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

The Premiers (1) aka Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)

Posted on November 10 2017 by dion1

The Premiers (1) (Los Angeles)
aka Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)

Personnel :

Sammy Hagan (Lead)

Donald Frierson (Tenor)

Daniel Fields (Baritone)

Charles Taggart (Bass)

Discography :

The Premiers (1)
Singles:
1956 - Baby / New Moon (Dig 106)
1956 - Have A Heart / My Darling (Dig 113)
Unreleased :
1956 - Red Sails In The Sunset (Dig)
1956 - Your kiss (Dig)
1956 - Can It Be Real (Dig)

Julie Stevens & The Premiers (1)
1956 - Blue Mood / Crazy Bells (Dig 115/Eldo 107 (1960))

Julie Stephens bb The Premiers (1)(Uncredited)
1957 - I Don’t Want To Know / Take My Heart (Dig 129)

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)
1957 - Out Of Your Heart / Smoochie Poochie (Capitol 3722)
1957 - Don't Cry / Wild Bird (Capitol 3818)
1958 - Tail Light / Snaggle Bunnie (Capitol 3885)

Little Sammy Yates
1959 - Comic Book Crazy / Dodge City Baby (Genie 1003)
1960 - Can You Love Me / Papa Did The Chicken (Shade 1002)

Count Yates
1961 -The Golden Key / Chimpanzee (Regis 1)

Biography :

Johnny Otis his Dig label, including a small recording studio, in his home in Los Angeles in late 1955. He shut down the label in 1957 when his Johnny Otis Show signed a contract with Capitol Records. In the interim, he released 42 singles and 4 LPs, including such talent as Arthur Lee Maye And The Crowns, Tony Allen And The Night Owls, Mel Williams And The Jayos, the Johnny Otis Orchestra and The Premiers.

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1) aka The Premiers (1)

The Premiers consisted of Sammy Hagan (aka: Little Sammy Yates "Hagan", Donald Frierson, Daniel Fields, and Charles Taggart. Johnny Otis released their first release, "Baby" and "New Moon" in March 1956. The former side, a mid tempo rocker with Yates fronting a unison group chant, Yates referred to as a countermelody. Though The Premiers' first release didn't make much noise. Johnny Otis issued a second pairing by the group In June 1956. "My Darling" and "Have a Heart". Supported by an able studio band led by saxophonist Jackie Kelso (who shared writers' credits with Yates on both sides of the release). Like the first release, however, "My Darling" didn't go anywhere and neither did the group until Johnny Otis decided they should back new singer Julie Stephens, an 18-year old recent high school graduate from Santa Barbara California.

Julie wrote "Blue Mood" and we went in to rehearse it with her, She was in a blue mood when she wrote the song, but when she recorded it, it came out beautiful during the summer of 1958". "Blue Mood" became the biggest hit Dig Records ever had, even though it tailed to make the national charts. With the flip side rocker "Crazy Bells," Otis subsequently reissued it in 1960. After backing Stephens again on "Take My Heart" in 1957 it was time for The Premiers to move on. "After we left the Johnny Otis Show we went to Capitol Records and managed by Effie Smith and John Criner".

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1) aka The Premiers (1)

Kenneth Head replacing original bass Charles Taggart. The group now became known as Sammy Hagan & the Viscounts. Working with guitarist-arranger Jack Marshall and sax man Plash Johnson, among other backing musicians, the group turned out two outstanding ballads, "Out of Your Heart" and "Don't Cry' in 1957, followed by "Tail Light" in February 1958. The latter, which billboard described as a wistful rock ballad told of a guy who trails a car because he thinks his girl is in it with another guy. The tune has touches of the hit "Silhouettes". Unfortunately, the record buying public passed up "Tail Light," Which proved to be the final release for Hagan arid his group.

