By Ed Golick (68.42.155.37) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 01:02 pm:

Here's my favorite Doo-Wop group.
http://www.irclife.de/funny/hestekor.swf

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 01:05 pm:

That's pretty funny! Good link!

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Thursday, August 07, 2003 - 01:38 pm:

ED,
Quit horsing around.

By doowopsvoice (198.81.26.170) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 01:06 am:

What was your point, Ed? Try these on for size.

http://www.destinationdoowop.com/spaniels.htm

http://www.theteenagers.com/

http://home.earthlink.net/~jaymar41/cleftones.html

http://www.theoriginal-harptones.com/frameset.htm

http://home.att.net/%7Emarvy42/Dominoes/dom01.html

Do you think a little doo wop history will adjust your morbid disrespect? If you are Black there is all the more reason for you to need to know where you musically came from, if not shine it on.

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 02:41 am:

...lol, Ed...you wouldn't happen to be the famous Mr. Ed, now would you...if you are, that would explain your fav group's "different" look :o)

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 03:17 am:

Thanks for the Doo Wop links, Voice!

My favorite Doo-Wop group, and they only edge the others out by a little, is the Heartbeats/Shep & the Limelites.

By JoB (204.42.12.2) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 03:56 am:

Doowopsvoice...great link about the Dominoes...very interesting story. One thing I noticed, though, is that as the group became more "pop" and less R&B, from the looks of the pictures, their look also got more "pop" (the new members were more light-skinned, "pretty boy" type)...just take a look at one of the first pictures of the Dominoes early on, and then look at one of the last pictures of the group, towards the end...I wonder if this was coincidental, or if it was a tactic used by Billy Ward to appeal to more of a "pop" audience. Just an observation...

By Ed Golick (68.42.155.37) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:17 am:

Doowopsvoice,
It was a joke. I meant no disrespect. Lighten up. GEEZ!!!

By Pogo (66.129.43.61) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 08:43 am:

Voice,
Dig www.doowopjukebox.com
Tons of good tunes and they are downloadable. All you young cats & chicks might want to delve into these gems. Great songs from a golden age.
As for my favorite doo-wop group. I think the Cleftones would fit the bill. Too many groups to choose from.

Pogo

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.194.126) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 10:54 am:

ED
funny post man
thank god for humour.
mel.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 12:09 pm:

Doowopvoice:
Man oh man...what a doozy of a question!
My favorite doo-wop group would have to be Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. Frankie & company not only sang their tails off but they inspired so many fellow teenagers to form vocal groups & sing on streetcorners across the country, if not around the world.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Galactus (207.144.253.114) on Friday, August 08, 2003 - 05:58 pm:

Me, I gotta go with The Flamingos. Tough to top them in that genre. Their "Flamingo Serenade" album is absolutely stunning.......but any greatest hits CD will knock you out. They influenced a lot of folks......in particular The Dells.

By Julian (64.12.97.7) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 12:20 am:

I was settled on the Heartbeats/Limelites, but I had forgotton about Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers. Wow, I have two decide all over again. I think I'll order some of their music while I'm online now. They have at least one or two boxed sets, right?

By Eli (151.197.33.80) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 12:34 am:

My faves were :
The Five keys
The Orioles
The Flamingos
The Castells
Lee Andrews and the Hearts

By Eli (151.197.33.80) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 12:36 am:

Sorry, I forgot the Moonglows and the Dreamlovers, the Hearbeats and Shep and the Limelites.

By doowopsvoice (198.81.26.170) on Saturday, August 09, 2003 - 05:11 pm:

Ed,
I was just joshin' you, I knew it was a joke.

