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RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL & DOO-WOP

The Falcons -> The Four Buddies
 

THE FALCONS
THE FASCINATORS
THE FEATHERS/ THE BARONS
H-BOMB FERGUSON
THE FIESTAS
THE FIVE CROWNS
THE FIVE DISCS
THE FIVE DOLLARS
THE FIVE DU-TONES
THE FIVE KEYS
THE FIVE RED CAPS		 THE FIVE ROYALES
THE FIVE SATINS
THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS
THE FIVE WILLOWS
THE FLARES
THE FLAIRS
THE FLAMINGOS
EDDIE FLOYD
THE FOUR BLAZES
THE FOUR BUDDIES

 
THE FALCONS Relic 7003 You're So Fine ● CD $13.98
Available again after being out of print for a while. 16 exciting sides by this powerful Detroit group featuring the incredible vocals of Joe Stubbs (his brother is Levi Stubbs of The 4 Tops) & soon to-be-soul-star Eddie Floyd of Knock On Wood fame. Contains their Flick, Lupine & Mercury recordings from 1956 to '59 - the great title track + You're Mine/ Baby That's It/ You're In Love/ I Wonder, etc. Previously issued as Relic LP 8005.
THE FALCONS: (when) You're In Love/ Anytime, Anyplace,/ Anywhere/ Baby That's It/ Girl Of My Dreams/ Goddess Of Angels/ I Wonder/ I'll Never Find Another Girl Like You/ Juke Hop/ Just For Your Love/ Let It Be Me/ No Time For Fun/ Please Don't Leave Me Dear/ Sent Up/ Whose Little Girl Are You/ You're Mine/ You're So Fine

   
THE FALCONS Relic 7012 I Found A Love ● CD $13.98
THE FALCONS: Anna/ Billy The Kid/ Feels Good/ Fine Fine Girl/ Has It Happened To You Yet/ I Found A Love/ Let's Kiss And Make Up/ Lonely Nights/ Oh Baby/ Part Time Love/ She's My Heart's Desire/ Take This Love I Got/ That's What I Aim To Do/ What To Do/ You Must Know I Love You/ You're On My Mind

 
THE FASCINATORS Eagle 90409 Featuring Tony Passalacqua ● CD $17.98
30 tracks, 69 min., highly recommended
Considered by many 50's doo-wop aficionados to be the best white lead singer of them all, Tony Passalacqua herein gets the career overview treatment from this German import label. The program opens with his stellar sides for the Capitol label, including Chapel Bells, Oh Rose Marie, Who Do You Think You Are, and the originally unreleased Recess and Teenage Wedding. Next up are the four Colpix sides issued as by Tony and the Twilights, including Paper Boy and Please Believe in Me. Remaining numbers are made up of one early group record (unreleased?) featuring Tony on lead and later recordings with a variety of backup groups, among them the Angels. It's all good material, even the mid-60's cuts. Sound quality is solid, and the notes are reprinted from the September 1972 issue of Bim Bam Boom. (DH)
 
THE FEATHERS/ THE BARONS Showtime 100 Doo-Wop With The Feathers And The Barons ● CD $17.98
Two fine vocal groups. The Feathers were a top Los Angeles group and this set features 17 tracks by them including three issued as by The Individuals. The Barons were a New Orleans group and are featured on 16 tracks for a total of 33 tracks of fine 50s doo-wop.
 
