R&B, Soul, Doo-Wop - The Danleers -> Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias

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RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL & DOO-WOP

The Danleers -> Bo Dollis & The Wild Magnolias'
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'THE DANLEERS
LARRY DARNELL
JULIAN DASH
BOBBY DAY
THE DAYLIGHTERS
SAM DEES
THE DEL-SATINS
THE DELFONICS
THE DELL-VIKINGS
THE DELLS'
THE DEMENSIONS' ' THE DIABLOS
BO DIDDLEY
VARETTA DILLARD
DION
DION & THE BELMONTS
THE DIPLOMATS
THE DIXIE CUPS
THE DIXIEBELLES
BILL DOGGETT
BO DOLLIS & WILD MAGNOLIAS

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THE DANLEERS Bear Family BCD 15503 One Summer Night ● CD $19.98

The Brooklynite Danleers were initially a quintet, schooled by Mercury Records into being a second string Platters, the label's most successful black vocal group. But the outfit differed in approach - The Danleers had a tougher, less sappy edge to their material, including jumps and ballads (the group excelled on the latter). Led by Jimmy Weston, the harmoneers recorded for Amp, Mercury, Epic, Everest and Smash over an existence of six years. The CD covers their total output of two dozen sides, including their debut behind Pearl Galloway, and best known ballads One Summer Night/ Half A Block From An Angel. Six cuts duplicate the Mercury Vocal Group Album collection. 16-page book with fine, rare pics and discography. (OLN)

LARRY DARNELL Bayou 1005A The Ultimate Larry Darnell Hits Package ● CD $18.98

28 tracks,76 min, recommended. The only extensive collection available by this fine R&B singer. Though born in Ohio, Larry ended up in New Orleans in the late 40s, which is where he mostly associated with, having hits for Regal backed by Paul Gayten. He moved to New York in 50 when his career took off & recorded for a number of other labels, most which are represented here. The set starts out with one of his biggest, I'll Get Along Somehow, a 2-parter probably best known from the section used by Frank Zappa on his Later That Night - "I hold in my hand 3 letters dear, each from 3 stages from your fine, super fine career", & For You My Love. Also Boogie Oogie/ I'll Be Settin & I'll Be Rockin'/ Ramblin' Man/ Flame of Love and others. No info here except the song titles & a very brief biography. (GM)

JULIAN DASH Blue Moon BMCD 1050 The Complete Recordings, 1950-53 ● CD $15.98

BOBBY DAY Ace CDCH 200 The Original Rockin' Robin ● CD $18.98

This CD reissues tracks from the Collectables/ Ace LP reissues, adding 10 bonus tracks from the Class and Rendezvous labels. Most importantly there is the inclusion of the flip side to Class 207, Roll On Seven , a rollin' tune much in the prevailing L.A. style of the time. My Blue Heaven is a swingin' version done with the Blossums in 1958, Beep Beep , another B side utilizes the newfangled space program lingo and Life Can Be Beautiful reprises the Rockin' Robin riff one more time. Mr. & Mrs. Rock And Roll/ Three Young Rebs From Georgia/ Little Bitty Pretty One (which he wrote), etc. (AE))

BOBBY DAY Collectables 5074 Golden Classics ● CD $11.98

Now on compact disc- The Bluebird, The Buzzard & The Oriole/ My Blue Heaven/ Come Seven/ Beep Beep/ I Don't Want To/ Life Can Be Beautiful/ Rockin' Robin/ Mr. & Mrs. Rock And Roll/ Three Young Rebs From Georgia/ Little Bitty Pretty One, etc.

BOBBY DAY Varese Vintage 66249 The Best Of Bobby Day ● CD $13.98

16 tracks, 38 minutes, essential
The problem with Bobby Day is that he was known by too many names, & tunes that he's been associated with don't even include him! I have a copy of The Hollywood Flames' Buzz-Buzz-Buzz (included here) that he signed for me as both the singer, Bobby Day, & it's composer Bobby Byrd! His groups would include many of the same members & be known by different names, including The Four Flames with Earl Nelson (Wheel of Fortune) & The Laurels with Bob Relf (Truly Truly) Of course there's Day's big solo hits, including Rockin' Robin/ Little Bitty Pretty One & The Bluebird, the Buzzard & The Oriole. However, though he & Nelson were the original Bob & Earl (That's My Desire), it is Nelson & Relf, not Byrd, who are on the classic Harlem Shuffle (also here). And Jackie Lee, heard here on the The Duck, is not Day, but Nelson!! (GM)

THE DAYLIGHTERS Day 101 The Daylighters ● CD $18.98

27 tracks from the late 50s to mid 60s from this fine Chicago group. A mix of ballads and up tempo items they are also featured accompanying R&B vocalists Freddie Hall, Betty Everett and Donald Jenkins and bluesman Eddie Boyd.

