I fell in love with the early 80s Swiss band Chin Chin a couple months ago, based on their fine album, Sound of the Westway. But you’ve surely read my rantings here, here, here, and here.

It was only after actually downloading the entire album (I would have bought it if it was available), I learned that the gals’ first recording was my nominee for greatest song of the rock era. The Crystals Da Doo Ron Ron, of which I’d only posted the Searchers version here previously.

Chin Chin’s version clearly understands how great this song is, but it isn’t a full statement. They weren’t really a band when they recorded it. It’s thrown off the way the Sex Pistols tossed off Roadrunner in their first meeting. Songs they all knew and liked. On different scales, portentous.