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Walking & Singing
The Blues
Lil Greenwood
A little Alabama girl makes it on the West Coast. From a poor Minister’s family in Pritchard, Alabama, Lillian began her singing career, naturally in the Gospel.
However, her love for the secular Blues and Rhythm & Blues found her in the San Francisco area in 1949. Singing in the local clubs, Lillian was signed to a recording contract with Los Angeles’ Modern Records. Lillian recorded o ...
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Dazzling
Group Sounds
Vol. 2
Here it is! Released late in 2002, the second in the Dazzling Group Sounds series.
As in the first volume, a good mix of early Rhythm & Blues vocal groups all the way through the era, into the 70’s. Just about all styles of Vocal Group Harmony are reflected in these twenty-six (26) tracks. One fantastic mix. I believe you will agree.
Let’s see what is offered! ...
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Vocal Groups
COMBO RECORDS
Volume 3
Well here it is. Volume #3 of the series on this super West Coast Record Label.
As in the previous two volumes, Ace Records gives us twenty-eight (28) more from the vaults of Jake Porter’s Combo Records. Thirteen (13) of these tracks are of released material, while the remaining fifteen (15) come from unreleased master tapes.
Even have two sides on here by an unknown group. Sure would li ...
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DAZZLING
GROUP SOUNDS
Vol 3
Brand new for 2003, volume #3 of Dazzling Group Sounds will prove as enjoyable as the first two in the series. Twenty-six (26) tracks of Vocal Group gems in all tempos.
Songs from the early 50’s to the early 60’s. Even a couple that you just won’t find listed anywhere. I found this volume to be pure entertainment. I know you will also.
Let’s take a gander at what’s in store on this disc. ...
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Clifton Records Presents
Barbara English
&
THE CLICKETTES
“Because Of My Best Friend”
The year is 1957. The place Manhattan in New York City. Vocal Group Rock & Roll recordings are filling the airwaves. This is the inducement of a group of High School girls to form and try to emulate the sounds by hitting their own notes.
Barbara Jean English, Sylvia Hammond, Roberta Alloway, Trudy & Charlotte McCartney honed their styles and harmonies to the point that their demos were heard a ...
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The DOT Records
DOO WOPS
Volumes 4 – 7
Here are four more CD’s in the series of Los Angeles’ Dot Records. A powerhouse in all genres of music. These, as the first three, deal with the many vocal group recordings that emanated from the vaults of Dot.
Dot Records formed in Gallatin, Tennessee back in 1949. Wasn’t until 1956 when the company moved it’s location to Los Angeles and became part of Paramont Studios did it become the major s ...
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The KIDDIE Sound
“So Young”
Rare and Unreleased
Volumes 1 – 3
Had to happen!! Well it has!! Here is the series that is long overdue.
Ever since 1956 when 12 year old Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers broke onto the Airwaves with “Why Do Fools Fall In Love”, the kiddie lead songs were sure to follow. Follow they did! This series is dedicated to the numerous recordings featuring the young teenage lead who may or may not have reached the maturity of puberty.
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The KIDDIE SOUND
“So Young”
Rare and Unreleased
Volumes 4 & 5
Well as promised, here are volumes 4 and 5 of The Kiddie Sound series.
Sixty-two (62) more of the young teenage leads. A sound of the cities that filled the airways in the mid 50’s thru the 60’s and beyond.
As memtioned in the previous reviews of volumes 1 through 3, the first track on each CD is a tribute to the leader of the Kiddie lead sounds. “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” as done by oth ...
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THE KIDDIE SOUND
SO YOUNG
The Best Of The Rest
Volumes 6 & 7
Here are volumes 6 and 7 of The Kiddie Sound series. Sixty (60) more of the young teenage leads. A sound of the cities that filled the airways in the mid 50’s thru the 60’s and beyond. Some of these recordings will be familiar to you, but many should be brand new to your ears. A good mix of ballads and uptempo gems with the distinct sound of the KIDDIE Lead.
