 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||||||
 |
|
||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RHYTHM & BLUES, SOUL & DOO-WOP
Various Artists Collections - Relic Records, Part 2
| VARIOUS | Relic 7095 | The Golden Era Of Doowops - The Groups Of Lumtone Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 21 tracks, 54 min., recommended. The
Lumtone label was
formed in South Central Los Angeles by one Lummie Fowler, and between 1959
and 1965 he released a total of 18 records, all by local vocal groups.
Fowler thought he could put out a better product than he usually heard on
the radio, and, judging by this fine compilation, he may well have been
right. His best groups, the Upfronts and the Elgins, who make up most of
the program here, recorded several excellent early soul-styled ballads,
including It Took Time, Your Lovely Ways, When You Kiss
Me, Finally, A Winner Never Quits, and Send Me
Someone to Love. Other featured groups are the Troopers, the Colognes,
and the Five Ramblers. Particularly fine music, with six cuts in stereo,
from another little known label lovingly preserved by Relic. And, as is
usually the case, both sound quality and liner notes are solid. (DH) THE COLOGNES: A River Flows/ THE ELGINS: A Winner Never Quits/ Finally/ I Lost My Love In The Big City/ Your Lovely Ways/ THE FIVE RAMBLERS: I Want You To Know/ THE TROOPERS: In That Order/ My Choice For A Mate/ THE UPFRONTS: Baby For Your Love/ Benny Lou & The Lion/ I Stopped The Duke Of Earl/ It Took Time (1st Version)/ It Took Time (2nd Version)/ Little Girl/ Married Jive/ Most Of The Pretty Young Girls (alternate Take)/ Most Of The Pretty Young Girls (master Take)/ Send Me Someone To Love/ So Much In Love With You (unreleased)/ Too Far To Turn Around/ When You Kiss Me |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7096 | The Golden Era Of Doowops - The Groups Of Glory Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 27 tracks, 73 min., highly recommended. The Glory Record
Company was launched in 1955 by Phil Rose, who had formerly work for the
Derby label. His premier group from the beginning was the Four Fellows,
with one record on Derby, who hit the charts for Glory right off the bat
with Soldier Boy. And, though they never enjoyed another real hit,
they put out consistently high quality pop-flavored music, somewhat
reminiscent of the Sophomores. They perform 16 of the tracks here,
including In the Rain, Angels Say, and Give Me Back My
Broken Heart. More clearly in the r&b fold are the Leaders, with
six tracks here, including their great version of Stormy Weather
and Dearest Beloved Darling, and the Buddies with I Waited
and I Stole Your Heart. The entire program is solid and put
together with Relic's usual commitment to quality. Not a collection to
miss. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7098 | R&B Groups Go Latin | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 46 min., recommended. Relic here pays tribute to
the various mambo and cha-cha numbers that doo-wop groups cut during the
mid- to late 50's. And label owner and music historian Donn Fileti offers
interesting speculation in his liner notes as to the reasons for this
Latin influence on an essentially black musical form. Such academic
considerations aside, the music itself, as is usually the case with this
venerable label, is well worth the price of admission. To wit: the play
list includes I'm Falling in Love by the Jesters, Dolores by
the Don Juans, Juanita in Mexico by Professor Hamilton and the
Schoolboys, Remember by the Velours, What Do You Do by the
Channels, Don't Give Your Love Away by the Fascinators, Sweet
Lulu by the Love Notes, and Have You Heard? by Herb Johnson and
the Cruisers. Put a long stemmed rose between your teeth, grab a partner,
and teach your kids how to dance. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7099 | The Golden Era Of Doo-Wops: Herald Records - Part 2 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 27 tracks, 65 min., recommended Between 1953 and 1964, the
output of Al Silver's Herald Records shifted from straightforward r&b
to rock 'n' roll and even pop. Still, better than half of the label's over
200 releases featured vocal group recordings. The program here, of course,
highlights those numbers, opening with the major hit, When You Dance
by the Turbans, then moving on to Whispering Blues by the
Debonaires, Baby Come a Little Bit Closer by the Willows, Foolish
One by the Rocketeers, the previously unreleased Shoop by the
Desires, Marlene by the Concords, a previously unreleased version
of Chapel on the Hill by the Mello Kings, Little Dream Girl
by the Cashmeres, The Winds by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs,
and Great Big Heart by Little Butchie Saunders and the Buddies. A