H-BOMB FERGUSON Earwig 4926 Wiggin' Out ● CD $15.98
 

 
THE FIESTAS Ace CDCHD 382 The Oh So Fine Fiestas ● CD $18.98
29 tracks, 70 min., recommended
An expansion of the Ace compilation originally released on vinyl in 1986, this disc now contains almost every track that this pivotal group recorded for Hy Weiss's Old Town label. Spanning the years 1959 to 1965, these numbers make it clear that even though they could ably look back to the sound of doo-wop, the Fiestas were really a first wave soul group pretty much from the start. Tracks include the title tune, plus the quality ballad Our Anniversary, the jumpin' Try It One More Time, a fine version of Arthur Alexander's Anna, and even a few Coasters' styled cuts like Mr. Dillon, Mr. Dillon. It's all convincingly done, with most numbers on the up tempo side. Nice cover photo, slightly updated 1986 notes, and fine stereo sound on most numbers. (DH)
THE FIESTAS: All That's Good/ Anna/ Broken Heart/ Come On And Love Me/ Dollar Bill/ Foolish Dreamer/ Good News/ I Felt Good All Over/ I Gotta Have Your Lovin'/ I'm Your Slave/ It Don't Make Sense/ Last Night I Dreamed/ Look At That Girl/ Love Is Good To Me/ Mr Dillon, Mr Dillon/ Our Anniversary/ Rock-A-By Baby Don't Cry No More/ So Fine/ So Nice/ That Was Me/ The Gypsy Said/ The Hobos Prayer/ The Lawman/ The Party's Over/ The Railroad Song/ Things We Can't Forget/ Think Smart/ Try It One More Time/ You Could Be My Girlfriend

 
THE FIVE CROWNS Relic 7081 The Rainbow Sessions ● CD $13.98
14 tracks, 36 min., highly recommended. Clearly influenced by the sinuously slow numbers of the Orioles, this family vocal group, composed of the three Clark brothers - James, John, and Claude - plus Dock Green and Wilbur Paul, put out these extraordinarily rare and wonderful sides between 1952 and 1953 for New York's small but important Rainbow Records. Their entire output for that label is here, including A Star/ You're My Inspiration, Ooh Wee Baby, Again, The Man from the Moon, Keep It a Secret, and At the Fair. The very stuff that experienced vocal group collectors crave, this time out featuring extraordinarily good sound quality, several great photos, and Relic boss Donn Fileti's usual authoritative notes. Simply too good to miss. (DH)
THE FIVE CROWNS: $19.50 Bus/ A Star/ Again/ Alone Again/ At The Fair/ Good Luck Darling/ I Don't Have To Hunt No More/ Keep It A Secret/ Ooh Wee Baby/ The Man From The Moon/ Who Can Be True/ Why Don't You Believe Me?/ You Came To Me/ You're My Inspiration

 
THE FIVE DISCS EMGE 1000 I Remember ● CD $17.98
20 tracks, 45 min., recommended A nice compilation of the output of this Brooklyn doo-wop ensemble. Originally formed as an all Italian group called the Flames, the group became interracial when it and the all-black Love Notes from the same neighborhood disbanded at pretty much the same time. Two members of the Love Notes joined three former Flames, and the Five Discs vocal group was born. This overview of their late 50's to early 70's career includes Never Let You Go, My Baby Loves Me, Unchained Melody, My Chinese Girl, Roses, It's Christmas Time, Oh Lana, I Remember, and Adios. Solid music, offered with a cover photo of the group but no notes at all. (DH)
 
THE FIVE DOLLARS Regency RR 114 Motor-City Detroit Doo-Wops ● CD $17.98
23 tracks, 67 min., recommended. Their sound was a bit more raw than most, and they were adept at both hypnotic ballads and raucous jumps. But perhaps the most interesting distinction of the Five Dollars was that they managed to record not one, but two songs that virtually define doo-wop minimalism. That is, neither Harmony of Love nor So Strange has any real lyrics at all. The remaining numbers here - including My Baby, Yellow Moon, Bacon Fat, You Know I Can't Refuse, Going Down to Tia Juana, Weekend Man, My Mama Said, That's the Way It Goes, and Just Because of a Kiss - are rather more traditional in that regard. They have actual words, not just nonsense syllables. Otherwise, the cover photo is nice, the notes are very brief, and sound quality is decent. (DH)
 
THE FIVE DU-TONES Ring Of Stars 878 The Five Du-Tones ● CD $17.98
21 tracks, 52 min., recommended Best known for their 1963 soul dance hit Shake a Tail Feather, the Five Du-Tones, in fact, recorded an impressive number of similarly energetic numbers for the One-Derful label between the year of that hit and 1965. This Italian import disc offers a comprehensive view of that output, offering, in addition to the aforementioned hit, Dry Your Eyes, We Want More, Don't Let Go (Parts 1 & 2), Monkee See Monkey Do, Get It, The Woodbine Twine, Please Change Your Mind, Outside the Record Hop, The Ghouster, and The Chicken Astronaut. Not a disc for ballad collectors, to be sure, but a solid choice indeed for fans of the early soul sound, St. Louis style, in this case. As for the other relevant considerations: sound quality is fine; there is one vintage photo of the group, and there are very brief liner notes. (DH)
 
