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

Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes

Posted on April 8 2017 by dion1

Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes (Winter Park, FL)

Personnel :

James Walter Hopkins (Jimmy "Dale" Jordan) (Guitar and Lead Vocals)

Carl Larson (Drums and Vocal)

Lonnie Lee (Guitar and Vocal)

Discography :

The Fabulous Earthquakes
1960 - In The Chapel In The Moonlight / Please Be My Girl (Meridian 1518)

Jimmy Jordan
1962 - The Grass Looked Greener / Tick Tock (Roulette 4501)

Biography :

James Walter Hopkins Was born in Knoxville, TN. Talented musician and vocalist, he formed his group in 1959 named Fabulous Earthquakes with Carl Larson, Lonnie Lee. The group recorded in 1960 "In The Chapel In The Moonlight" b/w "Please Be My Girl". The disc will be released at the end of 1960 by meridian Records in Floride as Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes, vocal by Jimmy Hopkins and the Starfire, It is in fact the same group. The record has a bit of success and Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes played in Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach...

Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes
The Fabulous Earthquakes

In 1962, Jimmy Hopkins went to Roulette and recorded "The Grass Looked Greener" b/w "Tick Tock" released under the name of Jimmy Jordan. Jimmy Jordan traveled in the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars with such stars as Dale and Grace, The Dovels, Timi Yuro, and Lou Christie.” Jimmy later teamed up with Connie Sattenfield and became Jimmy "Dale" Jordan and started using the stage name of Dale & Grace . The pair recorded an album called "Dale and Grace - Together Again" and toured as "The All New Dale & Grace Show".

Jimmy & The Fabulous Earthquakes
Jimmy Jordan

The duo recorded a Gospel album called "Dale & Grace - In God's Hands" in 1998 and own Dale & Grace Ministries, as well as having a syndicated, Gospel radio show. Although the name of their act is the same, they make it clear that they are not the duo that sold over seven and half million Rock 'n' Roll records, although many fans are often confused. Dale Houston continued on the road with his band and Grace Broussard sang as a solo act across the United States. They were inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 1997, and into the Gulf Coast's Hall of Fame in 1998.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Fabulous Earthquakes


        Please Be My Girl         In The Chapel In The Moonlight

Jimmy Jordan


              Tick Tock                             The Grass Looked Greener

...

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The Robinson Bros.

Posted on April 8 2017 by dion1

The Robinson Bros.

The Robinson Bros. (Los Angeles)

Personnel :

Robin Robinson

Robbie Robinson

Discography :

Robinson Bros
1962 - Party Time / Never Look Back (Flair 102)

Robin Robinson
1957 - I Promise You / Gypsy In My Soul (Antler 4002/ Atlantic 1135)
1957 - More Than Anything / Please Give Your Love To Me (Poplar 114)

Robbie Robinson
1962 - Close To You / Just A Little More Time (Flair 104)

Biography :

In 1956, Robin Robinson recorded "I Promise You" on Buck Ram's Antler records. It was a pop ballad, written by Buck Ram. The disc made enough noise that in April of 1957, Atlantic purchased it from Buck Ram and released it. Robinson had just one other record "More Than Everything" recorded for Poplar records in 1958.

The Robinson Bros.
Robin Robinson Robbie Robinson

In the spring of 1958 , his younger brother, Robbie Robinson replaced Milton Grayson in the Dominoes and was part of the new Flairs in 1959, renamed the Flares by Buck Ram with Thomas Miller, George Hollis, Eddie King and Beverly Harris. In 1962, Robin and Robbie , The two brothers are gathered to record ”Party Time” b/w ”Never Look Back” as The Robinson Bros released on Flair records, a short-lived label owned by Jim Foulds.

The Robinson Bros.
Robin Robinson

From the same session, Flair released "Close To You" b/w "Just A Little More Time" by Robbie Robinson. Later Robbie Robinson had joined Charles Gray's Ink Spots group While robin disappears from the music scene.

Songs :

???