In 1960 Nagan recorded for John Criner as Little Sammy on the standout ballad "Can You Love Me" and ‘Papa Did the Chicken". According to Hagan, the voices heard in the background of "Can You Love Me" belong to Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith, the songwriting. Arranging team known for their work with The Olympics. According Hagan the backing musicians included Don & Dewey, while Hagan himself played piano. Sammy later continued to record as Count Yates and the Rhythm Crusaders.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Premiers (1)


Baby / New Moon                             Have A Heart


My Darling / Your kiss      Red Sails In The Sunset

Can It Be Real

Julie Stevens & The Premiers (1)


Blue Mood                           Crazy Bells

Julie Stephens bb The Premiers (1) (Uncredited)


I Don’t Want To Know                             Take My Heart

Sammy Hagan & The Viscounts (1)


Out Of Your Heart                            Smoochie Poochie


Don't Cry                                         Wild Bird


       Tail Light                        Snaggle Bunnie

Little Sammy Yates

Comic Book Crazy Dodge City Baby

Can You Love Me

Count Yates

The Golden Key Chimpanzee

…

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The Ballads (1)

Posted on November 7 2017 by dion1

The Ballads, 1961 with Dick Arnold (Front) Frank Airone, Jack Davis & Bob McGowan

The Ballads (1) (Branford, Connecticut)

Personnel :

Dick Arnold

Jack McCoy

Patricia Hurley

Sonny Manzo

Discography:

The Ballads (1)
1956 - Before You Fall In Love / Broke (Franwill 5028)
1960 - Somehow / Knee Bop (Ron-Cris 1003)

Dick Arnold
1961 - I Need Her / I Know (Ron-Cris 1006)

The Five Satins (Feat: Dick Arnold)
1964 - No One Knows / Musical Chairs (Inst.) (Sammy 103)

Biography :

The Ballads formed as a vocal group harmony group in 1955 while attending Branford High School (Branford, Connecticut). In 1955, the original group consisted of Dick Arnold, Jack McCoy, Patricia Hurley and Sonny Manzo. Rehersals Took place in the back room of Manzo's Carvel store in Branford, CT. In 1956, The Ballads recorded "Before You Fall In Love" and "Broke". The recording Was made in a small recording studio in the store of Doc Francis. William "Doc" Francis had an art and music store in Westville, CT in the 1950s.

Dick Arnold

For some years the group also enlisted singers from local High Schools and had guest singers from other local New Haven groups that came to perform with the Ballads at High School dances and record hops. In 1960, After many staff changes, the group consists of Dick Arnold, Frank Airone, Jack Davis and Bob McGowan. The new group will return to the studio to record "Somehow" b/w "Knee Bop". The single will be released On Ron-Cris records owned by Dominic Rondina. In 1961, On the same label, Dick Arnold will record "I Need Her" b/w "I Know" . Dick Arnold later joined the Five Satins / Restless Hearts and sang lead on "No One Knows".

Songs :

The Ballads (1)

Somehow                                      Before you fall in love


Knee Bop                                      Broke

Dick Arnold

I Need Her I Know

The Five Satins (Feat: Dick Arnold)

No One Knows

...

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Linda Star & The Starlets (4)

Posted on November 7 2017 by dion1

Linda Star & The Starlets (4) (Hollywood)

Personnel :

Linda Star

Discography :

1963 - Rate-A-Date Book / Find A Star (Joey 104)

Biography :

Linda Star & The Starlets are from Hollywood. The group recorded "Rate-A-Date Book" and "Find A Star" on the tiny label Joey in Hollywood.

Linda Star & The Starlets (4)

Songs :

Find A Star

…

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Chip & The Quartertones

Posted on November 6 2017 by dion1

The Intentions (2)
Chip & The Quartertones : Chip Kopaczewiki, Dick Curry, Jimmy Murkens & Tony Galantino

Chip & The Quartertones (Philadelphia, Pa.)
ref : The Intentions (2)

Personnel :

Chip Kopaczewski (Lead)

Tony Galantino (Baritone/Bass)

Jimmy Murkens (1st/2nd Tenor)

Dick Curry (Baritone/2nd Tenor)

Jimmy Gleason (1st Tenor)

