Single: 1957 - My Resolution / Get Out (Lamp 2009)
Unreleased : 1957 - Chalypso With Me (Lamp) 1957 - Why (Lamp) 1957 - Please Tell Me (Lamp) 1957 - Be Mine Alone (Lamp)
Biography :
In 1954 brothers Eddie, Leo, and Ira Mesner, who had launched Aladdin Records in Hollywood in 1945 (originally called Philo Records until 1946), opened their East-Coast subsidiary Lamp, but whereas their main label boasted such well-known names as Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Johnny Ace, Shirley & Lee, Thurston Harris, Charles Brown and even Lady Day, the great Billie Holiday, and the equally-legendary Nat "King" Cole (among many others), those who recorded the 29 Lamp singles from 1954 to 1958 were mostly obscure. Vocal groups who recorded for Lamp Records were: The Mellow Fellows, The Cues, The Cookies, The Carols, The Lovers, The Sharps, The Heart-Throbs, The Minorbops, The Inspirations and The Troopers. The Troopers consisted of Jerry Whitted, Alfonso Atwaters, Eddie L. Lindsey, Vernon S. Jones & Lincoln Alexander. The group has written several songs that they will recorded, unfortunately only two will be released by Lamp; "My Resolution" / "Get Out".
aka The Radiants (4) aka The Originals (4) aka The Casanovas (2) aka The Gleams (3) aka The Four Gleams aka Silky And The Shantungs
Personnel :
Gil Valentin (Second Tenor / Lead)
Sonia Rivera (Tenor / Lead)
Elliot Rivera
Discography :
The Radiants (4) 1958 - Ra Cha Cha / I´ll Never Be Mean (Wizz 713)
The Casanovas (2) 1959 - In My Land Of Dreams / Deep In The Heart Of The Jungle (Planet 1027)
The Originals (4) 1960 - A Kiss From Your Lips / Let Me Be Your Girl (Brunswick 55171)
The Valentinos (1) 1960 - A Kiss From Your Lips / Let Me Be Your Girl (Brunswick 55171)
The Gleams (3) 1961 - Bad Boy / Give Me A Chance (J-V 101) 1963 - Mr. Magic Moon / Pile Driver (Kapp 565)
The Four Gleams 1963 - Mr. Magic Moon / Pile Driver (Kapp 565)
Silky & The Shantungs 1963 - He's A Fink / Bazooki (Inst.) (Musicor 1035)
Biography :
The Casanovas, Gleams /Four Gleams, Originals, Valentinos, Silky & The Shantungs and also The Radiants were basically the same people with few changes. In 1956, Bronx native Gil Valentin formed a group he called The Radiants and recorded "Ra Cha Cha" b/w "I´ll Never Be Mean" released by Wizz Record in 1958. The next year, under the name The Casanovas, they recorded the sides "In My Land Of Dreams" b/w "Deep In The Heart Of The Jungle" released by Planet Records in 1961. So as not to be confused with The Casanovas from North Carolina (recordings on Apollo 1954-57), The group had a record in 1959 called " A Kiss From Your Lips" (a Flamingos remake) on Brunswick records under the name The Originals, then re-released in 1960 under the name The Valentinos.
The Radiants (4) The Originals (4) The Valentinos (1)
Beginning as an all-male quintet as The Casanovas, they went to 3 men and one woman as the Valentinos.In 1960 they signed with J-V Records and change again their name for The Gleams. The Gleams recorded "Bad Boy" and "Give Me A Chance". In 1963, Gil Valentin and Sonia Riviera with a girl group recorded as The Gleams (and The Four Gleams) for Kapp Records "Mr. Magic Moon" b/w "Pile Driver". The story ends when Valentin and Sonia Riviera recorded under the name Silky & The Shantungs called "He's A Fink" on Musicor (written by Radcliffe/Stern) which is another Spector type record. ...