THE FIVE KEYS Collectables 5472 Golden Classics ● CD $13.98
20 tracks, 48 min., recommended If you always meant to pick up the Five Keys' Capitol CD that featured the groups' best work for that label recorded between 1954-58, including Ling Ting Tong/ Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind/ Wisdom Of A Fool/ Who Do You Know In Heaven/ She's The Most/ The Verdict/ C'est La Vie/ Dream/ One Great Love and others, it's too late -- it went out of print. But wait! It's back again as a Collectable Records release and it's cheap. I mean, inexpensive. Sure, you feel pretty lucky, maybe even a tad smug. But how long can your luck hold out? Push it at your own musical risk. (JC)
 
THE FIVE KEYS Collectables 5632 The Aladdin Years ● CD $13.98
Originally issued on EMI 96056 in 1992 and deleted in 1994! Now on Collectables. Here dwell some of the finest sides by the quintet from Newport News. Culled from their seminal Aladdin years (1951 through 1953), twenty-five cuts featuring some of the group's finest hours. The Glory Of Love/ Red Sails In The Sunset/ My Saddest Hour/ With A Broken Heart/ Rocking And Crying Blues are included. All-star lineup with Rudy West - lead, Bernie West, Maryland Pierce, Ripley Ingram and Dickie Smith. Borrowing from The Orioles' style and that of various popular gospel groups of the time, The 5 Keys came up with a riveting style unmatched by most. Indispensible collection by one of the greatest. (OLN)
THE FIVE KEYS: (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover/ Be Anything But Be Mine/ Can't Keep From Crying/ Deep In My Heart/ Hold Me/ I'll Always Be In Love With You/ If You Only Knew/ Mama (Your Daughter Told A Lie On Me)/ Mistakes/ My Saddest Hour/ Oh! Babe!/ Red Sails in the Sunset/ Rocking and Crying Blues/ Someday, Sweetheart/ Story of Love/ Teardrops In Your Eyes/ The Glory of Love/ There Ought To Be A Law/ These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)/ When You're Gone/ Will My Heart Stand a Chance/ With A Broken Heart/ Yearning/ Yes Sir, That's My Baby

 
THE FIVE KEYS Lamp 7-11 Hucklebuck With Jimmy ● CD $17.98
26 track collection by this great group - most not previously on CD and 10 previously unissued. Includes the title song plus Do I Need You/ Goin' Downtown/ Darling/ Love My Lovin'/ I Cried For You, etc)
 
THE FIVE KEYS Rev-Ola CRBAND 22 Rocking And Crying The Blues, 1951-1957 ● CD $15.98
Superb collection of 30 tracks by one of the greatest doo-wop groups recorded for Aladdin and Capitol. Whether on a bluesy soulful ballad or hard driving rocker the group always sounded great. This collection includes Rocking And Crying The Blues/ Love My Loving (with some nifty steel guitar)/ Too Late Baby/ Why Oh Why/ Serve Another Round/ How Long/ I'll Follow You/ That's Right/ It's A Groove/ I Dreamt I dwelt In Heaven/ The Verdict, etc.
 
THE FIVE RED CAPS Flyright 60 1943-1945 ● CD $16.98
These early Joe Davis recordings (cut before the Mercury, RCA or ABC-Paramount stuff), rest firmly in the jive vocal group tradition that made stars of The Cats & the Fiddle and The Three Peppers. Influenced greatly by the Mills Brothers and The Ink Spots, the sound of 5 Red Caps was infused with a comedic element that carried over to their shows. And while they could turn a ballad--usually led by Jimmy Springs--as sweetly as you please, the sillier jive jolts--usually led by Steve Gibson or Romaine Brown-- of Mary Had A Little Jam, Grand Central Station, Lenox Avenue Jump, Mama Put Your Britches On, Boogie Woogie Ball, and others will keep this on your play rotation for a long time. (JC)
 
