MY FAVE 20 RECORDS BY A VOCAL GROUP
TODAY........FROM 1956
"THE GREATEST EVER YEAR IN ROCK 'N' ROLL HISTORY AND THE YEAR ROCK 'N'
ROLL FINALLY CONQUERED THE WORLD!!"
1. COME GO WITH ME – THE DELL-VIKINGS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-HtLDu_324
One of my biggest of all 1950’s favorites is this ABSOLUTELY
irresistible hit originally released right at the end of 1956 from the
mixed race five-man Pittsburgh based Dell-Vikings and first recorded for
the Flick label. After getting some local radio play a deal was done
selling the master to Dot Records who rode the number right up to #4 on
the BB pop chart and #2 BB r&b. The record has one of my most favorite
sax breaks ever too courtesy of Mr Gene Upshaw. UK release on London but
no chart action
2. OH WHAT A NITE – THE DELLS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMlzMUGwSRk
The five-man Dells group from Harvey Il originally recorded as The El
Rays on the Checker label in 1954 before switching to Vee Jay and a name change---to The Dells in 1955. “Oh What A Nite” with a Marvin Junior
lead was their third record for the company and whilst it sold pretty
well it failed to chart BB pop but did reach #4 on their r&b chart. They revisited the song in 1969 with a much more soul orientated version (but
still an excellent one) that was a big hit on both charts. In UK we only
got the ’69 Cadet version
3. YOUR PROMISE TO BE MINE – THE DRIFTERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbSRu2bWcUY
Here we again with The Drifters who seem to turn up in nearly every year
in these vocal group listings---here with a great song first recorded in
1955 and again early in 1956.With Gerhart Thrasher singing lead Atlantic decided to release the first version which subsequently appeared as the
flip to “Ruby Baby” in March 1956. Tho “Ruby Baby” made the r&b chart “Your Promise…” never charted. Not released in UK
4. DOWN IN MEXICO – THE COASTERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPhzVdwBwvA
Now firmly ensconced as “The Coasters” their first recording session of 1956 begat the classic Leiber-Stoller penned (and produced) “Down In Mexico” led by Carl Gardner for Atco which sold well enough to chart at
#6 BB r&b and signal the start of a hit filled chart career that will
last the next five years. Did not chart BB pop but made #8 BB r&b.Not
released UK
5. A THOUSAND MILES AWAY – THE HEARTBEATS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmMgmr9JNzw
Hailing from Queens NYC the 5 man Heartbeats group led by James “Shep” Sheppard recorded this one for Hull records before distribution was
taken over by George Goldner who released it on his Rama label. Lead
singer Shep later formed the group Shep & The Limelites in 1961 who had
a big hit that year with a virtual rewrite of “A Thousand Miles Away” retitled “Daddy’s Home”. Meantime the original “A Thousand Miles Away”
reached # 53 BB pop and #5 BB r&b. Reissued in 1960 reached #96 BBpop.
No UK release
6. IN THE STILL OF THE NITE – THE FIVE SATINS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g58SfSs4iQ
“In The Still Of The Nite” started life in April 1956 when released on
the tiny Standord label. The artists were The Five Satins from New Haven
Ct led by Fred Parris. Getting some attention Standord decided to lease
the recording out for national distribution to Al Silver who re-released
it on his Ember label. It sold well making #24 BB pop and #3 BB r&b. No
UK release but the group was signed later to appear in the British-made
rock ‘n’ roll movie “Sweet Beat” in 1959 where they sing (or more accurately lip sync) this song (tho only four group members actually
appear)
7.CHURCH BELLS ARE RINGING (aka CHURCH BELLS MAY RING)– THE WILLOWS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF_taPrx2nM
Here’s one that started with a slightly different title---“Church Bells
Are Ringing” before it was changed to the snappier “Church Bells May Ring”. Recorded by the five man Willows from NYC for Melba led by Tony Middleton (who later recorded as “Sammy Ambrose” with the original
version of Gary Lewis’ “This Diamond Ring” in 1964).Reached #62 BB pop and #11 r&b. Released UK on London under the “...May Ring” title.(I sold
a London 45 of it for a three figure sum last year)
8. THE WOO WOO TRAIN – THE VALENTINES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4IGVn4W9oo
“The Valentines follow “Lily Maebelle” with another strong deck, “The Woo Woo Train.” It is a fast, hard hitting item with a number of
interesting tricks woven into the arrangement. The group sings it with a
sock appeal that is bound to send this (Rama 3005) their disk soaring.
