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The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

Posted on by dion1

The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

top : Johnny Hopson & Earl Wade Bottom - Bottom : Teddy Williams & Marty Brown

The Opals (1)  (Harlem, New-York)
aka The Crystals (1)

 

Personnel :

Earl Wade (Lead)

Marty Brown (Tenor)

Johnny Hopson (Tenor)

Teddy Williams (Bass)

 

Discography :

The Crystals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)

The Opals (1)
1954 - Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby (Luna 100/ 101/5001)
1954 - My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did (Apollo 462) 

 

Biography :

In June of 1954 Luna Records issues #10-101, its very first recording by a group called The Crystals. The songs are "Come To Me Darling" and "Squeeze Me Baby". Soon after its release they find another group called The Crystals exists and they record for the DeLuxe label.

   The Crystals (1) aka The Opals (1)

Six weeks after its initial release the record is re-issued as Luna 5001 by The Opals and the label is now identified as a subsidiary of Apollo Records. In October of that year The Opals record again, this time for the parent label Apollo and #462 is released - "Ooh But She Did" and "My Hearts Desire". That seems to be the entire history of The Opals on record. Later, Wade joined The Cadillacs. Earlier, Williams had been with The Vocaleers.
http://www.vocalgroupharmony.com/ROWNEW2/ComeToMe.htm


Songs :


   
Come To Me Darling / Squeeze Me Baby                  My Heart's Desire / Oh But She Did

 

 ...

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The Tremonts (1) aka The Privateers

Posted on by dion1

The Tremonts (1) (Bronx, New-York)
aka The Privateers


Personnel :

Dave Romano (Lead)

Julio "Joey Dee" Decicco (Lead)

Billy Frye (Second Tenor)

Ronnie Lapinski (Baritone)


Discography :

The Tremonts (1)
1961 - Legend Of Love / Believe My Heart (Brunswick 55217 /Pat Riccio 101)

Marty & The Tremonts (1)
1961 - Dear Mom And Dad / Since Your Mine (DiVenus 103)

Carlo bb The Tremonts
 (1)
Singles :
1963 - Baby Doll / Write Me A Letter (Laurie 3151)
1963 - The Story Of Love / Five Minutes More (Laurie 3175)
1964 - Ring A Ling / Stranger In My Arms (Laurie 3227)
Unreleased :
1963 - Brenda The Great Pretender (Laurie)
1963 - Kansas City (Laurie)

Joyce & The Privateers
1962 - Honor Roll Of Love / The Bunny Tale (Agon 1003)



Biography :

The Tremonts "Julio "Joey Dee" Decicco , Ronnie Lapinsky, Bill Frye & Dave Romano" that used Vito Picone's composition of "Please Believe Me" & recorded this in 1961 as "Believe My Heart". Billy Frye and Ronnie Lapinski with singer Joyce Heath formed the Privateers and have a single for the Dragon Record label owned by Vincent Gagliano : "Honor Roll Of Love" / "The Bunny Tale" . On "The Bunny tale" The Privatters were the Tremonts.

   
                                Joyce & The Privateers                                                                    Carlo Mastrangelo                                        

After recording " Come on Little Angel" with the Belmonts in 1962, Carlo Mastrangelo decided on a solo career, and with Laurie records looking for a replacement for Dion (who left the same year to sign with Columbia) . Laurie even used Carlo's first name only on the label to keep the Dion mystique alive. He recorded three singles backed by the Tremonts. In 1965 Vito Picone signed with Laurie Records and was matched with  the Tremonts (Ronnie Lapinsky, Bill Frye, and Dave Romano.

  
                                     Vito Picone                                                                           Carlo Mastrangelo                                                       

The group became Vito and the Elegants, releasing "A Letter from Vietnam" as a single. Then, thanks to a subtle change, they were the Elegantes for "Wake Up," an up-tempo side marred by a persistent falsetto alarm clock sound. The Elegantes then became the Tremonts, while Vito formed a new Elegants with original Jimmy Moschella, Fred Redman, and ex-Majestics Nino Armotto. Their one Laurie release as Vito and the Elegants ("Belinda") was a Swedish hit translated for the US Market...


Songs :

The Tremonts (1)

   
Believe My Heart                                  Legend Of Love


Joyce & The Privateers


Honor Roll Of Love

 

 

...

