The Ideals (1)   (Harrison, New Jersey)
aka The Ovations (1)
 

 Personnel :

Richard Kelly (Lead)

Mario Venancio (Baritone)

Gus Ottobre (First Tenor)

Paul Omeletski (Bass)

Discography :

1958 - Do I Have The Right / You Won't Like It (Cool 108)

Biography :

"Do I Have The Right" b/w "You Won't Like It" by The Ideals was recorded on the Cool Records label in 1958. The lead vocalist of the group was Richard Kelly .

  
                                                                                                The Ovations

The group decided on a name change and by 1961 were being called The Ovations, when they recorded the classic "Oh What A Day" aka "The Day We Fell In Love"



Songs:

   
Do I Have The Right                         You Won't Like It

...

The Shells (1) (Brooklyn, New-York )

Personnel :

Nathaniel "Little Nate" Bouknight (Lead)

Bobby Nurse (First Tenor)

Randy Shade Alston (Second Tenor)

Gus Geter (baritone)

Danny Small (Bass)


Discography :

Singles :
The Shells (1)
1957 - Baby oh Baby / Angel Eyes ((Johnson 104)
1958 - Slippin Soda / Pretty Little girl (End 1022/Gone 5103)
1958 - Pleading No More / Don't Say Goodbye (Johnson 106)
1959 - Whispering Wings / Shooma Dom Dom (End 1050)
1959 - The Thief / She Wasn't Meant For Me (Roulette 4156)
1960 - Baby Oh Baby / What's In An Angel's Eyes (Johnson 104)
1961 - Explain It To Me / An Island Unknown (Johnson 107/332)
1961 - Better Forget Him / Can't Take It (Johnson 109)
1961 - O-Mi Yum-Mi Yum-Mi / In The Dim Light Of The Dark (Johnson 110)
1961 - Baby Walk On In / Sweetest One (Johnson 112)
1962 - Deep In My Heart / (It's A) Happy Holiday (Johnson 119)
1962 - A Toast To Your Birthday / The Drive (Johnson 120)
1963 - On My Honor / My Royal Love (Johnson 127)
1963 - Our wedding day / Deep in my heart (Josie 912)
1970 - Oh What a night / Where or when (Boardwalk 17)
1975 - Will you miss me / I'm in the doghouse (Monogram 108)
1976 - If you were gone for me / Misty (Clifton 00)
1977 - On my honor / In the light of the dark (Clifton 22)

The Shells (1) (With Gene Holiday)
1963 - My heart runneth over / Scratch my name off the mail box (Johnson 125)

Little Nate & The Shells (1)
1977- Someone up there / Will you miss me(the Shells) (Clifton 21)

Roy jones & the Shells (1)
1960 - Satisfied / made for lovers (Swirl 101)

Unreleased :
N/A - My Cherie / Explain to me (Johnson 099)
N/A - When i'm blue / Whiplash (Conlo 879)

Lps :
1963 - The Dubs meet The Shells (Josie LP 4001)
Baby oh baby / Our wedding day /  What's In An Angel's Eyes /  Baby Walk On In / Sweetest One / Deep In My Heart

1966 -  Acappela Session with the Shells (Candlelite LP 1000)
Baby oh baby / Baby walk on in / Happy holiday / The way you do the things you do / The closer you are / Bad girl / I'm a happy man / Be sure my love / So fine / Outside looking in / Dream / If you were gone from me / Oh what a dream / Fine little girl / Life is but a dream / Oooo baby baby

Biography :

This US, Brooklyn-based R&B vocal group was formed in 1957. The Shells were noted for their typical New York doo-wop stylings, in which the use of a prominent bass, piercing falsetto, and strong vocal riffing in support of a romantic lead, made for one of the great folk acts of the 50s. The group cut their first record, "Baby Oh Baby", in 1957, which did little upon its release on the local Johnson label.

The Shells broke up, but the following year, lead Nathaniel "Little Nate" Bouknight formed a new ensemble, bringing in Bobby Nurse (first tenor), Shade Randy Alston (second tenor), Gus Geter (baritone), and Danny Small (bass). Subsequent records did nothing, but as a result of the resurgence of doo-wop on the charts in the early 60s owing to the promotion efforts of record collectors Wayne Stierle and Donn Fileti, the career of the Shells was far from dead.

Stierle and Fileti began promoting "Baby Oh Baby' in 1960 and were able to make it a Top 20 hit on the national pop charts (it went to number 11 on Cash Box"s R&B chart). The group re-formed and Stierle started acting as producer, coming out with some great sides, notably two excellent ones with new lead Ray Jones, "Happy Holiday" (1962) and "Deep In My Heart" (1962).

 In 1963, the Josie label paired the group together with the Dubs for half an LP, The Dubs Meet the Shells, a battle of the bands album in the tradition of The Paragons Meet the Jesters).However, the Shells failed to reach the charts and broke up. In 1966, Stierle reassembled the group for one last a cappella session using the four remaining members, without a lead.