SAM DEES Kent CDKEND 125 Second To None ● CD $18.98

23 tracks, 78 min., recommended
Made up entirely of previously unissued Atlantic/ Moonsong material from the early 1970s, this collection is an antidote to pretentiousness. Such heavy soul hitters as Tyrone Davis, Z.Z. Hill, and Clarence Carter have covered his work, but Dees sings his own songs with an unmatched intensity and attention to vocal nuance. The arrangements are generally sparse--many are unfinished demos--which only serves to showcase Dees' rich, expressive voice. Musically and lyrically his songs avoid the usual soul clich�s, though nearly every one is of the sad, lost-love variety. Few could sing the words "I'm gonna give you just enough rope to hang yourself" so sweetly they sound like a love letter. A real find. (JC)

THE DEL-SATINS Win 1001 Vol. 1 - Back From Lunch ● CD $16.98

31 cuts from early 60s featuring this New York vocal groups including solo outings by some of the members. Includes unissued songs and stereo versions.
' THE DEL-SATINS: A Little Rain Must Fall/ Ballad of A DJ/ Beaty Dean/ Best Wishes, Goodluck, Goodbye/ Can't Find The Girl On My Mind, Now/ Clicky Clack/ Counting Teardrops/ Guardian Angel/ I Really Do/ I Remember the Night/ I Wanna Know/ I'll Do My Crying Tomorrow/ I'll Never Know/ I'll Pray For You/ Is It A Dream/ Just A Little While/ Love, Hate, Revenge/ Miss America Teenager/ Please Be Mine/ Poor Little Sad Eyed Sue/ Remember/ She's Not Around Anymore/ She's So Wonderful/ Ski Beat/ Someone To Care/ Sweets for my Sweet/ Teardrops Follow Me/ The Prettiest Girl I Kissed Today/ Two Broken Hearts/ Who Cares/ Win or Lose '

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THE DELFONICS Kent 165 The Professionals ● CD $18.98

CD issue of previously unissued studio album plus seven live cuts.

THE DELL-VIKINGS Collectables 5001 1956 Audition Tapes ● CD $11.98

THE DELL-VIKINGS Collectables 5010 Golden Classics ● CD $11.98

14 tracks, 38 min., good. The first integrated rock 'n' roll vocal group to crack the Top 10 in 1957, the Dell Vikings (or Del-Vikings) were a big inspiration to many of today's stars including Paul Simon, who performed their Whispering Bells on his Graceland tour. The vocal group was formed by recruits on a Pittsburgh Air Force base in 1955, went through a bunch of personnel changes over the next five years before breaking up (a revival group with one original member continues on the oldies circuit), scored big hits with both Come Go with Me and Whispering Bells, and recorded a wide range of do-wop oriented arrangements of R&B, rock, country songs and even Over the Rainbow. While this album is fairly short, one might argue that these 14 songs are more than enough. Sound quality is good. ( LK)
THE DELL VIKINGS: Come Go With Me/ Don't Be A Fool/ Down In Bermuda/ Girl, Girl/ How Can I Find True Love/ I Want To Marry You/ I'm Spinning/ Over the Rainbow/ Watching the Moon/ What Made Maggie Run/ When I Come Home/ Whispering Bells/ Willette/ You Say You Love Me '

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THE DELL-VIKINGS Collectables 8809 For Collectors Only ● CD $24.98

Two CD set. '

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THE DELL-VIKINGS Flyright FLYCD 34 Come Go With Me ● CD $16.98

This 21-song collection contains much of the quintet's pre-Mercury Fee Bee (1956-'57) output, plus a smattering of Dot and Luniverse sides (1957). The interracial group was formed from U.S. Air Force enlistees in Pittsburgh, and went through many personnel changes over the 17-year course of their career. The collection features the group's 1956 initial 9-song basement audition session, the original Fee Bee version of Come Go With Me, plus the beautiful Willette/ I Want To Marry You, both led by Chuck Jackson. Long-time lead singer Kripp Johnson demonstrates his vocal skills on When I Come Home. Detailed sleeve notes by John Broven of Juke Blues magazine. (OLN)

THE DELL-VIKINGS Flyright FLYCD 53 Volume 2 ● CD $16.98

A definite treat for the many fans of this major, but ever-changing vocal group. Without going into all of the details of their various shifts in personnel and record label, simply note that these 20 tracks come from the group's sessions with the Fee Bee label, and that half of them are previously unreleased takes or titles. And most of them are tantalizingly obscure, the better known Luniverse and Fee Bee titles having been released on Flyright's earlier, well done Dell Vikings compilation (CD-34). Among the titles issued here are Woke Up This Morning/ Hurricane Woman/ Billy Boy/ Please Say You'll Be Mine/ Stay Here With Me, and Baby Let Me Be. It's all solid material, mixing jumps, mid-tempo numbers, and ballads. The sound quality is good, even though four cuts come from the "only surviving acetates." Fine notes by Bill Millar, and a great cover photo of lead singer Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson decked out in a white jacket and a plaid bow tie. Get it while you can. ( DH

THE DELL-VIKINGS Hip-O 40059 Come Go With Me - The Best Of The Del-Vikings $10.98

15 of their Dot/ ABC recordings - Come Go With Me/ Whispering Bells/ I'm Spinning/ Bring Back Your Heart/ Face The Music/ The Big Silence/ Confession Of Love/ Sorcerers Apprentice, etc.

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THE DELL-VIKINGS Hot Productions 66150 Come Go With Me ● CD $13.98

Reissue of incredibly rare 8 track Luniverse album from 1957 featuring the original version of Come Go With Me plus Hey Senorita/ Somewhere Over The Rainbow/ Heaven In Paradise/ (How Can I Find) True Love/ Yours/ I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)/ White Cliffs Of Dover.