nicely varied program, offering ballads and jumps, and black and white
group sounds, all put together with Relic's expected high standards. (DH) THE CASHMERES: Little Dream Girl/ THE CONCORDS: Marlene/ THE DEBONAIRES: Whispering Blues/ THE DESIRES: Cold Lonely Heart/ Shoop/ THE DYNAMICS: Forever Love/ THE FIVE WILLOWS: Baby Come A Little Bit Closer/ Look Me In The Eyes/ THE LOUNGERS: Dizzy Spell/ Wedding Bells/ THE MELLO KINGS: Chapel On The Hill/ Chip Chip/ THE NUTMEGS: My Story/ Ship Of Love/ THE ROCKETEERS: Foolish One/ THE ROYAL HOLIDAYS: Dancin' At The Bandstand/ Down In Cuba/ LITTLE BUTCHIE SAUNDERS & THE BUDDIES: Great Big Heart/ Rock & Roll Indian Dance/ THE SONNETS: Why Should We Break Up?/ THE THRILLERS: Lizabeth/ Please Talk To Me/ THE TURBANS: The Wadda-Do/ When You Dance/ THE VOCAL-AIRES: Dance, Dance/ MAURICE WILLIAMS & THE ZODIACS: Come Along/ The Winds |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7100 | The Golden Era Of Doo-Wops - Ember Records, Part 2 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 28 tracks, 70 min., recommended This second volume featuring
the vocal group recordings for Al Silver's Ember Records opens with the
label's now overexposed classic, In the Still of the Night by the
Five Satins. The rest of the program is far less familiar, thank goodness,
but generally solid. Program selections include I'll Write a Book
by the Wonders, Voodoo Eyes by the Silhouettes, Sandy by the
Colonaires, Pretty Brown Eyes by the Starlites, Soft Lights
by David Clowney and group, and Shedding Tears by the Paramonts.
But the highlight for me were the two tracks, one previously unreleased,
by the Mifflin Triplets - I Do and the particularly nice The
Voice of an Angel, both in stereo. All in all, the music here is a bit
more in the pop mold than is that of its sister label Herald, but at times
at least that difference plays to Ember's advantage. (DH) THE BARRIES: Tonite Tonite/ THE BOP TONES: I Had A Love/ DAVID CLOWNEY & GROUP: Soft Lights/ THE COLONAIRES: Can't Stand To Lose You/ Sandy/ THE CONCORDS: I'll Always Say Please/ Satisfied With Rock & Roll/ THE FABULONS: I Want A Girl/ Little Miss Muffet/ THE FIVE SATINS: In The Still Of The Night/ Tell Me Dear/ Wishing Ring/ THE ILLUSIONS: Can't We Fall In Love?/ How High Is The Mountain/ THE MIFFLIN TRIPLETS: I Do/ The Voice Of An Angel/ THE PARAMOUNTS: In A Dream/ Shedding Teardrops/ ROGER & THE TRAVELERS: You're Daddy's Little Girl/ THE SILHOUETTES: Headin' For The Poorhouse/ Voodoo Eyes/ THE SKARLETTONES: Do You Remember?/ THE STARLITES: Boom Chicka Boom/ Pretty Brown Eyes/ Tears Are Just For Fools/ They Call Me A Dreamer/ THE WONDERS: Hey Senorita/ I'll Write A Book |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7101 | What's Your Name | ● CD $13.98 |
| 25 tracks, 61 min., recommended This is the second volume in
Relic's doo-wop dedications to the girls of the 50's (and early 60's). The
selections are drawn from a wide variety of original labels, including
Fury, Atlas, Ancho, Parrot, Rainbow, Class, Showcase, Club 51, and
Celeste. And the songs themselves, recorded between 1954 and 1965, include
Valerie by Jackie & the Starlites, Toni My Love by the
Five Satins, Darlene by the Earls, Sweet Lulu by the Love
Notes, Delores by the Four Buddies, Anna Mae by Bob E. Lee
and the Aquatones, Oh Theresa by the Premiers, and Lizabeth
by the Thrillers. A thoroughly enjoyable various artist program, prepared
with Relic's usual attention to detail. Eddie Gries' nostalgic and honest
liner notes are brief indeed, but there are lots of fun photos of 50's
teenage girls trying hard to look alluring. For my money, one or two
succeed. (DH) THE ACADEMICS: Darla My Darling/ THE BOP TONES: Betty Jean/ THE CHANDELIERS: Dolly/ THE CHARTS: Deserie/ THE CONCORDS: Marlene/ THE DREAMLOVERS: Annabelle Lee/ THE EARLS: Darlene/ THE EMERSONS: Joanie Joanie/ THE FIVE JADES: Rose Marie/ THE FIVE SATINS: Toni My Love/ THE FOUR BUDDIES: Delores/ BOB E LEE & THE AQUATONES: Anna Mae/ LITTLE FREDDIE & THE GENTS: Betty/ THE LOVE NOTES: Sweet Lulu/ THE MELLOWS: Sweet Lorraine/ THE PARAKEETS: Yvonne/ THE PREMIERS: Oh Theresa/ THE RAINBOWS: If You See Mary Lee/ Shirley/ THE SPUTNIKS: Hey Maryann/ THE STARLITES: Valarie/ THE THRILLERS: Lizabeth/ THE TRAVELERS: Lenora/ THE UNIVERSALS: Dear Ruth/ THE YOUNGONES: Maryann |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7103 | The Golden Era Of Doowops - Everlast Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 29 tracks, 70 min., highly recommended This late 50's New
York label is yet another of those created and run by one of Harlem's
distinguished Robinson brothers, in this case, Danny. Its claim to doo-wop
fame, of course, is the immortal Deserie by the Charts, which
charted (pun intended) in late 1957. But the rest of the label's output is