Discography :

Chip & The Quartertones
Single :
1964 - Simple Simon / You Were My Baby (Carlton 604)
Unreleased :
1964 - He's In Love With Sandra (Carlton)
1964 - She Walked Away (Carlton)

The Intentions (2)
1964 - I'm In Love With A Go Go Girl / Wonderful Girl (Melron 5014)

Biography :

Chip Kopaczewski first recorded with the Quartertones in 1964. That group didn't last as long as the list of its original members: Chip Kopaczewski (lead), Tony Galantino (baritone/bass), Jimmy Murkens (1st/2nd tenor), Dick Curry (baritone/2nd tenor) and Jimmy Gleason (1st tenor). They practice and singing locally when signed Bill Fredericks as their manager who connected the group with LeRoy Lovett a record executive.

The Intentions (2)
Chip & The Quartertones : Chip Kopaczewski, Tony Galantino, Dick Curry & Jimmy Murkens

In the fall of 1964 LeRoy Lovett send the group at the Sound Plus Studio on Kensington Av. in Philadelphia to cut "Simple Simon" and "You Were My Baby" .The single will be released released on the Carlton label in New York owned by Jack Carlton. "Simple Simon" and "You Were My Baby" Which came to be the entire catalogue of singles released by the group, it abandoned in the summer of '65 as Chip Kopaczewski and fellow member, Tony Galantino, joined the Intentions. Before the arrivals of Chip & Tony, the Intentions is composed by Eddie Sachetti (lead/1st tenor), Albert DiPrieto (baritone), Charlie Votta (1st tenor) & Tony Avicol.

The Intentions (2)
The Intentions : Al DiPrietro, Tony Avicol, Charlie Votta and Eddie Sachetti (seated)

The new intentions, Eddie Sachetti, Albert DiPrieto, Charlie Votta, Tony Galantino and Chip Kopaczewski released "I'm In Love With a Go Go Girl" b/w "Wonderful Girl" in 1965. One side is an original composition by the group, and the flip side is an exceptional version of the Five Satins song. The same year their musical venture was finished. Kopaczewski, Galantino and Votta then attended Cheney University in Pennsylvania together, not to enter into the music business again.

Songs :

Chip & The Quartertones


Simple Simon                           You Were My Baby


He's In Love With Sandra                  She Walked Away

The Intentions (2)


I'm In Love With A Go Go Girl                       Wonderful Girl

…

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The Ray-Vons

Posted on November 2 2017 by dion1

The Ray-Vons
Karl Zeeb (Rusty Lane)

The Ray-Vons (Livingston, NJ)

Personnel :

Karl Zeeb (Rusty Lane)

Discography :

The Ray-Vons
1964 - Judy / Regina (Laurie 3248)

Rusty Lane
1958 - Darling Goodbye / Lonely One (Laurie 3019)

Rusty Lane bb The Mystics (uncredited)
1959 — Karen / Comes The Day (Laurie 3031)

Biography :

Karl Zeeb Jr. of 47 Hazelwood Avenue, Livingston, NJ., was a 1957 graduate of Livingston High School. From 1958 and under the name of Rusty Lane, he recorded two songs he wrote "Darling Goodbye" and "Lonely One" released by Laurie Records. With this first single he appear on the Dick Clark television show were he sing the two songs. On the second single in 1959, he was back up by The Mystics, although the group was uncredited on the label. He has performed on the Alan Freed rock’n roll show.

