Phil Phillips, Sea of Love (Bear Family)

Perhaps because he hails from Lake Charles, Louisiana—slightly off the beaten musical path—Phil Phillips is probably the most overlooked and under-appreciated hit-maker in the state’s history. Nevertheless, his classic “Sea of Love” rose to Number 2 in 1959, a feat not equaled or surpassed even by the great Fats Domino. Certainly this CD, his first ever album, will draw some well deserved attention to Phil Phillips talent and career. Although gospel trained, Phillips was an anomaly. He wasn’t a blues singer, an R&B singer or a rock and roll singer. He was a pop singer, and a superlative one to boot. Which leads to a puzzling question: How is it possible that they recorded such a sophisticated, pure pop song as “Sea of Love” in Goldband’s studio, a studio, which doubled as broom closet and storage room? As listeners will agree, Goldband singles from the era were primitive by any measure. It quickly burned up the local airways and was leased to Mercury, a national label that harvested a number of independent Gulf Coast hits. “Sea of Love” shot up the national charts and Phillips appeared on American Bandstand and the Steve Allen Show. One more Lake Charles recording session was held before Phillips’s sessions were transferred to New York and then Nashville. Several high quality singles were released, cutting standards and good originals, but sales were disappointing. Less than a year after “Sea of Love” was in the charts, Mercury held their last Phil Phillips session. Sadly, he would return to Lake Charles, where he wound up working a series of menial jobs. On top of that, he never received proper compensation for his hit. This then is the legacy of the great Phil Phillips. Usual superlative packaging by Bear Family makes this a must have release.