Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues

The Cookies aka The Palisades (4) aka The Stepping Stones aka The Cinderellas (3) aka The Honey Bees (2)

Posted on April 28 2010 by dion1

The Cookies (Brooklyn, New-York)
aka The Palisades (4)
aka The Stepping Stones
aka The Cinderellas (3)
aka The Honey Bees (2)

Personnel :

Dorothy Jones

Darlene McCrea

Beulah Robertson

Discography :

Singles :

The Cookies
1954 - Don't Let Go "Hold Me Hold Me" / All Night Mambo (Lamp 8008) 
1955 - Later Later / Precious Love ( Atlantic 1061) 
1956 - In Paradise / Precious Love (Atlantic 1084/2079) 
1956 - Down By The River / My Lover (Atlantic 1110)
1957 - King Of Hearts / Happy Dippy Daddy (Josie 882) 
1962 - Chains / Stranger In My Arms (Dimension 1002 / L.A.R 45-HLU 9634) 
1963 - Don't Say Nothin' Bad / Softly In The Night (Dimension 1008)
1963 - Will Power / I Want A Boy For My Birthday (Dimension 1012)
1963 - Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys / Only To Other People (Dimension 1020) 
1964 - I Never Dreamed / The Old Crowd (Dimension 1032) 
1967 - Wounded / All My Trials (Warner Bros 7025)
1967 - Mr. Cupid / Hang My Head And Cry (Warner Bros 7041)

Ray Charles & The Cookies
1958 - Yes Indeed / I Had A Dream (Atlantic 1180)

The Palisades (4)
1963 - Make The Night A Little Longer / Heaven Is Being With You (Chairman 4401)

The Stepping Stones
1963 - I Got My Job Through The New York Times / The Nearness Of You (Philips 40108)

The Cinderellas (3)
1964 - Please Don't Wake Me / Baby, Baby Still Love You (Dimension 1026)

The Honey Bees (2)
1964 - One Wonderful Night / She Don't Deserve You (Fontana 1939)
1965 - Some Of Your Lovin' / You Turn Me On Boy (Fontana 1505)
1965 - I'm His Girl (Fontana) (Unreleased)

Lps :
1963 - The Dimension Dolls (Dimension LP 6001)
Foolish Little Girl / On Broadway / Don't Say Nothin' Bad

Biography :

The Cookies started out as a backup vocal trio in 1954 with Dorothy Jones, Darlene McCrea, and Beulah Robertson.

With Jesse Stone of Atlantic Records

They Recorded for Lamp Records in 1954. Together they became the Cookies making their debut at The Apollo Theatre on Amateur Night, winning the contest. There they were spotted by an Jesse Stone of Atlantic Records, who brought them to the label for vocal sessions in 1955.

They recorded three sessions under the Cookie name and had a Top Ten R&B hit with "In Paradise" in 1956. There, they did back-ups for many singers on the Atlantic roster, including LaVern Baker, Ruth Brown and Ray Charles. They also backed Joe Turner and Chuck Willis on their hit recordings in 1956.

It was during their time at Atlantic that Neil Sedaka found them, used them on some of his early RCA hits, and later recommended them to Carole King for backup work on Tony Orlando's recordings. While working on one of Orlando's sessions, Don Kirshner heard them improvising around the piano and asked them to record for Aldon.

With Neil Sedaka

When Darlene and Margie left to join Ray Charles' backing group the Raelettes in 1958, Darlene's younger sister Earl-Jean joined along with Margaret Ross. It was this trio that found itself in New York working with Carole King during the early 1960s. The Cookies are Dorothy Jones, Margaret Ross and Earl-Jean McCrea. Almost six years later, this new trio emerged as the Cookies on Dimension.

The Raelettes

They became staples on most Aldon sponsored sessions, doing backup vocals for Neil Sedaka, little Eva, and Carol King, while having two Top Ten R&B, and one Top Twenty pop hit in 1962 ("Chains") and 1963. "Don't Say Nothing Bad (About My Baby)' was their biggest, reaching number three R&B (number seven pop) in 1963.

"Girls Grow Up Faster Than Boys" was their last chart hit reaching a respectable number thirty-three in November 1963 as the British Invasion brought their success to an end. The Cookies also released several recordings under pseudonyms, mostly with Margaret Ross on lead.

Their alter egos on recordings were The Palisades (Chairman), The Stepping Stones (Philips), The Cinderellas (Dimension) and The Honey Bees (Fontana 1939 only) In late 1966 the Cookies signed with Warner Brothers. In April 1967 they released their last record. And as they say that's how the Cookies crumbled.

http://home.earthlink.net/~v1tiger/cookies.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/cookies.htm

...

