Doo Wop - Rhythm & Blues - jcpiazza26@gmail.com

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets
Eric Nathanson

The Vocal-Airs (Coney Island, Brooklyn)
aka The Blue Sonnets

Personnel :

Louis Fasanaro

Eric Nathanson (Second Tenor)

Joseph Piazza

Robert Kutner (First Tenor)

Discography :

The Vocal-Airs
Single :
1962 - Dance Dance / These Empty Arms (Herald 573)
Unreleased :
1962 - Crying In The Chapel (Herald)
1962 - Out Of Sight Out Of Mind (Herald)

The Blue Sonnets
1963 - Thank You Mr. Moon / It's Never Too Late (To Fall In Love) (Columbia 42793)

Ricky Reynolds (Eric Nathanson)
1959 - Let's Leave It That Way / Get The Message (Mohawk 201)

Biography :

Louis Fasanaro, Eric Nathanson, Joseph Piazza and Robert Kutner were from Bensonhurst. Eric Nathanson originally sang with Lonnie & the Carollons of Mohawk fame. Eric Nathanson recorded a solo single under the name of Ricky Reynolds before joining The Vocal-Airs. The Vocal-Airs recorded for Herald records "Dance Dance" b/w "These Empty Arms" in 1962.

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

"Dance Dance" have a little airplay in September 1962. From the same session, they recorded "Crying In The Chapel" and "Out Of Sight Out Of Mind", unfortunately the two songs were never released. In 1963, Vinnie Fiacco replaced Bob Kutner and the group evolved into the Blue Sonnets and recorded "Thank You Mr. Moon" b/w "It's Never Too Late" on Columbia Records.

The Vocal-Airs aka The Blue Sonnets

"Thank You Mr. Moon" was credited by M. Saunders and D. Blatt. D. Blatt is also known as Jay Black. M. Saunders is Marty Saunders (Sanders). They were members of Jay and the Americans. Bob Kutner also sang in the Boptones on Ember, The Four Romans on Wynne and with the Accents after their recording of "Rag To Riches".

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Vocal-Airs


   Dance Dance                                    These Empty Arms


Crying In The Chapel                   Out Of Sight, Out Of Mind

The Blue Sonnets

Thank You Mr. Moon It's Never Too Late

...

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The Pageants (2)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Pageants (2) (New York)

Personnel :

Leroy Bronson (Lead)

Barbara Reeves (Lead)

Melvin Riley

John Flores

Discography :

1961 - Show Them You Can Dance / It's Been So Long (Beacon 559)
1965 - She Is Your Girl / Make It Last (Groove 0056)
1965 - Are You Ever Coming Home / I'm A Victim (RCA 8601)

Biography :

John Flores and bandmates Barbara Reeves, Leroy Bronson and Melvin Riley were contracted to producer, publisher and record label owner Joe Davis for half a year beginning in October of 1963. One week after signing the deal, the Pageants came up with the four songs that were specified as the minimum number of recordings to be cut.Davis' first choice for a single was a pairing of the goading "Show Them You Can Dance" with the impatient "It's Been So Long." Musically there can be no fault found with the backup on these sides, a combo that features session ace guitarist Lawrence Lucie as well as a bassist known for his work with Elmore James, Bob Bushnell. They also recorded on the Groove & RCA Label.

Songs :

It's Been So Long She Is Your Girl

Make It Last

..

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The Metros (2) aka The Crystals (6) aka The Delmonicos (2)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

The Crystals (6) aka The Metros (2) aka The Delmonicos (2)

The Crystals (6) (Bronx, New York)
aka The Metros (2) aka The Delmonicos (2)

Personnel :

Johnny Angelillo (Baritone)

Joe Patriarca (Second Tenor)

Don Cruz (Lead & First Tenor)

Joe Garcia (Lead & First Tenor)

Jesus "Joe" Carillo (Bass)

Discography :

The Delmonicos (2)
Demo
1957 - Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter

The Metros (2)
1958 - All of My Life / Lookin' (Just 1502)

The Crystals (6)
Singles :
1959 - That's Where I Belong / Better Come Back To Me (Metro 20026)
1960 - Watching You / Oh, My You (Cub 9064) Dee-jay copy
1959 - I've Got My Reasons / Big John Grundy (Metro)
Unreleased
1959- The Beauty & the Beast (Cub)

