"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…I Want To Have You Near...But You're So Far Away..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. And like its Volume 9 predecessor – Volume 10 has a huge 34 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 87:38 minutes! Let's march (not walk) 'Down The Aisle Of Love'...and have a 'Rama Lama Ding Dong' (if you know what I mean)...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 10: 1958" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17288 AR (Barcode 4000127172884) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:38 minutes):

1. 16 Candles – THE CRESTS (Coed 506, A)

2. Lama Rama Ding Dong (aka Rama Lama Ding Dong) – THE EDSELS (Dub 2843, A)

3. For Your Precious Love – JERRY BUTLER and THE IMPRESSIONS (Vee-Jay 280/Falcon 1013/Abner 1013, A)

4. I Wonder Why – DION & THE BELMONTS (Laurie 3013, A)

5. Tears On My Pillow – LITTLE ANTHONY & THE IMPERIALS (End 1027, A)

6. So Fine – THE FIESTAS (Old Town 1062, A)

7. One Summer Night – THE DANLEERS (Amp 3 2115/Mercury 71322, A)

8. Stormy Weather – THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 290, A)

9. I Love You So – THE CHANTELS (End 1020, A)

10. Trickle, Trickle – THE VIDEOS (Casino 102, A)

11. This Is The Nite – THE VALIANTS (Keen 34044, A)

12. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart – THE COASTERS (Atco 6116, A)

13. Drip Drop – THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 1187, A)

14. Ten Commandments Of Love – HARVEY and THE MOONGLOWS (chess 1705, A)

15. Little Star – THE ELEGANTS (Apt 25005, A)

16. Pretty Girls Everywhere – EUGENE CHURCH and THE FELLOWS (Class 235, A)

17. You Cheated – THE SHIELDS (Tender 513/Dot 15805, A)

18. Western Movies – THE OLYMPICS (Demon 1508, A)

19. Try Me (I Need You) – JAMES BROWN and THE FAMOUS FLAMES (Federal 12337, A)

20. There's A Moon Out Tonight – THE CAPRIS (Planet 1010/Old Town 1094, A)

21. Lovers Never Say Goodbye – THE FLAMINGOS (End 1035, A)

22. No, No, No – THE CHANTERS (DeLuxe 6177, A)

23. So Far Away – THE PASTELS (Argo 5314, A)

24. Heart's Desire – THE AVALONS (Unart 2007, A)

25. Down The Aisle Of Love – THE QUIN-TONES (Red Top 108/Hunt 321, A)

26. Since I Don't Have You – THE SKYLINERS (Calico 103, A)

27. Try The Impossible – LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS with The Panco Villa Orchestra (United Artists 123, A)

28. I'm So Young – THE STUDENTS (Arranged and Conducted by Jimmy Coe) (Note 10012/Checker 902, A)

29. Here I Stand – WADE FLEMONS and THE NEWCOMERS (Vee-Jay 295, A)

30. Teardrops On Your Letter – HANK BALLARD and THE MIDNIGHTERS (King 5171, A)

31. Zoom Zoom Zoom – THE COLLEGIANS (Winley 224, A)

32. The Things I Love – THE FIDELITY’S (Baton 252, A)

33. I Met Him On A Sunday (Ronde-Ronde) – THE SHIRELLES (Tiara 6112/Decca 30588, A)

34. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh – THE KODOKS featuring Pearl McKinnon (Fury 1015, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 81 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are a few cool trade adverts from 1958 peppering the text (The Collegians on Winley and The Students on Checker) and three of those rare American 45 labels are pictured (Casino, Keen and Checker). The CD repros the rare "One Summer Night" by The Danleers and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin and Billy Vera have been involved in the research while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

1958 continued on from 1957 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that both Volume 9 for 1957 and this Volume 10 set for 1958 are the compilation jewels in the crown for the entire "Street Corner Symphonies" run of 15 titles.

We open with blushing teenage romance - the gorgeous "16 Candles" by The Crests where Lead Singer Johnny Maestro croons his way into millions of American hearts (real name John Mastrangelo). The first bopper "Lama Rama Ding Dong" by The Edsels has great audio – very clean. We then enter the realms of musical magnificence and genre history – the Soulful vocals of Jerry Butler and The Impressions doing the immortal "For Your Precious Love" where the song blurs the lines between Vocal Group Music and early Soul – what a tune and its still moving to. Another reviewer is claiming that this is a wrong version to the May 1958 take on Vee-Jay - but I can't hear a difference between this and the Rhino box set inclusion (which is the 1958 Mono original). Maybe the initial mistake has been spotted and its been replaced? Back to fun with the brilliant "I Wonder Why" by Dion & The Belmonts – a fabulous slice of New York Street Corner bopping magic. Smooch-city returns with everyone's favourite balladeer – Little Anthony – telling us that "...love is not a gadget...love is not a toy..." in the American Graffiti atmospheric "Tears On My Pillow". There is a tender sweetness to "So Fine" by The Fiestas – an Old Town classic that sounds gorgeous here. Romance returns with "One Summer Night" by The Danleers – the kind of tune where you can just see the cars cruising the strip as the boys look out longingly at the girls they can’t reach.

While the Chantels is good - genuine magic hits your lugs with the impossibly rare "Trickle, Trickle" by The Videos who contained future members of Shep & The Limelites. It’s more bopping R 'n' B than Vocal Group but what a winner it is (the rare Casino 102 American 45 is reproduced on Page 26 of the booklet – the song was covered and charted by Manhattan Transfer in 1980). Genius inclusion and wicked unknown vocalists ahoy with "This Is The Nite" by The Valiants - where Lead Singer Billy Jones (aka Billy Spicer) does his best Clyde McPhatter impression and more than pulls it off (fabulous stuff). The audio leaps forward with "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" by The Coasters – it features two superb Leads – the deep as an ocean Bass of Will 'Dub' Jones (formerly with The Cadets and The Jacks) and Lean Tenor Cornel Gunter (ex The Flairs). It's craftily followed by a tune every Drifters fan adores – "Drip Drop" - bopping R 'n' B sung by Bobby Kendricks – a dead ringer for Clyde McPhatter's vocal style.

