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 DooWopDJ's 
R&B and DooWop CD Reviews
 
Collectors Gold Series

HARPTONES

RE Music
Barcode: 6 54545 05952 0

Review first published: 21.10.2003

A New York City Vocal Group PERSONIFIED!! That is the Harptones.

Street corner harmony was the rage back in the early fifties on the streets of Harlem as well as throughout the city. From these corner groups emerged one of the best ever to put song to wax. The Harptones may have never had a recording chart, but their outputs are coveted by collectors, and have become NYC standards. Who could not fall into a trance listening to such wonders as “Sunday Kind Of Love” or even it’s flip side “I’ll Never Tell”. The Harptones were the MASTERS of the Ballad.

Willie Winfield lead tenor, Nicky Clark first tenor, Bill Dempsey second tenor, Bill “Dicey” Galloway baritone, Bill Brown bass & Raoul Cita on piano. Raoul Cita the main force behind this outstanding group. Excellent song writer and arranger, it was and still is, he that helped set the Harptones on a plateau of their own.

If you are not familiar with this wonderful vocal group, and this will be your first experience with their sounds, I know you will become as enthralled as the rest of us are when we here THE HARPTONES.

1. Sunday Kind Of Love – ’53 Bruce (depending on pressing $125 - $1500 for this Classic Ballad)

2. My Memories Of You – ’54 Bruce $150 (Another Super Fine Ballad)

3. Oobidee, Oobide Oo – ’54 Bruce (Can Swing to the Harptones also) play

4. Since I Fell For You – flip side of #3 (Another ballad done by many. None as good as these Harptones)

5. I Depended On You – ’54 Bruce (Gotta rub bellies to this one!)

6. Mambo Boogie – flip side of #5 (Latin beat no problem!! MAMBO)

7. I’ll Never Tell – flip side of #1 (My Personal Favorite by the Lads. KILLER BALLAD) play

8. High Flyin’ Baby – Released in ’61 on Bruce but recorded in ’55. (Had the Swing & Mambo. Now JUMP!!)

9. I Almost Lost My Mind – ’55 Bruce (Temp raiser here)

10. It Was Just For Laughs – Rocking flip side of #2

11. Loving A Girl Like You – Flip side of #8 (One more to keep ya snugglin’) play

12. What Is Your Decision – ’56 Andrea (Stay close! Gotta love these ballads)

13. Forever Mine – ’54 Bruce (Three great ballads in a row. One could get in trouble this way!!)

14. Oo Wee Baby – Latin tempo flip side of #9

15. Gimme Some – Rockin’ flip side to #12

16. Why Should I Love You – Uptempo flip side of #13

17. My Memories Of You – ’57 Tip Top (Remake of their ’54 endeavor)

18. Sunday Kind Of Love – The 78 RPM release of their ’53 Bruce recording.

There you have them. Eighteen sensational tracks by the Harptones.

A CD that you will more than welcome to your Oldies Library.

Brand new for 2003. Look for it, soon, at your favorite music emporiums.

In Harmony:

Bruce (DooWop DJ)

ellupo@comcast.net