The Chimes - Chimes Meet the Videls (CD)

All Music Guide

Eleven songs by the Chimes, including their two chart entries, "Once in a While" (and its two different B-sides, "Summer Nights" and "Oh How I Love You So," of which the latter is the stronger, with a catchier melody and arrangement) and "I'm In The Mood For Love." The sound is clean and the textures of the harmony vocals and the backing instruments are revealed in very fine detail. Their version of "Let's Fall in Love" is a revelation, a languid, radiant slow ballad interpretation of a song usually taken at a much faster tempo by everyone from Frank Sinatra to the Three Stooges. "Dream Girl," by contrast, is more in the vein of a do-wop novelty number. "Paradise," written by Lenny Cocco, is uncomfortably close to "This Magic Moment," in content and arrangment, right down to the choruses and the string playing, although it is pleasant enough on its own terms. The CD is rounded out by six songs by the Videls.

- Bruce Eder, All Music Guide