Romance returns in different paces – the sombre talking lurch of "Ten Commandments Of Love" by Harvey and The Moonglows and the very Dion & The Belmont sounding "Little Star" by The Elegants. After all that pleading it's time for fun as Eugene Church tells us that no matter where he looks (roads, beaches or parks) there's "Pretty Girls Everywhere" (I feel for the poor guy). Beautiful and rare – "You Cheated" by The Shields features Frankie Ervin on Lead Vocals and is a gem on this CD collectors will love having. The witty and catchy "Western Movies" by The Olympics sung by Walter Ward and resplendent with gunshots and Wild West references sounds like a Lieber/Stoller classic but was written by two lesser-known talents - Fred Smith and Cliff Goldsmith. It was a smash in June 1958 and has turned up on compilations ever since. We don't normally associate James Brown with the genre but his "Try Me" pleading vocal and the song's roots in Vocal Group classics warrants a tasty inclusion here. A duo of classics follow – "There's A Moon Out Tonight" by The Capris and the truly beautiful Flamingos End label gem "Lovers Never Say Goodbye" - dripping with atmosphere and romance, both are beloved by collectors.

Time to pick up the pace with a bopper "No, No, No" - where a very young sounding sets of lads The Chanters don’t want to be "kissed anymore" by girls but then say "yes, yes, yes" immediately after their denial (the poor dears are confused). Genius inclusion comes with the gobsmacking beauty of "So Far Away" by The Pastels where Lead Vocalist Di Fosco Ervin, Jr. combines his pleading with a wonderful almost operatic set of female backing vocalists. The result is this October 1958 masterpiece on Argo 5314 – the kind of massively evocative song that would stop you in your tracks if it sailed out of a radio. More smoochers are provided by Hank Ballard, The Fidelity’s and the lesser-known Wade Flemons - with the whole shebang ending on a bopper – the innocent sounding "Oh Gee, Oh Gosh" where cute Pearl McKinnon sounds not unlike Frankie Lymon backed by a rocking Teenagers. To sum up – I have to say playing this compilation has been a joy. Evocative, moving and damn it – fun.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Look Of Love..." 

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here is The Book Of Love, Baby Oh Baby, Dedicated To The One I Love...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 9: 1957" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17287 AR (Barcode 4000127172877) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 87:23 minutes):

1. Get A Job – THE SILHOUETTES (Junior 391, A)

2. Maybe – THE CHANTELS (End E-1005, A)

3. Little Darlin’ – THE GLADIOLAS (Excello 2101, A)

4. To The Aisle – THE FIVE SATINS (Ember 1019, A)

5. Searchin’ – THE COASTERS (Atco 6087, A)

6. Florence – PARAGONS (Winley 215, A)

7. Dedicated To The One I Love – THE “5” ROYALES (King 5098, A)

8. Book Of Love – THE MONOTONES (Argo 5290, A)

9. Long Lonely Nights – LEE ANDREWS and The Hearts (Chess 1665, A)

10. Mr. Lee – THE BOBBETTES with Reggie Obrecht Orchestra (Atlantic 45-1144, A)

11. Been So Long – THE PASTELS (Mascot M-123, A and Argo 5287, A)

12. Whispering Bells – THE DEL VIKINGS featuring Krips Johnson (Fee Bee FB-214, A)

13. Baby Oh Baby – THE SHELLS (Johnson 104, A)

14. Everyone’s Laughing – THE SPANIELS with Al Smith’s Orchestra (Vee Jay VJ 246, A)

15. Silhouettes – THE RAYS (Cameo 117, A)

16. Tell Me Why – NORMAN FOX and The Rob-Roys (Back Beat 501, A)

17. Why Do You Have To Go – THE DELLS (Vee Jay VJ 236, A)

18. Lover Boy – THE CLEFTONES (Gee G-1048, A)

19. Deserie – THE CHARTS (Everlast 5001, A)

20. My Girlfriend – THE CADILLACS (Josie 820, A)

21. Could This Be Magic – THE DUBS (Gone 5011, A)

22. Walking Along – THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1034, A)

23. Little Bitty Pretty One – BOBBY DAY and The Satellites (Class 211, A)

24. Tonite, Tonite – MELLO-KINGS (Herald H-502, A)

25. Peanuts – LITTLE JOE & THE THRILLERS (Leroy Kirkland Orchestra) (Okeh 4-7088, A)

26. Don’t Say Goodnight – THE VALENTINES (Rama RR-228, A)

27. Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am The Japanese Sandman) – THE CELLOS (Apollo 510, A)

28. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby – THE TUNE WEAVERS (with Frank Paul’s Orchestra) (Checker 872, A)

29. Dance With Me – THE EL TORROS (Duke 175, A)

30. Can I Come Over Tonight – THE VELOURS (Sammy Lowe Orchestra) (Onyx 512, A)

31. Buzz-Buzz-Buzz – HOLLYWOOD FLAMES (Ebb 119, A)

32. So Strange – THE JESTERS (with David Clowney’s Band) (Winley 218, A)

33. Congratulations – THE TURBANS (Herald H-510, A)

34. Four O’Clock In The Morning – STANLEY MITCHELL and The Tornados (Chess 1649, A)

The 80-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 79 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1957 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Ebb, Atlantic, Chess, Winley). The CD repros the rare "Four O’Clock In The Morning" by Stanley Mitchell and The Tornados (a rare and beautiful outing for Chess with Vocal group material) and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here...