Watch it ’cause this “Woo Woo Train” is non-stop to the charts”
(CASH BOX APRIL 14 1956)
9. STRANDED IN THE JUNGLE – THE CADETS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm9Rb3TO_r8
Meanwhile back in the jungle The Cadets from Los Angeles on Modern (who
also doubled as The Jacks on subsid label RPM) were busy covering a
comedic tune by another L.A group The Jayhawks called “Stranded In The Jungle”. Both versions were good but The Cadets was stronger and
reflected this by charting higher---#15 BB pop and #4 BB r&b. UK release
on London
10. UP ON THE MOUNTAIN – THE MAGNIFICENTS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iphP8qeExEY
Chicago based foursome whose first record for Vee Jay---the ultra catchy
“Up On The Mountain” was a big seller across mid-America. Sadly none of their follow ups (which included the inevitable “Off The Mountain”) emulated anything like the success of their debut which scored a #9 hit
BB r&b. Not released UK
11. DOWN IN THE BOTTOM – THE ROCKERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgk4oqORwtg
We’ve met the four man Rockers from St Louis before in 1955 with their
super “Count Every Star” and here they return—this time on Federal label where they worked for a time with Ike Turner & His Band –and where they recorded the splendid “Down In The Bottom” in 1956. No chart action and
no UK release
12. I PROMISE TO REMEMBER – FRANKIE LYMON & THE TEENAGERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e2_NFBL0BA
“Ooley bop a cow bop a cow bop a cow cow…….”
With one of the most memorable openings of any 50’s record here’s my
second favorite Teenagers song (after “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” of course). It’s a revival (and revised) remake of the Jimmy Castor
original (yep the same Jimmy Castor of “Troglodyte” fame in the 1970’s) version on Wing titled merely “I Promise”. The Teenagers version was recorded for George Goldner’s Gee label. A good seller the record
reached #57 BB pop and #10 BB r&b. Released by Columbia in UK but did
not chart
13. LITTLE GIRL OF MINE – THE CLEFTONES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2eiDOrr8mo
Again with the Gee label and again with the memorable intro here come
the five-man Cleftones straight outa Queens NYC and led by Herbie Cox
with just their second record for the label following their initial “You
Baby You”.The record charted at #57 BB pop and #8 BB r&b. On Columbia in
UK where it appeared coupled with the earlier “You Baby You” both on one single (and I’ve yet to ever see a 45rpm copy). Did not chart
14. DEVIL OR ANGEL – THE CLOVERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ5cpUnsq4w
Their first single of 1956 for Atlantic found the Clovers with a much “poppier” song than we’re used to from this great group-- but one I’ve always found irresistible. Tho the song reached #3 BB r&b it didn’t
scrape the pop charts. The song would have to wait until 1960 for Bobby
Vee to take it high on the BB pop chart. No UK release
15. GUIDED MISSILES – THE CUFF LINKS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYxR9BJL92Y
Time for the West Coast to put in their two penn’orth again here---and
this time with an irresistible doowop recorded for Dootsie Williams’
Dootone label by the five man Cuff Links group (absolutely NOTHING to do
with the later Ron Dante group of that name with the Godawful “Tracy”).
Tho “Guided Missiles” never charted it sold pretty well on the West
Coast and was a “breakout” in more Eastern locales like Pittsburgh where
it featured on the local chart (thanks in large part to Porky Chedwick).
No UK release
16. I SHOULD HAVE DONE RIGHT – THE DRIFTERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddzGrCCGt1Q
Super unreleased track by The Drifters recorded for Atlantic in February
1956 at the end of a series of appearances at the Apollo in NYC. With a
lead by Bill Pinkney the track laid unreleased for many years until
rescued in 1971 on an album “The Drifters – Their Greatest Recordings – The Early Years”
17. TOUCH THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT – THE SOUL STIRRERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfhEE7NPVjY
Almost certainly my favorite gospel number here in the fabulous Soul
Stirrers reading with Sam Cooke in the vocal form of his life. Recorded
for Specialty this was one of their best selling singles ever in the
gospel market. Billboard gave it a good review citing it as “another outstanding side” in its June 1956 review. No UK release
18. OPEN UP THE BACK DOOR – THE MIDNIGHTERS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgvUmCJQ6TQ
Released in March 1956 the insistent “Open Up The Back Door” was the
flip of “Rock Granny Roll” on Federal (that I like only very slightly
less) and was another irresistible chanter by Hank Ballard & the guys incorporating some great guitar work from Cal Green A fair seller for
the boys without actually charting. No UK release
19. CASTLE IN THE SKY – THE BOP-CHORDS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMe9uuUGH70
Perhaps the archetypal “New York doowop” sound captured here by the five man Bop-Chords straight out of Harlem NYC with their second record on
the small Holiday label (their other two releases are excellent too as
is most everything else on the label that I’ve heard). I’m indebted to
my old Queens NYC friend Mike Rascio who first turned me on to some of
these New York things. No chart action no UK release
20. DARLING HOW LONG – THE HEARTBEATS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upd5cY8t_0I
Their first single of 1956 by the prides of Queens NYC (before their “A Thousand Miles Away” classic) on the Hull label again (reissued on Gee
label later) with a superb James “Shep” Sheppard lead and backed by Al Browne & His Orchestra. No chart action on this one and no UK release
BUBBLING UNDER
21. THE CLOSER YOU ARE – THE CHANNELS
22. YOU’RE BACK WITH ME (aka THE ANGELS SANG) – THE SOLITAIRES
23. SEE SAW – THE MOONGLOWS
24. YOUR WAY – THE HEARTBEATS
25. UNCLOUDY DAY – THE STAPLE SINGERS
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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