Dion DiMucci is probably best known for his sappy 1968 history lesson, "Abraham, Martin, and John," which hit no. 4 on the pop charts and was a staple of grade school sing-alongs for years after. With that monkey on his back, he should be happy just to be remembered at all. Still, in his day, Dion had everything: talent, trouble, looks, attitude, and a handful of big hits.

That was, however, before the Beatles arrived and erased the man as if he'd never made it out of the Bronx. If that had happened to me, I'd probably be a little cranky about the way things worked out. The truth is that Dion was not some camp counselor square – in fact, when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, Lou Reed did the honors, understand? Which is to say that Dion's music might not have aged well, but he fit into the '60s nonetheless.

Dion's first hits – "I Wonder Why" and "Teenager in Love" – came when he was a member of the Belmonts in the late '50s. He went out on his own in 1960, which is where this 14-song set begins. Songs like "The Wanderer," "Runaround Sue," "Lovers Who Wander," and "Donna the Prima Donna" were strong, and it's a kick to hear them again. But be forewarned: Over the years thickheaded fans have tried to convince the world that his work – and he's done a lot of it since 1963 – has always been top-notch. While this is a good, interesting record, I suggest playing the aforementioned "AM&J" – cut 14 – to set the record straight. Dion was good; he was not great. (J.H. Tompkins)