THE DELL-VIKINGS Sparkletone SP 99001 The Big Beat ● CD $19.98

22 tracks, 51 min., recommended By the time this pivotal vocal group had undergone its most famous personnel change, with former lead Kripp Johnson staying with one label to form a new group and the rest of the guys picking up a new member and heading for a new label, the guys who moved to the new label toned down their earlier rock 'n' roll stylings with just a dash of the prevalent pop music sound. All of this resulted in only one more real hit, Cool Shake, included on the Del Vikings disc reviewed below. Even so, the group's new sound was polished, professional, and worthwhile - as this volume and its companion demonstrate. Highlights on this first installment include the title track, What Have You Done to Me, Friendly Moon, Nobody's Kisses But Yours, Pretty Little Things Called Girls, Jitterbug Mary, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Snow Bound. Solid sound quality and brief notes. (DH)

THE DELL-VIKINGS Sparkletone SP 99002 Cool Shake ● CD $19.98

22 tracks, 50 min., recommended Volume two's program includes the aforementioned hit, Cool Shake, plus A Sunday Kind of Love, Come Along With Me, Down in Bermuda, The White Cliffs of Dover, Your Book of Life, Is It Any Wonder, Now Is the Hour, What'Cha Gotta Lose, and How Could You. All solidly performed in a style that might well remind one that their parent label at this point is the very same label that was home to the most successful 50's vocal group of them all, the Platters. No big deal, though. I like the music of both groups. And here on set number two the sound quality is equally good, but there are no notes at all. (DH)

THE DELLS Black Tulip 2636302 Oh What A Night ● CD $18.98

28 tracks, 73 min., recommended A generous slice of the output of one of Chicago's finest doo-wop acts, and one that compares interestingly with that group's 1992 Vee-Jay disc, offering 12 tracks not on the earlier issue. Numbers unique to this set include Time Makes You Change, Tell the World, Darling I Know, Dance Dance Dance, Distant Love, My Dreams, and You're Still in My Heart. Duplicated tracks include Oh What a Night, Dreams of Contentment, Jo-Jo, Baby Open Up Your Heart, She's Just an Angel, My Best Girl, and Stay in My Corner. A winner from start to finish. Sound quality is impressive, and, sadly, there are no notes at all. (DH)

THE DELLS Dipper 204 The "Mighty" Dells With Johnny Funches, 1954-1960 ● CD $17.98

28 tracks, 74 min., highly recommended
Yet another look at this stellar Chicago vocal group, this time with a program that offers ten numbers plus one alternate take not on the "Dreams of Contentment" CD issued in 1992 and arguably superior sound quality. The cuts not on that earlier disc include Darling I Know, Christine, Tell the World, A Distant Love, Cherry Bee, I Can't Help Myself, You're Still in My Heart, and My Dreams. Duplicated cuts include Dreams of Contentment, She's Just an Angel, Jo Jo, Why Do You Have to Go, Wedding Day, Baby Open Up Your Heart, and, of course, the monster hit Oh What a Night. Top flight music matched with top flight production values here, including two group photos and solid liner notes. (DH)

THE DELLS Hip-O 40156 An Anthology ● CD $24.98

2 CD, 36 tracks, 144 min., Highly Recommended
About time someone compile a career-spanning collection around The Dells 1954-1991 recordings for Chi-Chicago, Argo/Cadet/Checker, Mercury, 20th Century, Vee-Jay and Virgin Records. Baritone lead Marvin Curtis Junior and tenor falsetto John Edward Carter are at the forefront on nearly every track, except for the early (Vee-Jay) sides that featured the original lead, the late John Daniel Funches Jr. (1935-1998). Marvin Junior's lead on Betcha Never Been Loved will surely convince you that he's without a doubt one the great baritone singers in all of groupdom, right up there with Maryland Pierce (of The Five Keys) and Teddy Pendergrass (of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes). The 3 different versions of Stay In My Corner ('65,'68,'80), will also give you a glimpse as to why this group is celebrating 45 years of harmonizing. Yes, there is duplication with the previous MCA/Chess CDs, but I see no harm in listening again to those 1967-1970 Cadet sides, as Charles Stepney (1931-1976) was one of the great soul arrangers. Excellent notes by A. Scott Galloway. (EL)

THE DEMENSIONS Lorac 57430 My Foolish Heart - Hits & Rarities ● CD $18.98

29 tracks featuring 25 cuts recorded by this group between 1960 and '65 plus four solo sides by group member Lenny Dell in 1968. The group's two biggest hits Over The Rainbow and My Foolish Heart were poppish, doo-woppish reworkings of a couple of standards with a rock beat and strings. Many of their other songs are in the same vein - standards with interesting variations of the original tempo and melody. These include Again/ As Time Goes By/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Fly Me To The Moon and others including a radical reworking of the Hank Williams classic Your Cheatin' Heart as an uptempo rocker! There are also several cuts not originally issued. Some duplication with Relic 7030. (FS)
' THE DEMENSIONS: A Little White Gardenia/ Again/ As Time Goes By/ China Girl/ Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep/ Don't Cry Pretty Baby/ Don't Say Goodbye/ Don't Worry About Bobby/ Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)/ I'll Come Home/ Just A Shoulder To Cry On/ Just One More Chance/ Love Came By/ My Foolish Heart/ My Old Girl Friend/ Nursery Rhime Rock/ Once A Day/ Over the Rainbow/ Over the Rainbow/ Searching For Love/ Seven Days A Week/ Sweet Georgia Brown (Prev unreleased)/ Take My Love/ This Time Next Year/ Ting Aling Ting Toy (China Girl)/ You'll Never Know/ Young at Heart/ Your Cheatin' Heart/ Zing Went The Strings of My Heart '

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THE DIABLOS Regency RR 111 Detroit Doo-Wops : The Diablos, Vol. 1 ● CD $18.98

Detroit's pioneer vocal group finally gets its digital debut with this thorough imported two disc set. That's the good news. The bad news, I'm afraid, is that the sound quality - even though it appears to be from the original tapes, complete with false starts - is painfully distorted in the louder portions of several songs, as if the session engineer had no idea that loudness can drive a tape recorder into distortion. That's a considerable limitation, but even with it, this music is too good to miss. Tracks on volume one include The Wind, I Wanna Know, Mind Over Matter, You're the Only Girl Delores, Adios My Desert Love, Someday, Teardrop from Heaven, Mambo of Love, and Try Me One More Time. The unsigned liner notes are solid. (DH)

