Johnny Burnette Sings

Exit Johnny Burnette the rockabilly man; enter Johnny Burnette, teen idol. Given a choice, most would prefer the cross between Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley any day, but having hit with “Dreamin'” and tasting pop stardom and appearances on teen shows, better gigs, and wild admirers, Burnette chose a new bag…for him.

He had plenty of company and competed with the likes of Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Bobby Rydell, Bobby Vee, and Conway Twitty before Twitty return to country (when country wasn’t cool). Singing more relaxed than his early fans — who didn’t buy many records — are accustomed to, Burnette cruises through his notables, “Little Boy Sad,” “I’m Still Dreamin’,” and “Big, Big World.” And he marks time on “Red Sails in the Sunset,” “Pledge of Love,” and “The Treasure of Love” without any attempt at making definitive versions. He recorded two more similar albums before passing via a boating accident; if he had lived, Burnette would have done a Twitty (and Ronnie Milsap) and returned to his roots: country music.