Songs :

      
Baby Oh Baby                          Slippin Soda                   A Toast To Your Birthday

     
Angel Eyes                              Deep in my heart                       My Royal Love

     
(It's A) Happy Holiday      What's In An Angels Eyes        Our Wedding Day

     
Explain It To Me                     My Cherie                     Don't say Goodbye

...

The Blenders (5)  (Chicago)
aka The Candles (2)

Personnel :

Gail Mapp (Lead)

Harold Jones

Albert Hunter

Goldie Coates

Delores Johnson
 

Discography :

The Blenders (5)
1962 - Everybody's Got A Right / What have you got (Cortland 103)
1963 - Daughter / Everybody's Got A Right (Witch 114)

1963 - Boys think (Every girl's the same) / Squat And Squim (Witch 117)
1963 - One time / One time (Witch 122)
1966 - Love Is A Good Thing Going / Your Love Has Got Me Down (Mar-V-Lous 6010)

Baby Jane & The Blenders (5)
1963 - You Trimmed My Christmas Tree (Witch 112)

Goldie Coates & The Blenders (5)
1962 - Love Is A Treasure / Fisherman (Cortland 102)

The Candles (2)
1964 - Junior / Down Of My Knees (Starr brothers) (Nike 1016)

Biography :

Harold Jones and Albert Hunter had been members of an ad hoc group, the Maples on blue Lake. Harold Jones had also been with the Five Chances and Albert Hunter with the Clouds (1). They made the national charts, the pop charts no less, scoring with "Daughter".

A song penned by jones and led by Coates, which had the flavor of both soul and Doo wop. It lasted eight weeks on Billboard's pop chart in the summer of 1963, peaking at position sixty-one. Curiously, the record did not make the R&B charts. The Song also took the group to the Apollo Theatre. The group also recorded as the candles on the Nike Label.

Songs :

The Blenders (5)

     
Everybody's Got A Right              Daughter                         Boys think


Baby Jane & The Blenders (5)


You Trimmed My Christmas Tree


Goldie Coates & The Blenders (5)

  
 Fisherman                          Love Is A Treasure

 ......

The Four Esquires (Boston, Massachusetts)
aka The Esquires (1)

Personnel :

Bill Courtney

Frank Mahoney

Wally Gold

Bob Golden

Discography :

The Esquires (1)
1954 - If You Only Knew What A Three Cent Stamp Could Do / Now, Now, Now (Epic 9024)

The Four Esquires
1955 - Three Things / The Sphinx Won't Tell (Cadence 1260)
1955 - Adorable / Thunderbolt (Cadence 1277)
1956 - Follow Me / Summer Vacation (Pilgrim 717)
1956 - Look Homeward Angel / Santo Domingo (London 1652)
1957 - Song Of April / Everyone's Sweet On My Sugar (Paris 501)
1957 - The Chopstick Rock / Never Look For Love (Paris 505)
1957 - Love Me Forever/ I Ain't Been Right (Paris 509)
1958 - Always And Forever / I Walk Down The Street (Paris 512)
1958 - All Around The Clock / The Big Dance (Paris 515)
1958 - Hideaway / Repeat After Me (Paris 520)
1958 - Follow me / Land of you and me (Paris 526)
1959 - Lucky Old Sun / Non E Cosi (Paris 531)
1959 - Act Your Age / So Ends The Night (Paris 535)
1959 - Wonderful One / Wouldn't It Be Wonderful (Paris 539)
1960 - Make Them Mine / Peg O' My Heart (Paris 544)
1960 - Sweet Sixteen She'll Never Be / The Chopstick Rock (Paris 549)
1962 - Can't help falling in love / Merry-go-round of home (Terrace 7502)
1969 - My Heart Belongs To Only You / Momma Look Sharp (Columbia 44996)

Jack Gold & The Four Esquires
1954 - Ev'rything / A Kiss Should Mean We're Sweethearts (Cadence 1242)

Susan Capone & The Four Esquires
1956 - Click-I-Dee, Click-I-Dee / Maybe Someday (Pilgrim 718) 

Eps :

1956 - The Pajama game (Epic Ep 7056)
Steam Heat

Biography :

Bill Courtney (lead singer) and backing vocalists Walter Gold, Robert Golden and Frank Mahoney were students at the University of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, in the early 50s who harmonized for their own amusement to whatever instrumental accompaniment they could muster. They first performed locally under the name of The Esquires. It is under this name that they record their first singles "If You Only Knew What A Three Cent Stamp Could Do" b/w "Now, Now, Now "for Epic Records. They will add "four" in front of Esquires and will continue with this title throughout their career.

After three records on Cadence Records that go unnoticed, the group signs with Pilgrim. "Follow Me" b/w "Summer Vacation"  on Pilgrim Charted at #43 on Cash Box Top Singles chart in January 1957. Released in July 1956 so it took quite awhile to get to the Cash Box chart. Though popular locally, they waited until they were sufficiently schooled before becoming professional entertainers.

After London Records signed them in March 1956, "Look Homeward Angel" was a turntable hit, but it was eclipsed by Johnnie Ray's version. The group signs with Paris Records which will release a dozen singles. Their workmanlike "Love Me Forever' (augmented with a female session vocalist's obligato), was overshadowed by a US cover version by Eydie Gorme and one in Britain by Marion Ryan."Love Me Forever" Charted at #25 on Billboard Hot 100 in November 1957 and #23 on UK Singles chart. The Four Esquires had two other Billboard chart records, "Look Homeward Angel" (#55 in May 1956)  and "Hideaway" (#21 in September 1958).