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The Arrows aka The Convincers aka The Appeggios

Posted on by dion1

The Arrows (Los Angeles)
aka The Convincers aka The Appeggios


Personnel :

Leroy Bishop  (Lead)

Mel Alexander  (Second Tenor)

Frank Alexander (Bass)

Frank Dixon (High Tenor)

Malvin Perkins (Baritone)
                        


Discography :

The Arrows
Singles :
1958 - Indian Bop Hop / Annie Mae (Flash 132)

The Convincers
Singles :
1962 - Rejected Love / Go BacK Baby (Movin' 100)
Demos :
1959 - Betty
1959 - Sufferin With The Blues
1959 - My Baby Don't Love Me
1959 - What Did I do

The Appeggios
Singles :
1963 - Mary / I'll Be Singing (Aries 01)
Demos :
1956 - Rejected Love
1956 - We Belong Together
1956 - She's Not Bad
1956 - Lonely
1956 - Baby Let Me Come To Your House Tonight


Biography :

The group begin as the Arpeggios in New Orleans and sang strictly gospel, switching to the Arrows to sang R&B. The Original members are Mel Alexander (Second Tenor), Frank Alexander (Bass), Leroy Bishop (Lead), Frank Dixon (High Tenor) & Sidney Jones (Baritone).

  
Mel Alexander                                                                                                                                     

One by one  the Arpeggios came out to California. The Arrows composed of Mel Alexander, Frank Alexander, Leroy Bishop, Frank Dixon  & Malvin Perkins signed a contract with Charlie 'Flash' Reynolds of Flash record on 29th July,1958. Two months later "Indian Bop Hop" backed with "Annie Mae" hit the Streets.


The Appeggios with Mel Alexander on lead (Los Angeles, 1957)

They Changed their name from the Arrows to the Convincers. The Convincers were made up of Mel, his brother, Jones, Dixon and Willie Gibson on lead. The Group recorded the Beautifull "Rejected Love" spliced with "Go BacK Baby" for Movin' Records. In 1963, Mel & his quarter Friends, now renamed the Arpeggios (Misspelled Appeggios) with the Convincers' Line-up recorded "Mary" backed with "I'll Be Singing" for the Tiny Los Angeles based Aries label.

 

Songs :
 (Update By Hans-Joachim)

The Arrows

 
Indian Bop Hop                    Annie Mae

The Appeggios

     
I'll Be Singing                    Mary        Baby Let Me Come To Your House Tonight

       
Lonely                                 She's Not Bad                       Rejected Love


We Belong Together


The Convincers

     
 Rejected Love                   What Did I do                        Go BacK Baby

  
My Baby Don't Love Me                       Betty

 

.....

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The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Cordells aka The Cardells (2) aka The Exceptions

Posted on by dion1

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

The Cordells  (Philadelphia)
aka The Cardells (2)
aka The Whirlwinds (2)
aka The Exceptions

 

Personnel:

Jimmy Ellis (Lead)

Earl Young (Bass)

Val Walker

Russell Boston

Charles Hynes

 

Discography :

The Cordells
1958 - Please Don't Go / Believe in Me (Bullseye 1017)
1962 - The Beat of My Heart / Laid Off (Bargain 5004)

Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)
1959 - Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy (Bee 1013)

The Whirlwinds (2)
1963 - After The Party / Heartbeat (Phillips)

The Exceptions
1965 - Down by the Ocean / Pancho's Villa (Inst.) (Pro 1/ Cameo 378)

 

Biography :

Along with the original Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the Dreamlovers, and others, the Cordells were one of Philadelphia's pioneering R&B groups. The members were Jimmy Ellis, (lead), Earl Young (bass), Val Walker, and Russell Boston, all from the Broad & Lehigh area of North Philly. They recorded "Please Don't Go" b/w "Believe in Me," for Bullseye Records in 1958 and didn't get the opportunity again until 1959 when they Backed Bunny Sigler on "Square From Nowhere" b/w "Laddy Daddy" as the Cardells. Bunny Sigler was a champion swimmer, having won the city Championship representing Bok School in South Phully. Walter "Bunny" Sigler  will become a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr. Emotion."