For talent and repertoire I would rank the Harptones and the Flamingos as the cream of the crop although the Flamingos's End sessions are lightweight compared to the Chance, Parrot, and Checker material. But what about

http://theskyliners.com/ ever heard "Lonely Way"

http://home.att.net/~marvy42/5Keys/5keys.html

http://home.att.net/~marvy42/Counts/counts.html

http://home.att.net/~marvy42/Pastels/pastels.html

http://home.att.net/~marvy42/Turbans/turbans.html

Ask Weldon about the Pastels and I left off the Heartbeats and the Crests because I have no urls for them

By Keith Rylatt (217.137.89.51) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 06:35 am:

Ed That is what I call FUNNY!!
Desiree by the Charts, is the one for me. Keith
PS The theme tune to Mr Ed was mixed with `Pony the Horse` in Filly in the 70s and was issued on the Steed label & became a big Northern tune in Huntingdon.

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:09 pm:

"Desiree" is a bad ass tune!

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.54) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:41 pm:

Keith
which Desiree version,
there were 2 different cuts.
I like them both anyway.
regards
mel.

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:45 pm:

There were two different cut by the Charts? I have a version of Desiree by another group but is there another by the Charts?

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.54) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:51 pm:

Julian
I Had the early original version of Desiree by the Charts but cant think of the label.
Then it came out on Wand records
that is slightly more faster.
regards
mel.

By Julian (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:54 pm:

SO the Wand version is the on that's made it to all the boxsets, etc., huh?

By Eli (151.197.44.39) on Sunday, August 10, 2003 - 01:59 pm:

I believe that it was on the Everlast label that was owned by Bobby Robinson.

By doowopsvoice (198.81.26.170) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 01:59 am:

I seem to recall the label being Johnson, haven't seen it in many years though. Everlast was the same color as Johnson (orange) but it had white in some places. Anyone have the record to be sure????

By lonnie cook (198.81.26.170) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 02:09 am:

Deserie" and "Zoop" became the Charts� first release (as well as being Danny Robinson�s first issue on Everlast), appearing in May 1957. It was reviewed (both sides good) on June 10, along with the 5 Satins� "To The Aisle," the Bobbettes� "Mr. Lee," the Palms� "Edna," the Strollers� "Go Where Baby Lives," the Tune Weavers� "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby," and the Matadors� "Have Mercy Baby."

It was Everlast this excerpt is from a story on the Charts at: http://www.uncamarvy.com/

By lonnie cook (198.81.26.170) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 02:41 am:

I learned something from that reading (a lot really), that label (Everlast) was started by Bobby Robinson's brother, Danny. Also, in case many of you are wondering, the song was on Johnson but that was a reissue label from the sixties.

By Keith Rylatt (217.137.91.88) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 06:55 am:

Mel I put the original Everlast cut first but of course the Wand `Soul` version is great too. I got my fingers burnt once around '72 when the Wand version was big. I found a 25 count box of `Desiree` on Lana, on Bradford market and in my haste & greed just assumed it was the fast version & bought the lot. Of course, when I got 'em home it was the Doo Wop version and I recon it took me 5 years to sell them! Keith

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.192.49) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 09:21 am:

Keith
I also had it on Lana,
I forgot all about that Label.
The same thing happened more or less with me,I saw it on a list when it was a big sound around 72 and bought it blind on Lana thinking like yourself it was the one being spun at the time.
What a downer on first playing it,
but after a while it sounded okeh but not as good as the uptempo dancer on the Wand label at the time.
I love both versions now.
regards
mel.

By Nish (66.119.34.39) on Monday, August 11, 2003 - 10:26 pm:

The Flamingoes, particularly the lineups featuring Sollie McElroy and Nate Nelson, are my favorite doowop group. Then I go for the Skyliners, Diablos, Dominoes, Dells (Johnny Funches is an underrated lead), Wrens, Harptones, and Fabulous Pearls.

By Mark Speck (199.182.98.121) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

It's between the Dells and the Five Royales for me.

Best,

Mark

By Soul Sister (65.43.167.42) on Wednesday, August 13, 2003 - 11:53 pm:

The 5 Keys
The Dominoes
The Moonglows (if you call their "blow style" doowop).
The Harptones
The Flamingoes

Others, but these are my main faves!

By Soul Sister (68.21.245.93) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 12:36 am:

OOPS...Forgot two of my most favorites too:

The Cords
The Jive Bombers

By doowopsvoice (198.81.26.170) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 12:18 pm:

Doo Wop is as big now as it ever was, if anyone wants a glimpse of how it was check your local PBS and you will find 3 or 4 shows that are being repeated again and again.