1957 continued on from 1956 in being a pivotal year in Vocal Group history - hitting something of a pinnacle – beautiful ballads and cracking dancers combining to make this CD a wonderful overall listen (and all of it in top audio quality). In fact if I was pushed – and in terms of sheer vocal beauty/fun - I would say that Volume 9 for 1957 is the compilation jewel in the crown for the entire “Street Corner Symphonies” run of 15 titles.

While the “dip, dip, dip…” opening of “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes has always been a topical and fun tune ("if there is any work for me!") – Vocal group magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Maybe" by The Chantels (on End Records). Arlene Smith’s extraordinary vocals shine on this love song that made No. 2 on the American Billboard R&B charts in early 1958. The same applies to The Dubs and their sneakily lovely "Could This Be Magic" where Richard Blandon’s Lead Tenor soars as he croons about “having your love” (a No. 23 hit for the Harlem group on Billboard’s Pop charts in August 1957). But I could happily live without hearing the awful castanets of “Little Darlin’” ever again (by anyone) – better is the genuinely touching wedding favourite “To The Aisle” by The Five Satins (“each step draws you closer…”).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "on my merry way" song "Walking Along" by The Solitaires while Bobby Day does his Thurston Harris impression on “Little Bitty Pretty One” (top audio quality too). Lieber & Stoller’s incredible wit and knack with a hooky melody comes screaming through the decades with The Coasters doing “Searchin’” where our hero tells us “Sam Spade and Bulldog Drummond…ain’t got nuthin’ on me…” The drums come loud and clear inbetween the vocal gymnastics for The Monotones on their classic “Book Of Love”. Chess puts in a rare Vocal Group nugget with Lee Andrews pines “what’s left for me to face…” on “Long Lonely Nights”. The boppin’ “Mr. Lee” has always been a great party tune but then you’re hit with one of the genres masterpieces – the so sweet “Been So Long” by The Pastels on Mascot (reissued on Argo in 1958). It’s a listed $300.00 rarity on the original label and you can easily hear why - gorgeous.

The soft-shoe-shuffle of “Whispering Bells” by The Del Vikings is another superb dancer. Two rarities follow in the shape of The Shells and The Spaniels – the first a romantic smoocher – the other a sort of mid-tempo Salsa pleader. “Why Do You Have To Go” is typically classy of The Dells – a group that have continued for near 50 years after the event. We go all Mad Men cool with the slick bopper “Lover Boy” from The Cleftones about a “run around boy” who steals girls (“brother better beware…”).  And on it goes to the obscure but brilliant “Four O’Clock In The Morning” by Stanley Mitchell – a rare outing on Chess for the genre – piano and drums slowly working the “so worried” lyrics and Clyde McPhatter soundalike vocals. Fab…

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…In Paradise…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the Church Bells, In The Still Of The Nite on The Woo Woo Train...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 8: 1956" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17286 AR (Barcode 4000127172860) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:47 minutes):

1. In The Still Of The Nite - THE FIVE SATINS (Standord 6106 and Ember 1005, A)

2. Stranded In The Jungle - THE CADETS (Modern 994, A)

3. On What A Nite - THE DELLS (Vee-Jay 204, A)

4. I Want You To Be My Girl - FRANKIE LYMON and THE TEENAGERS (Gee 1012, A)

5. I'll Be Home - THE FLAMINGOS (Checker 830, A)

6. Ruby Baby - THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1089, A)

7. My Prayer - THE PLATTERS (Mercury 70893, A)

8. Come Go With Me - THE DELL-VIKINGS (Fee Bee FB-205 and Dot 15538, A)

9. A Thousand Miles Away - THE HEARTBEATS (Hull 720 and Rama 216, A)

10. Up On The Mountain - THE MAGNIFICENTS (Vee-Jay 83, A)

11. The Way You Look Tonight - THE JAGUARS (R-Dell 11, A)

12. Church Bells Will Ring - THE WILLOWS (Melba 102, A)

13. The Closer You Are - THE CHANNELS (Whirlin Disc 100, A)

14. I Promise - JIMMY CASTOR and THE JUNIORS (Wing 90078, A)

15. In Paradise - THE COOKIES (Atlantic 45-1084, A)

16. Zoom - THE CADILLACS with Jesse Powell's Orchestra (Josie 792, A)

17. A Casual Look - THE SIX TEENS (Flip 315, A)

18. Little Girl Of Mine - THE CLEFTONES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Gee 1011, A)

19. Bad Boy - THE JIVE BOMBERS featuring Clarence Palmer (Savoy 1508, A)

20. Down In Mexico - THE COASTERS (Atlantic 6064, A)

21. Castle In The Sky - THE BOP CHORDS featuring Ernest Harriston (Holiday 2601, A)

22. You Gave Me Peace Of Mind - THE SPANIELS with Al Smith's Orchestra (Vee-Jay 229, B-side of "Please Don't Tease")

23. Ka-Ding-Dong - THE G-CLEFS (Pilgrim 715, A)

24. Devil Or Angel - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1083, A)

25. I'm So Happy (Tra-La-La-La-La-La) - LEWIS LYMON and THE TEENCHORDS (Fury 1000, A)

26. Bacon Fat - ANDRE WILLIAMS (Mr. Rhythm) & His New Group (Fortune 831 and Epic 9196, A)

27. Rubber Biscuit - THE CHIPS (Josie 803, A)

28. See Saw - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1629, A)

29. Lover - JIMMY JONES & THE PRENTENDERS with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 210, A)

30. Let's You And I Go Steady - THE PEARLS with SAMMY LOWE & ORCHESTRA (Onxy 503, A)

31. The Woo Woo Train - THE VALENTINES with Jimmy Wright & His Orchestra (Rama 196, B-side of "Why")

32. Please, Please, Please - JAMES BROWN & His Famous Flames (Federal 12258, A)

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1956 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Gee, Mercury, Savoy, Atlantic, Holiday, Josie). The CD repros the rare "Rubber Biscuit" 45 on Josie by The Chips and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but the sound quality to my ears is improved on everything that I've heard before. The audio and presentation are top-class here - and the listen is fab...