THE DIABLOS Regency RR 112 Detroit Doo-Wops : The Diablos, Vol. 2 ● CD $18.98

Installment number two mixes early demos and outtakes with classic 50's takes and some uptempo numbers performed in the style of the Midnighters, with which I was previously unfamiliar. Featured numbers include For Old Time Sake, Jump Shake & Move, An Old Fashioned Girl, the 1959 version of I Wanna Know, Remember Me, White Christmas, Can We Talk This Over, Goodbye Mathilda, a remake of the Andy Williams hit Are You Sincere?, and a cover of Bobby Day's Rockin' Robin. The material here is almost as good as the material on volume one, and, if the sound quality were only up to contemporary reissue standards, both volumes would certainly be rated "essential." The notes are worthwhile. (DH)

BO DIDDLEY Chess CHD 9373 His Best ● CD $14.98

20 classic Checker sides - Bo Diddley/ You Don't Love (You Don't Care)/ Pretty Thing/ I'm Looking For A Woman/ Hey Bo Diddley/ Before You Accuse Me/ Dearest Darling/ The Story Of Bo Diddley/ Pills/ You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover, etc.

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BO DIDDLEY Chess CHD2 19502 Bo Diddley ● CD $29.98
Three CD box set.'

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BO DIDDLEY MCA 112 163 The Best Of Bo Diddley - The Millenium Collection ● CD $11.98

12 tracks collection with some of his best Checker sides - Bo Diddley/ Diddley Daddy/ Mona/ Dearest darling/ Crackin' Up/ Road Runner, etc.

VARETTA DILLARD Bear Family BCD 15432 The Lovin' Bird ● CD $19.98

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DION Ace CDCHD 644 The Best Of The Gospel Years ● CD $16.98
DION: Center Of My Life/ Come To The Cross/ Daddy Golden Sun Silver Moon/ Day Of The Lord/ He's The One/ Healing Train For Glory/ Hymn To Him/ I Believe (sweet Lord Jesus)/ I Put Away My Idols/ New Breed Of Man/ New Jersey Wife/ Simple Ironies/ Still In The Spirit/ Sweet Surrender/ The Truth Will Set You Free/ You Need A Love'

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DION Ace CDCH 915 Runaround Sue - The Best Of The Rest ● CD $16.98

24 tunes most making their first appearance here. Many are alternate takes, some from the So Didn't You Do That The First Time? LP (Ace 155) but many never issued anywhere. Includes 2 takes of the title tune, plus The Wander/ Little Diane (without the kazoo solo), Lonely Teenager , all in real stereo, as are the tracks here from Alone With Dion , never before issued in stereo, taken from recently discovered master tapes ( GM)

DION Ace CDCHD 936 Return Of The Wanderer/ Fire In The Night ● CD $16.98

2 late-70's albums by Dion, who was still wandering in search of that elusive pop stardom. 18 cuts.

DION Collectables 2794 Deja Nu ● CD $15.98

First album in a number of years by this pioneer doo-wopper using the same techniques and equipment used for his early hits. Mostly original songs in an older style along with a couple by Bruce Springsteen.

DION Columbia CGK 46972 Bronx Blues: The Columbia Recordings, 1962-65 ● CD $12.98

A fine collection of 20 songs recorded by the talented Mr DiMucci for Columbia between 1962 including unissued songs and alternate takes digitally remixed and remastered. It includes his big single hits Ruby Baby/ Drip Drop and Donna The Prima Donna, covers of doo-wop classics like Little Girl Of Mine and A Sunday Kind Of Love, some fine original songs (Gonna Make It Alone/ Flim Flam/ Sweet Baby and most surprisingly some down home blues. He was introduced to the blues by Columbia producer John Hammond who played him the recently issued Robert Johnson which, like many others, changed Dion's life and musical interest. He recorded a whole series of blues songs with a small blues/ jazz group including Buddy Lucas on harmonica, Panama Francis on drums and others. Most of these were not originally issued and they are making their first appearance here including the Buddy Lucas original Sweet Papa Di, Sonny Boy Williamson's Don't Start Me To Talking, Willie Dixon's Spoonful - he wouldn't have given Muddy or Wolf much cause for concern but they don't sound half bad. The album ends up with a previously unissued hard rocking version of Bob Dylan's I'm In The Mood For You. The set comes with an excellent booklet with detailed notes and rare photos. A most worthwhile collection. (FS)

DION Columbia-Legacy C2K 64889 The Road I'm On : A Retrospective ● CD $21.98

Two CD set with 35 tracks including 9 previously unissued tracks and 2 new recordings. 8 tracks are duplicated on the "Bronx Blues" collection (Columbia 46972 - $17.98 - still available.

DION & THE BELMONTS Collector's Choice 071 The Complete Dion & The Belmonts ● CD $29.98

Two CD set. A great collection of 49 tracks featuring all the cuts recorded for Mohawk and Laurie by Dion DiMucci and his group including the Mohawk sides issued as by Dion & The Timberlanes and as The Belmonts. Includes all their hits (I Wonder Why/ No One Knows/ A Teenager In Love/ Where Or When/ When You Wish Upon A Star, etc), 45 rpm single sides (The Chosen Few/ Teenage Clementine/ I've Cried Before/ A Lover's Prayer, etc), LP tracks (My Day/ You Better Not Do That/ September Song/ Swinging On A Star/ It Was Never Meant To Be, etc), alternate takes (Tag Along/ I Wonder Why/ A Teenager In Love/ Every Little Thing, etc), studio talk and more. 16 page booklet has extensive notes and rare photos.

