Various Artists - 25 Classic Doo-Wop Ballads

Artist:

Various Artists

UPC:

030206655520

Description:

Liner Note Author: Billy Vera.
Doo wop collectors -- and, for that matter, those whose doo wop collection is limited to best-of doo wop anthologies -- will probably already have too many of the hits on this particular CD to make it a compelling addition to the library. In fact, some of them previously appeared on best-of doo wop comps on the same label, Varese Sarabande (on 25 All-Time Doo Wop Hits and 25 More All-Time Doo Wop Hits). On its own terms, however, it`s a very solid (and very long) single-disc compilation of first-rate doo wop ballads, and an excellent listen to the music`s slower and more romantic side for listeners who don`t already have the majority of the tracks. It has numerous stone-cold classics, including the Flamingos` "I Only Have Eyes for You," the Skyliners` "Since I Don`t Have You," the Capris` "There`s a Moon out Tonight," the Penguins` "Earth Angel," the Five Satins` "In the Still of the Night," Little Anthony & the Imperials` "Tears on My Pillow," and the Dells` original 1956 version of "Oh What a Night." There are also a number of fairly big hits that find their way onto doo wop (or general `50s) anthologies less often, like the Classics` "Til Then," the Dreamlovers` "When We Get Married," Ronnie & the Hi-Lites` "I Wish That We Were Married," and Rochell & the Candles with Johnny Wyatt`s "Once Upon a Time." And there are a bunch of low-charting and noncharting singles that even some doo wop fans might find unfamiliar, like the Slades` original version of "You Cheated," which was covered for a Top 20 hit by the Shields. Some might have preferred to hear the original version of "The Wind" (by the Diablos) rather than the 1960 cover by the Jesters, however, even if the Jesters` version is respectable. ~ Richie Unterberger

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. I Only Have Eyes for You - The Flamingos
2. There`s a Moon Out Tonight - The Capris
3. Could This Be Magic - The Dubs
4. Earth Angel - The Penguins
5. Sunday Kind of Love, A - The Harptones/Willie Winfield
6. Till Then - The Classics
7. Once Upon a Time - Johnny Wyatt/Rochell & the Candles
8. Where or When - Dion/The Belmonts/Dion & The Belmonts
9. Way You Look Tonight, The - Jaguars
10. To Be Loved (Forever) - The Pentagons
11. Tears on My Pillow - Little Anthony & the Imperials/Little Anthony
12. When We Get Married - The Dreamlovers
13. 16 Candles - The Crests
14. In the Still of the Night - The Five Satins
15. Heaven and Paradise - Don Julian/Meadowlarks/Don Julian & the Meadowlarks
16. I Wish That We Were Married - Ronnie & the Hi-Lites
17. Oh What a Night - The Dells
18. Down the Aisle of Love - The Quin-Tones
19. You Cheated - The Slades
20. I`m the Mood for Love - The Chimes
21. Wind, The - The Jesters
22. You Belong to Me - The Duprees
23. Can I Come Over Tonight - The Velours
24. Since I Don`t I Have You - The Skyliners
25. Goodnight My Love (Pleasant Dreams) - Jesse Belvin

Album Information

Release Date:

04/20/2004

Type:

Collection

Genre:

Oldies

Subgenre:

Doowop

Label:

Var?se Sarabande (USA)

Producer:

Marty Wekser; Billy Vera; Steve Massie; Cary E. Mansfield; Dootsie WIlliams; Marty Kugell; George Goldner; George Motola; Charlie Singleton & Modern Man; George Paxton; Andy Leonetti; Tom Sokira; Gene Schwartz; Jerry Ross; Joe Rock; Luther Dixon; Maxwell Street Jimmy Davis; Paul Winley; Calvin Carter; Marty Wekser (Compilation); Billy Vera (Compilation); Steve Massie (Compilation); Cary E. Mansfield (Compilation)

Catalog Number:

066555

Original Release Year:

2004

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Mono

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