Finger Poppin' Time: Best of Ocean Drive (1998)

by Various Artists

Ripete Records are America's greatest exponents of beach music, a broad term which encompasses a variety of dance-friendly soul sounds popular in the South. Despite the diverse collection of artists on this set -- everybody from Jimmy McCracklin to Freda Payne -- you don't get the feeling you're listening to different genres because all these tunes have the same bouncing beat (or seem like it anyway). The music has plenty of energy, but after a few tracks the redundant arrangements become boring for listening purposes. But ... Read More

Ripete Records are America's greatest exponents of beach music, a broad term which encompasses a variety of dance-friendly soul sounds popular in the South. Despite the diverse collection of artists on this set -- everybody from Jimmy McCracklin to Freda Payne -- you don't get the feeling you're listening to different genres because all these tunes have the same bouncing beat (or seem like it anyway). The music has plenty of energy, but after a few tracks the redundant arrangements become boring for listening purposes. But if you're dancing in the sand with your shoes off, these are as good as any to shag to. ~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi Read Less