Six 45s by black doo-wop groups you probably never heard of (45 RPM R&B 'SINGLES')

The Quin-Tones, The Gallahads, Rochell and the Candles With Johnny Wyatt, The Untouchables, The Jarmels, The Dreamlovers

Published by Hunt/Norman, Del-Fi, Swingin', Madison, Laurie, Heritage, Hollywood, Calif. / New York / Philadelphia, 1961

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Description:

Not a book but a group of six, 7-inch, 45 rpm Rhythm & Blues "doo-wop" vinyl singles by (usually) short-lived African-American vocal groups dated 1958 through 1961, combined to consolidate shipping. These vinyl records will play well; they grade "very good" with small, scattered scuffs and scratches. The labels show some rub from being stored together without individual protective sleeves; a few have a Previous Owner's Name written in pen to at least one label. NONE of these vinyl 45s are shiny new, NONE of them grade "near mint." But at a very reasonable price you get the following six ORIGINAL RELEASES: If you listen to an "oldies" show you might get the impression rock 'n roll (and Rhythm & Blues) developed from the mid-'50s as a steady progression of great hits by major stars. Nope. Nineteen times out of 20, a pick-up group of high school kids who'd learned harmony by singing that Gospel music in church started playing the local hops, was spotted by a promoter or recording artist passing through town, got invited to record a few demos in New York, L.A. or Chicago. Someone "encouraged" a local DJ to give their best effort some air time, and the thing charted. And usually . . . that was it. Those who made the big time needed not only a natural gift for stagecraft, but most importantly the fortuitous alignment of a rare constellation of talented arranger, producer, and a bevy of hook-laden songwriters. Most weren't so lucky. Take, for example, The Quinteros, of William Penn Sr. High in York, Pennsylvania. After a name change to "The Quin-Tones," their surprise hit, "Down the Aisle of Love," sold so well their initial label couldn't handle the demand, turning over production to Hunt Records (the "Hunt" label here overstamped "Norman," which is even odder.) It climbed the charts to No. 18 in 1958 . . . and that was it. Or take The Echoes, of Edmond Meany Jr. High in Seattle. Led by piano player and vocalist Jimmy Pipkin, after a name-change to The Gallahads, they charted when "(I'm Just A) Lonely Guy" on the Del-Fi label went to No. 4 in the Cashbox survey in 1960. Then they played a concert promoted by notorious New York DJ Alan Freed, never got paid, made a fuss about it, and report Freed used his influence to see to it their efforts got no further airplay. End of story. Rochell Henderson was actually of the male persuasion; he and Johnny Wyatt alternated falsetto tenor lede for Rochell and the Candles, scoring a hit with "Once Upon a Time" on the Swingin' label, also in 1960. Wyatt (1938-1983) went on to front Johnny and the Expressions. Herb Alpert and Lou Adler produced The Valiants in Los Angeles from 1957. After a name change to "The Untouchables," Sheridan "Rip" Spencer, Bruce Coefield, and Chester Pipkin charted with "Do Your Best" on the Madison label in 1961 . . . but The Untouchables were gone by 1962. Ben E. King spotted The Cherokees, of Richmond, Va., playing the underbill when he headlined a local show. He took them to Laurie Records in New York, where they became the first African-American group signed by the label. Re-named the Jarmels (after a street in Harlem), their lone but catchy hit, "A Little Bit of Soap," climbed to number 12 on the Billboard charts in 1961. (This copy plays through a highly visible scratch with no problems.) The "B" side, by the way -- a cover of Jerome Kern's 1936 classic "The Way You Look Tonight" -- is unfortunately a classic example of grotesque over-production. And finally, a Philadelphia group called The Romancers took their new name from Bobby Darin's hit "Dream Lover." The Dreamlovers found their way to Parkway Records and ended up backing Chubby Checker on his big hits, "The Twist" and "Pony Time." We offer their only hit under their own names: On the Heritage label, "When We Get Married," climbed to No. 10 in 1961. A group of six early '60s doo-wop 45s by black vocal groups you probably never heard of, now reduced from $25. Seller Inventory # 007501

Bibliographic Details

Title: Six 45s by black doo-wop groups you probably...
Publisher: Hunt/Norman, Del-Fi, Swingin', Madison, Laurie, Heritage, Hollywood, Calif. / New York / Philadelphia
Publication Date: 1961
Binding: No Binding
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket
Edition: 1st Edition