similarly fine. Among those gems are Hey Pretty Baby by the
Ladders, The Night Is Quiet by the reformed Vocaleers, Searching
for Tomorrow by Jay Dee Bryant and the Magic Knights, Queenie Bee
by the Rodans (for those of you who remember that Sci-Fi
"classic"), From Now On by the C-Notes, Please Come
Back to Me by the Rhythm Tones, and the outstanding ballad Why Do
You Cry by the Charts. Directly-from-the-tapes sound quality, several
vintage group photos, and knowledgeable liner notes by Donn Fileti.
Definitely not one to miss. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7104 | The Golden Era Of Doowops - V-Tone Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 23 tracks, 54 min., recommended Philadelphia-based V-Tone
Records was founded by upholsterer Venton "Buddy" Caldwell in
the fall of 1958 and closed its doors in 1963. In spite of its lack of a
national hit, the label's output during its relatively short life is
consistently good. For example, before they hit pay dirt on the Heritage
label with When We Get Married, the Dreamlovers cut four solid
sides for V-Tone, including Home Is Where the Heart Is, Annabelle
Lee, and May I Kiss the Bride. Other journeyman sides cut for
V-Tone include I Am Dreaming of You by the Fashions, Did We Go
Steady Too Soon by Farris Hill & the Madison Brothers, Give Me
Your Heart by the wonderful Joe Van Loan Quartet, Crying Over You
by the Cruisers, Three Love Letters Ago by the Sherwoods, and the
original version of the delightful novelty jump Mope-Itty Mope by
the Boss-Tones. Otherwise, fine sound, notes, and photos. Another Relic
issue that's too good to miss. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7106 | Golden Era Of Doo-Wops - Len Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 18 tracks, 42 min., recommended Len Records was a 1958-1960
subsidiary of Venton Caldwell's V-Tone Records of Philadelphia. Featured
artists in this solid compilation of its vocal group output include high
tenor Herb Johnson, who performs four group-backed numbers here including Help,
Guilty, and Have You Heard?; the Dreamlovers who sing For
the First Time and Take It From a Fool; the Four Bars with Just
Bid Me Farewell and The Game of Romance; the Marquees who
perform Say Hey and I'm in Misery; and the Masters, Little
Jimmy and the Tops, Nelson Dupree, and the Parliaments. Music worth
hearing, packaged with Relic's standard graphics, excellent sound quality
and expert liner notes. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7107 | Golden Era Of Doo-Wops - Relic Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 25 tracks, 61 min., recommended The by now venerable Relic Record label was begun in 1963 by Eddie Gries, whose youthful photo appears herein. One of his original goals was to purchase the rights to some of his personal group favorites in order to reissue them on his fledgling label. So most of the delightful material that is offered here, having gone from original label to Relic 45 and now to CD, is in at least its third incarnation. Among the doo-wop gems are I Love You by the Four Most, Our Love is a Vow by the Levees, the classic Can I Come Over Tonight by the Velours, Love Only One by the Teenos, My Memories of You by the Harptones, Baby Doll by the Excels, Your Way by the Zircons, Heavenly Father by the Starlarks, and Don't Say Goodbye by the Kents. Original label information is provided in Donn Fileti's thorough and informative notes. And sound and graphic considerations are satisfied in Relic's usual expert manner. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7112 | The Best Of Acapella, Vol 3 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 41 min., recommended. In the 60's, lots of a
cappella vocal groups formed on the East Coast. Most were white, and most
recorded songs that had been made famous by better known groups in the
50's. This disc is Relic's third celebration of that phenomenon. Featured
numbers include I Wonder Why by the Quotations, My True Story
by the Islanders, Bells of Love by the Count Five, Pennies from
Heaven by the Citadels, and Don't Say We're Through by the
Durhams. It's all pretty good music primarily because the sincerity and
the spontaneity of the performers does shine through. A straight reissue
of Relic LP 103. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7113 | Golden Era Of Doo Wops - Grand Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 22 tracks, 58 min., recommended. In its few years of
existence, between the years 1953 and 1956, the Grand label helped to
establish the mournful ballad with a high tenor lead as the characteristic
Philadelphia sound of the 50's. It worth noting that they did this to some
degree in retrospect, because Grand records didn't sell any too well at
the time of their release. Thus, collectors today tend to revere them.