Biography :

The Original Crystals came from Columbus High School. They are Joe Patriarca, Richie Sozzi, ,Joe Garcia, John Angelillo and Joe Premonts. . The Group changed their name to the Delmonicos and recorded a demo Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter in 1957/1958. Premont and Sozzi were soon replaced by Joe "Bassi" Carillo and Don Cruz respectively. John's brother Louis "Chubby" became the group's co-manager along with Louis Carbonetti. Chubby Angelillo got the group an audition with Moe Gale . Moe Gale changed the group's name to the Metro's and they recorded 2 sides released by Just Record "All of My Life" b/w "Lookin'" .

The Delmonicos The Original Crystals

Moe then formed his own agency (Moe Gale Agency) and took the guys to see Ray Ellis (yes, the band leader) at MGM where they auditioned for him. Some acetate demo 78s were done and sent to different publishing agencies. Ray wanted to record them, but only if they changed their name. The group got together and chose the name Crystals (back then, there were no well- known groups with this name, although hard-core followers of early rhythm and blues know there were several earlier groups with this name).

with Frank Beltran of the Young Tones

They then were signed by Ray for the Metro label (subsidiary of MGM) a 3 years contract releasing 2 45's on Metro and Cub both MGM subsidiaries. On the local strengh of these 45's the group would appear on Alan Freed's Big Beat TV show, Jack Spectors Rhode Island TV show, plus performing at many functions and venues including West Point.
Ed Engel (Crystal Ball records)
http://www.harmonytrain.com/dowoplady/Metros/metros.htm

Film :

Watching You

Songs :

The Delmonicos (2)


Cynthia                                        Baby Sitter

The Metros (2)


All of My Life

Lookin'

The Crystals (6)


That's Where I Belong                Better Come Back To Me


Watching You                       Oh, My You

I've Got My Reasons

...

Premont and Sozzi were soon replaced by Joe "Bassi" Carillo and Don Cruz respectively.
The Group changed their name to the Delmonicos and recorded a demo Cynthia b/w Baby Sitter in 1957/1958.

John's brother Louis "Chubby" became the group's co-manager along with Louis Carbonetti.
Chubby Angelillo got the group an audition with Moe Gale who changed the group's name to the Metro's.

They recorded 2 sides for the Just Record Label.
Soon Moe would open his own agency and took the group up to see Ray Ellis. Ray was the A&R man for MGM. He signed the group to a 3 years contract releasing 2 45's on Metro and Cub both MGM subsidiaries.

Once again the powers in charge decided the Metros on Metro wouldn't work.

The Group elected to take back their original name, The Crystals . It would be several years before the Phil Spector group would hit the charts so this name selection was a keeper.

On the local strengh of these 45's the group would appear on Alan Freed's Big Beat TV show, Jack Spectors Rhode Island TV show, plus performing at many functions and venues including West Point.
Ed Engel (Crystal Ball records)

http://www.harmonytrain.com/dowoplady/Metros/metros.htm

Videos :

Extraordinary song :

Oh, My You (A cappella)

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Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

Posted on July 13 2007 by dion1

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

James Leggat (Kelly Troy)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1) (Georgia, Atlanta )
aka The Jays (3)

Personnel :

James Leggat "Kelly Troy" (Lead)

Marty Jay

Marlyn Jay

Stan Jay

Discography :

The Three Jays (1)
1956 - The Memory Of You / Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio (RCA Victor 6692)
1959 - Rosa / Because Of You (Vee Jay 311)

Kelly Troy
1960 - Hairlooms / Remember When (Corvette CV 100)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1)
1961 - You’re Lucky In Love / In The Still Of The Night (Tad 101)

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1) (Uncredited)
1961 - You're Lucky In Love / Rockaway Playland (Tad 102)

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3)
1961 - You’re Lucky In Love / In The Still Of The Night (Harvey 102)

Biography :

According youtube through members families, James Leggat under the stage name of Kelly Troy was a Elvis Era rocker (part of the ‘Stars of Tomorrow’ Tour with Brenda Lee and Neil Sedaka) with slicked back hair, killer clothes, ever with one eye on the ladies and the other seeking out the nearest mirror. Songs under his stage name Kelly Troy “In the Still of the Night” and “Lucky In Love” among others. Originally from London, the eldest son of a Scot carpenter from the Highlands and his wife, a housewife from County Carlo, Ireland, James’ Father (and his siblings) was among the last W.W.I.I. refugees processed at Ellis Island. James Leggat saw America as the land of Opportunity. Though getting radio play and other industry notice, the Army, via the draft, brought James Sr. to Georgia where he met his wife, sister to one of his barrack buddies.