So! Let’s see what the final two ...
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“HEART’S DESIRE”
FIVE BOROUGHS
You can take the man out of New York City, but you CAN’T take New York City out of the man. Seems this is definitely a truism.
The Five Boroughs prove that. Here is a group formed in the 80’s down in South Florida.
The Miami area is home to many retired Northerners. So what do these retirees and transplants do for fun? Well they don’t quite gather on the street corners but they do gather to ...
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The Best Of HOLLYWOOD RECORDS Volumes 1 – 3
Here they are! Three CD’s encompassing the great Rhythm & Blues, Blues and Vocal Groups of Don Pierce’s Hollywood Records. Formed in Los Angeles in 1950, Hollywood Records released many great West Coast sides. I am guessing that the majority on these tracks will be new to the ears of many of you. Why? Because of limited distribution leaving many of these sides west of the Mississippi River. S ...
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DOO WOP
Coast to Coast
And Everything In Between
Volumes 2 & 3
First off, I want to apologize for the delay in the review of Volume #2. Somehow I overlooked this CD when I received it late in 2002. So I will remedy that situation along with reviewing Volume #3.
As with the first Volume in the series, the title says it all. Vocal group gems originating from cites coast to coast. Los Angeles, New York, Wash D.C., Cincinnatti and studios throughout Unit ...
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The Best Of SOUND /
The Best Of TEEN Records
Why two separate labels in one review? Cause Sound Records became Teen Records.
Originating in 1954 Sound Records of Philadelphia put out a good mixture of R&B and Vocal Group recordings into 1956. From late ‘55 into 1959 the name overlapped Sound to Teen Records. Many of the artists and groups will be showcased on both CD’s.
Look forward to hearing some great sounds on both Sound & Teen Rec ...
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The Best Of UNART Records
Began in 1958 Unart Records, as subsidiary of United Artists. For just two short years, 1958 & 1959 Unart gave us some great Vocal Group recordings. Many recorded just for Unart others leased or purchased from smaller labels to enable the whole record buying public access to these great sounds.
Thirty of these recordings are encompassed in this CD. Many should be familiar to you whereas ot ...
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DOOTSIE’S DISCOVERIES
We have a great deal to thank Walter “Dootsie” Williams for. His Dootone Records formed in 1951 in Los Angeles, Ca, and his later Dooto label, brought us some great vocal groups and some fantastic recordings. This CD deals with those groups after they left the tutelage and guidance of Dootsie.
On these twenty-seven tracks we will hear what groups like the Meadowlarks, Penguins, Calvanes an ...
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The Best Of
DREXEL
RECORDS
Out of Chicago, Ill comes this short lived label. In existence from 1954 into early 1958, Drexel Records put out some fine, fine Rhythm & Blues and Vocal Group recordings. Though not nearly as large as Vee Jay, Drexel Records’ outputs produced just as well. I think you will agree after hearing the twenty-nine tracks offered on this CD.
Let’s listen now to the Gems, Bobby Elvin, Roy Wrig ...
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The Best Of
GEM RECORDS
1953 and 1954 were the two short years of existence for New York City’s Gem Records. Two short years but lots of activity for the Rhythm & Blues and Vocal Group treasure chests. Not only NYC talent, looks like the trek to record was made by others also. Washington D. C. groups are represented on this disc as well.
So prepare yourselves for some outstanding Vocal Group, solo’s and even an i ...
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LOST & FORGOTTEN
Volume 1
Another compilation series starts. A Potpourri Vocal Group recordings. A mix of a few uptempos and many ballads that should please everyone. There are even a few on here that I can find no references to. Hopefully, you, my readers will be able to fill in my blanks.
There are twenty-four tracks of 1950’s & 1960’s Vocal Group recordings. So let’s see what this collector has in store for us. ...