Among those sought-after numbers included here are The Rain by the
Marquees, Estelle by the Belltones, Cool Whalin' Papa by the
Carter Rays, Remember When? by the Cherokees, 535 by the
Dreamers, and Wedding Bells by the Angels. All presented with
Relic's usual flair for excellent sound quality, informative notes, and
rare group photos. And definitely easier on your budget and time schedule
than picking up the original 45's. |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7115 | The Golden Era Of Doo-WOps - Club Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 18 tracks, 46 min., recommended In spite of the single label
mentioned in the title here, this disc actually compiles group recordings
from several of the small labels owned by businessman Carl Edelson in the
late 50's and early 60's, including the Michele, Ultra D'Or, Showcase, and
Club labels. Probably the best known tracks here are the two by Pat
Cordell and the Crescents, My Tears and Darling Come Back,
cuts whose reputation relies in large measure on the fact that two members
of the Crescents went on to form the vastly more popular Elegants. Other
tracks include This Is the End by the Willows, Heaven Have Mercy
by Jay Saunders and the Duvals, Tender Love by the Pageants, Little
Little by the Cherlos, and Burying Ground by the Relations.
Sound, notes, and graphic considerations are all as expected for Relic. |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7117 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Atlas Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 29 tracks, 74 min., recommended New York's Atlas label was
founded in 1951 by jazz trumpeter and booking agent Tommy Robinson, a
native of Detroit. When his early jazz releases failed to click with the
record buying public, he turned, in 1953, to the increasingly popular
vocal group sound. The fruits of his exploration of that genre include Just
to Be in Love by the Four Haven Knights, Love Was a Stranger to Me
by Vic Donna & the Parakeets, Dolores by Roscoe Thorne, Yvonne
by the Parakeets, You Thrill Me So by the Caverliers, and My
Lost Love by the Revels - a fine set of songs measured in the artistic
terms of a vocal group fan. Unfortunately for Robinson, he found as little
economic success with doo-wop as he did with jazz. To put that another
way: there are some mighty rare records offered here. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7118 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Joyce Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 26 tracks, 68 min., highly recommended. Long one of my
favorite micro-labels, Joyce Records began in 1956 and lasted for about a
year. Under the direction of Al Browne, a total of six records, most
wistful ballads, actually saw release, two of them by the then unknown
Johnny Maestro and the Crests, featuring My Juanita, No One to
Love, Sweetest One, and Wish She Was Mine. Other
released tracks include Everybody Knew But Me and You Have No
Heart by the Crescents, Bad Motorcycle and Sweet Daddy
by the Twinkles (leased to Cameo/Parkway and successfully reissued as by
the Storey Sisters), Missing You and Give Me a Kiss by the
Starlites, and I Love You and You Left Me by the Gaytunes.
The remaining 14 tracks are solid but previously unreleased numbers by
these same five groups and the Love Notes. Production standards are
typical for Relic, and Donn Fileti's notes are, as usual, authoritative.