Kelly Troy & The Jays (3) aka The Three Jays (1)

                                                                        James Leggat

The Three jays was Marty Jay, Marlyn Jay and Stan Jay, who were billed as the Jays on the Harvey label . In 1956, the 13 year-old Marty Jay and his 10 and 11 year-old Siblings Stan and Marilyn Jay have a first single with "The Memory Of You (Legend Of James Dean)" b/w "Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio (One, Two, Three)" on Rca Victor. Three Years later another disc is released by Vee-Jay Records; "Rosa" b/w "Because Of You", Unfortunately I don't know if it's the same group.

Songs :

Kelly Troy & The Three Jays (1)


You’re Lucky In Love                In The Still Of The Night

Kelly Troy

Remember When

The Three Jays (1)

Caught, Caught, Ring-A-Leevio

...

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The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

Posted on July 12 2007 by dion1

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

The Chessmen (1) (Brooklyn, New York)
aka The Chessman
aka The Preludes (4)
aka The Preludes Five

Personnel :

Floyd Lark (lead)

Discography :

The Chessman (ft Bobby)
1958 – The Keeper Of My Love / Why (Safari 1011)

The Chessmen (1)
1958 - Du-Whop / I Live For You (MiraSonic 1002 & MiraSonic 1868)

The Preludes (4)
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

The Preludes Five
1961 - Don’t You Know Love / Starlight (Pik 230/231)

Biography :

Whoever Leroy R. Bates was he was on a roll in 1961, for not only was he writer of the Preludes Five's hit "Starlight", he was also the writer of the Crystals "There's No Other (like My Baby)" with hit the charts soon after. In those days the only people making money were the writers and publishers : those who 'merely' recorded their work rarely, if ever, saw anything from a record's sale.The Preludes Fives, if they were still together, would ge nothing which is probably what they got in 1961. Surprisingly for a hit record, both the group and their record label are clouded in obscurity.

The Chessmen (1) aka The Chessman aka The Preludes (4) aka The Preludes Five

Pik Records may have been based on the east coast, an assumption based on the record (Pik 230 "Don’t You Know Love" was the flip) breaking out in New York area June 1961. August 20 it had entered the Billboard hot 100 at 96, subsequently rising to 89 and 86. September 10th and 17th it was No80 and then it disappeared. The first pressing of the record was billed as by the Preludes, subsequent pressings adding the Five, presumably out of the group's concern that at least one other group with the same name could steal their bookings.Remarkably there was no follow-up and it seems the group immediatly disbanded. The quintet were lead by Floyd Lark and were the same group as the Chessman who recorded for Safari in 1958 and the Chessmen on Mirasonic the same year.

Songs :

The Chessman

Why The Keeper Of My Love

The Chessmen (1)

Du-Whop I Live For You

The Preludes (4) / The Preludes Five

Don’t You Know Love Starlight

...

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The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes

Posted on July 12 2007 by dion1

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes
Andy Magruder

The Blue Jays (2) (Washington, D.C.)
aka The Five Blue Notes

Personnel

Andy Magruder (Lead)

Waymond Mooney (First Tenor)

Robert Stroud (Second Tenor)

Moise Vaughn (baritone / bass)

Discography :

The Blue Jays (2)
1972 (1953) - Could I Adore You / Sweet Pauline (Roadhouse 1004)

The Five Blue Notes
1953 - My Gal Is Gone / Ooh Baby (Sabre 103)
1954 - The Beat Of Our Hearts / You Gotta Go Baby (Sabre 108)
1958 - My Special Prayer / Somethin' Awful (Onda 888)
1959 - My Special Prayer / The Thunderbird (inst by the Jammers) (Onda 888)

Andy Mack
1964 - Do You Wanta Go / Later Than You Think (Chess 1910)

Biography :

This group was founded by Magruder in 1950, when he was in junior High school. "Could I Adore You" and "Sweet Pauline" were recorded by the Five Blue Notes under their prerecording name, the Blue Jays. These songs were eventually released in 1972 by Les Moss of Roadhouse Records. When these unreleased tunes were originally recorded, the group was only a quartet consisting of Magruder, Waymond Mooney, Robert Stroud, and Moise Vaughan. Jackie Shedrick replaced Mooney, who joined the marines. When lead/tenor Fleming Briscoe was added, the group's name became the Five Blue Notes.

