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 DooWopDJ's 
R&B and DooWop CD Reviews
 
MGM

Doo-Wops

Vol. 1 - 3

MGM-401, 402,403
Barcode: None

Review first published: 06.02.2002

MGM Records, part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Movie Productions, was formed in 1940’s in New York City.

Here are the first three of a five volume issue on the Vocal Group recordings from this great label and it’s minor subsidiary, Metro Records. Major subsidiary Cub Records is not represented on this series. Cub already has been issued for the most part.

I know you will find the recordings on these MGM volumes to your liking. We have all the elements of Vocal Group Harmony represented here. From late 40’s to mid 60’s the sounds of Rock & Roll, Rhythm & Blues and super Ballads are here for your enjoyment. Artists that you would not associate with this label show up to surprise you. All in all the five volumes give you over 125 recordings. A must for anyone’s collection.

Volume #1

1. You’re Mine - Crickets ’53 $150 (Super ballad by Dean Barlow’s Crickets)

2. I Wrote A Letter - Serenaders originally on Chock Full Of Hits ’57 $200 leased to MGM ’58 unreleased version (Great Rocker!) play

3. Baby, Don’t Be Mad At Me - Beale Street Boys 78 RPM only (Nice early ballad)

4. I Learned A Lesson - Five Red Caps (Oh well) I only found this as a ’44 Beacon Records release?) 78 RPM only (Love the sound on this ballad)

5. Between The Devil & The Deep Blue Sea - Billy Williams Quartet ’52 (Good Swing!)

6. Kiss Me Goodbye - Chants ’61 (Belly Rubber!!!!!!!!) play

7. Come In Mr. Blues - Ebonaires ’50 (Another early swing #)

8. Why The Car Won’t Go - Charles Calhoun ’55 (Rockin’ Novelty)

9. I’ll Cry No More - Crickets ’53 $200 (Nother Dean Ballad here!)

10. Walk, Talk & Kiss - Webtones ’58 (Lindy Hop/Jitterbug here)

11. Sugar Lips - flip of #4 (Uptempo) play

12. You Were Mine - Richie Adams ’66 (Lead of the Fireflies originally with a remake of the hit here.)

13. Busy Line - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Good Jump Tune)

14. Smack Dab In The Middle - flip of #8 (Rockin’ some mo)

15. Milk & Gin - flip of #1 (Easy swinger here)

16. Never Let Me Go - flip of #2 (Classic remade by many. Serenaders’ KILL this Ballad!)

17. Wait’ll I Get You In My Dreams Tonight - flip of #3 (Bearable! LOL)

18. My Lost Love - flip of # 10 (Pretty Ballad. Louis Williams’ lead is SUPERB!)

19. Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye - flip of #7 (Bluesy ballad)

20. Confetti - Billy Williams Quartet ’52 (Ballad)

21. Elephant Walk - Chords ’59 Metro (Rocker!)

22. Don’t Grieve, Don’t Sorrow, Don’t Cry - flip of #20 (Very nice ballad)

23. Dance, Darlin’ Dance - Serenaders ’58 (Latin tempo)

24. For You I Have Eyes - flip of #9 (Dean raisin’ temps again!)

25. I Won’t Cry Anymore - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (End Volume #1 with another excellent ballad)

Volume #2

1. Cherie - Hide-A-Ways ’54 $500 (Super ballad to start with)

2. Body & Soul - Richard Barrett ’58 (Told ya there would be a surprise artist! Killer Ballad by the Valentines’ former lead) (Imagine! Not a Goldner label) play