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)   The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)
Bunny Sigler                                                                                                           

Return to Jimmy Ellis and his fellows. The Group didn't get the opportunity again until 1961 when "The Beat of My Heart"/"Laid Off," fell on Bargain Records, this time using their original name, The Cordells. Neither side was more than a local play and while the group kept busy doing local gigs and built a little reputation around town, nothing really happened for them. The Philly singers became the Whirlwinds and recorded in 1963, this time for Phillips Records. "Heartbeat" b/w "After the Party" stiffed. They added Charles Hynes and tried it as The Exceptions. Pro 1 Records released the first Exceptions' single, "Down by the Ocean" b/w "Pancho's Villa," in 1965. It was originally scheduled for Phil Gaber's P & L label, but the deal never consummated. The record created a stir locally so Cameo Records snagged it for national distribution, but it never took off. Switching to Cameo's subsidiary, Parkway Records.

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)    The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

By the late 1960's Jimmy Ellis and the Exceptions had moved from doo wop into soul music.  The signed with the Groovy Grooves label and had two releases. Groovey Groves issued two of their shelved singles in 1972 to piggyback on the Trammps' Buddah recordings. Ellis and Young, two ex-Exceptions, were now Trammps, comprised at that time of members from the Exceptions and the Volcanoes. In addition, Young became a sought after session musician and recorded with Ron Baker and Norman Harris as Baker, Harris, & Young.


Songs :

The Cordells


Please Don't Go / Believe in Me

  
The Beat of My Heart                                 Laid Off          


Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)


Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy


The Whirlwinds (2)

  
Heartbeat                                   After The Party


The Exceptions

  
Down by the Ocean                              Pancho's Villa        



...

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The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

Posted on by dion1

 The Firesiders aka The Vel-Tones (2) aka The Impacts (3)

 The Firesiders (Niagara Falls, NY)
aka The Vel-Tones (2)
aka The Impacts (3)

 

Personnel :

Calvin 'Cal' Briggs

Neal Davis

Ernie Vendetti

Emilio Giondomenico


Discography :

The Vel-Tones (2)
1958 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (Coy 101)
1959 - Playboy / Cal's Tune (different take) (Kapp 268)

The Firesiders
1961 - (I'll Remember) One And All / No Ones Cares For Me (Swan 4074)

The Impacts (3)
1964 - Take My Love / Where Are You Going (PEH 7345)   


 

Biography :

In 1958, the thought that there could one day be a "Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame" couldn't be anything but a teenage joke. Except for Elvis Presley and a handful of others, R&R was played by kids, for kids, and no one expected it to be more than that. Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry were great but existed in another world - on the radio or TV. The way youngsters experienced R&R was through the local teen combo. Every town or high school or parish had its band. Some were better than others, some could be local stars for awhile after they'd performed at a dance or hop - but for the most part they were just kids from the neighborhood, whose celebrity quickly faded.

If you lived in Niagara Falls in the late 1950s the Vel-Tones were that group. Though their story is a little different. They may not be well-remembered now but they were able to have records released on two national labels and have a career that carried them through the glory days of R&R. Another thing that was unusual was their interracial makeup which is reflected in their eclectic mix of R&R, R&B, DooWop and Rockabilly sounds. Calvin 'Cal' Briggs, Ernie Vendetti, Neal Davis and Emilio Giondomenico recorded two sides in 1958 that were released on the Coy label. Coy was a label in name only - actually put out by Fine Records of Rochester, a legendary name itself to many collectors. Playboy is a greasy teen ballad that is exactly the type of lowrider doowop that Frank Zappa loved to parody, while Cal's Tune is a rocker.


(L to R) Emilio Giondomenico, Ernie Vendetti, Calvin Briggs & Neal Davis

 In 1959 these were leased to Kapp Records but the versions released by Kapp are completely different - Cal's Tune had its guitar and piano solos replaced with an sax solo, and both are more tame. The original version of Cal's Tune is highly-regarded by Rockabilly fanatics, to the point that it's recently been reproduced on vinyl. Following this they returned in 1961 as The Firesiders on Swan Records with two genre-bending sides that widen their palette to include influences of country pop and even pre-soul! The rest of their story is mostly unknown, except that they managed to change styles again and issue one more record. Under another name, of course. As The Impacts (on PEH Records) they achieve a typical mid-Sixties garage sound. They will never be in the Rock 'N' Roll Hall Of Fame but if you were there a the right time in the right place, they may have been your Rock 'N' Roll.
https://www.facebook.com/wnyfm

 

Songs :

The Vel-Tones (2)

    
Playboy                            Playboy (Kapp)                Cal's Tunes


The Firesiders

 
(I'll Remember) One And All    No Ones Cares For Me

The Impacts (3)


Where Are You Going


...