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes

They met William Bosco Boyd, the manager of the Clefs, who suggested that they try to record for a Chicago organization. They spent a month in Chicago before getting a contract to record. The contract was finally reached with Chance Records, and they recorded four songs that were all released on the Chance subsidiary Sabre. Magruder, disappointed that he never heard anything about the recordings, left to join the marines. While he was in the service, "My Gal Is Gone" was finally released by Chance/Sabre. Magruder was discharged in 1958 and found Stroud, Vaughan, Shedrick, and a new tenor, Louis Smalls, performing as the Five Blue Notes. They recorded one record for the Onda label, which went nowhere.

The Blue Jays (2) aka The Five Blue Notes
Andy Magruder (left) with the Spaniels at the Apollo

They stayed together for a year and broke up for good in 1960. Magruder then joined a later Spaniels group, and recorded on their last hit, "I Know," in 1961. He stayed with the Spaniels until 1963, when he tried to go it alone as a solo act. Magruder managed to get one record out by himself, under the name of Andy Mack The titles were "Do You Wanta Go" and "Later Than You Think," and he was backed by a young D.C. group, the Carltons. Aside from a few plays in the D.C. area, the record bombed.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/5BlueNotes/5bluenotes.html

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Blue Jays (2)

Sweet Pauline Could I Adore You

The Five Blue Notes


My Gal Is Gone                  Ooh Baby                      The Beat Of Our Hearts


You Gotta Go Baby               My Special Prayer           ‪Somethin' Awful‬

Andy Mack


Do You Wanta Go               Later Than You Think

…

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The Whispers (2)

Posted on July 11 2007 by dion1

Billy Thompson, Bill Mills, Terry Johnson, Eugene "Lump" Lewis, Eddie Rogers

The Whispers (2) (Baltimore, Md.)

Personnel :

Bill Mills (Lead)

Terry Johnson (First Tenor)

Eugene "Lump" Lewis (Second Tenor)

Billy Thompson (Baritone)

Eddie Rogers (Bass)

Discography :

1955 - Fool Heart / Don't Fool With Lizzie (Gotham 309)
1955 - Are You Sorry / We're Getting Married (Gotham 312)

Biography :

The Whispers formed in Baltimore in 1954 by first tenor Terry Johnson, second tenor Eugene "Lump" Lewis, high tenor Bill Mills, baritone Billy Thompson, and bass Eddie Rogers. In their matching powder-blue suits and red ties, the Whispers were soon a fixture of Baltimore's amateur circuit, regularly taking top honors. In the fall of 1954, the group expelled Rogers when he stole Johnson's girlfriend, and with new bass James Johnson, they signed to the Philadelphia-based Gotham Records by year's end, impressing label chief Ivin Ballen with their repertoire of original material. The Whispers' debut single, "Fool Heart," did not appear until the spring of 1955, followed in June by "Are You Sorry."

Neither record generated much attention, their momentum no doubt hampered by Johnson and Thompson's commitment to graduating high school. When Mills split from the Whispers later that year, the group gradually dissolved, and in late 1956 Terry Johnson joined the Flamingos, replacing his childhood friend Zeke Carey in the lineup.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Whispers/whispers.html

Songs :

Fool Heart / Don't Fool With Lizzie

Are You Sorry We're Getting Married

….