1956 was a pivotal year in Vocal Group history hitting something of a pinnacle - and this disc shows that. But what makes it such a fabulous listen is the mixture of paces - slow smoochers - bopping dancers - mid-tempo lurches - and all of it in top audio quality. While The Cadets "Stranded In The Jungle" has always been a funny tune ("meanwhile back in the States...") - the magic really kicks in with the truly gorgeous "Oh What A Nite" by The Dells - as lovely and as romantic a tune as ever penned (and a $120.00 rarity). The same applies to The Heartbeats beautiful "A Thousand Miles Away" where Arthur Crump's Tenor soars as he bemoans distance between him and his girl (they later became Shep and The Limelites) while equally sweet is the lesser-heard cover version of the standard "The Way You Look Tonight" by The Jaguars - a $300 rarity on R-Dell Records (great audio too on the backing singers and accompanying piano).

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "queen of my throne" song "Church Bells Will Ring" by The Willows complete with church-like chimes (another $300 rarity). Soul man Jimmy Castor (Jimmy Castor Bunch) started his career on a R 'n' B dancer - the obscure "I Promise" where he does his best Lymon "Juvenile Delinquent" impression. I've always loved The Cookies "In Paradise" - a little slice of Atlantic Records mid-tempo class (it's on the "Atlantic Rhythm & Blues 1949-1974" 8CD box set) while bopping returns with handclaps and saxophone on the happy "Zoom" by The Cadillacs. A soldier boy's face freezes when he proposes in "A Casual Look" by The Six Teens while the happy-teen theme continues on "Little Girl Of Mine".

We slow to the "la, la, la..." chorus on the wonderfully smooth "Bad Boy" by The Jive Bombers where our love-smitten hero tells us that life is "just a bowl of cherries..." (more gorgeous audio too). We then go "Down In Mexico" with The Coasters where a man with a black moustache plays a piano in a Honky Tonk with dodgy consequences South of the Border. A rare and clever inclusion is the upbeat "Castle In The Sky" on the obscure Holiday label by The Bop Chords - top vocal R'n'B with a wicked Sax solo. We're then back to proper Vocal Group territory with The Spaniels on "You Gave Me Peace Of Mind" where you can literally see the group swaying beneath a streetlight. Another Atlantic Records gem is "Devil Or Angel" by the wonderful Clovers - a Number 3 Billboard R'n'B hit in January 1956. Finger-clicking cool kicks in with the impossibly smooth Andre Williams - "it's sweeping the South...that thing called Bacon Fat..." We then go back to dancing with the rare "Rubber Biscuit" by The Chips - a fun and funny song with almost impenetrable rhyming Cab Calloway lyrics - and the utterly infectious and brill "See Saw" by The Moonglows. Happy days... And the whole Disc ends with James Brown giving a nod to the Soul years to come with the incomparably brilliant "Please, Please, Please"

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them. Another gold standard from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 7: 1955" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Adorable…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the Fools in Love down at Smokey Joe's Café...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 7: 1955" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17285 AR (Barcode 4000127172853) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 88:26 minutes):

1. Why Do Fools Fall In Love - THE TEENAGERS featuring FRANKIE LYMON (Gee GG-1002)

2. Most Of All - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1589)

3. Speedo - THE CADILLACS/JESSE POWELL ORCHESTRA (Josie 785)

4. Close Your Eyes - THE FIVE KEYS (Capitol F 3032)

5. At My Front Door - THE EL DORADOS (Vee Jay VJ-147)

6. Adorable - THE COLTS (Vita V-112)

7. What'Cha Gonna Do - CLYDE McPHATTER and THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 1055)

8. Story Untold - THE NUTMEGS (Herald H-452)

9. Only You (And You Alone) - THE PLATTERS (Mercury 70633)

10. Don't Change Your Pretty Ways - THE MIDNIGHTERS (Federal 12243)

11. Lonely Nights - THE HEARTS with AL SEARS ORCHESTRA (Baton 208)

12. When You Dance - THE TURBANS (Herald H-458)

13. Got The Water Boiling - THE REGALS (Atlantic 1062)

14. The Way You Dog Me Around - THE DIABLOS featuring NOLAN STRONG (Fortune 518)

15. Chop Chop Boom - THE DANDELIERS/DALLAS TAYLOR Vocalist (States S-147)

16. Soldier Boy - THE FOUR FELLOWS/ABIE BAKER ORCHESTRA (Glory 234)

17. Come Back My Love - THE WRENS (Rama 65)

18. Why Don't You Write Me - THE JACKS (RPM 428)

19. Witchcraft - THE SPIDERS (Imperial X 5366, B-side of "Is It True?")

20. Life Is But A Dream - THE HARPTONES (Paradise 101)

21. Smokey's Joe Café - THE ROBINS (Spark 122 and Atco 6059)

22. Smoke From Your Cigarette - THE MELLOWS featuring LILLIAN LEACH (Jay-Dee 797)

23. You Tickle Me Baby - THE ROYAL JOKERS with Orchestra (Atco 6052)

24. Heaven And Paradise - DON JULIAN and THE MEADOWLARKS  (DooTone 359)

25. You Baby You - THE CLEFTONES/JIMMY WRIGHT & His Orchestra (Gee GG-1000)

26. Burn That Candle - THE CUES (Capitol F 3245)

27. It Wasn't A Lie - THE FI-TONES QUINTETTE (Atlas 1051)

28. Rollin' Stone - THE MARIGOLDS (Excello 2057)

29. Newly Wed - THE ORCHIDS (Parrot 815)

30. Zindy Lou - THE CHIMES (Specialty 555, B-side of "Tears On My Pillow")

31. Lily Maebelle - THE VALENTINES (Rama RR-171)

32. The Door Is Still Open - THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 1054)

33. Red Hots And Chili Mac - THE MOROCCOS/Vocal by Ralph Vernon (United U-193)

[Note: Track 10 by THE MIDNIGHTERS is co-written by and features Hank Ballard]