THE FIVE ROYALES Ace CDCHD 1055 Catch That Teardrop ● CD $18.98
28 tracks, 78 mins, very highly recommended
Complementing Ace 1038 ("It's Hard But fair" - $16.98) which featured the King recordings of this great vocal group this set chronicles their early 60s recordings including 14 tracks recorded by the group for the Memphis based Home Of The Blues label along with the complete Federal recordings of their brilliant lead guitarist and chief songwriter Lowman "El Paul and their pianist Royal "The Royalton" Abbit. Although there were no hits there is great soulful, gospel flavored lead vocals from Pauling. The group is accompanied by the great Willie Mitchell Band on songs like Show Me/ What's In The Heart/ She Did Me Wrong/ If You Don't Need Me/ Not Going To Cry/ They Don't Know/ Talk About My Woman/ Goof Ball and others including a stunning version of James Brown's Please, Please, Please. The duets between Pauling and Abbit are a mix of groovy rockers in the Don & Dewey mould along, soulful ballads and the intense blues Raindrops Keep A Fallin'. The dubiously titled I'm A Cool Teenager is actually a very soulful performance. There are also three superb cuts (one previously unissued) recorded by Pauling for HOB in late 1963 or early 1964 accompanied by The Exciters (not the "Tell Him" group) that ended up with Savoy including the hot instrumental It Won't Be Long. 12 page booklet has extensive notes by Tony Rounce plus rare photos and label shots. (FS)

   
THE FIVE ROYALES Eagle 90415 The Real Thing ● CD $17.98
28 tracks, 73 mins, highly recommended Great collection of early 60s sides by this outstanding and influential vocal group. Recorded for Home Of The Blues and ABC there are no hits here but there is great soulful, gospel flavord lead vocals from Lowman Pauling, the creative center of the group, who also provides some great stinging guitar accompaniments and even takes a few solos. There are a number of alternate takes, unissued songs and bits of studio chat to make this set even more invaluable. Includes Please, Please Be Mine/ Show Me/ Teardrop/ Send Me Somebody/ The Real Thing/ Stompenin' Stomp/ Get Something Out Of It/ Goof Ball/ I Don't Need Nobody/ Don't let It Worry Your Mind, etc

 
THE FIVE ROYALES King 580 Dedicated To You ● CD $9.98
12 great sides - Think/ Just As I Am/ Come On And Save Me/ Dedicated To The One I Love/ Say It/ Tears Of Joy, etc.
 
THE FIVE ROYALES King 616 Sing For You ● CD $9.98
 

 
THE FIVE ROYALES King 678 The Five Royales ● CD $9.98
12 tunes, not quite on par with their essential Apollo recordings, but still right up there with the best 50's R&B. I Know It's Hard But It's Fair/ When You Walked Through The Door/ Women About To Make Me Go Crazy.
 
THE FIVE ROYALES Purple Pyramid CLP 835 Take Me With You Baby ● CD $15.98
16 tracks, 40 mins, highly recommended Great collection of 1960-62 sides by this outstanding and influential vocal group. Recorded for Home Of The Blues (some originally issued by ABC) there are no hits here but there is great soulful, gospel flavord lead vocals from Lowman Pauling. Pauling,the creative center of the group, also provides some great stinging guitar accompaniments and even takes a few solos. The group is accompanied by the great Willie Mitchell Band on songs like SHow Me/ What's In The Heart/ She Did Me Wrong/ If You Don't Need Me/ Not Going To Cry/ They Don't Know/ Talk About My Woman/ Goof Ball and others including a stunning version of James Brown's Please, Please, Please. Notes look interesting but I won't know for sure until I get some new glasses - you think our newsletter type is small?! (FS)
 
THE FIVE ROYALES Relic 7010 Baby Don't Do It ● CD $13.98
CD issue of Relic 8015. The first of 2 stone crazy collections by this gospel-based quintet who started out as The Royal Sons in 1948. The Royales, who were the model for James Brown's Famous Flames, included lead, founder and songwriter Lowman Pauling, Jimmy Moore, Clarence Pauling, Obediah Carter & Johnny Tanner. Of the 14 cuts, 2 are by The Royal Sons. Includes classics like Crazy, Crazy, Crazy & Help Me Somebody. Indispensible doo-wop collection. (OLN)
THE FIVE ROYALES: All Righty/ Baby Don't Do It/ Baby Take All Of Me/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/ Cry Some More/ Help Me Somebody/ I Am Thinking/ I Do/ I Like It Like That/ I Wanna Rest/ Let Me Come Back/ Let Nothing Separate Me/ Put Something In It (with All Your Heart)/ Too Much Of A Little Bit