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The Four Notes (1) aka The Jewels (1) aka The Crows

Posted on July 11 2007 by dion1

Top : William"Bill"Davis & Daniel "Sonny'"Norton - Middle : Harold Major - Bottom : Gerald Hamilton

The Crows (Harlem, New York)
aka The Jewels (1) aka The Four Notes (1)

Personnel :

Daniel "Sonny'"Norton（Lead）

Mark Jackson（Tenor）

Harold Major（Tenor）

William"Bill"Davis（Baritone）

Gerald Hamilton（Bass）

Discography

Fat Man Humphries (bb The Four Notes)
1952 - I Can't Get Started With You / Lulubell Blues (Jubilee 5085)

Viola Watkins (bb The Crows)
1952 - Paint A Sky For Me / Really Real (no group) (Jubilee 5095)

The Crows

Singles :
1953 - Seven Lonely Days / No Help Wanted（Rama 3)
1953 - Gee / I Love You So（Rama 5）
1954 - Perfidia / Piano Player Plays A Tune（Gee 1)
1954 - Heartbreaker / Call A Doctor* (The Jewels (1)) （Rama 10）
1954 - Baby / Untrue（Rama 29）
1955 - Mambo Shevitz / Mambo No.5（Tico 1082）
1954 - Miss You / I Really, Really Love You（Rama 30）
1955 - Baby Doll / Sweet Sue（Rama 50）
Unreleased:
N/A - Don't Come Back (Rama)
N/A - What's The Matter With You, Woman (Rama)

The Jewels (1)
1954 - Call A Doctor* / Heartbreaker (The Crows)（Rama 10）

Lorraine Ellis (bb The Crows)
1954 - Perfidia / [Piano Player Play A Tune - Lorraine Ellis]
1955 - Mambo Shevitz / [Mambo No. 5 - Melino & His Orchestra]（Tico 1082)

*West Coast pressings had "Call A Doctor" credited to the "Jewels"

Biography :

When The Crows started out in 1951, practicing sidewalk harmonies, the original members were Daniel "Sonny" Norton (lead), William "Bill" Davis (baritone), Harold Major (tenor), Jerry Wittick (tenor), and Gerald Hamilton (bass). In 1952, Wittick left the group and was replaced by Mark Jackson (tenor and guitarist).

Frank "Fat Man" Humphries Viola Watkins

They were discovered at Apollo Theater's Wednesday night talent show by talent agent Cliff Martinez and brought to independent producer George Goldner who had just set up the tiny new Rama Records label. The Crows were the first group signed and the first to record. Their first songs they recorded were as backup Fat Man Humphries as The Four Notes and singer Viola Watkins.

The song "Gee" was the third song recorded during their first recording session, on February 10, 1953. It was put together in a few minutes by group member William Davis, with Watkins also being credited as cowriter. The song was first released as the B-side of a ballad, "I Love You So".

The Crows aka The Jewels (1) aka The Four Notes (1)

However, radio stations began turning it over and playing "Gee," first in Philadelphia and later in New York and Los Angeles. By January 1954 it had sold 100,000 copies, and by April it entered the national R&B and pop charts, rising to #2 R&B and #14 pop.The song was a huge hit a year after it was recorded.

In June 1953, The Crows were back in the studio recording "Heartbreaker" and "Call A Doctor." Issued in July 1953, the disc was released on the West Coast, for unknown reasons, with "Call A Doctor" being credited to the Jewels and "Heartbreaker" to the Crows.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Crows/crows.html

Songs :

Fat Man Humphries (bb The 4 notes)

Lulubell Blue I Can't Get Started With You

The Crows


Seven Lonely Days / No Help Wanted      I Love You So                Gee


Perfidia / Piano Player Plays A Tune       Call A Doctor / Heartbreaker           Baby / Untrue


     Mambo Shevitz                Miss You / I Really, Really Love You        Baby Doll / Sweet Sue

Viola Watkins (bb The Crows)

Paint A Sky For Me / Really Real

...

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The Venairs aka Ernie & The Halos (2) aka The Four Evers (2)

Posted on July 11 2007 by dion1

Paul Verdi, Jackie Jacobs, Alex Balbadora, Dominick Andraccho

The Venairs (Philadelphia)
aka Ernie & The Halos (2) aka The Four Evers (2)

Personnel :

Jackie Jacobs (Lead)

Paul Verdi (Tenor)

Alex Barbadoro (Second Tenor)

Dominick Andraccho (Baritone)

Discography :

The Venairs
1962 - Summertime / Poor Boy (AMS demo) (Unreleased)

The Four Evers (2)
1963 - Everybody South Street / One More Time (Jamie 1247)

Ernie & The Halo's (2)
1963 - Angel Marie / Darlin!!! Don't Make Me Cry (Guyden 2085)

Biography :

This group initially formed in 1960. After a great deal of practice and patience and a demo late spring 1962 as the Venairs , the Four-Evers auditioned for the manager of deejay Jerry Blavat, who thought they were great. Fate unfortunately didn't see it that way and they had to wait until March 1963 before a recording of theirs was produced and released on Philadelphia's Jamie label. “Everybody South Street” b/w “One More Time” arranged by Bob Finizio (The Fabulous Four) came out on February 16, 1963.