DION & THE BELMONTS Rhino 70228 Dion & The Belmonts Reunion ● CD $11.98

Reissue of Dion & The Belmonts Live At Madison Square Garden 1972, Warner Bros. 2664 from 1973. Seems to be something magical about this album. Dion had been wimping along as a folkie on Warner Bros., having a minor hit with Clean Up Your Own Back Yard . The 3 original Belmonts (Angelo D'Aleo, Carlo Mastrangelo & Fred Milano) were back together and had done the magnificent Cigars, Acapella, Candy LP for Buddah. The 4 finally reunited for a June 2, 1972 Oldie's show at Madison Square Garden. The harmonies are a bit rough but quite fine, especially in That's My Desire/ Where Or When & an incredible scat in Little Diane , and you can tell everybody is having fun. Rhino's new packaging is pretty mediocre, with only early photos and nothing from the show. 10 classics - I Wonder Why/ The Wanderer/ No One Knows/ Teenager In Love , etc. ( GM)

THE DIPLOMATS Collectables 5733 Here's A Heart ● CD $11.98

THE DIXIE CUPS Collectables 6024 The Very Best Of The Dixie Cups - Chapel Of Love ● CD $13.98

16 track collection featuring all their Red Bird hits and more - Chapel Of LOve/ Iko Iko/ Girls Can Tell/ Gee The Moon Is Shining Bright/ Gee Baby Gee/ All Grown Up/ You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me, etc. Also includes an unreleased alternate of People Say and an acappella version of Iko Iko.

THE DIXIEBELLES Collectables 5829 Golden Classics ● CD $13.98

BILL DOGGETT King 523 As You Desire Me ● CD $9.98

We had this before as an import on Sing. This is the domestic reissue with a different cover - a dreamy-eyed young miss holding a glass of vino and no doubt grooving to the lush, romantic sounds of Doggett's mellow organ. The original Muzak-meister does Alone/ Yesterdays/ As Time Goes By/ Dedicated To You/ Dream , etc. (AE)'

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BILL DOGGETT King 532 Dame Dreaming ● CD $9.98

One of Doggett's smooth'n'easy recordings - with song titles like Dinah/Estrellita/Sweet Lorraine/Cynthia don't expect anything that's going to rattle the ice cubes in your martini. [MB)

BILL DOGGETT King 557 Doggett Beat For Dancing Feet ● CD $9.98

12 swingin' cuts.

BILL DOGGETT King 585 Dance Awhile ● CD $9.98

Nearly everything I like about Bill Doggett is to be found on this disc, served up in tasty, but moderate portions. The emphasis is on R&B-inflected combo jazz ranging from the soft (but not sappy) sound of Doggett's ethereal organ on Misty Moon/ Autumn Dreams to the straight ahead swing of Bone Tones/ The Song Is Ended. Of course this wouldn't be a complete smorgasbord without a touch of the exotic, supplied on Passion Flower/ Chelsea Bridge. As always, there's plenty of grits'n'gravy saxophone (Tailor Made/ Smooche), great guitar (isn't that Bill Jennings?) showcased on The Kid From Franklin St., and even some real soulful flute playing on Flying Home/ How Could You. A+ rating. (MB)

BILL DOGGETT King 778 The Many Moods Of Bill Doggett ● CD $9.98

Mostly instrumental 12-tune reissue, with vocal versions of Honky Tonk, You Ain't No Good, Your Kind Of Woman.

BILL DOGGETT & HIS COMBO King 5009 All His Hits ● CD $9.98

14 tracks - Big Dog Blues (Part One)/ High Heels/ Honky Tonk, Parts 1 &2/ Sweet Lorraine/ Ram-Bunk-Shush/ Hold It, etc

BO DOLLIS & WILD MAGNOLIAS Rounder 2094 I'm Back At Carnival Time ● CD $14.98

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THE DANLEERS	Bear Family BCD 15503	One Summer Night	● CD $19.98
The Brooklynite Danleers were initially a quintet, schooled by Mercury Records into being a second string Platters, the label's most successful black vocal group. But the outfit differed in approach - The Danleers had a tougher, less sappy edge to their material, including jumps and ballads (the group excelled on the latter). Led by Jimmy Weston, the harmoneers recorded for Amp, Mercury, Epic, Everest and Smash over an existence of six years. The CD covers their total output of two dozen sides, including their debut behind Pearl Galloway, and best known ballads One Summer Night/ Half A Block From An Angel. Six cuts duplicate the Mercury Vocal Group Album collection. 16-page book with fine, rare pics and discography. (OLN)

LARRY DARNELL	Bayou 1005A	The Ultimate Larry Darnell Hits Package	● CD $18.98
28 tracks,76 min, recommended. The only extensive collection available by this fine R&B singer. Though born in Ohio, Larry ended up in New Orleans in the late 40s, which is where he mostly associated with, having hits for Regal backed by Paul Gayten. He moved to New York in 50 when his career took off & recorded for a number of other labels, most which are represented here. The set starts out with one of his biggest, I'll Get Along Somehow, a 2-parter probably best known from the section used by Frank Zappa on his Later That Night - "I hold in my hand 3 letters dear, each from 3 stages from your fine, super fine career", & For You My Love. Also Boogie Oogie/ I'll Be Settin & I'll Be Rockin'/ Ramblin' Man/ Flame of Love and others. No info here except the song titles & a very brief biography. (GM)

