Adam Faith with The Roulettes: It's Alright/I Just Don't Know (Amy 913)

Like his fellow countryman, Cliff Richard, Adam Faith was a British answer to our own teen idols. Also like Richard, he had a long career that encompassed everything from records to films to what-have-you. (I distinctly remember him in the 1960 film "Beat Girl" where he spent nearly the whole film trying to look tough by carrying a guitar around.) Now, we go back once again to 1964, where we find Adam, like Cliff, slugging it out in the face of the staggering popularity of The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Animals, Hermans' Hermits and many others. Actually, this U.S. release was taken from two separate British faith singles and while "I Just Don't Know" is pretty much twee pop with horns, "It's Alright" really shows Faith and his then-new group The Roulettes slammin' it out with the best of 'em. It opens with Faith and his guitar quietly moaning out "Well, if you want me it's alright, alright, alright." Moment of silence. Then, all hell breaks loose. Faith shrieks "WELL IF YA WANT ME 'SALRIGHT! as the band springs into action right along with him. The result is a surprisingly tough piece of fast-paced, no-holes-barred, smokin' British beat rock 'n' roll. Just goes to show that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Not to mention that even the teeniest of teen idols sometimes have a spark or two in 'em.