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The Desires (1)

Posted on April 25 2010 by dion1

The Desires (1) (New-York)

Personnel :

Robert "Bootsie" White (Lead)

Charles Hurston (First Tenor)

Jim Whittier (Tenor)

George "Smithy" Smith (Baritone)

Charles Powell (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1959 - Let It Please You / Hey, Lena (Hull 730)
1960 - I Wanna Rendezvous With You / Set Me Free (My Darling) (Hull 733)

Unreleased:
N/A - Me And You (Hull)
N/A - Coast Of Red (Hull)
N/A - A Talk To Mother (Hull)
N/A - I Love Paris (Hull)
N/A - Sidewalks Of New York (Hull)
N/A - So Close To An Angel (Hull)

Biography :

The Desires were a doo wop group of the late '50s who brought a high degree of vocal professionalism to the marketplace in their short career. They met at the 118th Street Youth Center in New York City and originally called themselves the Students. The membership came from three separate area high schools and consisted of Robert "Bootsie" White (lead from Cooper High School), Charles Hurston (tenor, Herrod High), George "Smithy" Smith (baritone. Herrod High), Charles Powell (bass, Franklin High), and Jim Whittier (tenor from Rochester, New York and former member of the Jivetones on Apt) They changed their name upon hearing of the other Students ("I'm So Young") and began a rigorous schedule of rehearsals to sharpen their sound.

James Dailey & the Bobettes

Unlike many street groups of New York, the Desires worked with a vocal coach, Eddie Jones, formerly of the Demens on Teenage and the Emersons on Newport. In 1959 the group attracted the attention of BOBBETTES manager James Dailey, and it was he who took the youngsters to Hull Records with several demos of songs they'd Written.Their first release was a solid New York-style ballad, "Let It Please Be You," with Bootsie singing his Frankie Lymon-like heart out. espite its weak national showing, it was a song destined to become an East Coast favorite and a part of almost every '60s doo wop group's repertoire.

(Left to right) Jim Whittier, Charles Hurston, Charles Powell, George Smith - Bottom Robert White

The uptempo B side, "Hey Lena," also showcased their strong harmonies and a sound reminiscent of the TEENAGERS. Taking advantage of regional radio reactionto "Let It Please Be You," the Desires played such swank venues as Bellevue Hospital (home of THE BONNIE Sisters) in New York and Jocko's Rollerskating Rink in New Jersey while traveling up and down the East Coast performing with The Paragon, the Jestaers, and the Kodaks, among others.

The Chiffons

The group had their very own fan club of which Patricia Bennett. Judy Craig, and Barbara Lee were active members, shouting support at every local Desires performances. Those three girls and Sylvia Peterson later went on to become THE CHIFFONS. The Desires' second 45, "Rendezvous with You," was released in 1960 and received somewhat less response than their previous effort. Still, its New York play earned them a spot on Murray the K's Brooklyn Fox show. A bad management decision kept the group from making a deal with Scepter, and when their third single went unreleased by Hull, the Desires' recording career was over.

Songs :


Hey Lena                                  I Wanna Rendezvous With You


Set Me Free                          Let It Please Be You

.....

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Vito & the Salutations

Posted on April 24 2010 by dion1

Vito & the Salutations (Brooklyn, New-York)

Personnel :

Vito Balsamo (Lead)

Randy Silverman (Lead / First Tenor)

Shelly Buchansky (First / Second Tenor)

Lenny Citrin (Baritone)

Frankie Fox (Bass)

Discography :

Singles:
1962 - Gloria / Let's Untwist The Twist (Rayna 5009/Red Boy 5009)
1962 - Your Way / hey, Hey baby (Kram 1202/5002)
1963 - Unchained Melody / Hey, Hey Baby (Herald 583)
1963 - Extraordinary Girl / Eenie Meenie (Herald 586)
1964 - Liverpool Bound / Can I Depend On You (Wells 1008)
1964 - Don't Count On Me / Day O (Wells 1010)
1964 - Girls I Know / Get a Job (Regina 1320)
1965 - Walkin' / High Noon (Apt 25079)
1966 - Bring Back Yesterday / I Want You To Be My Baby (Boom 60020)
1966 - So Wonderful (My Love) / I'd Best Be Going (Red boy 1001/Sandbag 103)
1966 - Can I Depend On You / Hello Dolly (Rust 5106)

Unreleased:
1961 - I Look At The Moon
1962 - Keep A Light In The Window (Rayna)
1962 - Be My Girlfriend (Kram)

Biography :

The Salutations were originally a group from the Brownsville and Canarsie sections of Brooklyn who became known for reviving standards in a most unorthodox way. Sometime in 1961, Bob De Pallo, Barry Solomon, and a long-since-forgotten third harmonizer were heard singing in a New York subway station (the Big Apple's stations are known for their natural echo-and not much else). The lady who listened was one Linda Scott, who recommended the singers to producer Dave Rick.