The Doo Wop Hall of Fame has been actively trying get attention for the music and the artists since 1987 and NARAS has refused to create a Doo Wop grammy category. I personally went to speak to Michael Greene about 10 yrs ago to get it done but nothing ever happened because I did not have a ground swell of support. Now is the time for all of you that profess to love it to support it, it is your heritage.

Doo wop is all but ignored in the media but it has spawned the most talented singers and producers in the business. All of the following came from doo wop groups: Marvin gaye, Diana Ross, Jackie Wilson, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Levert, Billy Stewart, Patti La Belle, James Gadson, Charles Wright, Thom Bell, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Johnny (guitar) Watson, Lamont Dozier, Smokey Robinson, Johnny Taylor, Don Covay, Barry White, Phil Perry, Gene Chandler, Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, Ronald Isley, Clarence Paul(ing)(young Stevie Wonder Producer, and this list could go on for another 30 minutes.

Can you name any of the groups these artists came from?

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.194.100) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

I like most of everyone mentioned above
I cant name favourites of anything(apart from football)
but I have recently been listening to the
fine Tenor voice of
Fred Parris
and a track that I've always liked by them is
their
'(I remember)In the still of the night'

Wasnt the above cut
for the Ember record Label in the charts in three different years?

also
didnt the group make an appearance in the movie called
'Let the good times roll'

regards
mel.

By lonnie cook (198.81.26.170) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 05:56 pm:

Hi Mel,
Good chance is some of the stuff you thought was Parris was not, here is a short bio. The bio will partially answer your ?'s.

Believe it or not they have the movie you mentioned on a Blaxploitation movie poster site:

http://www.nightowlbooks.com/blaxh-m.htm

Biography
This R&B vocal group was formed in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, in 1955. The Five Satins' first hit, "In The Still Of The Nite" (US R&B number 3 and pop Top 30 in 1956), was one of the definitive songs of the early rock 'n' roll era, with its strong chanting of doo-wop riffs in the background and impassioned lead work. The group on this record consisted of lead Fred Parris, Al Denby, Ed Martin, bass Jim Freeman and pianist Jessie Murphy. Parris, who wrote the song, brought valuable experience to the Five Satins, having formed the Scarlets (Parris, Denby, Bill Powers, Sylvester Hopkins and Nate Mosely) in 1953, a group that hit regionally with "Dear One" in 1954. The long-cherished national success for Parris was initially denied him, as he was in the army stationed in Japan when "In The Still Of The Nite" became a hit, and the wonderful follow-up, "To The Aisle" (US R&B number 5 and pop Top 30 in 1957), featured a reorganized group with Bill Baker (b. Auburn, Alabama, USA, d. 10 August 1994, New Haven, Connecticut, USA) as lead. Parris returned from Japan in 1958 and again reorganized the Five Satins, recruiting tenor Richie Freeman (b. December 1940), second tenor West Forbes (b. 1937), Sylvester Hopkins (b. 1938) and Lou Peeples. This group was not able to secure another big hit, although "Shadows" (US R&B number 27, 1959) kept their name visible. Their profile was significantly enhanced with the release of Art Laboe's first Oldies But Goodies, which included "In The Still Of The Nite". As a result, the song helped to create the doo-wop revival in the early 60s and re-entered the national pop chart in 1961. The Five Satins broke up in the early 60s, but re-formed and became a perennial on the oldies circuit in the 70s. The new group consisted of Parris, Richie Freeman, Jimmy Curtis and Nate Marshall. Under the name Black Satin, they had a number 49 R&B hit in 1975 with "Everybody Stand And Clap Your Hands (For The Entertainer)".

Discography:
The 5 Satins Sing (Ember 1957)***, Encore, Volume 2 (Ember 1960)***.

By MEL&THEN SOME (81.174.193.80) on Thursday, August 14, 2003 - 06:10 pm:

Hey Lonnie
magic stuff mate
many thanks
mel.