JULIAN DASH	Blue Moon BMCD 1050	The Complete Recordings, 1950-53	● CD $15.98

BOBBY DAY	Ace CDCH 200	The Original Rockin' Robin	● CD $18.98
This CD reissues tracks from the Collectables/ Ace LP reissues, adding 10 bonus tracks from the Class and Rendezvous labels. Most importantly there is the inclusion of the flip side to Class 207, Roll On Seven , a rollin' tune much in the prevailing L.A. style of the time. My Blue Heaven is a swingin' version done with the Blossums in 1958, Beep Beep , another B side utilizes the newfangled space program lingo and Life Can Be Beautiful reprises the Rockin' Robin riff one more time. Mr. & Mrs. Rock And Roll/ Three Young Rebs From Georgia/ Little Bitty Pretty One (which he wrote), etc. (AE))

BOBBY DAY	Collectables 5074	Golden Classics	● CD $11.98
Now on compact disc- The Bluebird, The Buzzard & The Oriole/ My Blue Heaven/ Come Seven/ Beep Beep/ I Don't Want To/ Life Can Be Beautiful/ Rockin' Robin/ Mr. & Mrs. Rock And Roll/ Three Young Rebs From Georgia/ Little Bitty Pretty One, etc.

BOBBY DAY	Varese Vintage 66249	The Best Of Bobby Day	● CD $13.98
16 tracks, 38 minutes, essential The problem with Bobby Day is that he was known by too many names, & tunes that he's been associated with don't even include him! I have a copy of The Hollywood Flames' Buzz-Buzz-Buzz (included here) that he signed for me as both the singer, Bobby Day, & it's composer Bobby Byrd! His groups would include many of the same members & be known by different names, including The Four Flames with Earl Nelson (Wheel of Fortune) & The Laurels with Bob Relf (Truly Truly) Of course there's Day's big solo hits, including Rockin' Robin/ Little Bitty Pretty One & The Bluebird, the Buzzard & The Oriole. However, though he & Nelson were the original Bob & Earl (That's My Desire), it is Nelson & Relf, not Byrd, who are on the classic Harlem Shuffle (also here). And Jackie Lee, heard here on the The Duck, is not Day, but Nelson!! (GM)

THE DAYLIGHTERS	Day 101	The Daylighters	● CD $18.98
27 tracks from the late 50s to mid 60s from this fine Chicago group. A mix of ballads and up tempo items they are also featured accompanying R&B vocalists Freddie Hall, Betty Everett and Donald Jenkins and bluesman Eddie Boyd.

SAM DEES	Kent CDKEND 125	Second To None	● CD $18.98
23 tracks, 78 min., recommended Made up entirely of previously unissued Atlantic/ Moonsong material from the early 1970s, this collection is an antidote to pretentiousness. Such heavy soul hitters as Tyrone Davis, Z.Z. Hill, and Clarence Carter have covered his work, but Dees sings his own songs with an unmatched intensity and attention to vocal nuance. The arrangements are generally sparse--many are unfinished demos--which only serves to showcase Dees' rich, expressive voice. Musically and lyrically his songs avoid the usual soul clich�s, though nearly every one is of the sad, lost-love variety. Few could sing the words "I'm gonna give you just enough rope to hang yourself" so sweetly they sound like a love letter. A real find. (JC)

THE DEL-SATINS	Win 1001	Vol. 1 - Back From Lunch	● CD $16.98
31 cuts from early 60s featuring this New York vocal groups including solo outings by some of the members. Includes unissued songs and stereo versions. ' THE DEL-SATINS: A Little Rain Must Fall/ Ballad of A DJ/ Beaty Dean/ Best Wishes, Goodluck, Goodbye/ Can't Find The Girl On My Mind, Now/ Clicky Clack/ Counting Teardrops/ Guardian Angel/ I Really Do/ I Remember the Night/ I Wanna Know/ I'll Do My Crying Tomorrow/ I'll Never Know/ I'll Pray For You/ Is It A Dream/ Just A Little While/ Love, Hate, Revenge/ Miss America Teenager/ Please Be Mine/ Poor Little Sad Eyed Sue/ Remember/ She's Not Around Anymore/ She's So Wonderful/ Ski Beat/ Someone To Care/ Sweets for my Sweet/ Teardrops Follow Me/ The Prettiest Girl I Kissed Today/ Two Broken Hearts/ Who Cares/ Win or Lose ' '

THE DELFONICS	Kent 165	The Professionals	● CD $18.98
CD issue of previously unissued studio album plus seven live cuts.

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Collectables 5001	1956 Audition Tapes	● CD $11.98

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Collectables 5010	Golden Classics	● CD $11.98
14 tracks, 38 min., good. The first integrated rock 'n' roll vocal group to crack the Top 10 in 1957, the Dell Vikings (or Del-Vikings) were a big inspiration to many of today's stars including Paul Simon, who performed their Whispering Bells on his Graceland tour. The vocal group was formed by recruits on a Pittsburgh Air Force base in 1955, went through a bunch of personnel changes over the next five years before breaking up (a revival group with one original member continues on the oldies circuit), scored big hits with both Come Go with Me and Whispering Bells, and recorded a wide range of do-wop oriented arrangements of R&B, rock, country songs and even Over the Rainbow. While this album is fairly short, one might argue that these 14 songs are more than enough. Sound quality is good. ( LK) THE DELL VIKINGS: Come Go With Me/ Don't Be A Fool/ Down In Bermuda/ Girl, Girl/ How Can I Find True Love/ I Want To Marry You/ I'm Spinning/ Over the Rainbow/ Watching the Moon/ What Made Maggie Run/ When I Come Home/ Whispering Bells/ Willette/ You Say You Love Me ' '