Dave was holding auditions in three days and invited them down, putting Bob and Barry in the position of having to quickly put together a real group. Bob's younger brother played him a demo by neighborhood 14-year-old Vito Balsamo, and De Pallo tracked the teen to P. S. 230 to offer him the lead singing spot. Vito agreed and brought along baritone Bobby Mitchell. The group rehearsed with one day left and instantly became Vito and the Salutations after the line in disc jockey "Jocko" Henderson's nightly opening patter, "Greeting and salutations, ooh-pooh-pa-doo."

On the day of the audition, they were the last of 20 acts to perform for Dave Rick, but they caught his ear with a version of THE CRESTS' "My Juanita." In December 1961 the group went into ODO Studios and recorded several songs. One of them came from a last-minute suggestion by Big Top Records exec David Mook, who heard the group warming up with the CADILLACS classic "Gloria" and recommended they cut it.

It became their first single in February 1962 and was a big New York favorite even though the Passions had cut a ballad version of it only a year before. The label issuing "Gloria," Rayna Records, had no real distribution or marketing capability beyond New York and the boys soon became disenchanted with them. Group members De Pallo, Solomon, and Mitchell departed. Vito then built a new and improved Salutations with Randy Silverman (lead and first tenor), Shelly Buchansky (first and second tenor) Lenny Citrin (baritone), and Frankie Fox (bass).

The Salutations could usually be found harmonizing in the bathroom of their school, Jefferson High. At the time they were heavily influenced by the black groups of the mid- and late '50s like The Heartbeats, the Cadillacs, The Flamingos, and The Moonglows, so it was no surprise that songs by these groups (such as "Gloria') would become a staple of their repertoire. Dave Rick took them to another tiny label, Kram, for a single on the Heartbeats gem "Your Way" became an instant collectible.

In 1963 Rick took the boys to Al Silver's Herald Records, a label with proven power among indies. The group then decided to rearrange the oldies they were doing in a more attention-getting manner. The standard "Unchained Melody" received a Salutations triple-time treatment with exaggerated bass and falsetto parts that could have been forerunners of The Four seasons' pseudonymous group the Wonder Who ("Don't Think Twice," Philips, 1965).

In the summer, "Unchained Melody" hit the airwaves and went top 10 in many cities. The rapid fire bass solo in the bridge and a modulation were just two of the record's many vocal gimmicks, and on October 26, 1963, "Unchained" charted nationally, rising to number 66.

Vito & the Salutations

A similarly styled original called "Extraordinary Girl" followed in early 1964 and airplay was instantaneous. Unfortunately, Herald was on the verge of folding and could not promote it.
The next stop was Wells Records, where the quintet tried unsuccessfully to ride along with the British invasion with "Liverpool Bound" and then followed with a wild reworking of Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat (Day-0 )," both arranged by Norm Bergen (who later arranged many of the Dawn hits).

Thanks mainly to "Unchained Melody," the group worked steadily in nightclubs and did a few Murray the K shows and Clay Cole and Dick Clark TVers. They performed with Marvin Gaye, Dionne Warwick, Jay and the Americans, The Tokens, and The Ronettes. A 1962 appearance at Harlem's Roosevelt Theatre had them backed by a young blind guitarist named Jose Feliciano.

Releases on Regina ("Get a Job," THE SILHOUETTES), Apt ("High Noon," a radical reworking of the western movie title song), and Red Boy ("So Wonderful," a blues ballad) did little and brought them up to their last single on Rust, a hilarious harmony-filled version of "Hello Dolly" that would have had Louis Armstrong gasping for breath to keep up. The group disbanded around 1965. Vito joined the Kelloggs, who sang on a morning TV show in Philadelphia and had a 1969 single on Laurie called "Snap, Crackle and Pop."
Jay Warner (American singing groups: a history from 1940s to today)
http://www.colorradio.com/Vito_And_The_Salutations.html
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/vito-the-salutations-mn0000221347
http://www.45cat.com/artist/vito-and-the-salutations

Movie :

1963 - Unchained Melody (and interview)

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Hello Dolly                            Unchained Melody                Gloria


Extraordinary Girl                  Keep A Light In The Window     Let's Untwist The Twist

Hey, Hey Baby      Eenie Meenie         Liverpool Bound

Don't Count On Me Walkin' I Want You To Be My Baby

So Wonderful I'd Best Be Going Can I Depend On You

Be My Girlfriend       I Look At The Moon            Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)


Girls I Know         Get A Job                        High Noon


Bring Back Yesterday                        Your Way

.....

