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"...Tears On My Pillow..."
A very cool and terminally hip CD Reissue from England's Westside (a then subsidiary of Sequel Records) that lumps together two genuinely sought-after rarities in the world of Vocal Groups.
New York's Little Anthony and The Imperials were considered up there and not just as holders of a Vocal Group crown - Jerome "Little Anthony" Gourdine and his high voice famously dressed as a King on the album cover. Their velvety sound was actually a mixed bag of competing genres - Doo Wop, 50ts and 60ts Pop music and even early Soul (a couple of cuts here were hugely popular amongst dancers on England's Northern Soul scene).
So how many tears are there on his pillow and which neer-do-well put them there?
"We Are The Imperials featuring Little Anthony" is their 1959 US debut album on End Records in Mono (Tracks 1 to 12) - whilst "Shades Of The 40's" (Tracks 13 to 24) is their second LP issued 1961 also on End Records but this time presented here in Stereo. Here is the soggy bed linen...
UK released 13 February 1998 - "We Are The Imperials/Shades Of The 40's" by LITTLE ANTHONY and THE IMPERIALS on Westside WESM 556 (Barcode 5032698015566) offers 2LPs Remastered onto 1CD in full and plays out as follows (61:19 minutes):
1. Tears On My Pillow [Side 1]
2. Over The Rainbow
3. So Much
4. The Diary
5. Oh Yeah
6. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
7. When You Wish Upon A Star [Side 2]
8. Wishful Thinking
9. Cha Cha Henry
10. Traveling Stranger
11. What Did I Do
12. Two People In The World
Tracks 1 to 12 are their debut album "We Are The Imperials featuring Little Anthony" (see NOTE below) - released May 1959 in the USA on End Records END LP 303 in Mono only.
NOTE: The actual running order of the original 12-Track LP was as follows and you can sequence it from this CD using the following tracks:
Side 1:
Tracks 1, 2, 9, 4, 5 and 12
Side 2:
Tracks 7, 8, 3, 10, 11 and 6
13. This Love Of Mine
14. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [Side 1]
15. They Say It's Wonderful
16. If You Are But A Dream
17. Undecided
18. All Or Nothing At All
19. I'll Never Smile Again
20. Dream
21. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
22. I Couldn't Sleep A Wink Last Night
23. Ooh! Look-A There, Ain't She Pretty
24. I've Got A Crush On You
Tracks 13 to 24 are their
second album "Shades Of The 40's" – released April 1961 in the USA on
End Records END LP 311 in Mono (see NOTE re new STEREO presentation)
NOTE: The inlay is a gatefold slip of paper with liner notes from GORDON SKABERG of Early Bird Records (November 1997) explaining how both albums on George Goldner's END Records label were both only ever issued in Mono-Only - but the second platter had always been recorded in True Stereo and is presented here as such for the first time in the world – ever. And gorgeous is sounds too. Licensed from EMI Special Markets and using original tapes - Remasters are by WALTER DeVENNE (done in the USA) and are gorgeous.
As was the order of the day in the late Fifties – Long Players were usually a way of getting all the 45-single tracks in the one place with a smattering of newbees to tempt punters - and their 12-Track debut was no different. Eight of its tracks were chosen as 45s. US issued in July 1958, "Tears On My Pillow" b/w "Two People In The World" on End E-1027 was a sales winner for George Goldner's small independent label. Initially credited as just The Imperials on first pressings – the American 45-single then becoming Little Anthony and The Imperials during its sales run – and it has been a Vocal Group Classic for over 60 years. They followed that with two more choice LP tracks in October 1958 - "So Much" b/w "Oh Yeah" on End E-1036. That was followed in December 1958 with "The Diary" b/w "Cha Cha Henry" on End E-1038. The New Year chose two more – January 1959 seeing "When You Wish Upon A Star" b/w "Wishful Thinking" on End 1039.
However, it won't take fans long to notice that End E-1047 (May 1959) with "A Prayer And A Juke Box" b/w "River Path" and End E-1053 (July 1959) with "I'm Alright" b/w "So Near And Yet So Far" are NON-LP tracks on US Singles from the period that could have been added on a Bonus Tracks because there was/is enough playing time – but alas. And for sure some of the material is not nearly as Soulful as you would hope for – but this is still a gorgeous release celebrating early pioneers of Vocal Groups and indeed (along with Sam Cooke over on Keen Records) – the beginning of Sixties Soul that would literally change the world.
Including Little Anthony & The Imperials reviewed above, there is a total of five twofer CD compilations in this Westside reissue series (the other four are listed below) and all have loveliness and nostalgia dripping off of them. And thankfully – with the Remasters from original Mono and Stereo tapes – they have never sounded better either...
Other Titles In This Westbound CD Compilation Series out of the UK
(Remastered from Original Tapes by Walter DeVenne in the USA)
Of 2 Original Classic Doo-Wop Albums onto 1CD include:
THE CHANTELS
"We Are The Chantels/There's Our Song Again"
1958 and 1962 US LPs on End Records
Feb 1998 UK CD on Westside WESM 564 (Barcode 5032698015641)
THE CLEFTONES
"Heart And Soul/For Sentimental Reasons"
Both 1961 US LPs on Gee Records (Mono and Stereo Recordings)
Feb 1998 UK CD on Westside WESM 546 (Barcode 5032698015467)
THE FLAMINGO
"Flamingo Serenade/Flamingo Favorites"
April 1959 and October 1960 US LPs on Checker and End Records in Mono
Feb 1998 UK CD on Westside WESM 532 (Barcode 5032698015320)
THE FLAMINGOS
"Requestfully Yours/The Sound Of The Flamingos"
1960 US LPs On End Records - All Tracks in Stereo except for Six
Feb 1998 UK CD on Westside WESM 537 (5032698015375)