3. How I Love You - Chuck Alaimo Quartet ’57 (Good ballad here also)

4. Picture Of You - Elgins ’58 $100 (Pickin’ up the beat here!) play

5. Sometimes - Bachelors ’58 (Cha Cha!)

6. As Time Goes By - Wanderers ’61 Cub, ’62 MGM (Ray Pollard! What else is there to say? FANTASTIC!)

7. Love Is A Wailing Thing - Gladys Patrick & Charioteers ’55 (Gladys is SWINGIN’!)

8. Home - Beale Street Boys ’50 (Nice early ballad)

9. The Candle - Charioteers ’57 (Ballad, Nice too!)

10. Diamond Mind In Madagascar - Billy Bowen & Butterball Four ’52 (Uptempo)

11. One Hot Dog - Five Shades ’61 (Rocker Naturally!) play

12. Lovers Again - Chuck Alaimo Quartet ’57 (Ballad)

13. Wedding Bells - flip of #8 (Wedding Bells are breaking up that old gang of mine)

14. Somebody Please - flip of #7 (Gladys got ya snugglin’ to this one!)

15. There Is No Greater Love - flip of #6 (Ray smokin’ socks on this one!)

16. Lovable - Richard Barrett ’58 Metro (Killer ballad! Better then the Lenny Young & Jaybirds version from same year)

17. Mademoiselle - flip of #4 (Rockin’ Elgins here)

18. Me Make’um Pow Wow - flip of #1 (Move to a latin beat!)

19. Teach Me, Teach Me Baby - Beale Street Boys ’49 (Easy mover!)

20. I Didn’t Mean To Be Mean To You - flip of #9 (Another very nice ballad)

21. You Broke My Heart - flip of #10 (Ballad here too)

22. Sherlock Jones - flip of #11 (Rock & Roll)

23. Where’s My Baby - flip of #12 (Still groovin’)

24. Why Does It Have To Rain On Sunday - flip of #19 (Ballad)

25. The Party - flip of #2 (Richard Barrett ends this volume with a Scorcher!)

Volume #3

1. Half Angel - Twilighters ’56 $250 (Toe Curler here!) play

2. Isn’t It A Shame - Blenders ’53 $200 (Nother super nice ballad)

3. I’ll Never Fail You - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Still another ballad)

4. Love Is A Wailing Thing - Gladys Patrick repeated!

5. I Don’t Miss You Anymore - Blenders ’53 (Ballad)

6. What You Don’t Know About Love - Billy Williams Quartet (Ballad here too)

7. Somebody Please - Gladys repeated again

8. Shanghai - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Great Uptempo) play

9. Lovely Lady (Lindy Lou) - flip of #1 (Good Latin Tempo)

10. You Made Me Love You - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Classic tune)

11. Better Come Back To Me - Crystals ’59 Metro (Rockin & Rollin) play

12. Fool That I Am - Solitaires ’64 (Another surprise! Solitaires and not on Old Town! Uptempo)

13. (It’s No) Sin - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Another great version of this Classic)

14. Fair Weather Lover - flip of #12 (Milton & lads still rockin’ on this side too!)

15. It’s Over - flip of #13 (Billy croonin’ another ballad)

16. Little Did I Dream - Twilighters ’55 (Another Sock Smokin’ Toe Curlin’ Temp Raisin’ Ballad)

17. Please Take Me Back - flip of #2 (Stay on the sofa! Still close and personal!)

18. Pretty Eyed Baby - flip of #10 (Jump & Jive to this one)

19. The Blues - Gladys Patrick ’55 (Blues Ballad)

20. That’s Where I Belong - flip of #11 (Pretty Ballad)

21. The Gaucho Serenade - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Uptempo)

22. If That’s The Way You Want It Baby - flip of #5 (Mid tempo easy swing)

23. Unchain My Heart - flip of #19 (Good Uptempo)

24. The Wondrous World - Billy Williams Quartet ’51 (Uptempo Gospel)

25. Gotta Get On The Train - flip of #16 (Rockin’ on out of this volume)

There are the tracks of volumes 1 through 3 of M-G-M Doo Wops. An excellent selection of material sure to please everyone’s tastes. Brand new series from late in 2001 & early 2002. Readily available at all Oldies Outlets. If you should run into a snag trying to locate these, please let me assist. Just drop me an E.

In Harmony:

Bruce (DooWop DJ)

ellupo@comcast.net