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The Crystalaires

Posted on April 23 2010 by dion1

The Crystalaires (Lancaster, PA)

Personnel :

Charles Simms (Lead)

Ralph Edward Speller (Lead)

Lawrence Speller

Robert Ray

Eugene Wilson

Discography :

1959 - Nobody Nowhere / Henry Said Goodbye (Sound Souvenir 1/2)

Biography :

The Crystalaires were a group from Lancaster, PA and were the hottest act in town back in 1959. On May 25, 1959, while coming home from a gig in Reading, PA, they were involved in a serious car accident that claimed the lives of 4 members of the group. Earlier that evening they were informed by their manager that King Records, out of Cincinnati, OH, offered them a record deal and wanted them to come to Chicago to re-cut "Nobody Nowhere" for national release.

In July of 1960, Stan Selfon, of Stan's Record Bar in Lancaster, released the 2nd version of the tune (complete with bad splices in the master tape), on Sound Souvenir No.1. The photo is not the original group, but the reformed Crystalaires (after the accident). Only 2 members in this photo are the originals.  (Daddy C on Youtube)

Songs :


Nobody Nowhere                              Henry Said Goodbye

...

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N

Posted on April 22 2010 by dion1

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The Donnybrooks

Posted on April 21 2010 by dion1

The Donnybrooks (Cannonsburg,PA)

Personnel :

Robert Korbert aka Bobby Shawn

Ken Paige

Frank Trebel

John Alterio

Discography :

1959 - Everytime We Kiss / Break The Glass (Calico 108)
1959 - Coming Home From The School / Mandolins Of Love (Calico 112)

Biography :

"The Donnybrooks" vocal quartet began their singing career when they performed at an 8th grade graduation ceremony at the Third Ward School in the talented Western Pennsylvania town of Canonsburg. They continued their singing career throughout their high schools years. Originally known as "the Phaetons" and then "the Four Pals", they performed at many dance venues around the Canonsburg and Pittsburgh area from Wheeling, Stuebenville, Washington, Carnegie, Bridgeville, McDonald, Uniontown, and Brownsville, to Sewickley, New Kensington, Wilkinsburg, and others. The group went through some minor changes in personell in it's very early times but the members, John Alterio, Ken Paige, Bob Kobert (aka Bobby Shawn) and Frank Trebel quickly developed into a strong musical group and they continued their musical career for several years.

with Art Pallan...KDKA Disk Jockey

Their singing style showed the influence of such pop groups as "the Four Lads", "the Four Aces", "the Mills Brothers", and other vocal groups of the 50's, but they had a unique mellow sound that drew fans from many ages to their music. They sang their own arrangements and versions of pop singles of the time but they were always done with a distinct original twist of their own. Their singing talent leads to Calico Records. The "Wilkins Amature Hour" was a popular talent showcase television program that was aired on KDKA TV in Pittsburgh on Sunday nights during the 1950's. The group appeared on that program "live" on two separate occasions.

The Donnybrooks

Althought they never won the $50 weekly prize (they were beat out both times by tap dancers) the group continued to perform and grow in their professionalism and singing style. In early 1958 "the Four Pals" won a talent search contest that was sponsored by KDKA Radio and Westinghouse Broadcasting. Along with establishing a strong contact with KDKA Radio and their disk jockies this competition win lead to a recording contract with the Pittsburgh based Calico Records. One of the Calico Record Company owners was Bill Lawrence, a prominent record distributor for the Mid Atlantic region. He took the group under his wing as their manager and gave them a name that he always thought would be catchy and easy to remember. Under their new name, "The Donnybrooks", they launched a new career phase and recorded their first release, "Every Time We Kiss" in the spring of 1958.

This song was written by the Canonsburg song writer and educator, Lou Popiolkowski. To the group's delight the record did well and it broke into Bilboard Magazine's TOP 100 in the summer months of '58 . With their record in the top 100 in the country, Calico Records decided to sponsor the group on a promotional tour of the East Coast United States where they appeared on TV dance programs in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC. They continued their local appearances in the Pittsburgh area including the teen dance programs on KDKA TV with Clark Race, WIIC with Bill Cardill and WTAE TV. They also were booked in to some of the more prominent private clubs of the Pittsburgh area, the night clubs along Route 51 as well as appearing with the Dick Clark Cavalcade of Stars, at the West View Park dance arena, and Kennywood Park's outdoor amphitheater.

with Art Pallan...KDKA Disk Jockey

The second record, "Coming Home From School" was released later in 1958. This also was written by Lou Popiolkowski and the flip side, "Mandolins of Love" was written by another Canonsburg song writer, Tony Ambrose. As the DooWop era of the late 1950's began to develope, Calico Records went through a financial and personell reorganization and "the Donnybrooks" were left without a recording company. Their performances continued at area night clubs and private parties in and around the greater Pittsburgh Area until in 1960 the group separated to pursue college and other careers. They have frequently reunited to the joy of their fans and on occasions have been invited to performed their music at reunions, private functions and night clubs and they have made several guest appearances at the Canonsburg 4th of July celebration. In 2007 the group was honored and enshrined at the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in Sharon PA.
http://bobbyshawn.blogspot.com/2008_08_10_archive.html

Songs :

Everytime We Kiss Break The Glass

Coming Home From The School Mandolins Of Love

...