…

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The Mondellos

Posted on April 4 2017 by dion1

Alice Jean Wilton

The Mondellos (Pittsburgh, Ca)

Personnel :

Alice Jean Wilton (Soprano)

Ollie "Yul" McClay (Tenor)

Ron Lawson (Tenor)

Charles Jackson (Bass)

Gary Williams (Tenor)

Discography :

Alice Jean & The Mondellos
1957 - 100 Years From Today / Come Back Home (Rhythm 102)
1957 - Daylight Saving Time / That's What I Call Love (Rhythm 106))
1957 - Happiness Street / Hard To Please (Rhythm 109)

Yul McClay & The Mondellos
1957 - Never Leave Me Alone / Over The Rainbow (Rhythm 105)

Little Willie Littlefield (bb the Mondellos)
1957 - Ruby-Ruby / Easy Go (inst.) (Rhythm 108)

Bob Jeffries (bb the Mondellos)
1958 - Never Let Me Go / (Irma Special - Roland Mitchell) (Rhythm 110)

Jackie Gotroe (bb the Mondellos)
1958 - Raised On Rock And Roll / Rock It To The Moon (Rhythm 111)

Rudy Lambert & The Mondellos
1958 - My Heart / That's What I Call Love (Rhythm 114)

The Mondellos
1990 - You'll Never Know / Hard To Please (The Marcels) (Rhythm 118)

Biography :

Founded by Ollie "Yul" (nicknamed because he shaved his head like movie star Yul Brynner) McClay, Ron Lawson and Charles Jackson, the Mondellos were one of the first groups to sign and record on the Rhythm Records label created by Bay Area basketball great and later popular Bay Area disc jockey Don Barksdale. McClay, Lawson and Jackson began singing together in Pittsburg (California) like many doo-wop groups around the country. The Mondellos, who were still nameless and performed as "a local group" was formally started in 1957. McClay and Jackson were attending East Contra Costa Junior College (now known as Diablo Valley College) and added a college classmate, Gary Williams. At Lawson’s suggestion, the group listened to a 15-year-old high school girl named Alice Jean Wilton, who blew the group away with her singing and piano-playing ability, and was immediately asked to join the group.

Don Barksdale

Ernie Petrucci, a drummer from Lafayette rounded out the group. Enjoying success at clubs and school dances, the group auditioned for Music City Records in San Francisco but was not signed. McClay’s girlfriend’s father knew Barksdale and arranged an impromptu audition for the group. Barksdale liked their sound, took them to his studio and recorded an old song "One Hundred Years From Today," originally recorded a decade earlier by the Jones Brothers. The flip side of the record was "Come Back Home." Barksdale gave the group its name, The Mondellos. Barksdale brought in Peewee Kingsley to front the band, and the record was released in May of 1957 with the group listed as Alice Jean and the Mondellos.

Bob Jeffries Little Willie Littlefield Jackie Gotroe

The record received some air play, and the group, minus Petrucci, began to get billings on the R & B circuit. A near-tragic traffic accident that nearly cost Williams his life and left McClay badly injured forced the group to disband for a while, but when it got back together, it returned to Barksdale’s studio and recorded "Never Leave Me Alone" and "Over the Rainbow," which was released as a single listing the band as Ollie "Yul" McClay and the Mondellos. A third recording soon followed with Wilton again featured as the lead singer. The group also did some backup work for Little Willie Littlefield, Bob Jeffries and Jackie Gotroe.
http://www.uncamarvy.com/Mondellos/mondellos.html

Songs:

Alice Jean & The Mondellos

100 Years From Today / Come Back Home

Daylight Saving Time / That's What I Call Love      Happiness Street / Hard To Please

Yul McClay & The Mondellos

Never Leave Me Alone / Over The Rainbow

Little Willie Littlefield (bb the Mondellos)     Bob Jeffries (bb the Mondellos)


Ruby-Ruby / Easy Go (inst.)                    Never Let Me Go

Jackie Gotroe (bb the Mondellos)


Raised On Rock And Roll             Rock It To The Moon

Rudy Lambert & The Mondellos              The Mondellos


My Heart / That's What I Call Love                  You'll Never Know

...

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The Furys (2) aka The Cyclones (2)

Posted on March 31 2017 by dion1

The Cyclones (2) aka The Furys (2)

The Furys (2) (Los Angeles)
aka The Cyclones (2)
ref : The Centennials

Personnel :

Jerome Evans (Baritone / Lead)

Robert Washington

Melvin White

Georges Taylor

Jimmy Green

Discography :

The Cyclones (2)
1959 - Big Mary / Good Goodnight (Forward 313)

The Furys (2)
1961 - So Tuff / Over You (Pains In My Heart) (Edsel 786 / Mack IV 05)
1962 - Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart / Never More (Mack IV 112)
1962 - If There's A Next Time / Another Fella (Mack IV 114)
1962 - I Really Feel Good / The Old Days (Mack IV 115)
1964 - Gee Baby / Somebody's Fox (Mack IV 117)
1964 - I Lost My Baby / What Is Soul (Mack IV 118)
1964 - Where My Money Goes / Cover Girl (Aura 396)
1964 - Baby You Can Bet Your Boots / The Man Who Has Everything (Liberty 55692)
1964 - If I Didn't Have A Dime / Dream (Liberty 55719)
1964 - Anything For You / Cat 'N Mouse (World Pacific 386)

