1958 - Darling, It's You / Kathleen (RIM 2020/2021) 1958 - Kiss-A-Kiss / The Sun Will Shine Again (RIM 2022)
Biography :
The Adelphies are from Brooklyn, New York. In 1958 they cut two singles in 1958 for Rim Record. "Darling, It's You / Kathleen" is the first single for this Brooklyn label. The Edge label was owned by Rim records.
Rim is a very small indie label operating from the same address for decades. Label owner Bob McGhee was initially based at 226 West 53rd Street, NYC in 1958 but in that same year Rim Records and Rim Music Corp. were listed at 1293 Dean Street, Brooklyn and were still at that address as late as 1976.
Singles : 1961 - Angel On The Dance Floor / Before We Say Goodnight (RCA 7930) 1962 - Just A Friend / Cap Snapper (RCA 8031)
Unreleased : 1961 - One Magic Night (RCA) 1961 - Your Special One (RCA) 1961 - Roly Poly (RCA)
Discography :
Top: Past-up picture - Dunbar, Pruitt, Crunk, Adams This Nuggets group was an offshoot of the Calvanes who recorded earlier for Dootone. In 1961, Freddy Willis was drafted and replaced by bass Sidney Dunbar.
Georgie Torrence & The Dippers 1960 - Go away / (You've been) So good to me (King 5376)
George Torrence & The Dippers
1961 - Such a fool was I / Way over yonder (Epic 9453) 1965 - Together at last / Fine foxey frame (Duo Disc 117) 1978 - Juanita / for sentimental reasons (Clovers) (King Tut 170) Unreleased : 1978 - Someone Really Loves You (King Tut)
George Torrence & The Naturals 1967 - Lickin’ stick / So long goodbye (Shout 224)
Biography :
Washington, DC singer George Torrence started singing doo-wop with local groups, first release was as lead of the Five Pearls on Aladdin on their release 'Real Humdinger' from 1954, making a second recording with the Caribbeans, who came from New York, for the Galliant label in 1958.
He fronted the Dippers who recorded the lovely ballads “Go Away” for King in 1960 and “Such A Fool Was I” for Epic in 1961. His aching tenor was beautifully suited to this style of singing. As the group harmony era gave way to soul Torrence continued in his musical career with the Dippers cutting a very fine 45 which was leased out to Duo Disc on the West Coast. The Latin Boogaloo of “Fine Foxy Frame” was the flip to the excellent deep soul cut Together At Last. http://www.sirshambling.com/artists_2012/T/george_torrence/index.php
Little Jimmy & The Tops 1959 - Puppy Love / Say You Love Me (V-Tone 102/Len 1011/Swan 4091)
The Extroads 1966 - The Verge / Can’t Get Over You Out Of My Mind (Unreleased )
Biography :
Four childhood friends began singing street corner harmony in the mid-1950’s as the Young Lads. The original group, consisted of Vernon Rivers, his younger brother Jimmy Rivers, Eddie Bonelli and Louis Brown. Looking for a bass singer Moses Groves replace Louis Brown in the group.
Joyce Patterson Richard Barrett
Singer & songwriter Ronald “Rocco” Mack began working with the Young Lads, teaching them harmony and giving them some of the songs he’d written, he suggested they add a girl to the group. He introduced them to Sylvia Patterson, younger sister of Joyce Patterson of the Highlights. The new name of the group became Four Bees and a Gee (for 4 boys and a girl).
L to R : Sylvia Peterson, Moses Groves Eddie Bonelli, Vernon Rivers. Bottom: Little Jimmy Rivers.
Somehow, the group got to George Goldner’s offices of Gone and End Records where they ran into Richard Barrett, mentor to the Teenagers, Chantels, Imperials and dozens of other artists. Richard Barrett renamed the group the Tops and eventually made arrangements for them to record. “Puppy Love” b/w “Say You Love Me” first came out in late 1958 or early 1959 on the V-Tone label with the artist listed as “The Tops”.
V-Tone was a Philadelphia-based record label owned and operated by Venton L. (for Len) “Buddy” Caldwell. The song actually garnered a lot of airplay on the east coast, and was soon issued on Caldwell's Len label, likely early 1961. Swan issued the record to distribute it outside the east coast. In 1962 Sylvia Peterson sang with the Chiffons.