 
THE FIVE ROYALES Relic 7011 Laundromat Blues ● CD $13.98
13 prime cuts made at Bess Berman's New York-based Apollo studios between 1951 & '55. Included are two gems by them as The Royal Sons (gospel group), the blues classic Six O'Clock In The Morning & Too Much Lovin' featuring the unstoppable "Little Jazz" Fergusson on tenor sax. The Royales took The Apollo by storm in the mid-fifties. If you dig the blues you will love this group. Amazing sound reproduction, great notes, and 2 unreleased gems. A necessary collection, same as LP. OLN
THE FIVE ROYALES: Come Over Here/ Courage To Love/ Give Me One More Chance/ Good Things/ I Wanna Thank You/ Laundromat Blues/ Nothing/ See, Hear, And Know/ Six O'clock In The Morning/ So God Can Use Me/ Too Much Lovin'/ What's That!/ With All Your Heart/ You Know I Know

 
THE FIVE SATINS Collectables 5017 Sing Their Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98
 

 
THE FIVE SATINS Cub 9001 Memories Of Days Gone By ● CD $17.98
25 later sides from the 60s and 70s by this great group featuring the lead vocals of Fred Parris - Can I Come Over Tonight?/ Remember Me/ No One Knows/ Your Memory/ Downtown/ On A Lover's Island/ Raining In My Heart/ Lonely Hearts/ You Can Count On Me/ Bring It On Home To daddy/ Dark At The Top Of My Heart/ I'll Be Hanging On, etc.
 
THE FIVE SATINS Relic 7001 In The Still Of The Night ● CD $13.98
Choice set by this major New Haven quintet led primarily by Fred Parris, and occasionally by the soulfully smooth pipes of Bill Baker. Original members included Parris (lead), Al Denby, Jim Freeman, Ed Martin, and Jessie Murphy on piano. Covers the years 1956 through 1960 when the outfit shone brightly on the Ember, Standard and First labels. Memorables include Shadows/ Paradise On Earth/ When Your Love Comes Along/ Weeping Willow/ Zippety Doo/ All Mine, the unforgettable Wonderful Girl from 1956, and the group's swan song In The Still Of The Night, which must have topped the two million sales mark since its birth in 1956. Collection also issued on Relic LP 5008 - essential collector's material. (OLN)
THE FIVE SATINS: A Million To One/ A Nite Like This/ A Nite To Remember/ Candlelight/ I'll Be Seeing You/ In The Still Of The Night/ Love With No Love In Return/ Pretty Baby/ Shadows/ Skippity Doo/ The Jones Girl/ The Time/ To The Aisle/ Toni My Love/ When The Swallows Come Back/ When Your Love Comes Along/ Wonderful Girl/ You Must Be An Angel

 
THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS Collectables 5023 Greatest Hits ● CD $11.98
14 tracks, 40 min., good. Family band from Chicago, who hit the charts with You Waited Too Long/ World Of Fantasy/ Come Back/ We Must Be In Love/ Danger! She's A Stranger/ Ooh Child/ Behind Curtains/ Ooh Baby Baby/ Don't Waste Your Time/ Baby Make Me Feel So Good plus Because I Love You/ Stay Close To Me/ The Touch Of You/ Playgirl's Love.
 
