Dance Til Quarter to Three With U.S Bonds

Personnel: Gary "U.S." Bonds (vocals).
Bonds' debut album was a typical LP for the era: a few hits ("Quarter to Three," "New Orleans," "School Is Out") surrounded by tunes not far removed from the style of the singles, but not nearly as memorable. At least this one was mostly comprised of original material, written by producer Frank Guida, Bonds, and saxophonist Gene Barge, with a few others pitching in. The calypso and Caribbean beats that found their way into several Bonds singles crop up with some frequency; "Please Forgive Me," "Don't Go to Strangers," and "I Know Why Dreamers Cry" are doo wop/R&B ballads in a more traditional vein than Bonds' usual approach; and "Not Me" would be covered for a hit by the Orlons in 1963. The album was reissued, together with Bonds' second LP (1962's Twist Up Calypso), on a single-CD compilation by Ace in 1998, although this CD substitutes the original version of "Please Forgive Me" (the B-side of "New Orleans") for the one that was re-recorded for the LP. ~ Richie Unterberger