(DH) THE CRESCENTS: Baby, I‘m Serious About You/ Dolores/ Everybody Knew But Me/ Everybody Knew But Me/ I‘ll Walk In The Shadow/ You Have No Heart/ THE CRESTS: My Juanita/ No One To Love/ Sweetest One/ Wish She Was Mine/ THE GAYTUNES: I Love You/ I Love You/ Plea In The Moonlight/ Tell Me You Love Me/ You Left Me/ You Left Me/ THE LOVE NOTES: Dream Girl/ Treat Me Right/ THE STARLITES: Give Me A Kiss/ Joanne/ Missing You/ My Greatest Thrill/ Pen Pal/ THE TWINKLES: Bad Motorcycle/ Sweet Daddy |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7120 | Doo Wop Delights - The Boston Groups | ● CD $13.98 |
| 25 tracks, 60 min., recommended The third of the regional
discs from Relic, with the selections this time around personally chosen
by Boston's own doo-wop expert and sound mastering expert Little Walter
Devenne. His selections include numbers by the well known G-Clefs - Cause
You're Mine and Ka-Ding-Dong - and the polished Love Notes - I'm
Sorry and Since I Fell for You. But thirteen of the cuts here
are either privately issued or previously unreleased numbers recorded by
Devenne in the 60's. Most of these tracks are a cappella and rather
spontaneous sounding. My favorite group in this category is the Del-Tones
who perform Misty, All in My Mind, Lonely Drifter,
and Don't Pass Me By. Definitely the good stuff. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7121 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Angletone Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| Atlas Record's founder, Thomas Robinson, originally
conceived of his Angletone subsidiary as a gospel label, and he chose its
name in imitation of the successful classical label, Angel Records. For
reasons unknown at this point, but quite possibly financial, he quickly
converted Angletone's output to r&b and rock 'n' roll. His vocal group
efforts in that vein, immortalized herein, include Blueberry Sweet
and One More Step by the Chandeliers, Yesterday's Dreams by
Dougie & the Dolphins, For Sentimental Reasons by the Original
Charmers, Tell Me What Is Wrong by Rudy & the Tradewinds, Why
Are You? (So in Love) by Rickie and Vickie, and Somewhere by
Little Butchie & the Vells. Solid New York doo-wop, offered with
Relic's usual solid sound quality and expert notes. (DH) THE CASINOS: Baby Don't Do It/ I Like It Like That/ Oh Yvonne/ THE CHANDELIERES: Blueberry Sweet/ THE CHANDELIERS: Dancin' In The Congo/ Dolly/ One More Step/ Tender Love/ Wild Cherry/ THE CHRISTALIERS: Darling/ Homeroom Rock/ DOUGIE & DOLPHINS: Double Date/ Yesterday's Dreams/ THE FABULOUS FABULAIRES: I Found My Baby/ She's The Girl For Me/ THE LINCOLNS QUINTET: Dream Of Romance/ Tell Me What Is Wrong/ LITTLE BUTCHIE & VELLS: Please Tell The Angels/ Sometimes Little Girl/ Somewhere/ THE ORIGINAL CHARMERS: For Sentimental Reasons/ RICKIE & VICKIE: Joanie/ RICKIE & VELLS: Why Are You? (so In Love)/ RUDY & TRADEWINDS: Careless Love/ Unemployment |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7122 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Mohawk Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 27 tracks, 65 min., highly recommended New York's Mohawk
Records is chiefly remembered today for its national success with the
Demensions' Over the Rainbow and for issuing Dion and the Belmonts'
first single, We Went Away/Tag Along. But label owner Irving Spice
had a solid feel for the white vocal group sound, and most of his efforts
here, from both Mohawk and its subsidiaries, Dragon and Wizz, are well
worth listening to. Highlights here, in addition to the titles listed
above, include Chapel of Tears, The Gang All Knows, My
Heart, and Hold Me Close by Lonnie & the Carollons; Ding
a Ling a Ling by Dicky Dell & the Bing Bongs; I Still Love You
by Joey & the Ovations; Legend of Love by Billy Love & the
Lovers, and I'll Love You Forever by the Deans. A particularly fine
set, rounded out by definitive notes by Donn Fileti and several vintage
group photos. (DH) DICKY BELL & THE BING BONGS: Ding A Ling A Ling/ THE BELMONTS: Santa Margherita/ Teenage Clementine/ THE COMPANIONS: How Could You/ No Fool Am I/ THE DEANS: I'll Love You Forever/ It's You/ My Heart Is Low/ THE DEMENSIONS: Over The Rainbow/ Please Don't Say Goodbye/ DION & THE TIMBERLANES: Out In Colorado/ DION & THE BELMONTS: Tag Along/ DION & THE TIMBERLANES: The Chosen Few/ DION & THE BELMONTS: We Went Away/ JOEY & THE OVATIONS: I Still Love You/ Runaround/ LONNIE & THE CAROLLONS: Chapel Of Tears/ Hold Me Close/ My Heart/ The Gang All Knows/ Trudy/ You Say/ BILLY LOVE & THE LOVERS: Legend Of Love/ THE MELLO-KINGS: You Don't Know What You Got/ THE RADIANTS: I'll Never Be Mean/ Ra Cha Cha/ VIRGIL & THE VI TONES: Let Him Talk |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7127 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Apollo Records, Part 1 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 56 min., highly recommended This first volume in
Relic's look at some of the less prolific vocal groups who recorded for
New York's Apollo Records is subtitled "The Early Years" and
focuses on tracks laid down between 1951 and 1954. Under label owner Bess
Berman, r&b output quality was so high that it's hard to pick
favorites here. Suffice it to say that selections here include Night
Has Come by Billy Austin & the Hearts, Courage to Love by
the Five Royales, Why Oh Why and Julocka Jolly by the
Jumping Jacks, Bald Headed Daddy by Lydia Larson & the River
Rovers, Oh But She Did by the Opals, three worthwhile Larks'
outtakes, and all four sides released by the Gentlemen, with the addition
of an unreleased version of Tired of You. There's not a loser in
the lot. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7128 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Apollo Records, Part 2 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 53 min., highly recommended Volume two focuses on
the years 1954 and 1955 and offers performances equal in quality to those
on Volume one. The program opens with four solid numbers by the Romeos
(The Jumping Jacks in their grittier r&b mode), followed by five
raucous jumps by the Night Riders, including Doctor Velvet and Say
Hey. Next up are four pop flavored tracks by Barbara Gale backed by
the Larks, including Who Walks In When I Walk Out and When
You're Near. Next, The Dovers, led by Miriam Grate, sing their two
released Apollo sides, plus an unreleased number called My Love.