L to R: Eleanor Carter, Jimmy Rivers (at piano), Vernon River, Moses Groves
After getting out of the service, Moses Groves, Vernon Rivers got back together with Jimmy Rivers and Eleanor Carter as a group in 1966. They began calling the group the Extroads and recorded a couple of demos on a song they’d written called “The Verge”. The song has a strong Northern Soul sound and may soon be released in the UK. http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/
1962 - Puddin N' Tain / Feel So Good (Philles 108)
Biography :
Famed for their lone hit, "Puddin' n' Tain," the Alley Cats were one of the many studio groups employed by the legendary pop producer and Svengali Phil Spector. The roots of the Alley Cats lie in the Untouchables, a Los Angeles doo wop combo previously known as The Valiants, which scored the 1957 crossover hit "This Is the Night."
Comprising tenors Sheridan "Rip" Spencer and Don Trotter, baritone Brice Coefield, bass Ed Wallace, and guitarist Chester Pipkin, the Untouchables signed with producers Herb Alpert and Lou Adler to release 1960's "New Fad" on the Madison imprint, the first in a series of little-noticed efforts for the fledgling label, including a cover of the Spaniels' classic "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" and "Sixty Minute Man."
A move to Liberty preceded the release 1961's "You're on Top." Its follow-up, "Papa," deserves footnote status as featuring producer Alpert's first recorded trumpet performance, an instrument he would further pursue to enormous commercial success. By 1962 the Untouchables were no more, but at year's end, Adler formed the Alley Cats, a session unit he planned to lease to producer Spector, the hitmaker behind such classics as the Crystals' "He's a Rebel."
Bobby Sheen
In addition to Spencer and Coefield, the lineup also included Pipkin's cousin Gary, bass James Barker, and tenor Bobby Sheen, who as Bob B. Soxx previously recorded the Spector-helmed smash "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah." Based on a venerable playground chant, the Alley Cats' debut effort, "Puddin' n' Tain," ascended to number 21 on the R&B chart in early 1963.
The mercurial Spector chose not to work with the group again, however, although in 1968 Adler recruited Spencer, Coefield, and Chester Pipkin to join a new studio group dubbed Africa, cutting the Ode label psychedelic soul cult classic Music from "Lil Brown".
Michael Zara & The Compliments (1) 1963 - Angels Of Mercy / Nobody Knows (Shell 313)
The Compliments (1) 1965 - Shake It Up Shake It Down / You Are My Sunshine (Congress 243) 1965 - The Time Of Her Life / Everybody Loves A Lover (Congress 252)
Biography :
The Compliments had previously recorded “Angels Of Mercy” b/w “Nobody Knows” for the Shell label with Michael Zara doing the lead. But Zara was in the hospital and the Compliments were looking for a new lead singer.
Vic Donna recorded in 1957 with The Parakeets for Atlas Records and In 1964 he replaced Michael Zara and the Group added Bernie Lee Goode (Piano), Jack Dina (Guitar) & Jon Prano (Drums) .The Compliments now consisted of seven guys and They cut two records on Congress record.
Vic Donna
The two records were fine examples of soul group harmony. Bernie Lee Goode led “You Are My Sunshine” and “Everybody Loves a Lover” (the Shirelles tune). Vic Donna led on a couple of his own compositions; “Shake It Up Shake It Down” and “The Time Of Her Life,” the latter song attracting interest among Northern Soul enthusiasts. http://www.classicurbanharmony.net/index.htm
Singles : 1954 - You're To Blame / I Love You Madly (Herald 438) 1955 - Take A Look At Me / My Lovin' Baby (Herald 447) 1955 - Certainly Baby / Dearest One (Herald 454) 1955 - Oh-Gee-Oh-Wee / Guess I'm Thru With Love (Herald 461) 1956 - I Gotta Have You / Little Fool (Herald 472) 1956 - Mad With You Baby / Closest Thing To An Angel (Herald 487) 1957 - Sweet Thing / I Love You Madly (Herald 503) 1958 - Sweet Thing / Dearest One (Herald 515) 1959 - This is Love / Don't Show your Face Here Anymore (Tel 1005) 1968 - Alright, Okay, You Win / I'm So Happy I Could Shout (Josie 989)
Unreleased : 1954 - I Love You Madly (slow version) (Herald) 1957 - Oh Yes (Herald) 1957 - Tag Along (Herald)
Biography :
Charlie & Ray are best known for one thing -- they were unabashedly gay at a time when it wasn't widely publicized what one's sexual orientation was.