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T

Posted on April 9 2010 by dion1

T

*T-BIRDS (1)
*TABS (1)
*TABS (2)
*TADS
*TALKABOUTS
*TAMMYS
*TAMS (1)
TAMS (2)
*TANGIERS (1)
*TANGIERS (2)
*TASSELS
*TEAMATES (3)
*TEAR DROPS
TEARDROPS (1)
TEARDROPS (7)
*TECHNIQUES
*TECHNICS (TONY & THE )
*TEDDY BEARS
*TEEN-CLEFS
*TEEN DREAMS
*TEENETTES (3)
*TEEN-KINGS
*TEEN QUEENS
*TEEN TONES (1)
*TEEN TRIO
TEENAGERS
*TEENAGERS (FRANKIE LYMON & THE)
*TEENANGELS (2)
*TEENCHORDS (LEWIS LYMON & THE)
*TEENOS
*TEMPESTS (2) (EDDY MORRIS & THE)
*TEMPOS (1)
*TEMPO-TONES
*TEMPO TOPPERS
*TEMPTATIONS (1)
*TEMPTATIONS (3)
*TENDERFOOTS
THORNTON SISTERS
*THREE CHUCKLES
*THREE DOTS (1)
*THREE D'S
*THREE FRIENDS (1)
*THREE G'S
*TRI-LADS
*THREE SHARPES
*THREETEENS
*THREE TWINS
*THREE VALES
*THRILLERS (2) (LITTLE JOE & THE)
*THUNDERBIRDS (4) (BILLY FORD & THE)
THUNDERBOLTS
*TIDES (2)
*TIFANOS
*TIFFANYS (1)
*TIMETONES
*TITANS
TOKENS (2)
*TOKENS (3) (JOHNNY & THE)
*TONES (2)
TONETTES (1)
TONETTES (1) (VINCE CASTRO & THE)
*TONETTES (2)
TOPPERS (2) (BOBBY MITCHELL & THE)
TOPPERS (4)
*TOPPERS (6)
*TOPS (LITTLE JIMMY & THE)
*TORCHES
TORNADOS (1)
*TOWNSMEN (2)
*TOWSMEN (4)
*TRADEWINDS (1)
*TRADEWINDS (4)
*TRAINS
*TRANQUILS
*TRASHERS
*TRAVELERS (2)
*TRAVELERS (3)
TRAVELERS (4) (ROGER & THE)
*TREMONTS (1)
*TREN-DELLS
*TREND-TONES
*TREYS (WES GRIFFITH & THE)
*TREYTONES
*TRIBUNES (2)
*TRIDELS
*TRI-LITES
*TRINIDADS
*TRINITIES (KAKO & THE)
*TRINKETS (2)
*TRIUMPHS (1) (TICO & THE )
*TROPHIES
*TRUETONES
*TUNEDROPS (MALCOLM DODDS & THE)
*TUNE TAILORS
*TUNE WEAVERS
TUNES
*TURBANS
TURKS
*TURN-ONS (TIM TAM & THE)
*TUXEDOS
*TWILIGHTERS (1)
*TWI-LIGHTERS (2)
*TWILIGHTERS (5)
*TWILIGHTS (4) (TEDDY & THE)
*TWILITERS (2)
*TWILITERS (4) (TONY & THE)
*TWINKLES (1)
*TWIN TONES
*TWISTERS (1)
*TWISTERS (3) (JOEY & THE)
*TWO CHAPS
*TWO-TONES
*TYMES
*TYRANTS (TERRY & THE)

...

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The Romancers (1)

Posted on April 8 2010 by dion1

The Romancers (1) (San Francisco, CA)

Personnel :

Alvin Thomas (Lead)

Bobby Freeman (Tenor)

Woodrow Blake

Tyrone French

James Shelbourne

Discography :

1956 - I Still Remember / House Cat (Dooto 381) 
1956 - This Is Goodbye / Jump and Hop (Dooto 404) 
1958 - You Don't Understand / Baby, I Love You So (Baytone 101)

Biography :

The Romancers was a short-lived San Francisco vocal group that recorded one session for Dooto Records in Los Angeles and another for the Baytone label in their home town. The original members were Texas-born Alvin Thomas, Texas-born Woodrow "Bobo" Blake, Tyrone French, Jimmy Shelbourne and Bobby Freeman. Alvin's brother James Thomas was also briefly in the group and helped write their songs, but he soon joined the Navy.