The last four tracks, including Stars in the Sky and Hurry Home,
belong to the Sparks of Rhythm and mark the singing debut of Jimmy Jones
of Handyman fame. Great vocal group music, and, best of all,
according to the liner notes here, volume three in this various artist
Apollo label series is due out soon. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7129 | The Apollo Acapella Audition Album | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 48 min., highly recommended The digital reissue
of Relic's similarly titled LP 5075, with the addition of four tracks - Pleading
from My Heart by the Casanovas, plus Girl in the Chapel, Tell
Me You Love Me, and Early One Morning by the Keynotes. It's a
particularly solid program for fans of unadorned vocal harmony. Highlights
include Please Be Mine and Night Rider by the Casanovas, Only
Heaven Knows and Sweet as a Flower by the Dovers, Love Me
Now or Let Me Go and a version of the Dominoes' Do Something for Me
by the Avalons, and the particularly effective Story of a Love Gone
Cold by the little known Gentlemen, a song worth the price of
admission on its own. Don't miss this one. And, of course, all production
values are up to Relic's normal high standards. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7130 | Goodbye 40s, Hello 50s | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 56 min., highly recommended The sound of the
numbers here generally falls halfway between the Mills Brothers and Ink
Spots on the one hand and the high energy doo-wop numbers of the mid-50's
and beyond on the other. It's a mellow sound by and large, descended
partly from the groups mentioned above and partly from the jubilee gospel
sounds of the 30's and 40's. The featured Apollo artists on this
compilation are the Striders, vocal group accompanists of Savannah
Churchhill, with If I Only Knew and Hesitating Fool, the
Four Vagabonds with P. S. I Love You, the Melody Masters with My
Baby and Don't You Ever Mind Them, the Four Bars with As
Long As I Live and Missing You, plus two fine Christmas numbers
by the Rhythm Kings and three less seasonal cuts the Whispers. A good
antidote to the pace of life in the 90's, produced with care and quality
by the reliable folks at Relic Records. Thanks guys. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7131 | Goodbye 40s, Hello 50s, Part 2 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 55 min., highly recommended The second volume in
this delightful series offers more soul-soothing harmonies in a
pre-doo-wop style. Highlights include Jumping Jack and Driftin'
by the Three Riffs, Subway Cutie by the Melody Masters, If I
Only Knew by the Striders, Why My Darling Why by the Rhythm
Kings, Rock My Baby and Baby Won't You Please Come Home by
the Mel-O-Dots, My Reverie by the Larks, and It Takes a Long
Tall Brown Skinned Gal and Re-Bop-De-Boom by the Four Blues. A
good mix of ballads and easy-going jumps, worth spinning the next time you
get home after spending the afternoon stuck in a traffic jam. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7133 | Golden Era Of Doo-Wops, Apollo Records Part 3 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 51 min., recommended On these last two various
artist discs from the Apollo Records tapes, Relic offers more vocal group
gems, including a few surprises. The program on Part 3 opens with four
tracks by the Vocaltones, among them Darling (You Know I Love You)
and My Girl. Subsequent numbers include I Don't Know by the
Keynotes, Raindrops and Pretty Mama by the Inspirations, two
previously unreleased numbers by Lillian Leach & the Mellows (a
surprise to me) - So Strange and Be Mine - plus four numbers
by the Sparks of Rhythm with Jimmy Jones, including the unreleased
original of Handy Man, and one track each by the Casanovas and the
Claremonts. The closing four numbers are again by the Vocaltones, two of
them fronted by one Miss Brenda Lee. But, no, not that Brenda Lee. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7134 | Golden Era Of Doo-Wops, Apollo Records Part 4 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 50 min., recommended Part 4 of the Apollo story
concludes the Vocaltones' story with their final three cuts - I'll
Never Let You Go, My Version of Love, and an outtake of Darling
(You Know I Love You). Additional numbers include Bermuda Shorts
by the Delroys, Howie by the Tonettes, Rang Tang Ding Dong
by the Cellos, Christmas Letter by La Fets & Kitty (Kind of