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The Best Of
WANGER RECORDS
Let’s cross the Hudson river for this CD. Wanger Records and it’s sister labels Bergen and C&M started in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1958. Another of those short lived labels. Wanger/C&M existed 1958 & 1959. However, within those two years many a fine Vocal Group recording was to enter the lives of the Tri-State teens (New York, New Jersey & Pennsylvania), and some even to go national.
T ...
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UNTIED ARTISTS
DOO-WOP
Volumes 1 & 2
I’m sure glad they decided to UNTIE these Vocal Groups!
So proofing one’s art work is not a high priority!! Untied naturally should have been UNITED!! Well it is United Artists on the CD’s themselves.
In any event Volumes 1 & 2 are the first of a four CD series on the Vocal Groups of the United Artists and subsidiary Unart Records. Formed in New York City in 1956, United Artists not only ...
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UNTIED ARTISTS
DOO-WOP
Volumes 3 & 4
Continuing on with there UNTIED United Artists Vocal Group recordings.
Well we rocked and rolled with the first two volumes in this series. Let’s see what volumes 3 & 4 have to offer. ...
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DAZZLING
GROUP SOUNDS
Volume #4
The series continues! Here is volume #4 of the Dazzling Group Sounds that was started back in October of 2002. Has been since February of 2003 since another volume has been produced. It is finally here. As in the first three volumes, a good mix of uptempo & sensational ballads from the early 50’s thru the mid 60’s await you on these twenty-six (26) tracks. I believe you will be truly satisfie ...
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THE LAMP
RECORDS STORY
Volumes 1 & 2
Lamp Records of Beverley Hills, California was formed in 1953/54 as a subsidiary of Los Angeles’ Aladdin Records. For the few short years of it’s existence, only into 1958, the Lamp label was a good outlet for Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Gospel and of course Vocal Group Harmony.
With these two volumes, fifty-one (51) recordings are showcased. A variety of single artists and groups with their own st ...
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THE RAVENS
Birds Of A Feather
The Ravens!! Wow what a FANTASIC Vocal Group. I am sure all of you are familiar with
This SENSATIONSAL Pioneer Group of Rhythm & Blues.
The Ravens formed in Harlem, New York City in 1945. The idea of two waiters! Jimmy Ricks the SUPER bass and baritone Warren “Birdland” Suttles. Along with second tenor Leonard Puzey and first tenor/lead Ollie Jones (Later with the Cues), the Ravens we ...
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Collectors Gold Series
HARPTONES
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 ...
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RAREST Of The RARE
Volume #9
Here is volume #9 of the series that started way back in 1998.
A cd with twenty-seven (27) tracks of definitely rare and rarely played material.
Don’t know from whose collection these gems are from, but I am glad to have them.
A mixed bag of single artists with unnamed groups as well as some familiar group names await you here. Some of these recordings I could find no info at all on. ...
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The
BOW & ARROW
Records Story
Thirty tracks (30) await you here from Arrow Records and it’s subsidiary
Bow Records. Formed in 1957 in Bridgeport, Conn, Arrow had a&r men and offices not only in Bridgeport, but in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Hartford and New York.
For their short lived duration, 1957 – 1959, Arrow & Bow put out some really super Rhythm & Blues and Vocal Group recordings.
I believe you will ...
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DAZZLING
GROUP SOUNDS
Volume # 5
Another in the series! Here is volume #5 of the Dazzling Group Sounds that was started back in October of 2002. As in the first four volumes, a good mix sensational ballads from the early 50’s thru the mid 60’s with a few uptempos await you on these twenty-six (26) tracks. Even one fitting the season. A Halloween track included as well. ...
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LOST & FORGOTTEN
Volume #2
Here is another twenty-four tracks of rarely if ever played Vocal Group recordings.
As in volume #1, we have a good mixture of tempos and styles. Recordings from the 50’s into the later 60’s. A good mix of tunes that is sure to please all of you.
In this volume as in the first, there are a couple of tracks I could find no info on.
Hopefully, you my readers, will be able to furnish this missin ...
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