Cry (Once In A While)
14. Miss In-Between
15. Forty-Seven Dollars
16. It Tears Me To Pieces
17. Deep Inside
18. Could Somebody Take My Place Tonight
19. Troubled Mind
20. Always Is A Long, Long Time
21. Suddenly We’re Strangers
22. It’s Been Nice (Goodnight)
23. Be Everything To Anyone You Love
24. Lonely Winds
25. Enough Of This Stuff
26. What Am I To Do?
27. (We Got Love) Money Can’t Buy
28. Be A Man
29. Dream Song
CD 2:
1. Ginny In The Mirror
2. Shall I Tell Him You’re Not Here
3. Showdown
4. Run Fool Run
5. Give Her Lots Of Love
6. You Never Talked About Me
7. Save A Dream
8. Made For Each Other
9. Fever And Headaches
10. Don’t School A Fool
11. The Sweet Pain Of Love
12. My Baby Wants To Be A Singer
13. Come Down To Earth
14. Hello World
15. The Ups And Downs Of Love
16. If Ellie Doesn’t Change
17. Shack On The Beach
18. Why Does The Dance Have To End?
19. He’s Got Something
20. Who Stole My Dream
21. That’s Me
22. Book Of Time
23. How Can I Make Him Love Me?
24. It Only Takes A Minute
25. Low Down Blues
26. Brother, You Deserve Each Other
27. Half A Love Is Better Than None At All
28. Baby How Long Will It Be?
29. Shindig
30. Lucy (When Ya Comin’ Home?) aka Lucy! (You Sure Did It This Time)
CD 3:
1. I’m Playing For Keeps
2. Have Yourself A Good Cry
3. Infatuation
4. It’s A Man’s World
5. Silly Boy
6. I’ve Been There Before
7. Bad Luck Blues
8. The Other Kind
9. Don’t You Pass Me By
10. King Lonely The Blue
11. Love Is The Answer
12. I’m Gonna Cry Till My Tears Run Dry
13. Leave It To Me
14. I Lose Again
15. Petticoat White (Summer Sky Blue)
16. (I’ve Been A) Bad Girl
17. The Many Faces Of Love
18. Out On Your Own
19. You Own My Heart
20. I’m Not Good Enough For You
21. Monday Morning
22. No Escape
23. Love At First Sight
24. Here Comes The Night
25. Icy Teardrops
26. Diamonds And Gold
27. Jazz Joint
CD 4:
1. Helplessly
2. I’m With You
3. Believe In Me
4. He’s Got Everything
5. She’s Got Soul
6. Your Conception Of Love
7. I’m Gonna Make A Comeback
8. Night Life
9. My Baby’s Quit Me
10. The Green-Eyed Monster
11. I’m Teasin’ A Broken Heart
12. If I Were Only Free
13. The Grass Looked Greener Over There
14. Nothing Lasts Forever
15. Johnny Midnight
16. One Little Teardrop (Can Lead To Two Broken Hearts)
17. Destination Heartbreak
18. Our Love Will Overcome Everything
19. Give A Great Big Hand (To The Man Who Stole Her)
20. If I Knew Then What I Know Now
21. About Me
22. It’s A Nothing World
23. It’s Time To Make A Change
24. All For The Sake Of Love
25. It Ain’t Gonna Happen To Me No More
CD 5:
1. Turn Me Loose
2. A Mess Of Blues
3. (Marie’s The Name) His Latest Flame
4. Kiss Me Quick
5. She’s Not You
6. Gonna Get Back Home Somehow
7. Suspicion
8. Pot Luck (Pomus/Shuman version)
9. Viva Las Vegas
10. Lady Luck
11. (It’s A) Long Lonely Highway
12. Kissin’ Cousins
13. I Need Somebody To Lean On
14. Girl Happy
15. One Way Ticket To The Blues
16. Pot Luck (Pomus/Spector version)
17. Kissin’ Fool
18. I Walk The Muddy Road To Love
19. What Every Woman Lives For
20. I Wish I Were In His Shoes
21. I’m A Man
22. Clambake (version 1)
23. Double Trouble (version 1)
24. Pot Luck (Pomus/Jeffreys version)
25. Havin’ A Ball
26. Double Trouble (version 2)
27. Clambake (version 2)
28. Bring My Poor Heart Back To Me
29. Headin’ For A Heartache
30. Easy Come, Easy Go
31. “…Presley Liked Them”
CD 6:
1. Doc’s Boogie
2. My Good Pott
3. My New Chick
4. Fruity Woman Blues
5. When I First Met Lucille
6. Here Comes The Blues (The Musicale Club, Harlem, NY)
7. Fool All The Time
8. Moving Day Blues
9. Big Joe’s Blues
10. Still In Love
11. Lonely Avenue
12. Boogie Woogie Country Girl
13. When Main Street Becomes Park Avenue
14. “…I Sing In My Sleep”
15. (Wake Up) Miss Rip Van Winkle
16. You Better Believe It
17. “…There’s Always Ideas Deep Inside”
18. I’ll Treat You Like A Woman
19. If I Should Fail
20. Just Another Memory
21. No One
22. “…I’m Only Doc Pomus When It’s A Hit”
23. Bye Baby Bye (The Musicale Club, Harlem, NY)