makes you wonder, doesn't it?), Fires Burn No More by Little
Anthony and the Chesters (a pre-Imperials cut), Angel of Romance by
the Claremonts, The Fool by Ann Ford (known also as Annie Alford on
Vik and Groove) a favorite of mine, Present of Love by Armanda
& the Jays, They Lied by the Brochures, and My Baby by
the Admirations. More great music offered with Relic's usual flair for
solid sound quality, informative notes, and vintage group photos. (DH) THE ADMIRATIONS: My Baby/ ARMANDA & JAYS: Present Of Love/ THE BROCHURES: They Lied/ THE CASANOVAS: Please Be Mine/ VINCE CASTRO & CLAREMONTS: Bong Bong/ THE CELLOS: Girlie That I Love/ Rang Tang Ding Dong/ THE CHESTERS: Fires Burn No More/ Lift Up Your Head/ THE CLAREMONTS: Angel Of Romance/ Why Keep Me Dreaming/ THE DELROYS: Bermuda Shorts/ Time/ ANN FORD: The Fool/ LA FETS & KITTY: Christmas Letter/ THE TONETTES: Howie/ Oh What A Baby/ THE VOCALTONES: Darling (you Know I Love You)/ I'll Never Let You Go/ My Version Of Love |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7136 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Groups Of Lupine Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 25 tracks, 66 min., highly recommended A fine collection of
gospel-tinged vocal group and single artist numbers laid down for the
myriad of labels in which Detroit's Robert West had either a production or
a leasing interest. Those labels include West's own LuPine, plus Flick,
Contour, Bumble Bee, Kudo, and Puff. Among the many worthwhile cuts are
West's major claims to fame - You're So Fine and I Found a Love
by the Falcons - and Once Upon a Time by Marv Johnson (his first
record), Please Let It Be and Please Don't Go by the Bumble
Bees, Geni in the Jug by the Tornados, Bubble Gum by Little
Joe & the Moroccos, It's All My Fault by Billy Kope & the
Quardells, the crude but infectious Geraldine by Bob Hamilton &
group, We Are Like One by the Five Masters, and (Where's the
Joy) In Nature Boy by Briant Holland (later of the Motown song writing
team of Holland, Dozier, Holland). The good stuff, as usual, from the
dedicated crew at Relic. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7137 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Groups Of Fargo Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 24 tracks, 54 min., recommended. A much better various artist
disc than I would have expected from this latter day label whose only
national hit was You by the Aquatones from 1958. The Fargo label,
along with its subsidiaries - Wells, Decanter, Express, and Astra - was
launched in 1957 by New York real estate executive Lou Fargo, who
continued issuing material under these various banners through 1963. The
best of those sides, offered herein, include four cuts by the Aquatones - You,
Crazy for You, and two others - plus Walking in the Rain by
the Execs, Bubble Gum by Ricky & the Vacels, A Lover's
Answer and Praying for a Miracle by the Dreamtones (Fargo's
only black group), Won't You Count on Me by the Choralettes, Someone
to Care by the Sundowners, How Still the Night by the Chord R
Tones, and You Must Pay and I'm not Alone by an unknown but
effective group with a lead voice reminiscent of Frankie Lymon. An
impressive collection on the whole, with fine sound quality and Relic's
usual definitive notes. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7140 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Groups Of Swingin' Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 49 min., recommended The story of Hunter
Hancock's Los Angeles-based Swingin' Records, a label which put out quite
a few solid sides between 1959 and 1964. Probably the best known group on
the label was Rochell and the Candles who hit pay dirt in 1960 with Once
Upon a Time. Other Candles' tracks here include So Far Away, When
My Baby is Gone, Hey Pretty Baby, Beg of My Heart, and A
Long Time Ago. Remaining numbers include I'm Your Man, Everyday's
a Holiday, and L. A. Lover by the Hollywood Saxons, Jo Jo
by Art Wheeler, I'm in Your Corner by Vin Vincente, and One Week
Romance by the Calendars. Solid music straddling the imaginary gap
between doo-wop and soul music, offered here with Relic's normal attention
to detail: fine sound quality and solid, informative notes. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7141 | Golden Era Of Doowops - Groups Of Chez Records | ● CD $13.98 |
| 27 tracks, 65 min., recommended Chex was the brainchild of