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Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4) aka The Veneers aka The Relatives (3)

Posted on by dion1

The Veneers Aka The Chantels   (Clockwise from Top) : Annette Swinson Smith, Valerie Swinson, Barbara Joyner & Lorraine Joyner

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)  (Bronx, New York)

aka The Veneers
aka The Relatives (3)
 

Ref: The Chantels
Ref: The Swensons

 

Personnel :

Annette Swinson Smith

Valerie Swinson

Barbara Joyner

Lorraine Joyner

 

Discography :

The Swensons
1956 - Remember Me To My Darling / Golly Boo (X-Tra 100 )

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)
1959 - Daddy Can I Go To The Hop (Red Lightnin' 0059)

The Veneers
1960 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (Princeton 102)
1963 - With All My Love / Recipe Of Love (Treyco 402)

The Chantels
1961 - Believe Me (My angel) / I (End 1103)

The Relatives (3)
Singles :
1963 - (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zagga Zoom / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 303)
1964 - Never Will I Love You Again / I'm Just Looking For Love (Almont 306)
1965 - Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally (Musicor 1063)
Unreleased :
1965 - A Change Of Heart (Musicor)

 

Biography :

The Veneers came from Manhattan and from Brooklyn, in New York City. Sisters, Lorraine and Barbara Joyner joined their cousins, Valerie and Annette Swinson, to sing in the park, for fun, and at family functions. The young teens did began getting the attention of the local songwriters who were looking for  artists to record their material. As The Swensons (sic), Annette and her mother recorded one single for X-Tra Records in 1956, entitled, “Remember Me To My Darling”.  In 1959, the quartet, now known as The Cashmeres, went into the studio with Eddie Jones ( former lead singer of The Demens & the Emersons) to record a novelty tune called, “Daddy Can I Go To The Hop”. Herb Abramson, founder of Jubilee and Atlantic Records, produced the single. Unfortunately, the single was not released.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels      The Veneers Aka The Chantels   

Richard Barrett                                                                       

In 1960, The Cashmeres had signed on to be produced and managed by Richard Barrett. He had written two songs for the group, “Believe Me (My Angel)” and “I”. At this time, the young ladies decided to change their name because they found that too many groups had already recorded under the name “Cashmeres”. They Choose the name "Veneers". Two songs were recorded and released on Barrett's short-lived Princeton Records. The record achieved a level of success in New York, but failed to chart nationally. Their release went unnoticed but it helped Barrett solve his Chantels problem by matching Veneers lead singer Annette Swinson  with the three remaining Chantels, Sonia, Jackie, and Rene.  In April 1960, still trying to capitalize on the group’s name, End released “Whoever You Are,” formerly the B side of “Every Night”; it had all the original Chantels magic but still lacked the driving commitment of the label.

The Veneers Aka The Chantels
The Chantels on Carlton with Annette Swinson Smith

 Although The Veneers were not entirely happy about this change of plans, they knew that they could not stop Annette, who needed to be out on the stage. In 1961, she officially joined The Chantels. End 1103* was a reissue of a 1959 recording by The Veneers, with Annette Smith on lead, on Princeton 102. The Veneers, without Annette, recorded as The Relatives for the Canadian- American related Almont Records, with Lorraine taking the lead for “(My Heart Goes) Ziga Ziga Zoom” in 1963 and “Never Will I Love You Again”, released in 1964.   In 1965 Barbara, Lorraine and Valerie recorded three songs for the Musicor label before they went their separate ways.


Songs :

The Swensons

  
Remember Me To My Darling                             Golly Boo

Eddie Jones & The Cashmeres (4)


Daddy Can I Go To The Hop

The Veneers

     
Believe Me (My angel)                    I                                Recipe Of Love

The Relatives (3)

     
Never Will I Love You Again      (My Heart Goes) Zigga Zigga Zoom    I'm Just Looking For Love

  
Hadn't Been For Baby / Eternally          A Change Of Heart

….