While able to fill moderate-sized auditoriums and becoming a reliable support act in bigger venues, the Esquires clocked up no further chart entries and had disbanded by the early 60s.   In the 1960's Wally Gold co-wrote Elvis Presley's "Good Luck Charm" and "It's Now Or Never", Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" and Gene Pitney's "Half-Heaven, Half-Heartache." Later in the decade, he produced albums for Barbra Streisand, Jerry Vale, and Tony Bennett.

Songs :

(updated by Hans-Joachim)   

The Esquires (1)

If You Only Knew What A Three Cent Stamp Could Do / Now, Now, Now

The Four Esquires

     
Love Me Forever                     Follow me                   Look Homeward Angel

       
Hideaway                         The Land of You and Me          Always And Forever

     
The Chopstick Rock                   Steam Heat          Sweet Sixteen She'll Never Be

         
Wonderful One             I Ain't Been Right Since You Left             Non E Cosi

   
Three Things / The Sphinx Won't Tell     My Heart Belongs To Only You / Momma Look Sharp

....

The Aquatones (Queens, New-York)

Personnel :

Dave Goddard

Lynne Nixon

Larry Vannata

Gene McCarthy

Discography :

Singles :
1958 - You / She's the one for me (Fargo 1001)
1958 - Say you'll be mine / So fine (Fargo 1002)
1958 - Our first kiss / The drive-in (Fargo 1003)
1959 - My one desire / my Treasure (Fargo 1005)
1959 - My darling / For you, for you (Fargo 1111)
1959 - Every time / There's a long long trail (Fargo 1015)
1960 - Crazy for you / Wanted (A solid gold cadillac) (Fargo 1016)
1962 - My treasure / Say you'll be mine (Fargo 1022)

Lps :
1959 - The Aquatones Sing (Fargo LP 3001)
You / She's the One for Me / My Darling / So Fine / Say You'll Be Mine / Everytime / My Treasure / My One Desire / Light Up the Sky / Wanted (A Solid Gold Cadillac) / Our First Kiss / For You, For You

Biography :

The Aquatones were formed as "The Rhythm Kings" in September 1956. The original members were Dave Goddard, Larry Vannata, and Gene McCarthy. They got together to record a song written by Dave for their junior class play at Valley Stream Central High School on Long Island.

All of them played instruments as well as sang – Gene on clarinet and tenor sax, Larry on alto and tenor sax, Dave on piano. They added a drummer – their friend Bob Boden – to perform their music live. They were never a dance band – all of their songs were original, and they hoped to be "discovered" and become recording stars.

They played some of their home recordings for a classmate's father, a record distributor, and he suggested that they needed a high voice in the group. Shortly thereafter, Larry met Lynne Nixon at a dance, found out that she sang, and asked Gene and Dave to give her an audition. They agreed and were happy to hear Lynne's beautiful voice. At first, she sang only backgrounds, until Larry wrote the song "You" for her to sing.

After changing their name to the Aquatones – so the guys could wear a "cool" shirt from the 1950s (aqua with a black velvet "V" down the front) as a uniform – the group continued their efforts to land a recording contract. In November 1957 they appeared in a talent show in the neighboring town of Malverne, NY. At that show, they were heard by Lou Fargo, a local realtor who wanted to get into the music business – and Fargo asked them the question they'd been waiting to hear:

"How'd you like to make a record?"

Fargo was interested in working with a vocal group, so Bob, the non-singing drummer, left. The group's very first release, in January of 1958, was the ballad "You", with the rocker "She's The One For Me" on the flip side. Helped by airplay on American Bandstand, "You" soon hit the Top 40 charts all over the country.

It reached #7 in New York, #1 in Boston, and #21 on the Billboard national pop charts. After "You", the Aquatones released 6 more singles, but none of them made the charts. Their last single, "Crazy For You" b/w "Wanted (A Solid Gold Cadillac)" was released in July 1961.

After that, the Aquatones went their separate ways. Lynne stayed on Long Island, Larry moved to New Hampshire, Gene moved to the midwest and then to Atlanta, and Dave moved to California, Ohio, and finally Kentucky. Most important, Lynne stopped singing. Though the group members remained friends and stayed in touch, it was difficult to get together to perform – and without Lynne, they were missing the "sound" for which they were known.

http://thebigbeat.50megs.com/TheAquatones.htm
http://www.aquatones.us
http://www.destinationdoowop.com/aquatones.htm
http://www.colorradio.com/Aquatones.htm
http://www.doowopy.de/old/02page/A/eAquatones.html

Songs :

     
You                             She's the one for me                   Say you'll be mine

     
So fine                         Our first kiss                                The Drive-in

     
My one desire                       My treasure                         Every time

     
There's a long long trail            Crazy for you         Wanted (A solid gold cadillac)

     
My darling                          For you, for you                     Light Up the Sky

 

...