In late 1955 the group drove to Los Angeles to record for Dootsie Williams, who was still hot from his success with local group The Penguins, The Medallions and Don Julian & The Meadowlarks. They recorded four songs: "I Still Remember," "House Cat," "This Is Goodbye" and "Jump and Hop."

Baytone's owner Brad Taylor (left) and his brother Victor "Vic La Val"
Taylor (right) present Alvin Taylor with his 1958 Romancers single.

"I Still Remember," released in February 1956, is the best song of the lot, reminiscent of San Francisco's Gaylarks, who recorded for Music City Records in Berkeley. "I Still Remember" sold respectably in a few West Coast markets. The second single, "Jump and Hop," is a hot dance number that gave Dooto's then-bandleader Chuck Higgins plenty of room to honk a 16-bar solo on his tenor saxophone. The group later recorded for their manager Brad Taylor's label, Baytone, before breaking up.

Bobby Freeman went on to have a couple of Top 5 hits under his own name, including "Do You Wanna Dance" and "Do the Swim." Alvin Thomas continued to work in the music business until his death in Brooklyn in 1997. His brother James died in Brooklyn thirteen years earlier, in 1984. Tyrone French, who sang lead on "I Still Remember" (he was 15 at the time), died in Monrovia, California, in 1994. And Bobo Blake died in San Francisco in 1991. This group is apparently not The Romancers who recorded on Flip, Palette, Celebrity, Marquee and Beacon.
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/romancers.html

Songs :


I Still Remember                      This Is Goodbye        Baby, I Love You So


Jump and Hop                   You Don't Understand                  House Cats

...

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The Linc-Tones / Tokens (2)

Posted on April 7 2010 by dion1

The Linc-Tones / Tokens (2) (Brooklyn, New York)
ref : Darrell & The Oxfords

Personnel :

Neil Sedaka

Hank Medress

Cynthia Zolotin

Eddie Rabkin

Discography :

Single :
1956 - While I Dream / I Love My Baby (the Tokens) (Melba 104)

Unreleased :
1956 - Don't Go (Melba)

Biography :

In 1955, Neil Sedaka was sitting in his math class at Lincoln High School when he heard Jay Siegel singing Falsetto. They decided to form a group and recruited three members of Mrs. Eisen's Choral (Hank Medress, Cynthia Zolotin and Eddie Rabkin), the Linc-Tones Was Born. Piano prodigy Sedaka decided The Tokens sounded better as a name; Rabkin left the following year and was replaced by Siegel. Cynthia's family had connections in the city at the Brill Building, which opened doors for her and Neil.

The Linc-Tones / Tokens (2)

The quartet auditioned for Morty Craft, owner of the Willows' label, Melba, and recorded "I Love My Baby" (with a lead vocal by Rabkin) backed with "While I Dream" (lead by Sedaka), both written by Neil and another Lincoln High student, Howard Greenfield. This led to an appearance on Ted Steele's Teen Bandstand show on WOR-TV, though the single didn't catch on outside the N.Y. area. The group gradually separated and in '58 Hank and Jay ventured forth with Warren Schwartz and Fred Kalkstein as the oddly-named Darrell and the Oxfords; two 1959 singles on Roulette included the ballad "Picture in My Wallet."

Late in the year another shake-up occurred when Hank and Jay began singing with younger Lincoln High student Phil Margo, who played piano, and his 12-year-old brother Mitch. They came up with another strange name, Those Guys, then in 1960 Joe Venneri joined and the group functioned as a quintet for several years. Craft signed them again, this time for the Warwick label, insisting they ditch that "Those Guys" misnomer. Reviving the Tokens name, they hit the top 20 in the spring of '61 with a catchy 'doo-be-doo-be-dum...' tune penned by Margo and Medress, "Tonight I Fell in Love."

Songs :

While I Dream I Love My Baby

Don't Go

...