The Mystics (1959)                                               Karl Zeeb (Rusty Lane)

In octobre 1959, he was held on charges of burglary in connection with thefts of a piggy bank, TV sets and cash from 29 homes to raise money for a car and a bride. He was held without bail on charges of breaking, entering, larceny and receiving stolen goods. His arrest puts a stop to his career. Yet in 1964, he recorded two song "Judy" and "Regina". According to some source, he records all the voices. The writer on "Judy" is Rusty Lane ; The writers on "Regina" are Rusty Lane, Ernie Maresca, and Lou Zerato. The single was released on Laurie 3248 Under the name Of The Ray-Vons.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Ray-Vons


Judy                                     Regina

Rusty Lane


Darling Goodbye                               Lonely One

Rusty Lane bb The Mystics (uncredited)

Karen Comes The Day

…

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The Dolphins (3) aka The Dual Tones

Posted on October 30 2017 by dion1

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

The Dolphins (3) Port Chester, New York)
aka The Dual Tones

Personnel :

James Cascio

Anthony Fotia

Discography :

The Dual Tones
1959 - Bubble-Gum Bop! / I'll Belong To You (Sabre 203)

The Dolphins (3)
1961 - Rainbow's End / One More For The Road (Empress 102)

Biography :

The Dolphins were were James Cascio and Anthony Fotia. They were from Port Chester, New York. In 1959, James and Anthony recorded two songs : "Bubble-Gum Bop!" b/w "I'll Belong To You". The single was released on the tiny Sabre records in New York. they were billed as the Dual Tones. They had the pleasure of appearing on the stage of an Allan Freed show in the Catskills back in 1959 were and they backed up Johnny Maestro on "16 Candles".

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

At the end of the year 1960, James Cascio and Anthony Fotia sign a recording contract with Empress and change their name to the Dolphins . Empress was a subsidiary of Valmor Records. The Valmor Company was started in the fall of 1960 in New York city. It was a division of Countess, international, and owned and run by Gene and Jody Malis (Jody often used her maiden name, Cameron).

The Dual Tones aka The Dolphins (3)

In 1961, Valmor opened the subsidiary label, Empress. The Empress label lasted about a year and only released 8 singles. The new renamed Dolphins recorded two ballads : "Rainbow's End" and "One More For The Road" released on Empress 102. After the empress release, Anthony Fotia moved to the Bronx.

Songs :

The Dolphins (3)


One More For The Road                   Rainbow's End

The Dual Tones


I'll Belong To You                            Bubble-Gum Bop!

...

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The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

Posted on October 29 2017 by dion1

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

The Rajahs (New Haven, Conn.)
aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

Personnel :

Leroy Griffin (Lead)

"Sonny" Washburn (First Tenor)

Eddie Martin (Second Tenor)

"Sonny" Griffin (Baritone)

Leroy McNeil (Bass)

Discography :

Singles
1957 - Shifting Sands / I Feel In love (Klik 7805)
1973 - Rose Ann (a capella) / You're Crying (a capella) (Klik 1019)
1973 - Story To You (a capella) / I Love You So (The Five Satins) (Klik 1020)

Unreleased :
1958 - Help Me (Demo)

Biography :

The Nutmegs were a 1950s American doo wop vocal group from New Haven, Connecticut. They are best known for their songs "Story Untold" and "Ship of Love," both released in 1955. Each single made the national R&B charts, with "Story Untold" reaching #2 and "Ship of Love" peaking at #13. The quintet was led by tenor Leroy Griffin and was signed to Herald Records in New York.

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

In 1956, The Nutmegs returned home to New Haven, Connecticut, after a disagreement with Alan Freed, who accused them of including obscenities in their act. Billy Emery, who was with the group prior to recording, left to marry and Tyson left to concentrate on his first love, Gospel. The Griffins and McNeil remained and were joined by Washburn from the Five Dukes on Atlas and Eddie Martin from the Five Satins.

The Rajahs aka The Nutmegs aka The Lyres

To Avoid contractual problems, they changer their name to the Rajahs. A single as the Rajahs on Connecticut's Klik label (1957) with ”Shifting Sands” and ”I Feel In love” have poor result. Griffin soon changed the group right back into the Nutmegs, but it was Washburn who assumed some of the lead vocal chores on later sides by the group such as the 1962 "Crazy 'Bout You." They made records as the Lyres and the Rajahs, but it’s under their main name The Nutmegs had their two big R&B chart hits. Both were composed by the group's distinctive lead singer, Leroy Griffin.