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1955 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Rama, Vita, Mercury, Parrot, Imperial, States, Atco, Specialty and Herald). The CD repros the rare "The Door is Open" 45 on Atlantic by The Cardinals (a Chuck Willis song) and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly and can at times be crude - but the sound quality to my ears is improved on everything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity - especially the Atlantic and DooTone sides. Rarities include The Orchids ($400.00), Don Julian and The Meadowlarks ($200.00), The Valentines ($200.00), The Wrens ($150.00), The Harptones ($150.00, The Fi-Tones Quintette ($100.00) and many more.

In between the ballads and crooners you get wicked Fifties R 'n' B dancers like the "cooking your goose" song by The Regals ("Got The Water Boiling") and "the spell's on me now" tune by The Spiders ("Witchcraft"). Another dancer is the guitar-driven "Don't Change Your Pretty Ways" with Hank Ballard giving it some "baby please" vocals out front. I've never heard the zippy "Red Hots And Chili Mac" or the frantic "At My Front Door" by The Moroccos and The El Dorados but they're tight. Mid-tempo tunes include "Chop Chop Boom" by The Dandeliers and The Colts accurate cover of "Adorable" (originally a hit for The Drifters) while vocal group magic comes in the shape of The Moonglows, The Diablos, The Cardinals (what a tune) and the lovely Lillian Leach vocal on "Smoke From Your Cigarette" - a bluesy lounge lizard. Purists will love the gorgeous and classy "It Wasn't A lie" by the obscure Fi-Tones Quintette - as good as example as you can get of a Street Corner Symphony. Even the overly familiar "Only You (And You Alone" sounds fresh - very nicely done.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them. Gold standard as always from Bear...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Earth Angel…" 

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. Their "1954" instalment feels to me like a good place to start. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the shoop-shoop-shoops, doobie shang-a-langs and sh-sh-sh-sh-booms...

Released October 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 6: 1954" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17284 AR (Barcode 4000127172846) breaks down as follows (89:04 minutes):

1. Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine) - THE PENGUINS (DooTone 348, B-side of "Hey Senorita")

2. Work With Me Annie - THE ROYALS (Federal 12169, A)

3. Gloria - THE CADILLACS (Josie 765, A)

4. Ling, Ting, Tong (Capitol 2945, A)

5. The Wind - THE DIABLOS featuring Nolan Strong (Fortune 511, A)

6. Lovey Dovey - THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 1022, A)

7. My Memories Of You - THE HARP-TONES (Bruce 102, A)

8. Hearts Of Stone - THE CHARMS (DeLuxe 6062, A)

9. Darling Dear - THE COUNTS (Dot 1188, A)

10. I'm Slippin' In - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5291, A)

11. Sincerely - THE MOONGLOWS (Chess 1581, A)

12. Honey Love - THE DRIFTERS featuring CLYDE McPHATTER (Atlantic 1029, A)

13. A Thousand Stars - THE RIVILEERS (Baton 200, A)

14. Boot 'Em Up - THE DU DROPPERS (Groove 0036, A)

15. Dear One - THE SCARLETS (Red Robin 128, A)

16. Oop Shoop - SHIRLEY GUNTER and THE QUEENS (Flair 1050, A)

17. God Only Knows - THE CAPRIS (Gotham 304, A)

18. Sh-Boom - THE CHORDS (Cat 104, A)

19. Tryin' To Get To You - THE EAGLES (Mercury 70391, B-side to "Please, Please")

20. I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy - THE LAMPLIGHTERS (Federal 12176, A)

21. Dream Of A Lifetime - THE FLAMINGOS (Parrot 808, A)

22. Mary Lee - THE RAINBOWS (Red Robin 134, A)

23. Please Remember My Heart - THE SOLITAIRES (Old Town 1006, A)

24. It Ain't That Way - THE HAWKS (Imperial 5292, A)

25. I "Do" - THE "5" ROYALES with Charlie 'Little Jazz' Ferguson and His Orchestra (Apollo 452, A)

26. House With No Windows - THE CHECKERS (King 4710, A)

27. My Daddy Stole My Chippie - THE PLAYBOYS

(unissued December 1954 Atlantic/Cat Records recording, first appeared on the US 1995 2CD set "Don't It Sound Good: The Great Atlantic Vocal Groups" on Rhino/Collector's Choice R2 7160)

28. Maybe You'll Be There - LEE ANDREWS and THE HEARTS (Rainbow 252, A)

29. Oh Yes I Know - THE JEWELS (R and B 1303, A)

30. The Letter - THE MEDALLIONS (DooTone 347, A)

31. Riot In Cell Block No. 9 - THE ROBINS (Spark 103, A)

32. Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - THE SPANIELS (Vee-Jay 107, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1954 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the uber-rare "Tryin' To Get To You" 45 on Mercury that Elvis covered on his 1956 debut album (a Sun Records cut) and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly and can at times be crude - but the sound quality to my ears is improved on anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity.

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Earth Angel" and "Gloria" - you get the lesser-heard gems like "The Wind" from September 1954 by The Diablos (delicate and pure Vocal Group magic) and the lovely "My Memories Of You" by The Harp-Tones. November saw "Hearts Of Stone" by The Charms take their cover of a hit by The Jewels up to 15 in the charts. And "Sincerely" by The Moonglows is one of my all-time favourites of the genre - genius. "Dream Of A Lifetime" by The Flamingos shows what a class act they always were - and why they hold such a place in the hearts of Vocal Group collectors.