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The Chanters (1) ref Gene & Billy aka The Cats aka The Cats

Posted on by dion1


  Gene & Billy

The Chanters (1)  (Santa Monica, CA)
ref Gene & Billy aka The Cats


Personnel :

Ethel Brown

Gene Ford

Billy Boyd

Alan Boyd

 

Discography :

The Chanters (1)
Singles :
1954 - She Wants To Mambo / Tell Me, Thrill Me (RPM 415)
1955 - Watts / Why (Combo 78)
1955 - I love You / Hot Mama (Combo 92)
Unreleased :
1955 - Do you Remember (Combo)

The Cats
1955 - Get Gone / You're So Nice (Federal 12238)
1955 - I Don't Care No More / After I Gave You My Heart (Federal 12438)

Gene & Billy
1955 - Zerlene / It's Hot / (Spark 120)
1955 - Zerlene / The Whip (Billy & Billygoats) (Loma 702)

 

Biography :

The Chanters were a Santa Monica vocal group and not to be confused with the Queens, NY group. This group consisted of Ethel Brown from the squires (on Combo)  Gene Ford, Alan Boyd, and Billy Boyd. On RPM, they had just this one record. They also had two releases on Combo Records in 1955. Gene Ford had sung with Jim Forrest & The Four Feathers.

The Cats aka Gene & Billy    The Cats aka Gene & Billy

When the group broke up, Gene & Billy cut "Zerlene " "It's Hot" in 1955 on the short lived Spark label. Spark Records was the brainchild of the clever Jerry Leiber and the gutsy Mike Stoller. The Same year, Gene & Billy cut two Singles for Federal, King Record's subsidiary, under the name of the Cats.

 

Songs :

The Chanters (1)

  
She Wants To Mambo                           Tell Me, Thrill Me

  
I love You                                       Hot Mama

  
Watts                                                   Why


Do you Remember

 

The Cats

   
I Don't Care No More                                 Get Gone      

   
After I Gave You My Heart        You're So Nice

 

Gene & Billy

  
Zerlene                                      It's Hot

 ...

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J

Posted on by dion1

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The Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

Posted on by dion1

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

The Cordells  (Philadelphia)
aka The Cardells (2)
aka The Whirlwinds (2)
aka The Exceptions

 

Personnel:

Jimmy Ellis (Lead)

Earl Young (Bass)

Val Walker

Russell Boston

Charles Hynes

 

Discography :

The Cordells
1958 - Please Don't Go / Believe in Me (Bullseye 1017)
1962 - The Beat of My Heart / Laid Off (Bargain 5004)

Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)
1959 - Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy (Bee 1013)

The Whirlwinds (2)
1963 - After The Party / Heartbeat (Phillips)

The Exceptions
1965 - Down by the Ocean / Pancho's Villa (Inst.) (Pro 1/ Cameo 378)

 

Biography :

Along with the original Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the Dreamlovers, and others, the Cordells were one of Philadelphia's pioneering R&B groups. The members were Jimmy Ellis, (lead), Earl Young (bass), Val Walker, and Russell Boston, all from the Broad & Lehigh area of North Philly. They recorded "Please Don't Go" b/w "Believe in Me," for Bullseye Records in 1958 and didn't get the opportunity again until 1959 when they Backed Bunny Sigler on "Square From Nowhere" b/w "Laddy Daddy" as the Cardells. Bunny Sigler was a champion swimmer, having won the city Championship representing Bok School in South Phully. Walter "Bunny" Sigler  will become a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr. Emotion."

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)   The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)
Bunny Sigler                                                                                                           

Return to Jimmy Ellis and his fellows. The Group didn't get the opportunity again until 1961 when "The Beat of My Heart"/"Laid Off," fell on Bargain Records, this time using their original name, The Cordells. Neither side was more than a local play and while the group kept busy doing local gigs and built a little reputation around town, nothing really happened for them. The Philly singers became the Whirlwinds and recorded in 1963, this time for Phillips Records. "Heartbeat" b/w "After the Party" stiffed. They added Charles Hynes and tried it as The Exceptions. Pro 1 Records released the first Exceptions' single, "Down by the Ocean" b/w "Pancho's Villa," in 1965. It was originally scheduled for Phil Gaber's P & L label, but the deal never consummated. The record created a stir locally so Cameo Records snagged it for national distribution, but it never took off. Switching to Cameo's subsidiary, Parkway Records.