The Centennials
1961 - My Dear One / The Wayward Wind (Dot 16180)

Biography :

JJerome Evans started singing when he was a mere 3 years old imitating songs he heard on the radio. Growing up in the West Los Angeles neighborhood of 42nd Street between Broadway and Main, Jerome starting "foolin' around" with his brothers and some other friends singing in amateur shows in 1952. Later, Jerome formed a group called the Cyclones along with Robert Washington, Melvin White and George Taylor. In 1959, the Cyclones recorded "Big Mary" for George Motola's Forward Records (Forward 313). In the same period Jerome Evans had been a member of The Lions & The Centennials.

The Cyclones (2) aka The Furys (2)
Jimmy Green Jimmy McEachin (Mack)

Later, in 1962, the four members of the Cyclones joined Jimmy Green (the brother of Vernon Green of the Medallions) to form a new group. The group was practicing one day when songwriter/producer Jimmy McEachin (who wrote such novelty hits as the Fight and Gravel Gert for the Barons in 1959) heard them and decided to take them into the studio giving them their new name - the Furys. The group recorded a number of records for McEachin including So Tough b/w I've Got a Pain in My Head (Over You) (Edsel 786 -1961).

The Furys (2) aka The Cyclones (2)

"Over You" did pretty well for 6 months and was played a lot on KGFJ and was pushed by Hunter Hancock on his radio show. The Furys later would score on McEachin's own Mark IV label with a rendition of "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" b/w "Never More" . Of all the groups that recorded Zing, the Furys' version is probably the most recognized. That was the beginning of everything for the Furys, working with the William Morris agency, the group did a lot of big shows.

The Cyclones (2) aka The Furys (2)

The Furys later moved to Liberty records where they recorded "Man Who Has Everything" b/w "Baby, You Can Bet Your Boots" and "If I Didn't Have A Dime" b/w "Dream" and the World Pacific label where they cut "Cat 'N Mouse" b/w "Anything For You .The Furys also recorded under the name of Private Eye and did Charlie Chan and Dances With Charlie Chan (Kris Records). When the British invasion hit, the Furys went overseas doing tours in Japan and in southeast asia (in 1970). The group later disbanded in the early 1970's.

Discography :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Cyclones (2)


      Good Goodnight                       Big Mary

The Furys (2)


So Tuff                  Over You (Pains In My Heart)            Never More

Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart


If There's A Next Time               Another Fella                      I Really Feel Good


The Old Days                         Gee Baby                           Somebody's Fox


      I Lost My Baby                      What Is Soul                    Where My Money Goes


   Cover Girl           Baby You Can Bet Your Boots    The Man Who Has Everything


If I Didn't Have A Dime                 Dream                   Anything For You

Cat 'N Mouse

The Centennials

My Dear One / The Wayward Wind

…

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The Four Fifths

Posted on March 29 2017 by dion1

Jeff Kanew, Bruce Carter, Reid Carter and Nick Cardell

The Four Fifths (Bethpage, NY)

Personnel :

Nick "Cardell" Cardella

Bruce Carter

Reid Carter

Jeff Kanew

Discography :

The Four Fifths
1963 - Come On Girl (Be Mine) / After Graduation (Hudson 8001)

Nick Cardell
1963 - Arlene / How Can I Help It (Liberty 55556)
1964 - Everybody Jump / I Stand Alone (Amcam 405)

Biography :

Group from Beth Page,LI. consisted of Nick"Cardell" Cardella, Bruce Carter, Reid Carter and Jeff Kanew. In 1963 they recorded on the New Jersey Hudson Records... Did not chart nationally in Billboard, but released as a single in 1963. Written by Bruce Carter, Jeff Kanew and Nick Cardell. B-side is "Come On Girl (Be Mine)". Before recording with the Four Fifths, Nick Cardell recorded as first tenor for Jay Walker & The Pedestrians In 1962, with Peter Antell on lead.

From Top : Nick Cardell, Reid Carter, Jeff Kanew and Bruce Carter Nick Cardell

Peter Antell (Peter Blaize Antonio) and John Linde from New York are two song writers and singers who had some success providing material for Cameo Parkway Records in the early 1960s. They were also members of the group The Chants. In 1963, The duo wrote Four songs for Nick Cardell released on two singles in 1963 & 1964.