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The Bobbettes

Posted on April 3 2010 by dion1

The Bobbettes (Manhattan, New York)
By Hans-Joachim

Personnel :

Heather Dixon

Reather Dixon

Helen Gathers

Emma Pought

Jannie Pought

Laura Webb

Discography :

The Bobbettes

Singles :
1957 - Mr. Lee / Look At The Stars (Atlantic 1144)
1957 - Speedy / Come-a Come-a (Atlantic 1159)
1958 - Zoomy / Rock And Ree-ah-zole (Atlantic 1181)
1958 - The Dream / Um Bow Wow (Atlantic 1194)
1959 - Don't Say Goodnight / You Are My Sweetheart (Atlantic 2027)
1959 - I Cried / Oh My Papa (Galliant 1006)
1960 - I Shot Mr. Lee / Billy (Triple-X 104)
1960 - I Shot Mr. Lee / Untrue Love (Atlantic 2069)
1960 - Dance With Me Georgie / Have Mercy Baby (Triple-X 106)
1961 - Oh My Papa / Dance With Me Georgie (King 5490)
1961 - Mr. Johnny Q / Teach Me Tonight (End 1093)
1961 - I Don't Like It Like That, Part 1 / Part 2 (End 1095/Gone 5112)
1961 - Mr. Johnny Q / I Don't Like It Like That (Gone 5112)
1961 - Looking For A Lover / Are You Satisfied (King 5551)
1962 - My Dearest / I'm Stepping Out Tonight (King 5623)
1962 - Over There / Loneliness (Jubilee 5427)
1962 - The Broken Heart / Mama Papa (Jubilee 5442)
1963 - Teddy / Row, Row, Row (Diamond 133)
1963 - Close Your Eyes (with the Chateaus) / Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell (Diamond 142)
1964 - My Mama Said / Sandman (Diamond 156)
1964 - I'm Climbing A Mountain / In Paradise (Diamond 166)
1965 - I'm Climbing A Mountain / You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet (Diamond 181)
1965 - Teddy / Love Is Blind (Diamond 189)
1966 - Having Fun / I've Gotta Face The World (RCA 47-8832)
1966 - It's All Over / Happy Go Lucky Me (RCA 47-8983)
1971 - That's A Bad Thing To Know / All In Your Mind (Mayhew 712297/712298)
1972 - Tighten Up Your Own (Home) / Looking For A New Love (Mayhew S-37)
1972 - Leave My Business Alone / Happy Go Lucky Me (Mayhew 37/1060)
1974 - It Won't Work Out / Good Man (Mayhew 861/862)
1981 - Love Rhythm (long version) / Love Rhythm (short version) (Atlantic DMD-283)
1981 - Love Rhythm / You Ain't Really Down (Radio 4816)
1981 - Love Rhythm / Love Rhythm (Feels So Good) (QIT BC 652-A/BC 652-B)
1981 - Love Rhythm / I'll Keep Coming Back (QIT BC 652/CBL 130)

Unreleased :
N/A - Sonny (Atlantic)
N/A - Woop Woop (Atlantic)
N/A - Blessed Love (Atlantic)
N/A - Zoomy Zoomy (Atlantic)
N/A - Skippy Doo Wah (Atlantic)
1962 - Moon Of Love (Jubilee)
1962 - Yeah (Jubilee)
N/A - Soldier Boy (RCA)
N/A - Walk By Me (RCA)
N/A - Funny Feeling (RCA)

The Soul Angels
1969 - It's All In Your Mind / The Ladies' Choice (instrumental) (Josie 1002)

The Sophisticated Ladies
1977 - Check It Out, Part 1 / Part 2 (Bareback 353/Mayhew 353)
1977 - Check It Out, Part 1 / Good Man (Bareback 532/Mayhew 532)
1980 - This Ain't Really Love / I'll Keep Coming Back (Reflection 130)

Johnny Thunder (bb The Bobbettes)
1962 - Loop De Loop / Don't Be Ashamed (Johnny Thunder) (Diamond 129)

Biography :

In an era dominated by male groups, it took an unlikely quintet of public school teens to show the world that a female group could succeed. The Bobbettes were the first female group to have both a Top Ten hit and a number one R&B record. It all started as a pastime for eight girls ranging in age from nine to eleven in New York's Harlem. Schoolmates that began singing in the glee club of P.S.109 in 1955.

Bobbettes (Emma Pought, Helen Gathers, Jannie Pouht, Reather Dixon, Laura Webb)

Calling themselves the Harlem Queens, they began by doing local amateur nights. Gradually over the next two years the octet shrunk to a quintet. After appearing at the Apollo Theater's famed amateur night, they didn't win, they broadened their already growing following. Soon thereafter, James Dailey took over the group's management. Feeling that "The Harlem Queens" wasn't an appropriate name for five girls in there early teens he changed the name to the Bobbettes.

Dailey got them a recording contract with Atlantic Records and had them in the recording studio by the end of February 1957. Their first four recordings were group compositions and it wasn't a fluke. They would write ten of their first eighteen recorded songs. The group had already written a few songs and one which was the legendary "Mr. Lee," who was actually a teacher of some of the Bobbettes. The group's first single was released in June 1957.