In 1955, Charlie & Ray's first hit, "I Love You Madly" for Herald Records, caused something of a minor sensation, but it wasn't until they recorded this solid up-tempo clarinet-driven rocker, "Dearest One," that they hit pay dirt again.
Sonny & The Dukes (5) (Baltimore, Maryland) aka The Unisons
Personnel :
George "Sonny" Hatchett (Lead)
Eddie Rich (First Tenor)
Richard Williams (Baritone)
Albert Smith (Bass)
Discography :
Sonny & The Dukes (5) 1962 - My Love / Make Up Your Mind (Reverb 611)
George Jackson bb The Unisons 1962 - Watching The Rainbow / Miss Frankenstein (Lescay 3006)
Biography :
In 1962, George "Sonny" Hatchett, Richard Williams (baritone), Eddie Rich (First Tenor) and Albert Smith (bass) Teamed in a group called Sonny & The Dukes. George "Sonny" Hatchett & Richard Williams were members of the Cardinals whose recordings would not be released until 1974 on "Bim Bam Boom" who except for their Lead Singer, Junius "Ernie Lee" Warren, had no connection to the Atlantic Cardinals. Eddie Rich had been a Lead Singer of the Swallows, and the group's Bass, Albert Smith, was also a member of The Swallows. Sonny & The Dukes recorded "My Love" and "Make Up Your Mind" for Reverb 611. The exact same lineup also backed up George Jackson, former lead of the Plants on "Watching The Rainbow" and "Miss Frankenstein" for Lescay records. On this single, they were dubed as the Unisons.
The Ding Dongs (1) 1958 - Early In The Morning / Now We're One (Brunswick 55073)
The Rinky Dinks 1958 - Early In The Morning / Now We're One (Atco 6121)
Bobby Darin & The Rinky Dinks 1958 - Mighty Mighty Man / You're Gone (Atco 6128)
Biography :
"Early in the Morning" is a song written by Bobby Darin and Woody Harris. Darin approached Brunswick Records with "Early in the Morning". Brunswick was impressed, but as Darin was still under contract to Atlantic Records' subsidiary, Atco, the song was released by The Ding Dongs. New York deejays liked the record and Atco soon discovered the deception.
Brunswick was forced to turn over the masters to Atco, which released the record in 1958 under the name, "The Rinky Dinks" . Buddy Holly was in the studio on that day and Bobby gave him permission to record both tracks on the Coral label. Both tracks were identical to Bobby's including the Helen Way Singers backup!
Billboard, june 30, 1958
In 1959, Darin recorded the self-penned "Dream Lover," a ballad that became a multi-million seller. With it came financial success and the ability to demand more creative control of his career. So he meant for his That's All album to show that he could sing more than rock and roll. His next single, "Mack the Knife," the standard from Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, was given a vamping jazz-pop interpretation. Although Darin was initially opposed to releasing it as a single, the song went to No. 1 on the charts for nine weeks, sold two million copies, and won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1960. Darin was also voted the Grammy Award for Best New Artist that year, and "Mack The Knife" has since been honored with a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. http://www.bobbydarin.net/sn_042458.html
1960 - Sing A Song Of Sixpence / Yeah Yeah (Cub 9065) 1961 - Love Her So / What 'Cha Gonna Do (Clock 1037)
Biography :
The independent Clock Records label issued some fine records, notably 'I'll Go On' by Bee Jay (and group), the lovely solo ballad 'Whispers' by Dave 'Baby' Cortez, and thie nice "Love Her So" . Another group also called The Corvairs recorded 'True True Love' for Comet, which Cortez arranged and conducted according to the label information. The two groups are, however, different. The other Corvairs on Crown are a white Group. Picture by Marv Goldberg
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