Bob Finizio

Prior to the release, there was no South Street dance in existence and when the disc began to take off, a dance was invented. The Four Evers did get on television dance shows in Baltimore, where the record took off. They go down there and first appear on [Buddy] Dean’s TV show and then on Bob Kaye’s with the Flamingos.” The Buddy Dean Show was immortalized as the tv dance show satirized in numerous John Waters productions like Hairspray, The Shag and Cry Baby. The Four Evers were signed as singers not dancers, but the nature of their single required them to try their feet at dancing.

Ernie Spano

About six monist elapsed when Bob Finizio contacted the restless quartet for some work. a few days later, they popped up in a studio all set to support neighborhood homeboy, Ernie Spano a member of the Four Dates who also tripped with the Fabulous Four. The Four Evers also backed Ernie Spano in the Bell-Sound –recorded release, “Angel Marie (The Girl from Across the Sea” b/w “Darling!! Don’t Let Me Cry” (Guyden 2085) which was released on March 27, 1963, soon after their own release. All of the doo-wop groups were soon overtaken by the arrival of the Beatles and the British muscial invasion that would come within the year.

Songs :

The Venairs


Poor Boy                                          Summertime

The Four Evers (2)


Everybody South Street                        One More Time

Ernie & The Halo's (2)

The Girl From Across The Sea Darlin!!! Don't Make Me Cry

....

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The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats

Posted on July 11 2007 by dion1

The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats

The Sputniks (1) (North Richmond, CA.)
aka The Greats

Personnel :

Curtis Stanton (First Tenor/Lead)

George Peeples (Tenor)

Robert Beale (Lead Tenor)

Lawrence Wydermayer (Bass)

Discography :

The Sputniks (1)
1957 - Hey Maryann / My Love Is Gone (Class 217)
1958 - Johnny's Little Lamb / Wait A Little While (Class 222)
1958 - My Love Is Gone / My Baby Twist (Pam Mar 601/602)
1958 - Clap Your Hands / Get Your Kicks (Pam Mar 607/608)

The Greats
1958 - Marching Elvis / Fiddler's Rock (Ebb 145)

Biography :

The Sputniks were originally The Four Doves of North Richmond, California who flowered briefly during the late Fifties. The group included Curtis Stanton, first tenor and lead, George Peeples, tenor, Robert Beale, lead tenor, and Lawrence Wydermayer, bass. Two years would pass before they made a record, Nathan "The Magnificent" Montague getting them signed to Class records in Los Angeles. In the Meantime Wesley Mitchell had replaced Peeples and they made the long trip to L.A for their sole Class recording session.

The Sputniks (1) aka The Greats
Nathan "The Magnificent" Montague

Four sides were cut and such was the label’s confidence that it took a national trad ad to promote "Hey Maryann" in early 1958. Montague thought it was a good gimmick to change the group’s name, given the current media coverage of the Russian Sputnik satellite. Bur despite this and Montague’s heavy airplay of a very infectious and commercial record, it called to sell. Even so, Class already put out the other sides in the can in February "Johnny's Little Lamb" b/w "Wait A Little While". The Sputniks cut a session at Ebb Records, "Marching Elvis" b/w "Fiddler's Rock" released in April 1958 as The Greats . Shortly before The Sputniks disbanded they cut some songs at Sierra Sound in Berkeley for the L.A.-based Pam Mar record company. When the Sputniks (1) decided to call it quits, Stanton signed up for barber school. Beale took up typewriter repair, Mitchell got a job at Chevron, and Wydermayer ended up working for the BART subway system.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Sputniks (1)


Hey Maryann                                My Love Is Gone


Johnny's Little Lamb                   Wait A Little While

My Love Is Gone

…

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