Various Artists - The Super K Kollection Vol.2 (1994)

This second volume of obscure singles from bubblegum mavens Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffrey Katz proves that this producing duo had ambitions beyond just bubblegum pop. Like its predecessor, The Super K Kollection, Vol. 2 downplays straight bubblegum tracks in favor of songs with a strong psychedelic or garage rock feel to them. The strongest tracks in the garage rock vein are "My Fire Department Needs a Fireman," a fiery track from the Shadows of Knight that marries a vicious guitar/organ attack to a catchy singalong chorus, and "The Gung Gung Song," a novelty-styled nonsense word singalong by the Carnaby Street Runners that layers swirling organ leads over a tight, soulful groove from the rhythm section. The most memorable psychedelic tracks are "Go Out in the Rain," a 1910 Fruitgum Company track that contrasts folk-styled acoustic guitar with a soul music bassline before sneaking in a surprising xylophone hook, and "Itchy, Itchy," a track from Professor Morrison's Lollipop that layers a spacy, effects-laden vocal over some rollicking piano riffs. Unfortunately, there are a lot of lesser tracks to sit through between the aforementioned highlights: "Bingo Bingo" is a tired bubblegum track from the 1910 Fruitgum Company that is overly cutesy even by bubblegum standards, and "You Hurt Me Girl" is a maudlin ballad from ex-British Invasion hitmakers Freddie & the Dreamers. Overall, none of the material presented here is as catchy or inspired as the classic Kasenetz-Katz hits. Because of this second-rate level of quality, The Super K Kollection, Vol. 2 can only be recommended to the most devoted fans of pop obscurities.~Donald A. Guarisco