Bill Deal & The Rhondels
The Best Of Bill Deal & The Rhondels

Artist: Bill Deal & The Rhondels
Title: The Best Of Bill Deal & The Rhondels
Release Year: 1970
Pressing Year: 1970
Label: Heritage Records
Catalog Number: HTS-35,006
Run-Out Etching: MGS 2120-5 sF
Run-Out Etching: Bell Sound T
Format: 33 RPM • 12” Album • Stereo
UPC: none

In the beach music scene of Virginia and the Carolinas in the late '60s, nobody could shake a dance floor like Bill Deal & The Rhondels. A horn-powered band like Blood, Sweat & Tears or Chicago but with an eye firmly scoping out the club floor at all times, Deal and his octet knew their audience cold. And that audience liked to dance, dance, dance to their favorites and Bill and the band responded with hoof-shaking rearrangements of shag-worthy material. While seldom remembered today, Deal and the band racked up five chart singles in a year's time, and those well-crafted 45s (What Kind of Fool (Do You Think I Am), May I, Swingin' Tight, I've Been Hurt, and Nothing Succeeds Like Success) form the core of this collection's appeal. Not even remotely hip, creative, or innovative, but as grade-A floor-moving music of the time period, this compilation is a delightful invitation to the dance. These guys were local heroes, being the first of the beach bands to get serious chart action.

Personnel: Bill Deal (vocals, organ); Don Queinsenburry (bass); Ronny Rosenbaum (trombone); Ken Dawson, Mike Kerwin, Jeff Pollard (trumpet); Bob Fisher (guitar); Ammon Tharp (drums, vocals).

Side One: Side Two: What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am Nothing Succeeds Like Success Touch Me Swingin’ Tight Harlem Shuffle Hey Bulldog May I Are You Ready For This I’ve Got My Needs Tuck’s Theme Words* I’ve Been Hurt
* The label says Words but the back cover says Ain’t Too Proud To Beg. I’ll leave it like it is; we all need some mystery in our lives.

VINYL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Minimal surface noise. A good cleaning is all this one needs. Not warped.

LABEL GRADE: VG+
Notes: Neither side has ring wear, writing, spindle wear, or tape. Groovy white Heritage text logo on orange. Text is black on yellow/orange gradient.

SLEEVE GRADE: VG+
Notes: Original white paper sleeve. No tape, no writing, no rips, no stains, no marks, no splits. Some crinkling, some yellowing. Both sides blank.

JACKET GRADE: VG
Notes: Visible ring wear. No tape, no rips, no writing, no splits. Edges, spine (unreadable), corners are worn. The tip of the bottom right corner of the jacket is missing, but it isn’t a cut-out. (See my original scan.) Visible age spots and stains on back cover. (Nothing obscured.)

Shipping is $4.49. NOTE: I will NOT be responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.

Combined shipping: I will be happy to combine multiple items. If you buy more than one item from me, the shipping cost will be the highest original shipping fee plus $1 per additional item.

Payments managed by eBay.

This is not a cut-out or a record-club pressing. It is the original issue.

Note: I haven't cleaned this 53-year-old vinyl record because everybody seems to prefer their own methods. I'll leave the cleaning up to the buyer. Also, I'm not a professional vinyl seller or buyer. This comes from my own collection. Bought at Rose’s 5&10¢ Store, downtown Radford VA.

Enjoy the auction — and good luck!