Although the lyrics speak glowing of "Mr. Lee," the original lyrics were not the least bit flattering. The girls had an immense dislike for the teacher and the song was originally written as a put down. At the request of Atlantic's A&R executives the group revised the lyrics to make it more commercial or possibly less controversial. "Mr. Lee" became the best known teacher in America as the record went Top Ten in July 1957. "Mr. Lee" also, spent for weeks at the top of the R&B charts.

Their next four singles, between October 1957 and summer of 1959, failed to make the top 100. During this time the girls were doing - "one-dayers" - theater bookings - since they were to young to do club dates or "one-nighters." They also did uncredited background singing for "Clyde McPhatter and Ivory Joe Hunter. Their last recording session for Atlantic in February 1959 included the sequel to "Mr. Lee" "I Shot Mr. Lee." This time the girls got to say what the felt about him. However, Atlantic shelved it and released "You Are My Sweetheart. A nice but undistinguished doo wop ballad, it failed to chart.

(With Joe Turner, Sammy Price & Ahmet Ertegun)

The Bobbettes left Atlantic and signed with Triple X. Their first release "I Shot Mr. Lee" shot to the top of the charts forcing Atlantic to release the original version. The Triple X record peaked at fifty-two on the national charts. This incident more than likely helped institute the so called "five year clause" in recording artists contracts, in which an artist could not record the same song for another company for a minimum of five years.

The Bobbette's next record was a remake of the Domino's "Have Mercy Baby" and reached number sixty six. Despite having charted three records with Triple X, they found themselves on the Gallant label in the fall of 1960. There they recorded Eddie Fisher's early '50s hit "Oh My Papa." From there they went to End Records and did the old standard "Teach Me Tonight." Their last charted single (as a featured act was an answer song to Chris Kenner's "I Like It like That" called "I Don't Like It Like That." It was issued on Gone Records, like End a George Goldner label, and reached seventy two on the national charts. During the next five years, 1961 to 1966, they recorded on six labels.

It seems there manager would have them record a few sides and then move them to a new and better deals before the release of their previous label's recordings.Their longest stay after leaving Atlantic was at Diamond Records, where they recorded six records. Before their first Diamond release they sang backup for Johnny Thunder on "Lop De Loop" (#4), there last chart record and second Top Ten hit. Too bad they didn't get credit for it.

n 1964, the group recorded "Love That Bomb" for the motion picture Dr. Strangelove while continuing to record unsuccessfully for Diamond. In the spring of 1966 they signed their first major label RCA, but the results stayed the same. Five years pasted before their next and last recording opportunity, on Mayhew Records (1971 to 1974). The Bobbettes remained together through the 70s oldies revival, touring the United States and England. Reather Elizabeth Dixon died after suffering a heart attack in New York the evening of January 7, 2014

http://www.uncamarvy.com/Bobbettes/bobbettes.html
http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/bobbettes.htm
http://www.rockabilly.nl/references/messages/bobbettes.htm
http://www.history-of-rock.com/bobbettes.htm
http://www.electricearl.com/dws/bobbettes.html
http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-bobbettes-mn0000756518
http://www.rocky-52.net/chanteursb/bobbettes.htm

Songs :

The Bobbettes

Mr. Lee                               Look At The Stars                       Speedy


Come-A Come-A                          Zoomy                    Rock And Ree-ah-zole


Um Bow Bow / The Dream          I Cried    You Are My Sweetheart / Don’t Say Goodnight


Oh My Papa                   I Shot Mr. Lee (Triple-X)                     Billy


I Shot Mr. Lee (Atlantic)          Untrue Love          Dance With Me Georgie


Have Mercy Baby                     Mr. Johnny Q                 Teach Me Tonight


I Don’t Like It Like That (Pts 1 & 2)      Looking For A Lover    My Dearest


Are You Satisfied (With Your Love)     I’m Stepping Out Tonight   Loneliness


Over There (Stands My Baby)        The Broken Heart                   Mama Papa


Moon Of Love                            Teddy


Row, Row, Row         Close Your Eyes          Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell


My Mama Said                           Sandman               I'm Climbing A Mountain


In Paradise              You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet                Love Is Blind


Having Fun                I’ve Gotta Face The World                  It’s All Over


Happy Go Lucky Me    That's A Bad Thing To Know      Tighten Up Your Own


Good Man                        Love Rhythm (long version)

Johnny Thunder (bb The Bobbettes)

Loop De Loop

The Soul Angels

It’s All In Your Mind

The Sophisticated Ladies

Check It Out (Pt. 1) Check It Out (Pt. 2) Good Man

I'll Keep Coming Back / This Ain't Really Love

...

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