Songs :

The Four Fifths

Come On Girl (Be Mine) After Graduation

Nick Cardell


      Arlene                                           How Can I Help It


Everybody Jump                               I Stand Alone

...

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Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) aka The Kinglets

Posted on March 27 2017 by dion1

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) aka The Kinglets
Charles Walker

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) (Nashville, TN)
aka The Kinglets

Personnel :

Charles Walker (Lead)

Larry Birdsong

The Kinglets :

Don “Sonny” Taylor

Ricky Roland

Frank Talley

Discography :

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2)
1959 - No Fool No More / Slave to Love (Champion 1014)

The Kinglets
1956 - Six Days a Week (And Sundays Too) / You Gotta Go (Calvert 101)

The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas
1959 - Pretty Please / My Baby Don't Need Changing (Bobbin 13338)

Biography :

Charles Walker was born in Nashville, Tennessee on July 12, 1940. Charles or “Wigg,” as he is known by his friends (his mother nicknamed him when he was born with a full head of hair), began singing at an early age in church and school. He cut his first record in 1959 for Ted Jarrett’s legendary Champion label. One cut, “Slave To Love,” was credited to Charles Walker and the Daffodils. In fact, there was no such group as the Daffodils. The backup singers on the record were label mates the Kinglets and Larry Birdsong.

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) aka The Kinglets
Larry Birdsong

Jarrett ran or worked for a number of Nashville soul, blues, and gospel labels, including Champion, Calvert, Cherokee, Poncello, and T-Jaye. He produced for artists such as Christine Kittrell, The Fairfield Four, Larry Birdsong, Roscoe Shelton, The Avons and the Kinglets. Like many groups before and after them, the Kinglets were primarily a backup vocal group for single artists on their labels. The group consisted of Don “Sonny” Taylor, Ricky Roland & Frank Talley. They cut “Six Days a Week“ and “You Gotta Go“ in early 1956, both songs composed by Ted Jarrett. Another single will be released in 1959 credited to The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas with ”Pretty Please” again composed by Ted Jarrett.

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2) aka The Kinglets
Ted Jarrett

In 1960, Charles Walker moved to New York City where studios and nightclub work were plentiful. 1962 found Charles recording with Chess Records out of Chicago, and soon he signed on as lead singer with the J.C. Davis Band. This band began touring the country opening for the greats of the era including James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Etta James, Wilson Pickett, Little Willie John, Otis Redding, and Sam Cooke. The J.C. Davis Band recorded some real barnstormers for Chess like “Sweet Sweet Love” and “The Chicken Scratch.” In 1964, Charles formed his own group, Little Charles and the Sidewinders. They became one of the most in demand soul bands in New York City’s nightclub scene, performing at the Apollo Theater, Small’s Paradise and venturing out to Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They subsequently recorded for Chess and Decca labels.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Charles Walker & The Daffodils (2)

Slave to Love Be No Fool No More

The Kinglets

Six Days a Week (And Sundays Too) / You Gotta Go

The Kinglets with Leroy Thomas

Pretty Please / My Baby Don't Need Changing

….

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The Ivies (1) aka The Sensation-Ivies

Posted on March 26 2017 by dion1

The Ivies (1) aka The Sensation-Ivies

The Ivies (1) (Detroit, Mi)
aka The Sensation-Ivies

Personnel :

Aaron McCray (Lead)

Odel Logan

Jimmy Davis

Conley Griffin

Arnold Johnson

Discography :

The Ivies (1)
1958 - Sunshine / Come On (Ivy 110 / Brunswick 55112)
1959 - Voodoo / I Really Want You To Know (Roulette 4183)

Arron McCray & His Sensation-Ivies
1960 - I’ll Have The Last Laugh / Inter Santum (Reel 111)

The Sensation-Ivies
1961 - Tell Me / God Bless The Child (Willow 23003)

Clarence Paul (BB The Ivies)
1959 - I Need Your Lovin' / I’ll Be By Your Side (Hanover 4519 )
1959 - Falling In Love Again / May Heaven Bless You (Roulette 4196 )

Biography :

From Detroit, the Ivies included Aaron McCray, Odel Logan, Jimmy Davis, Conley Griffin, and Arnold Johnson. In 1958, The group Recorded "Sunshine" b/w "Come On" for Ivy Records. Ivy Records was set up in Sept 57 by Stan Feldman & Ed Portnoy. It was based out of 1697 Broadway, New York. The single was reissued on Brunswick 55112 in June 1959.