THE FIVE WILLOWS Allen SCD 6000 The Best Of The Five Willows ● CD $17.98
24 tracks, 60 min., recommended Certainly best known for their one solid hit, Church Bells May Ring, from 1956, the Willows, with lead singer Tony Middleton, had actually been recording for a succession of small labels since 1953. And their total output, most of which is featured here, reveals a vocal group of considerable depth and journeyman consistency. Selections include the group's clear hit mentioned above, My Dear Dearest Darling, All Nite Long, With These Hands, The White Cliffs of Dover, Love Bells, Lay Your Head on My Shoulder, Look Me in the Eyes, My Angel, Don't Push Don't Pull Don't Shove, The First Taste of Love, Only My Heart, and Now That I Have You. A particularly nice slice of vintage Harlem doo-wop, complete with informative liner notes, a vintage cover photo, and enviable sound quality. (DH)
THE FIVE WILLOWS: All Nite Long/ Baby Tell Me/ Baby, Come A Little Closer/ Church Bells May Ring/ Delores/ Do You Love Me?/ Don't Push, Don't Pull, Don't Shove/ Lay Your Head On My Shoulder/ Let's Fall In Love/ Little Darling/ Look Me In The Eyes/ My Angel/ My Dear, Dearest Darling/ Now That I Have You/ Only My Heart/ Please Baby/ Rock Little Francis/ Say Yeah/ So Help Me/ The First Taste Of Love/ The White Cliffs Of Dover/ This Is The End Love Bells/ With These Hands

 
THE FLARES Ace CDCHD 841 Foot Stompin' ● CD $18.98
First CD devoted to the recordings of this fine West Coast group featuring 26 tracks recorded for Felsted and Press including, of course, the hit title song and three previously unissued sides.

 
THE FLAIRS Stompin' Tide 9206003 She Loves To Rock ● CD $17.98
30 tracks by this great L.A. group including recordings originally issued as by The Ermines, 5 Hollywood Blue Jays and others - I had A Love/ Hey La Bah/ Rock 'n' Roll Drive In/ Sha-Ba-Da-Ba-Do/ Peek, Peek-A-Boo/ How Can I Tell You/ (Pretty Baby) I'm So Used To You Now/ Keep Me Alive, etc.
 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 5424 Flamingo Serenade ● CD $13.98
Yet a second CD reissue of the quintet's End album (LP 304). After cutting for Parrot, Chance, Chess, and Decca, and with Zeke Carey's return from the service in 1958, The Flamingos signed to End, where they enjoyed four major charted successes. The one included here, I Only Have Eyes For You, was the biggest hit of all. Personnel at this time were Zeke, Nate Nelson, Jake Carey, Tommy Hunt, and Terry Johnson. This group sings a set of Mantovani-type standards in a wistful, dreamy echo-chambered style, a kind of hypnotic trance they snapped themselves out of in the mid-sixties when they hitched up with Philips and started to boogaloo. (OLN)
THE FLAMINGOS: As Time Goes By/ Begin the Beguine/ But Not For Me/ Goodnight Sweetheart/ I Only Have Eyes For You/ I'm In the Mood For Love/ Love Walked In/ Music Maestro Please/ The Breeze and I/ Time Was/ Where or When/ Yours

 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 5425 Requestfully Yours ● CD $13.98
Reissue of End 308 circa 1960, incorporating original hip sleeve notes aimed at jukebox operators and record salesmen. So much of the Goldner material from this period in The Flamingos' career smacks of commercial schmaltz. Orchestral arrangements of tired old standards, sung as is by wailing somnambulists in the wee hours on a freeway underpass, do little to match the soul and excitement of earlier Chess masterpieces. The best of the dozen songs include Beside You/ Everybody's Got A Home But Me/ I Was Such A Fool, plus their best effort on the label Nobody Loves Me Like You. (OLN)
THE FLAMINGOS: At Night/ Beside You/ Every Time I Think of You/ Everybody's Got A Home (But Me)/ I Was Such A Fool (To Fall In Love With You)/ In The Still of the Night/ Never In This World/ Nobody Loves Me Like You/ Tenderly/ When I Fall In Love/ You'll Never Walk Alone/ You, Me and the Sea

 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 5426 The Sound of The Flamingos ● CD $13.98
CD equivalent of End LP 316 (1962) together with sleeve notes. The quintet at this time (1959) consisted of Jake and Zeke Carey, Tommy Hunt, Terry Johnson, and Nate Nelson, who had by now become a Las Vegas lounge act. This was reflected in the evergreen mush the guys did of Porter, Gershwin and Rodgers standards, which may prove more effective than Nyquil but comes nowhere close to the glory days of the past. Only two of ten songs on this album pass muster - the beautiful I Only Have Eyes For You and I'm In The Mood For Love. The rest would even put houseplants to sleep. (OLN)
THE FLAMINGOS: As Time Goes By/ Everybody's Got A Home (But Me)/ Goodnight Sweetheart/ I Only Have Eyes For You/ I'm In the Mood For Love/ In The Still of the Night/ Love Walked In/ When I Fall In Love/ Where or When/ You'll Never Walk Alone