Rhythm `n' Blues boppers pops up more than once - the fantastic and witty "I'm Slippin' In" by The Spiders has our hero trying to sneak into his home at the three o'clock in the morning without the wife noticing. I bought a reissue album by The Du Droppers at the end of the Eighties (I think it was on De-Tour Records) and it contained the swinging brassy dancer "Boot 'Em Up" with Sam 'The Man' Taylor and Budd Johnson on Saxes with wicked guitar from Riff Ruffin. Another boppin' winner is the Rudolph Toombs Jiver "I Used To Cry Mercy, Mercy" by The Lamplighters with Thurston Harris on throaty Lead Vocals (wicked Sax solo too) as who doesn't dig the R'n'B of The "5" Royales

Rarities come in the shape of "God Only Knows" by The Capris which is a four-piece male group fronted by a lady - Savannah Churchill on Lead Vocals. It's just them and a piano - haunting stuff and a brilliant choice for inclusion. Fans of Elvis Presley will flip for the brilliant "Tryin' To Get To You" by The Eagles. Penned by Rose Marie McCoy and Charles Singleton (the same team who brought us "Boot 'Em Up" by The Du Droppers) - it's the Bluesy rendition that Elvis copied almost note for note for his 1956 explosive debut "Elvis". How cool is to have the original rarity (apparently a B-side to "Please, Please"). And although it's hissy the brilliant bopper "Mary Lee" by The Rainbows is new to me ands frankly a find. But a genuine sensation is the $500.00 listed "House With no Windows" by The Checkers - a Bluesy number with Little David Baughan on Lead Vocal (an absolute deadringer for Clyde McPhatter). It's just brilliant and comes at you in stunning audio quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD - Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Crying In The Chapel…"

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes their Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in 2012 in clumps of five (May and October) and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. Here are the boys Crying In The Chapel...

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 5: 1953" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17283 AR (Barcode 4000127172839) breaks down as follows (87:52 minutes):

1. Money Honey - CLYDE McPHATTER & THE DRIFTERS (Atlantic 45-1006, A)

2. Crying In The Chapel - THE ORIOLES (Jubilee 45-5122, A)

3. Baby, It's You - THE SPANIELS (Chance 1141, A)

4. White Cliffs Of Dover - THE CHECKERS (King 4675, A)

5. Baby Please - THE MOONGLOWS with the Red Holloway Orchestra (Chance CH-1147, A)

6. Is It A Dream - THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 114, A)

7. Gee - THE CROWS (Rama 5, A)

8. Nadine - THE CORONETS (Chess 1549, A)

9. You're Mine - THE CRICKETS (MGM 11428, A) [Not Buddy Holly's group]

10. Too Much Lovin' (Much Too Much) - THE "5" ROYALES with CHARLIE "LITTLE JAZZ" FERGUSON & His Orchestra (Apollo 448, A)

11. A Sunday Kind Of Love - THE HARP-TONES featuring Willie Winfield (Bruce 101, A)

12. Golden Teardrops - THE FLAMINGOS with Red Holloway's Orchestra (Chance CH-1145, A)

13. Good Lovin' - CLOVERS (Atlantic 45-1000, A)

14. (Now And Then There's) A Fool Such As I - THE ROBINS (RCA Victor 47-5175, A)

15. My Girl Awaits Me - THE CASTELLES (Grand 101, A)

16. Marie - THE FOUR TUNES with Sid Bass Orchestra (Jubilee 5128, A)

17. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You - BILLY WARD & HIS DOMINOES (Federal 12129, A)

18. We Could Find Happiness - THE WANDERERS (Savoy 1109, A)

19. I Wanna Know - THE DU DROPPERS (RCA Victor 47-5229, A)

20. Dear Ruth - THE BUCCANEERS with The Joe Whelan Trio (Southern 101, A)

21. Just Walkin' In The Rain - THE PRISONAIRES (Sun 186, A)

22. Get It - THE ROYALS (Federal 12133, A)

23. Lovie Darling - THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 45-995, B-side of "You Are My Only Love")

24. I Had A Love - THE FLAIRS (Flair 1012, A)

25. My Saddest Hour - THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3214, A)

26. Hey Now - TONY WILLIAMS and THE PLATTERS (Federal 12153, B-side of "Give Thanks")

27. I - THE VELVETS (Red Robin 122, A)

28. Baby, Come Back To Me - THE FIVE ECHOES with Fat Cole's Band (Sabre SA-102, A)

29. Nobody's Lovin' Me - THE SWALLOWS (King 4632, A)

30. Big Leg Mama - VANN WALLS and THE ROCKETS (Atlantic 45-988, A)

31. I Can't Believe - THE HORNETS (States S-127, A)

32. You're The One - THE SPIDERS (Imperial 5265, B-side of "I Didn't Want To Do It")

The 84-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 83 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? There are cool trade adverts from 1953 peppering the text and some of those rare American 45 labels are even pictured in colour (Atlantic, Baton, Mercury and Robin). The CD repros the "Good Lovin’" 45 on Atlantic by The Clovers and the spine eventually makes up a single photograph when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne and Billy Vera have been involved and MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering. The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but the sound quality to my ears is improved on anything I've heard before. Some of these cuts are amazing in their clarity (Atlantic tracks especially).

What a difference a year makes - 1953 Vocal Group 7" singles are incredibly hard to find hence the rarities quotient goes through the roof - check out these prices: The Hornets $8000.00, The Buccaneers $4000.00, The Castelles $2000, The Flamingos $1000 (black vinyl), $3000 (red vinyl), The Five Echoes $600 (black vinyl), $1500.00 (red vinyl), The Spaniels $500.00 (black vinyl), $2000.00 (red vinyl), The Moonglows $1000 (black vinyl) and $3000 (red vinyl). Or you can buy The Swallows, The Checkers, The Wanderers and The Prisonaires for a paltry $500.00 each with The Flairs, The Crows, The Five Keys and The Platters putting you back a bargain-basement $400.00 a pop (and so on down The Orioles at a frankly piddly $80.00).