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Collectables 8809	For Collectors Only	● CD $24.98
Two CD set. ' '

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Flyright FLYCD 34	Come Go With Me	● CD $16.98
This 21-song collection contains much of the quintet's pre-Mercury Fee Bee (1956-'57) output, plus a smattering of Dot and Luniverse sides (1957). The interracial group was formed from U.S. Air Force enlistees in Pittsburgh, and went through many personnel changes over the 17-year course of their career. The collection features the group's 1956 initial 9-song basement audition session, the original Fee Bee version of Come Go With Me, plus the beautiful Willette/ I Want To Marry You, both led by Chuck Jackson. Long-time lead singer Kripp Johnson demonstrates his vocal skills on When I Come Home. Detailed sleeve notes by John Broven of Juke Blues magazine. (OLN)

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Flyright FLYCD 53	Volume 2	● CD $16.98
A definite treat for the many fans of this major, but ever-changing vocal group. Without going into all of the details of their various shifts in personnel and record label, simply note that these 20 tracks come from the group's sessions with the Fee Bee label, and that half of them are previously unreleased takes or titles. And most of them are tantalizingly obscure, the better known Luniverse and Fee Bee titles having been released on Flyright's earlier, well done Dell Vikings compilation (CD-34). Among the titles issued here are Woke Up This Morning/ Hurricane Woman/ Billy Boy/ Please Say You'll Be Mine/ Stay Here With Me, and Baby Let Me Be. It's all solid material, mixing jumps, mid-tempo numbers, and ballads. The sound quality is good, even though four cuts come from the "only surviving acetates." Fine notes by Bill Millar, and a great cover photo of lead singer Corinthian "Kripp" Johnson decked out in a white jacket and a plaid bow tie. Get it while you can. ( DH

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Hip-O 40059	Come Go With Me - The Best Of The Del-Vikings	$10.98
15 of their Dot/ ABC recordings - Come Go With Me/ Whispering Bells/ I'm Spinning/ Bring Back Your Heart/ Face The Music/ The Big Silence/ Confession Of Love/ Sorcerers Apprentice, etc.

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Hot Productions 66150	Come Go With Me	● CD $13.98
Reissue of incredibly rare 8 track Luniverse album from 1957 featuring the original version of Come Go With Me plus Hey Senorita/ Somewhere Over The Rainbow/ Heaven In Paradise/ (How Can I Find) True Love/ Yours/ I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night)/ White Cliffs Of Dover.

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Sparkletone SP 99001	The Big Beat	● CD $19.98
22 tracks, 51 min., recommended By the time this pivotal vocal group had undergone its most famous personnel change, with former lead Kripp Johnson staying with one label to form a new group and the rest of the guys picking up a new member and heading for a new label, the guys who moved to the new label toned down their earlier rock 'n' roll stylings with just a dash of the prevalent pop music sound. All of this resulted in only one more real hit, Cool Shake, included on the Del Vikings disc reviewed below. Even so, the group's new sound was polished, professional, and worthwhile - as this volume and its companion demonstrate. Highlights on this first installment include the title track, What Have You Done to Me, Friendly Moon, Nobody's Kisses But Yours, Pretty Little Things Called Girls, Jitterbug Mary, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, and Snow Bound. Solid sound quality and brief notes. (DH)

THE DELL-VIKINGS	Sparkletone SP 99002	Cool Shake	● CD $19.98
22 tracks, 50 min., recommended Volume two's program includes the aforementioned hit, Cool Shake, plus A Sunday Kind of Love, Come Along With Me, Down in Bermuda, The White Cliffs of Dover, Your Book of Life, Is It Any Wonder, Now Is the Hour, What'Cha Gotta Lose, and How Could You. All solidly performed in a style that might well remind one that their parent label at this point is the very same label that was home to the most successful 50's vocal group of them all, the Platters. No big deal, though. I like the music of both groups. And here on set number two the sound quality is equally good, but there are no notes at all. (DH)

THE DELLS	Black Tulip 2636302	Oh What A Night	● CD $18.98
28 tracks, 73 min., recommended A generous slice of the output of one of Chicago's finest doo-wop acts, and one that compares interestingly with that group's 1992 Vee-Jay disc, offering 12 tracks not on the earlier issue. Numbers unique to this set include Time Makes You Change, Tell the World, Darling I Know, Dance Dance Dance, Distant Love, My Dreams, and You're Still in My Heart. Duplicated tracks include Oh What a Night, Dreams of Contentment, Jo-Jo, Baby Open Up Your Heart, She's Just an Angel, My Best Girl, and Stay in My Corner. A winner from start to finish. Sound quality is impressive, and, sadly, there are no notes at all. (DH)

THE DELLS	Dipper 204	The "Mighty" Dells With Johnny Funches, 1954-1960	● CD $17.98
28 tracks, 74 min., highly recommended Yet another look at this stellar Chicago vocal group, this time with a program that offers ten numbers plus one alternate take not on the "Dreams of Contentment" CD issued in 1992 and arguably superior sound quality. The cuts not on that earlier disc include Darling I Know, Christine, Tell the World, A Distant Love, Cherry Bee, I Can't Help Myself, You're Still in My Heart, and My Dreams. Duplicated cuts include Dreams of Contentment, She's Just an Angel, Jo Jo, Why Do You Have to Go, Wedding Day, Baby Open Up Your Heart, and, of course, the monster hit Oh What a Night. Top flight music matched with top flight production values here, including two group photos and solid liner notes. (DH)