Detroit producer Willie Ewing, and though it survived for a mere two
years, its output included one solid hit, I Love You by the
Volumes, and a plentiful supply of prototypical soul numbers. In addition
to that hit, numbers by the Volumes include Come Back Into My Heart,
County Jail, Dreams, and the La La Song. Among the
highlights by other groups offered here are Come to Me by Othea
George, Gwendolyn and Unhappy and Blue
by the Majestics, Some
Happy Day by the Bohemians, Ha Ha He Told on You by Tony and the Technics
(sic), and Hello Operator by Donald Richards. Another well-told chapter in
the musical history of the Motor City. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7142 | Best Of Acapella, Vol. 4 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 20 tracks, 50 min., recommended. The digital reissue of the
identically titled 1966 LP, a part of the continuing celebration of the
then popular trend of recording latter day rock 'n' roll vocal groups
without instrumentation. By this time, most of the groups still working in
this essentially 50's style were white and on the East Coast. And, as this
set demonstrates, some of them are pretty darned good. Highlights herein
include Lost Love, For Your Precious Love, and Kentucky
Babe by the racially mixed Notations; I'll Be Home and Why
Do You Like Me Like You Do by the Quotations; Laura My Darling
and Summer Nights by the Semesters; The White Cliffs of Dover
by Nicky and the Naks; and a version of the Youngsters' I'm So Young
by Little Joe and the Majestics. As always with Relic, sound quality,
notes, and graphics are solid. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7143 | Rockin' The Blues - The Movie Soundtrack | ● CD $13.98 |
| 16 tracks, 38 min., recommended. A seeming anomaly from the
good folks at Relic Records, an actual movie soundtrack disc, but then
this particular movie is right down Relic's alley, a 1955 variety show
featuring the Harptones, the Wanderers, Linda Hopkins, the Miller Sisters,
and the Hurricanes. Not great cinema perhaps, but certainly great music.
Featured live performances include High Flyin' Baby, Ou Wee Baby,
and Mambo Boogie by the Harptones; My First, Last, and Only Girl
and Sweetie Pie by the Wanderers; Fast Movin' Mama and T.V.
Is the Thing by Connie Carroll; You May Not Know by the
Hurricanes; and Everybody's Havin' a Ball by the Miller Sisters. A
musical program well worth adding to your 50's rhythm and blues
collection. (DH) |
|||
| VARIOUS | Relic 7144 | Golden Era Of Doo Wops - Times Square Records, Vol 2 | ● CD $13.98 |
| 28 tracks, 64 mins, recommended What a pleasant surprise.
After more than three years of inactivity the Relic label has returned
with a second collection of sides issued by Irving "Slim" Rose
on his Times Square label. Times Square Records, active between 1961 and
'65, issued impossibly rare singles, demo and audition recordings by major
groups and tentative tapes by upcoming artists. Among the more well known
groups here are The Nutmegs (a couple of acapella demos), Moonglows,
Paragons & The Five Satins (also acapella). Other artists include The
Nobles, Nobletones, Gents, Timetones, Vi-Tones, Youngtones, Nicky &
The Nobles, Lyattions, Volumes and others. Sound is excellent and the
interesting notes by Donn Fileti give us interesting insight ino the myth
that was Times Square Records and its importance in promoting the cause of
the music. (FS) THE 5 SATINS: Paradise On Earth/ THE BALLADS: Never Change Your Mind/ THE BEL-AIRES: Tell My Why/ THE BELAIRES: Oh Baby/ THE DECOYS: I Want Only You/ THE EL SIERROS: Pretty Little Girl/ THE GENTS: I'll Never Let You Go/ LONNIE & CRISIS: Bells In The Chapel/ THE LYTATIONS: Look Into The Sky/ THE MEMORIES: Darling You're My Angel/ THE MOONGLOWS: Baby Please/ NICKY & NOBLES: School Bells/ THE NOBLES: Darkness/ Poor Rock And Roll/ THE NOBLETONES: I'm Really Too Young/ The Way Love Should Be/ Who Cares About Love/ THE NUTMEGS: Down In Mexico/ Down To Earth/ THE PARAGONS: So You Will Know/ THE SYNCOPATES: Praying For A Miracle/ THE TIMETONES: House Where Lover's Dream/ Pretty Pretty Girl/ THE VI-TONES: The Storm (so Blue)/ THE VOLUMES: Ink Dries Quicker Than Tears/ THE YOUNGONES: I Only Want You/ THE YOUNGTONES: Cupid Of Love/ Patricia |
|||
Roots & Rhythm
P.O. Box 837
El Cerrito, CA 94530 USA
Toll Free Order Line : 888-ROOTS-66, Fax : 510-526-9001
© 2008 Roots & Rhythm. No part of this site may be reproduced without written permission