When you get past the big guns you've heard too often like "Crying In The Chapel" and "Gee" - you get the lesser-heard gems like the rare "I" by The Velvets and the gorgeous "You're Mine" by The Crickets (Not Buddy Holly's backing group) - as pure Vocal Group as you can get. "Nadine" (not the Chuck Berry classic) is another slow moody rarity from The Coronets (on Chess). I love the lead vocalist in The Vocaleers "Is It A Dream" - an unusual almost childish ache in his phrasing - so good. And there can't be too many fans who don't have a big place in their hearts for The Harp-Tones and the silky "A Sunday Kind Of Love". The Spaniels and the bluesy Swallows are clever compiler choices too. There’s crackle on the uber-rare “My Girl Awaits Me” by The Castelles for sure but the audio quality on The Robins version of “A Fool Such As I” is utterly stupendous – Bobby Nunn and Grady Chapman sharing the crystal clear audio glories.

Rhythm 'n' Blues boppers pop up more than once - the "my love is yours" saxophone and talking "Get It" by The Royals (the lead singer sounding like Clyde McPhatter) while The Cardinals on Atlantic is that halfway-house mix of R'n'B and Vocal Group. Speaking of great lead vocals "I Wanna Know" by The Du Droppers has our hero pleading, "I wanna know what you do round there?" (not likely to get an answer mate). The Four Tunes go full-on Jackie Wilson "Reet Petite" (complete with warbling vocals) on the fab "Marie" - a great bopping dancer while "Money Honey" by Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters is always worth re-hearing especially in this fabulous sound quality.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have large swathes of this already. Bear will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point. Having said all of that - what is actually on here is fabulous stuff and given to us with love and affection by a company that cares about voices that would be forgotten without them...

"...You keep on loving somebody...while nobody's loving me..." The Swallows croon on King 4632. Give this superb compilation a go and you may find yourself loving it so much - the others in the set will join it in a jiffy...

"Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS (2012 Bear Family CD – Marcus Heumann Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Won't You Have Mercy Baby..."

Hot on the heels of their definitive "Blowing The Fuse" and "Sweet Soul Music" CD Series (15 volumes to each genre of R'n'B and Soul) comes Bear Family’s Vocal Group attack - 15 discs spanning 1939 to 1963. Volumes 1 to 10 hit the shops in May and October 2012 and the last five in the spring of 2013. And while critics will argue that Vocal Group music has already been done to death by Rhino (3 x 4CD Box Sets across the decades) and a mountain of other cheapo labels taking advantage of the 50-year copyright law - this is the first time someone reputable (other than Rhino) have had a go - and typically these German-issued Bear Family CDs are gorgeous in all the right places - presentation and audio. 'Have Mercy Baby' because 'This Is Where The Heartaches Begin' if you know what I’m saying 'Rockin' Daddy-O'....

Released May 2012 in Germany - "Street Corner Symphonies Volume 4: 1952" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Bear Family BCD 17282 AR (Barcode 4000127172822) breaks down as follows (I've provided American single catalogue numbers on all tracks - 85:21 minutes):