 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 5428 Flamingo Favorites ● CD $13.98
Straight reissue of the group's second End LP from 1960, when their musical aim was continuing to shift towards the pop market. Perhaps the shift was caused by the then-popular notion that 45's were for the kids, while LP's were for the adults. Whatever the reason, these 12 cuts show a further suppression of the group's solid R&B roots. Compare, for example, their version of Dream Girl with the original by Jesse & Marvin. Other tracks include Besame Mucho/ That's Why I Love You/ Mio Amore/ Maria Elena and Bridge of Tears. It's not bad stuff at all, just a bit pale in comparison to their earlier recordings. Fine sound quality; original cover and liner notes. (DH)
THE FLAMINGOS: Besame Mucho/ Bridge of Tears/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/ Dream Girl/ Heavenly Angel/ Maria Elena/ Mio Amore/ My Foolish Heart/ Sweet &Lovely/ Tell Me How Long/ That's Why I Love You/ You Belong to My Heart

 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 5429 Fabulous Flamingos ● CD $13.98

 
THE FLAMINGOS Collectables 8803 For Collectors Only ● CD $24.98
Most everything here was recorded for End Records between 1958-62, including their biggest hit I Only Have Eyes For You. Unreleased versions of their only chart successes for Checker, I'll Be Home/ A Kiss From Your Lips are interesting enough, but the liner notes don't mention if these came from Checker or End. Aside from an unissued demo of Lovers Never Say Goodbye, everything here has been reissued before. The first disc is much better that its companion, which moves from ballad to ballad, and for a change of pace, to another ballad. Ko Ko Mo is here, as is Mio Amore/ I Was Such A Fool/ I Shed A Tear At Your Wedding/ It's Too Soon To Know. Lovers Gotta Cry, which sounds like an Aaron Neville vocal, is fine, but nothing makes up for the overblown Ol' Man River. Buy it for the great music on disc #1, and throw away the aimless liner notes. (JC)
THE FLAMINGOS: A Kiss From Your Lips/ At Night/ At The Prom/ Besame Mucho/ Beside You/ Bridge of Tears/ But Not For Me/ Crazy Crazy Crazy/ Dream Girl/ Everybody's Got A Home But Me/ For All We Know/ Goodnight Sweetheart/ Heavenly Angel/ I Only Have Eyes For You/ I Shed A Tear At Your Wedding/ I Want To Love You/ I Was Such A Fool/ I'll Be Home/ I'm In The Mood For Love/ It's Too Soon To Know/ Jump Children/ Ko Ko Mo/ Love Walked In/ Lovers Gotta Cry/ Lovers Never Say Goodbye/ Lovers Never Say Goodbye (demo)/ Maria Elena/ Mio Amore/ Music Maestro Please/ My Foolish Heart/ My Memories of You/ Nobody Loves Me Like You/ Ol' Man River/ Sweet &Lonely/ Tell Me How Long/ That Love Is You/ That's Why I Love You/ Time Was/ When I Fall In Love/ You &Me &The Sea/ You'll Never Walk Alone/ Your Other Love

 
THE FLAMINGOS Rhino 70967 The Best Of The Flamingos ● CD $15.98
Terrific 18 track CD featuring a cross section of their Chance, Checker, Decca and End recordings - Golden Teardrops/ I'll Be Home/ The Vow/ I Only have Eyes For You/ Mio Amore, etc.
 