THE DELLS	Hip-O 40156	An Anthology	● CD $24.98
2 CD, 36 tracks, 144 min., Highly Recommended About time someone compile a career-spanning collection around The Dells 1954-1991 recordings for Chi-Chicago, Argo/Cadet/Checker, Mercury, 20th Century, Vee-Jay and Virgin Records. Baritone lead Marvin Curtis Junior and tenor falsetto John Edward Carter are at the forefront on nearly every track, except for the early (Vee-Jay) sides that featured the original lead, the late John Daniel Funches Jr. (1935-1998). Marvin Junior's lead on Betcha Never Been Loved will surely convince you that he's without a doubt one the great baritone singers in all of groupdom, right up there with Maryland Pierce (of The Five Keys) and Teddy Pendergrass (of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes). The 3 different versions of Stay In My Corner ('65,'68,'80), will also give you a glimpse as to why this group is celebrating 45 years of harmonizing. Yes, there is duplication with the previous MCA/Chess CDs, but I see no harm in listening again to those 1967-1970 Cadet sides, as Charles Stepney (1931-1976) was one of the great soul arrangers. Excellent notes by A. Scott Galloway. (EL)

THE DEMENSIONS	Lorac 57430	My Foolish Heart - Hits & Rarities	● CD $18.98
29 tracks featuring 25 cuts recorded by this group between 1960 and '65 plus four solo sides by group member Lenny Dell in 1968. The group's two biggest hits Over The Rainbow and My Foolish Heart were poppish, doo-woppish reworkings of a couple of standards with a rock beat and strings. Many of their other songs are in the same vein - standards with interesting variations of the original tempo and melody. These include Again/ As Time Goes By/ Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart/ Fly Me To The Moon and others including a radical reworking of the Hank Williams classic Your Cheatin' Heart as an uptempo rocker! There are also several cuts not originally issued. Some duplication with Relic 7030. (FS) ' THE DEMENSIONS: A Little White Gardenia/ Again/ As Time Goes By/ China Girl/ Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep/ Don't Cry Pretty Baby/ Don't Say Goodbye/ Don't Worry About Bobby/ Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)/ I'll Come Home/ Just A Shoulder To Cry On/ Just One More Chance/ Love Came By/ My Foolish Heart/ My Old Girl Friend/ Nursery Rhime Rock/ Once A Day/ Over the Rainbow/ Over the Rainbow/ Searching For Love/ Seven Days A Week/ Sweet Georgia Brown (Prev unreleased)/ Take My Love/ This Time Next Year/ Ting Aling Ting Toy (China Girl)/ You'll Never Know/ Young at Heart/ Your Cheatin' Heart/ Zing Went The Strings of My Heart ' '

THE DIABLOS	Regency RR 111	Detroit Doo-Wops : The Diablos, Vol. 1	● CD $18.98
Detroit's pioneer vocal group finally gets its digital debut with this thorough imported two disc set. That's the good news. The bad news, I'm afraid, is that the sound quality - even though it appears to be from the original tapes, complete with false starts - is painfully distorted in the louder portions of several songs, as if the session engineer had no idea that loudness can drive a tape recorder into distortion. That's a considerable limitation, but even with it, this music is too good to miss. Tracks on volume one include The Wind, I Wanna Know, Mind Over Matter, You're the Only Girl Delores, Adios My Desert Love, Someday, Teardrop from Heaven, Mambo of Love, and Try Me One More Time. The unsigned liner notes are solid. (DH)

THE DIABLOS	Regency RR 112	Detroit Doo-Wops : The Diablos, Vol. 2	● CD $18.98
Installment number two mixes early demos and outtakes with classic 50's takes and some uptempo numbers performed in the style of the Midnighters, with which I was previously unfamiliar. Featured numbers include For Old Time Sake, Jump Shake & Move, An Old Fashioned Girl, the 1959 version of I Wanna Know, Remember Me, White Christmas, Can We Talk This Over, Goodbye Mathilda, a remake of the Andy Williams hit Are You Sincere?, and a cover of Bobby Day's Rockin' Robin. The material here is almost as good as the material on volume one, and, if the sound quality were only up to contemporary reissue standards, both volumes would certainly be rated "essential." The notes are worthwhile. (DH)

BO DIDDLEY	Chess CHD 9373	His Best	● CD $14.98
20 classic Checker sides - Bo Diddley/ You Don't Love (You Don't Care)/ Pretty Thing/ I'm Looking For A Woman/ Hey Bo Diddley/ Before You Accuse Me/ Dearest Darling/ The Story Of Bo Diddley/ Pills/ You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover, etc.

BO DIDDLEY	Chess CHD2 19502	Bo Diddley	● CD $29.98
Three CD box set.' '

BO DIDDLEY	MCA 112 163	The Best Of Bo Diddley - The Millenium Collection	● CD $11.98
12 tracks collection with some of his best Checker sides - Bo Diddley/ Diddley Daddy/ Mona/ Dearest darling/ Crackin' Up/ Road Runner, etc.

VARETTA DILLARD	Bear Family BCD 15432	The Lovin' Bird	● CD $19.98
' '

DION	Ace CDCHD 644	The Best Of The Gospel Years	● CD $16.98
DION: Center Of My Life/ Come To The Cross/ Daddy Golden Sun Silver Moon/ Day Of The Lord/ He's The One/ Healing Train For Glory/ Hymn To Him/ I Believe (sweet Lord Jesus)/ I Put Away My Idols/ New Breed Of Man/ New Jersey Wife/ Simple Ironies/ Still In The Spirit/ Sweet Surrender/ The Truth Will Set You Free/ You Need A Love' '