The Ivies (1) aka The Sensation-Ivies
Clarence Paul

Clarence Otto Pauling (March 19, 1928 – May 6, 1995), better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, and was the brother of the "5" Royales guitarist/songwriter, Lowman Pauling Jr. In 1958, he had one of his first major songwriting credits. He co-wrote and recorded "I Need Your Lovin'" for the Hanover label. It was covered less than a year later, in 1959, and became a #14 R&B hit for Roy Hamilton.

The Ivies (1) aka The Sensation-Ivies

The Ivies were the back-up group for Clarence Paul on the Hanover "I Need Your Lovin' b/w "I’ll Be By Your Side" . Clarence Paul brings the group for his appearance and sings even on their singles. The Ivies' next single is on the Roulette Label with "Voodoo" b/w "I Really Want You To Know". Probably The Ivies were again the back-up group for Clarence Paul on his Roulette Records. The group next recorded on Johnnie Matthews' Reel label around 1960 under the name "Sensation-Ivies " and had a release the next year on Willow, a subsidiary of the Cincinatti-based King labelowned by Mickey Guitar Baker & Syliva Robinson in New York.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

The Ivies (1)


Sunshine                                  Come On


            Voodoo                           I Really Want You To Know

Arron McCray And His Sensation-Ivies

I’ll Have The Last Laugh Inter Santum

The Sensation-Ivies

Tell Me God Bless The Child

Clarence Paul (bb The Ivies)

I Need Your Lovin'                        I’ll Be By Your Side


Falling In Love Again                  May Heaven Bless You

...

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The Cute-Teens

Posted on March 25 2017 by dion1

The Cute-Teens
Raynoma Mayberry

The Cute-Teens (Detroit)

Personnel :

Raynoma Mayberry

Alice Mayberry

Marlene Nero

Mamie?

Discography :

 1959 - When My Teenage Days Are Over / From This Day Forward (Aladdin 3458)

Biography :

Raynoma was born to Lucille and Ashby Mayberry and raised in Black Bottom, a Detroit ghetto, until her father’s income as a janitor at Cadillac’s headquarters enabled them to move to a better neighbourhood. At Cass technical school she played the viola in the school symphony orchestra. She also played the piano and the harp, studied theory, composition, harmony and arrangement, and sang in school and church choirs. Her first husband, Charles Liles, was a saxophonist; they married in 1955 and had a son, Cliff, divorcing after two years together.

She was performing with her sister Alice as a singing duo called Alice and Ray and it was after winning a talent contest at the Twenty Grand club in Detroit that they were introduced to Berry Gordy. He granted them an audition at his house. Berry Gordy was impressed by her perfect pitch and by her suggestions for improving musical arrangements, devising introductions and fleshing out harmonies. She and her sister became the nucleus of a group called the Teen Queens, later the Cute-Teens with Marlene Nero and an old flame of Berrys called Mamie,

The Cute-Teens
Raynoma Mayberry & Berry Gordy

Berry Gordy produced a single, From This Day Forward, leased to the Aladdin label in 1958. When Gordy released the first record on his Tamla label, Marv Johnson’s Come to Me, in the early weeks of 1959, there was a credit for the Rayber Voices, a backing choir that Raynoma had assembled and which would be heard on several early Motown records. After the birth of their child, Kerry, and his divorce from his previous wife was final, Ray and Berry Gordy were married.

Songs :

When My Teenage Days Are Over From This Day Forward

...

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The Standards (3)

Posted on March 19 2017 by dion1

The Standards (3)

The Standards (3) (New York)

Personnel :

?

Discography :

1962 - The Girl Across The Way / Why Can't It Happen To Me (Gambit 1102)
1963 - No No No / Tears Bring Heartaches (Debro 3178 / Roulette 4487)

Biography :

Vocal trio from New York, they recorded in February 1962 "The Girl Across The Way" b/w "Why Can't It Happen To Me" released by Gambit Records.

The Standards (3)

In December 1962, The Standards signed to Joe LaMonaco's Debro Label an recorded "No No No" b/w "Tears Bring Heartaches" the single was released in January 1963.

Songs :
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

No No No Tears Bring Heartaches

Why Can't It Happen To Me / The Girl Across The Way

...