THE FLAMINGOS Westside 532 Flamingo Serenade/ Flamingo Favorites ● CD $13.98
Two classic End LPs from 1959 & '60 on one CD. Includes their biggest hit I Only Have Eyes For You plus Love Walked In/ Time Was/ Dream Girl and others. Some tracks in stereo for the first time.
THE FLAMINGOS: As Time Goes By/ Begin the Beguine/ Besame Mucho/ Bridge of Tears/ But Not For Me/ Crazy, Crazy, Crazy/ Dream Girl/ Goodnight Sweetheart/ Heavenly Angel/ I Only Have Eye For You/ I'm In The Mood For Love/ Love Walked In/ Marie Elena/ Mio Amore (My Love)/ Music Maetrso Please/ My Foolish Heart/ Sweet and Lovely/ Tell Me How Long/ That's Why I Love You/ The Breese And I/ Time Was/ Where Or When/ You Belong To My Heart/ Yours

 
THE FLAMINGOS Westside 537 Requestfully Yours/ The Sound Of The Flamingos ● CD $13.98
Two albums from 1960 and '62 on one CD. Includes In The Still Of The Night/ Beside You/ Ol' Man River/Moonlight In Vermont and more.
THE FLAMINGOS: At Night/ Beside You/ Danny Boy/ Every Time I Think Of You/ Everybody Knew But Me/ Flame Of Love/ I Know Better/ I Was Such A Fool/ I'm Coming Home/ In the Still of the Night/ Moonlight In Vermont/ My Lovely One/ Never In This World/ Nobody Loves Me Like You/ Ol' Man River/ Tenderly/ The Sinner (El Petador)/ Too Soon To Know/ When I Fall In Love/ When You're Young/ Without His Love/ You'll Never Walk Alone/ You're Mine/ You, Me and the Sea

 
EDDIE FLOYD Atlantic 80283 Knock On Wood ● CD $11.98
Reissue of Stax 714 from 1967. This wonderful LP highlights Eddie's great songwriting talents, not only on the title classic and the follow up, Raise Your Hand plus his hit for Wilson Pickett 634-5789 , along with fine covers of Something You Got/ If You Got To Make A Fool Of Somebody & JJ Jackson's But It's Alright .
 
EDDIE FLOYD Stax 88013 Rare Stamps/ I've Never Found A Girl ● CD $15.98
25 tracks, 70 min., recommended Best known for Knock On Wood, Floyd was a fine songwriter and a generally underrated singer in the Stax family of stars. This excellent CD offers his 2nd and 3rd Stax albums ("I've Never Found A Girl" & "Rare Stamps", a hits package), recorded with Booker T. & The MGs between 1966-68, and tosses in some singles for good measure. Aside from hits such as Raise Your Hand/ I've Never Found A Girl/ Love Is A Doggone Thing/ On A Saturday Night/ Bring It On Home To Me, you get a pair of duets with the always amazing Mavis Staples, and some great lesser known album cuts. Oh, yeah, Knock On Wood is here too. As with other volumes in this reissue series, the lack of notes is regrettable, but the music makes the omission forgivable. (JC)
 
EDDIE FLOYD Stax 88027 Down To Earth/ California Girl ● CD $15.98
19 tracks, 77 min., recommended Previously available as an import. Floyd's best remembered Stax track is Knock On Wood from '66, but his early 70s output for the finger snapping label is also quite good. This 2-fer pairs California Girl and Down To Earth from '70 & '71 respectively. Plenty of evidence here points to Floyd as a convincing soul singer, but ultimately he will probably be remembered as a talented songwriter. DTE includes Sir Mack Rice (Ex-The Falcons) on backing vocals, as well as erstwhile Moonglow Chester Simmons. But CG has the better tunes, including Laurie/ Love Is You/ Too Much Is Too Little For Me/ I Feel Good. Luckily, you get them both. (JC)
 
THE FOUR BLAZES Delmark 704 Mary Jo ● CD $14.98
Reissue of early 50s United recordings including the title song which was a big R&B hit.
 

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THE FOUR BUDDIES Dipper 209 Featuring Leon Harrison ● CD $17.98
27 tracks, 72 mins, highly recommended Most welcome collection ballads and jumps recorded between 1950 and '54 by this major quartet out of Baltimore. Founders included John Carroll, Varnon Palmer and Tommy Carter, plus the great Leon "Larry" Harrison. Their laid-back ballad style was pretty and melodious, reminiscent of early Clovers who are the group's regional and natural heirs. In addition to tracks as The Four Buddies this set also includes them backing Dolly Cooper on I'd Climb The Highest Mountain plus two cuts from 1954 from a Leon Harrison group that he called The Buddies.