Songs :


Shifting Sands                            I Feel In love


Rose Ann / You're Crying                          Story To You

…

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The Sliders (1)

Posted on October 28 2017 by dion1

Byron Gibson

The Sliders (1) (Los Angeles, CA)

Personnel :

Byron Gibson JR. (Lead)

Judge Dennis

Eugene Jackson

Clarence Alexander (Bass)

Leo Alexander (Tenor)

Discography :

The Sliders (1) as The Pharaohs
Unreleased :
1956 - My Little Girl (Specialty)

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)
Single :
1956 - The One I Love / Honey-Dew (Specialty 566)
Unreleased :
1956 - I Want 'Cha Baby (Specialty)

"Flick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)
1956 - Footloose And Fancy-Free / Etta Mae (Specialty 587)

The Sliders (1)
1958 - There Is a Great Big Moon / Love Is Like a Mountain (Chevron 750)

Johnny Two-Voice bb The Sliders (1) (Uncredited)
1958 - You And Your Lovin' Ways / Comin' Around The Mountain (Specialty 676)
1959 - Superman / You Done Gone (Specialty 685)

Biography :

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1) were also known as The Pharaohs "I Want 'Cha Baby" was done at Master Recorders On December 7, 1955 and never released (although this session did produce a couple of singles by the young group). The Sliders / Pharaohs were Byron Gibson JR., Judge Dennis, Eugene Jackson, Clarence Alexander & Leo Alexander. Bumps Blackwell’s combo instrumentally Backed their vocals. The Sliders cut two single for Specialty before Byron Gibson joins a group called Freddie Tieken & the Rockers with which he will record some singles under the name of Wild Child Gipson.

The Sliders (1)
Wild Child Gipson & The Rockers

From there The Sliders needed a lead singer and Vernon Garrett joined the group . Joe Gordon and Patricia Slater replace Judge Dennis and Eugene Jackson in the group. The Sliders became a very well known group in L.A. along with the Hollywood Flames, The Penguins, The Fortunes and other groups. They recorded "Love is Like a Mountain" (Vocal Joe Gordon) b/w "There Is a Great Big Moon" (Vocal Vernon Garrett) for George Garabinia.

The Sliders (1)
Johnny Morissette (Johnny Two-Voice)

In 1958, Johnny Morissette (Johnny Two-Voice) had managed to secure a contract with Specialty records, and in October the company released "You And Your Lovin' Ways" and "Comin' Around The Mountain" . Art Rupe & Sonny Bono produced the session with H.B. Barnum arranging & The Sliders (Vernon Garrett, Clarence Alexander, Joe Gordon and Patricia Slater) singing backgrounds. Art Rupe chose to issue the remaining two songs from the initial session two monts later. There were "Superman" coupled with "You Done Gone". In 1959, Gene Mumford hired away Joe Gordon for Billy Ward and The Dominoes. That was the end of the group.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Byron "Slick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)


The One I Love / Honey Dew                      I Want 'Cha Baby

"Flick" Gipson & The Sliders (1)


Footloose And Fancy-Free                     Etta Mae

The Sliders (1)


Love Is Like A Mountain             There's A Great Big Moon Tonight

Johnny Two-Voice bb The Sliders (1) (Uncredited)


Superman                                           You Done Gone


Comin' Around The Mountain              You And Your Lovin' Ways

…

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The Rookies (1)

Posted on October 25 2017 by dion1

The Rookies (1) (Nashville,TN.)

Personnel :

Joe Perkins

Freddie Carpenter "Freddie North"

Discography :

Joe Perkins & The Rookies (1)
1957 - Time Alone Will Tell / Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It (King 5005)
1957 - How Much Love Can One Love Hold / A New Feeling (King 5030)

Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies (1)
1958 - Take Me Back Lover / Money, Money, Money (Athens 705/East West 112)

Biography :

Joe Perkins, Born in Nashville, December 1, 1935 had always wanted to become a professional singer. His family objected to this idea for a long time but after they saw how much singing really meant to him they encouraged him. In school he participated in the Glee Club and Dramatic Club as well as playing baritone saxophone in the school orchestra for a short time. Joe Perkins was graduated from Cameron High School in the spring of 1956. The four others in the group known as the Rookies are still in high school but they devote every spare moment they can to their singing.