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The Dreamlovers

Posted on March 19 2017 by dion1

The Dreamlovers

The Dreamlovers (Philadelphia)
aka The Dream Lovers
(updated by Hans-Joachim)

Personnel :

Don Hogan (Lead)

Morris Gardner (Lead)

Conrad "Clifton" Dunn (Baritone)

Tommy Ricks (First Tenor)

Cleveland Hammock (Second Tenor)

James Dunn (Bass)

Discography :

The Dream Lovers
Singles:
1960 - For The First Time / Take It From A Fool (Len 1006)
1960 - Annabelle Lee / Home Is Where The Heart Is (V-Tone 211)
1961 - May I Kiss The Bride / Time (V-Tone 229)
1965 - You Gave Me Somebody To Love / Doin’ Things Together With You (Warner Bros 5619)

The Dreamlovers
Singles:
1961 - When We Get Married / Just Because (Heritage 102)
1961 - Welcome Home / Let Them Love (And Be Loved)* (Heritage 104)
1961 - Zoom Zoom Zoom / While We Were Dancing (Heritage 107)
1962 - If I Should Lose You / I Miss You (End 1114)
1963 - Sad Sad Boy / If I Were A Magician (Columbia 42698)
1963 - Sad Sad Boy / Black Bottom (Columbia 42752)
1963 - I'm Thru With You / Pretty Little Girl (Columbia 42842)
1963 - Amazons And Coyotees / Together (Swan 4167 / Casino1308)
1964 - Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely) / Those Will Be The Good Old Days (Cameo 326)
1966 - The Bad Times Make The Good Time / Bless Your Soul (Mercury 72595)
1966 - You Gave Me Somebody To Love / Calling Jo-Ann (Mercury 72630)
*Re-released in 1982 on Collectables LP 5004, but erroneously labeled as “Let Them Talk”

Unreleased:
1982 - Mother (Collectables LP 5004)
1982 - Let's Twist Again (Collectables LP 5004)

Album:
1963 - The Bird and Other Golden Dancing Grooves (Columbia CS 8820)
The Bird / Black Bottom / Ballin' The Jack / Charleston / Loco-Motion / The Slide / South Street / Let's Turkey Trot / Let's Twist Again / Limbo Rock / Pony Time / Mashed Potato Time

The Dreamlovers

Biography :

The Dreamlovers were formed in 1956 in Philadelphia by Conrad "Clifton" Dunn , his brother James, William Johnson, Tommy Ricks and Cleveland Hammock. Originally using the name the Romancers, they recorded a demo for Cameo/Parkway before changing their name to the Midnighters. In 1958, while still under that name, they went into the studio to back Chubby Checker on his original recording of The Twist.

The Dreamlovers

After lead William Johnson was killed in a street fight, the group brought in Morris Gardner and a sixth member, Don Hogan, changing their name to The Dreamlovers. After a short time with Len and V-Tone Records in 1960 and early 1961, they signed with Heritage who released their biggest hit, When We Get Married, which peaked at number 10. After a couple of non-charting singles, they move to End Records who released their only other Hot 100 song, If I Should Lose You (1962 / #62).

The Dreamlovers

They returned to the charts on a smaller scale the next year with "If I Should Lose You," a ballad for George Goldner's End Records, and then managed to record quite a few delicious samples of East Coast R&B groove and vocal harmony, including a slow doo wop-styled ballad ("I'm Thru With You") and an infectious up-tempo dance number ("Anna Belle Lee"). The group released singles for a variety of labels over the next four years, including Casino, Swan, Columbia, Cameo, Warner Brothers and Mercury, to no avail.

The Dreamlovers

As they continued recording, their vocal style seemed to change with the times, always sounding ahead of their time. "When We Get Married" was later revived by the Intruders in 1970. The group continued performing, including a short stint under the name A Brother's Guiding Light, before breaking up in 1973. Members reformed in the early 80's and continued to tour into the 2000's.

Songs :


Take It From A Fool                   For The First Time                 When We Get Married

Home Is Where The Heart Is / Anna Belle Lee              Let Them Love / Welcome Home


      Just Because                             Time                               May I Kiss The Bride


Zoom Zoom Zoom / While We Were Dancing      I'm Thru With You / Pretty Little Girl


If I Should Lose You                    I Miss You                   Oh Baby Mine

Amazons And Coyotes / Together                         Sad Sad Boy / Black Bottom


You Gave Me Somebody To Love Doin Things Together With You     Bad Times Make The Good Time


Bless Your Soul                    Callin Joann                            Mother


Let's Twist Again      Those Will Be The Good Old Days

...

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