1. Have Mercy Baby – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12068, A)

2. The Wheel Of Fortune – THE CARDINALS (Atlantic 958, A)

3. Be True – THE VOCALEERS (Red Robin 113, A)

4. Baby Don't Do It – THE '5' ROYALES with Charlie Ferguson – His Tenor and Orchestra (Apollo 443, A)

5. That's When Your Heartaches Begin – BILLY BUNN and HIS BUDDIES (RCA Victor 20-4657, A)

6. One Mint Julep – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 963, A)

7. But I Forgive You – THE SERENADERS (Coral 65093, A)

8. Every Beat Of My Heart – THE ROYALS (Federal 12064, A)

9. Rock Me All Night Long – THE RAVENS (Mercury 8291, A)

10. Hold Me – THE LARKS featuring Eugene Mumford (Apollo 1194, A)

11. That's The Way It's Gonna Be – THE FOUR KNIGHTS (Capitol 2195, A)

12. Beside You – THE SWALLOWS (King 4525, A)

13. You're Part Of Me – THE FOUR BUDDIES (Savoy 845, A)

14. Don't Cry Baby – THE ORIOLES with Buddy Lucas Orchestra (Jubilee 5092, A)

15. Let's Give Love Another Chance – THE FOUR TUNES (RCA Victor 20-4968, A)

16. The Last Of The Good Rocking Men – THE FOUR JACKS (Federal 12087, A)

17. Make Me Thrill Again – THE MARYLANDERS with Buddy Lucas and His Band Of Tomorrow (Jubilee 5091, A)

18. Rug Cutter – THE FOUR BLAZES (United 127, A)

19.  Don't Be Angry – THE SULTANS (Jubilee 5077, B-side to “Blues At Dawn”)

20. A Beggar For Your Kisses – THE DIAMONDS (Atlantic 981, A)

21. Can’t Do Sixty No More – THE DU-DROPPERS with Ben Smith’s Quintet (Red Robin 108, A)

22. I've Lost – THE ENCHANTERS (Jubilee 5080, A)

23. Flame In My Heart – THE CHECKERS (King 4558, A)

24. Serve Another Round – THE FIVE KEYS (Aladdin 3158, A)

25. One More Time – THE MEL-O-DOTS featuring Ricky Wells (Apollo 1192, A)

26. You're My Inspiration – THE FIVE CROWNS (Rainbow 179, A)

27. Rockin' Daddy-O – THE HEARTBREAKERS (RCA Victor 20-4662, A)

28. Later – THE FOUR FLAMES (Speciality 429, A)

29. That's What You're Doing To Me – THE DOMINOES (Federal 12059, A)

30. Stormy Weather – THE FIVE SHARPS (Jubilee 5104, A)

31. Ting-A-Ling – THE CLOVERS (Atlantic 969, A)

The 82-page non-detachable booklet is a feast of indepth liner notes on each release by Grammy-winning writer and lifelong fan BILL DAHL. Let's put it this way - there's a 'Photo Captions' index on Page 77 that tells who's who in the black and white publicity shots that accompany most (not all) of the photos. It actually lists the singer's names  - who else but Bear would do this? The text is also peppered with pictures of those old American 45 labels like Atlantic, Red Robin, King, Jubilee, Savoy, Mercury, RCA-Victor, Coral, Apollo and Specialty (one pic is the uber rare 'red vinyl' version of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales on Apollo which books at $400.00) and an occasional trade advert (The Four Buddies at the Circle Theatre in October 1952). The CD repros the rare "Don’t Be Angry" by The Sultans on Jubilee and the spine makes up a single photograph of the series name when you line up all 15 volumes alongside each other on a shelf. Long-standing and trusted names like Walter DeVenne, Nico Feuerbach, Victor Pearlin, Colin Escott and Billy Vera have been involved in the research - while Audio Engineer MARCUS HEUMANN did the superb mastering (some Disc/Metalpart transfers by Victor Pearlin and Lothar Blank). The sources (as you can imagine) differ wildly but to my ears the sound quality is improved on everything that I've heard before (including some of the Rhino box sets). The audio and presentation are top-class here (a norm for Bear Family)...

With a huge 31 tracks and a format-busting playing time of 85:21 minutes – you certainly can't accuse this CD of scrimping it. It's also noticeable how many are Independent labels without whom none of this fabulous music would have seen the light of day. It opens on an upbeat R&B tip with the fantastic boogie of "Have Mercy Baby" by The Dominoes lead by the vocals of the legendary Clyde McPhatter. It was a smash and a huge influence on the young Smokey Robinson who explains in the liner notes how McPhatter's high voice (which seemed to win over the girls) gave him hope. "Wheel Of Fortune" is a known Atlantic Vocal Groups rarity and here it sounds spiffing (really clean). "Be True" by The Vocaleers is a pleader while the shuffling boogie of "Baby Don't Do It" by The '5' Royales is classy R&B. "That's Where Your Heartaches Begin" sounds like a post WWII smoocher – a gorgeous vocal by Billy Bunn who clearly admired The Ink Spots the most.

If I was to pinpoint one song on here that shows up how good the Audio Transfer is – it would be the beautifully recorded "Every Beat Of My Heart" by The Royals (written by Johnny Otis). It's just Lead Baritone Charles Sutton and the close harmony voices of The Royals and a tiny amount of chimes. It sold nada on release and is correspondingly rare as the proverbial hen's molars with a stock copy booked at $1500 while a blue vinyl version will set you back a paltry $3000. And here it is sounded minty fresh. "Hold Me" by The Larks is equally lovely with a top vocal from Eugene Mumford. A welcome upping of the pace comes with The Four Knights and their R&B "That's The Way It's Gonna Be" (a bit rough on the audio though) and then back to pleaders from The Swallows and The Four Buddies. There can't be too many genre enthusiasts who don't hear The Orioles and get a bit weak at the knees – but actually better is the genius inclusion of "Let's Give Love Another Chance" by The Four Tunes where the velvet immaculate voice of Baritone William Best (who also doubled on Guitar) makes the song (this is seriously classy stuff).

Although the transfer is a little rough - I'm loving "The Last Of The Good Rocking Men" – a fantastic R&B shuffler very similar to "Sixty Minute Man" by The Dominoes only with Will 'Dub' Jones on Lead Vocals (the actual lead is the deep voiced Ellison White who used to be with The Wings Over Jordan Choir). What a find and I can completely understand its inclusion despite the crackle. "Rug Cutter" is a Duke Ellington cover by The Four Blazes sounding not unlike Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – wickedly enjoyable. We then get a masterpiece of the genre and a flipside rarity – "Don't Be Angry" by The Sultans (written by Lead Vocalist Clyde Wright). On release it was hooked up with a faster "Blues At Dawn" on the A - but it's the B that draws gasps and I'm not surprised this beautiful pleader ("...don't be angry...let me stay") commands $800+ on the collector’s market. Love the witty R&B dancer "Can't Do Sixty No More" by The Du Droppers where our hero advises his woman that even though he loves her he can’t do that speed anymore...so a short thirty minutes will have to suffice (oh dear).

"Flame In My Heart" and "Serve Another Round" by The Checkers and The Five Keys are Vocal Group and R&B – even if the Five Keys track is a bit rough around the transfer edges. Time to dance with The Mel-O-Dots and The Dominoes who give us infectious boppers "One More Time" and "That's What You're Doing To Me" where Clyde tells us he's "...gonna rock...gonna roll..." - and who am I to disagree. The Five Sharps cut is very rough ("Stormy Weather") clearly dubbed from a worn disc - but the finisher is the wickedly cool and altogether better-sounding "Ting-A-Ling” by The Clovers On Atlantic. To sum up – a hugely enjoyable entry in the series of 15 with many standout moments – the kind of compilation enthusiasts will love.

Niggles - they're too expensive as singles discs and perhaps they should have been doubles because real collectors will have more than a few titles on offer here. Bear Family will argue 'but not in this sound quality or presentation' - and they'd have a point.

Presented to us with love and affection by a company that cares about forgotten voices that shouldn’t be forgotten. What a sweetheart of a compilation and another gold standard from Bear...