Songs :
The Radiants (4)
Ra Cha Cha I´ll Never Be Mean
The Casanovas (2)
In My Land Of Dreams / Deep In The Heart Of The Jungle
Singles : 1963 - Baby I Do Love You / Love Bells (Challenge 59212) 1964 - Stranger In Paradise / Chinese Lanterns (Challenge 59253) 1965 - Young Dreams / I Love You More Than You Know (Challenge 59302)
Lp : 1964/65 - The Galens (LJ 104) : Baby I Do Love You / Young Dreams / I Love You More Tham You Know / I've Never Had A Broken Heart Before / Jolie Jacqueline / Stranger In Paradise / Chinese Lanterns / Come On Let's Kiss / Lawrence Of Arabia
Biography :
The Galens came in on the music scene while the second wave Girl Group sound was in full bloom, just prior to a gradually developing, more militant sounding movement of the mid-’60s, as lead by The Shangri-las. This girl group wholly captured the uniquely innocent and captivating style of music heard everywhere on AM radio once upon a time. The Paris Sisters heavily figured with this particular sound, but The Galens had an even greater edge on a thoroughly gravitating female voice deliverance. Unfortunately, The Galens’ recorded output is very small.
But it’s a case of quality over quantity, although after one hears the few records they made, a longing for more material will likely ensue.Wouldn’t it be nice if Challenge Records had put together a complete album by The Galens? Evidently, enough material exists that this could have been a strong possibility.Even though there were three guys in the group (Bob Hubener, George Ross and the mythical Galen), the female lead singer, Charlene Knight, permeated their records with her beautiful, all-female voice. She left a definite stamp; possessed with gifted, drawing and subtly penetrating singing abilities. Their one and only hit made its Billboard Hot 100 entry in November 1963, lasting five weeks and topping at #70, which was really a dismal result for a record that had everything going for it.
Titled “Baby I Do Love You” (Challenge 59212, 1963), it originated from a German Folk song, translated into a Pop tune in 1949 by Russ Morgan as “You, You, You Are The One” (Decca 24569). Charlene’s distinctively intoxicating voice carried the song, with a little male chorus assistance midway through, sung in German. What’s more, the flip side “Love Bells” is equally as captivating, with Charlene giving her all as she leads the course of action. Notably, “Love Bells” was co-written by Charlene O’Hara and Keith Colley. O’Hara sang lead on “Home Of The Brave” (Phi-Dan 5005, 1965) as Bonnie & the Treasures, while Keith Colley scored with “Enamorado” (Unical 3006, 1963).
Colley later moved to an executive position at Challenge Records.The follow-up single, “Chinese Lanterns” (Challenge 59253, 1964) is another treasure to behold; the beautiful, charming Charlene could melt the most hardened of hearts! Such a shame the record buying public didn’t catch on to this gem, written by Keith MacKendrick, Jimmy Seals and Darrell “Dash” Crofts, once members of The Champs. Seals & Crofts enjoyed tremendous success with several hits during the early 1970’s, including their first one, “Summer Breeze” (Warner 7606, 1972).
As for Keith MacKendrick, he held membership with several groups, including The Roxters, who recorded the rare “Goodbye Baby” (Art 175, 1958) and The Apollos, whose instrumental “Just Dreamin’ “ (Mercury 71614, 1960) shouldn’t be overlooked. One more final single by The Galens was issued in 1964, “Young Dreams” (Challenge 59302). This record release, regrettably marked the end of their brief existence. Nonetheless, Charlene Knight and The Galens made a lasting imprint in the history of the Girl Group era. By Andrew Merey
Songs:
Baby I Do Love You Chinese Lanterns Young Dreams
Love Bells Stranger In Paradise I Love You More Than You Know
1962- Lady Luck / We're In Love (Penny 9022 / Take Ten 1501)
Biography :
Penny Records was part of the Met Music Record Shop operation owned by Maurice Alpert. Met Music, located at 328 East Fifty-eighth Street, under the elevated stop, was practically an institution on the South Side. When South Siders needed the latest “jams,” they made it a habit to head to the Met. The Penny label was active twice first in 1962 when two releases were put out, and then during 1966–70 when ten releases were put on the Penny label and about the same number on the sister Nickel label.”
The two 1962 releases, produced and arranged by Johnny Pate, were an instrumental by the Joy Rockers and a vocal group by the Creations called "We're In Love" b/w "Lady Luck" both written by members George Madison and Perry Cobb . Other members of the Chicago vocal group were James Bright, Charles Lindsay, and Louis Williams. It will be their only single and got some play on local radio, but sales were not substantial enough to sustain Alpert's interest in the label.
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