The Rookies (1)

Joe Perkins and the Rookies cut "Time Alone Will Tell" b/w "Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It" for release on Cincinnati's King label early in 1957, followed by the Bragg/Riley song "How Much Love Can One Heart Hold" coupled with joe's composition "A New Feeling". Joe Perkins split from the group and Having recorded for several small US labels during the early 60′s, it was only his ‘Little Eefin Annie’ single for Sound Stage 7 in ’63 that charted at #76. One of the members of the group is none other than Freddie Carpenter later known as Freddie North. In 1958, as Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies, they recorded "Take Me Back Lover" b/w "Money, Money, Money" released by Athens Records from Nashville . Atlantic's East West subsidiary gave it national distribution credited just to Freddie Carpenter.

The Rookies (1)
Joe Perkins

After that single, he split from the Rookies and adopted the name Freddie North, releasing "Okay, So What" with Buddy Killen in 1960. He managed to promote the single on American Bandstand but the single stalled. In 1961, he cut a couple of songs with Billy Sherrill that were licensed to Sam Phillips' Phillips International. As North worked at getting his recording career off the ground, he appeared on WLAC-TV's R&B show Night Train and took side gigs as a demo singer for country music publishing houses. He kept recording for various companies -- there was a side on Capitol, and 1964's "The Hurt" for R.I.C. -- but he opted for a job at Nashboro in 1965. He quickly worked his way into the promo department, but when the opportunity to record for Nashboro's fledgling A-Bet subsidiary arrived in 1967, he leaped at the chance. Produced by Bob Holmes, "Don't Make Me Look So Bad" was his first release for the label, followed by "I Have a Dream." North took control of his recordings in 1969, with the bulk of these sessions showing up on the Magnetic North LP in 1970.

Songs :

Joe Perkins & The Rookies (1)


A New Feeling                        Ain’t You Glad Nature Did It


How Much Love Can One Love Hold       Time Alone Will Tell

Freddie Carpenter & The Rookies (1)


Money, Money, Money                    Take Me Back Lover

…

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The Eldorays

Posted on October 22 2017 by dion1

(From left) Jackie, Howie, Johnny & Charlie

The Eldorays (East Harlem, New York)

Personnel :

Jackie (Lead)

Howie (Lead)

Johnny (Second Tenor)

Charlie Cintron (Baritone)

Discography :

1961 - Everything's Gonna Be Alright / Nights Of Ecstasy (Bud 114)

Biography :

The Eldorays were from East Harlem on 123rd street. Their manager was Ernest Fogle from the East River Houses (Projects) on 102nd St and 1st Ave. Charlie Cintron also lived there and that's how he met Ernest Fogle. At the time Ernest was also managing The Emanons. Charlie then moved to the Wagner Houses (Projects) on 124th St and 2nd Ave. That's where he met Howie who lived on 123rd St between 2nd and 3rd Avenue. Howie brought in Jackie who was a gospel singer in church. Charlie brought in Johnnie and The Eldorays were born.

The Eldorays

They recorded "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" b/w "Nights of Ecstasy" released on the tiny label Bud. For their recording, Ernest used his friends band "The Cliff Riders". Jackie did lead on "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" and Howie did lead on "Nights of Ecstasy" . "Everything's Gonna Be Alright" got 4 stars and "Nights Of Ecstasy" got 3 stars under "Strong Sales Potential" on Billboard Magazine. Charlie joined the U.S. Air Force in 1961 after this & the group broke up. The Air Force sent him to Massachusetts and he stayed there for 45 years. In 2010, he moved to Florida where he sang with The Casinos (Then you can tell me goodbye) for 5 years.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Nights Of Ecstasy Everything's Gonna Be Alright

...

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