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)    The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

By the late 1960's Jimmy Ellis and the Exceptions had moved from doo wop into soul music.  The signed with the Groovy Grooves label and had two releases. Groovey Groves issued two of their shelved singles in 1972 to piggyback on the Trammps' Buddah recordings. Ellis and Young, two ex-Exceptions, were now Trammps, comprised at that time of members from the Exceptions and the Volcanoes. In addition, Young became a sought after session musician and recorded with Ron Baker and Norman Harris as Baker, Harris, & Young.


Songs :

The Cordells


Please Don't Go / Believe in Me

  
The Beat of My Heart                                 Laid Off          


Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)


Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy


The Whirlwinds (2)

  
Heartbeat                                   After The Party


The Exceptions

  
Down by the Ocean                              Pancho's Villa        



...

See comments

The Cordells aka The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

Posted on by dion1

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

The Cordells  (Philadelphia)
aka The Cardells (2)
aka The Whirlwinds (2)
aka The Exceptions

 

Personnel:

Jimmy Ellis (Lead)

Earl Young (Bass)

Val Walker

Russell Boston

Charles Hynes

 

Discography :

The Cordells
1958 - Please Don't Go / Believe in Me (Bullseye 1017)
1962 - The Beat of My Heart / Laid Off (Bargain 5004)

Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)
1959 - Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy (Bee 1013)

The Whirlwinds (2)
1963 - After The Party / Heartbeat (Phillips)

The Exceptions
1965 - Down by the Ocean / Pancho's Villa (Inst.) (Pro 1/ Cameo 378)

 

Biography :

Along with the original Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the Dreamlovers, and others, the Cordells were one of Philadelphia's pioneering R&B groups. The members were Jimmy Ellis, (lead), Earl Young (bass), Val Walker, and Russell Boston, all from the Broad & Lehigh area of North Philly. They recorded "Please Don't Go" b/w "Believe in Me," for Bullseye Records in 1958 and didn't get the opportunity again until 1959 when they Backed Bunny Sigler on "Square From Nowhere" b/w "Laddy Daddy" as the Cardells. Bunny Sigler was a champion swimmer, having won the city Championship representing Bok School in South Phully. Walter "Bunny" Sigler  will become a pop and R&B songwriter and record producer who has done extensive work with the team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and who was instrumental in creating the "Philly Sound" in the early 1970s. He is nicknamed "Mr. Emotion."

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)   The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)
Bunny Sigler                                                                                                           

Return to Jimmy Ellis and his fellows. The Group didn't get the opportunity again until 1961 when "The Beat of My Heart"/"Laid Off," fell on Bargain Records, this time using their original name, The Cordells. Neither side was more than a local play and while the group kept busy doing local gigs and built a little reputation around town, nothing really happened for them. The Philly singers became the Whirlwinds and recorded in 1963, this time for Phillips Records. "Heartbeat" b/w "After the Party" stiffed. They added Charles Hynes and tried it as The Exceptions. Pro 1 Records released the first Exceptions' single, "Down by the Ocean" b/w "Pancho's Villa," in 1965. It was originally scheduled for Phil Gaber's P & L label, but the deal never consummated. The record created a stir locally so Cameo Records snagged it for national distribution, but it never took off. Switching to Cameo's subsidiary, Parkway Records.

The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)    The Cordells aka  The Whirlwinds (2) aka The Exceptions aka The Cardells (2)

By the late 1960's Jimmy Ellis and the Exceptions had moved from doo wop into soul music.  The signed with the Groovy Grooves label and had two releases. Groovey Groves issued two of their shelved singles in 1972 to piggyback on the Trammps' Buddah recordings. Ellis and Young, two ex-Exceptions, were now Trammps, comprised at that time of members from the Exceptions and the Volcanoes. In addition, Young became a sought after session musician and recorded with Ron Baker and Norman Harris as Baker, Harris, & Young.


Songs :

The Cordells


Please Don't Go / Believe in Me

  
The Beat of My Heart                                 Laid Off          


Bunny Sigler & The Cardells (2)


Square From Nowhere / Laddy Daddy


The Whirlwinds (2)

  
Heartbeat                                   After The Party


The Exceptions

  
Down by the Ocean                              Pancho's Villa        



...

See comments