Another Rare Doo-Wop Picture

THE THREE SPADES.
The Three Spades were a late 50s vocal trio from Oregon lead by Byron Valls they singing in private shows,school dances and back up to local black singer Sam Wesley.later changed their name to The Collegiates but never recorded.

THE FLAMES_I'll Never Let You Go

FROM HAWAII.....THE FLAMES.

Interracial group formed at the Hawaii naval base aboard the oil tanker U.S.S. Kishwaukee, by officers Willie Gaines and Pat Dilley along with sailors Lou Zippin from Cincinnati and Jim Arnold from Ohio, they sang in their spare time around the ship and by decision of the crew adopted the name The Flames.

They sang in some places in Hawaii when they were discovered by Bob Bertram, a local Dee Jay who had published some records as a pianist and who was now a music producer on the island, he hired them and had them record the songs with International Records in Honollulu " I'll Never Let You Go" / "Crazy", these songs were very famous and reached a good position in the charts and made the group appear on TV, In early 1958 The Flames backed Tom Moffatt on "Beyond The Reef" / "Rock Along."

To Listen or Download A Side, Please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/snjd52l3e5

Or go to Youtube...



Also they were the back up group for....

TOM MOFFATT & THE FLAMES.

-Rock Along / Beyond The Reef. Bertram International-1959.

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Unreleased sides of The Flames....

 As_Rhythm Train / She's My Baby / That's What You're Doing To Me / Sam The Accordion man / Rockin Town' / Gee. were present in the CD FLAMES/VIBES (picture Above).

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/flamesvibes

Or go to Youtube...

THE TEARDROPS_That's Why I'll Get By

White girl group from Cincinnati,Ohio formed around 1961 by Dorothy"Sunni"Dyer ,Linda"Lin"Schroeder and Pat"Punkin"Strunk.later the group added a four member Wanda"Wendy"Sherriff.

The group signed by Saxony Records and recorded their first single_Tonight I'm Gonna In Love/That's Why I'll Get By. this record was a regional hit in the fall of 1964.

For the complete Teardrop's bio visit;http://spectropop.com/go2/teardrops.html

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MEL CALVIN & THE KOKONUTS_I Love You

Mel "Calvin" Cabang from hawaii in 1960 was a high school graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology and formed a Rock &Roll band under the name of Mel Calvin & The Kokonuts with some friends from Karmuri in Honolulu.

In 1962 contacted with Bob Bertram who recorded the guys on his own label Bertram International Records  with the oriented doo wop side_I Love You: and the Rock & Roll side_My Mummy.

To Listen or Download A Side, please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/d8xhz3j1zs

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Later Mel Calvin have along career as comedian,actor and singer. more information at,

http://funnybusiness.tv/meet/crew/uncle-mel/#.UmZvvFMrcwo

THE CRYSTAL CHORDS_Be Mine Again

In 1958 in the section of the spanish Harlem of the Bronx five hispanic guys form a vocal group under the name of The Crystal-Chords consisted of Hector Santiago,Orlando”Lenny” Montalvo,Edward”Eddie” Sotolongo,Arnie Magraner and a Joe Paredes.

They singing in the street corners and school dances a mexican folk song they adapted to the vocal group harmony sound and translate the spanish lyrics into english(but with some spanish words singing in the middle of the song).

In one of these acts a musical agent heard the song and send the group to 3D Records a latin label in the bronx owened by Mildred and Victor Alonzo where they recorded the mentioned song_Be Mine Again. With Lenny Montalvo on Lead and the B Side written by the group_When In The World. with Edward Sotolongo on Lead,the group singing this side completely in english.

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/fepmbntc8i

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below; the Crystal-Chords with DJ Clay Cole.

The record have a big local acceptacion play in the radio(Jocko Handerson play it) but never exit of the NY. Area.

Orlando”Lenny”Montalvo died Monday,July 19,2004. he was 63.

Thanks to;http://dungeonserenade.com/

THE DEB-TONES_Cuddly Baby

White female trio from Fort Wayne,Indiana first know as The Petticoats and consisted of Linda Hirt, Karen Lemasters and Julie wilson.

This trio win a talent show on April,1958 and win a RCA recording contract under the group name of the Deb-Tones.they made many personal appearances incluiding the Jimmy Mack television Show,Teen Twirl.(see below picture).



They recorded...
-Miss Lonely Hearts/Cuddly Baby.RCA Records-1958.
-Give It Up/Rock-a-Bye.RCA Records-1958.
-Knock,Knock,Who's There/I'm In Love Again.RCA Records-1959.


To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/e2gc9i496y

More? go to Youtube...



Read a brief article about the group(click to enlargue)...

THE ALLURES aka THE VIBRA TONES aka THE ALLUMES

The Allures were an unrecorded Brooklyn/Queens white group managed by Sal Campo and consisted of John Sescila,Sandy Anzalone,John Anzalone and Vinny Lombardy (John and Sandy from The Embers.see in this blog).in 1961-63 they recorded many demos songs as_You Are On My Mind/Plea for Love/At The End Of A Love/Winner Take All. or_Dorothy.written by their manager for his daughter.

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/0gxq4abcrb

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None of these demos were released for a label,but the group made two records but only as backup singers of....

EVELYN DELL & THE VIBRA TONES.
-Sincerely/Please Tell My Why-ABC Records-1961.

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And for piano player...

ART WAYNE.

-Try And Try Again/Let Me Make My Own Mistakes.Xavier Records-1961.

A Side was originally called _We Don't Need A Chaperone. but after a revamping of the Lyrics by the producer on the lead vocals, the background vocals were lowered since the words no longer reflected the background singers response.

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Without any own recording the group disbanded in late 1964.

In 1978 Crystall Ball Records released one 45RPM with two demos of the group_Winner Take All. and the Norman Fox & The Rob Roy's classic_Tell My Why. under the name of The Allumes(because the Writing on the Demo was so faded it was illegible).

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THE HEARTBEATS aka THE THREE FRIENDS

Brooklyn,1955 four students at the Utrecht high school;Tony Grochowski(2nd Tenor),Frankie Stropoli(Lead),Al Rosenberg(1st Tenor) and Joe Sucamele(Bass) formed a vocal group under the name of The Heartbeats,they recorded one disc for Jubilee Records with the sides_Finally/Bol & Bubble. the B side have as lead a girl named Florence Guida.
These sides with The Teardrop's recordings on Josie Records are considered one of the first white doo wops recordings.

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With the release the group have many appearances on various Rock & Roll shows it was at one such show in Philadelphia where they met the black Heartbeat's group and as result of the disscussion name the white Heartbeat's disband instead.

Soon Tony Grochowski(2nd Tenor) and Frankie Stropoli(Tenor) with a new guy Joey Villa(Lead) form a new vocal group called The Boyfriends,they have one original demo_Bill & Blanche. this was listen by Leo Rogers liked the tune and formed the Lido Records Company for this group release.the demo was produced and arranged by Teddy Randazzo of The Three Chuckles fame(see in this blog) and finally released in September,1956 as_Blanche.and under the new group name of The Three Friends.(name recommended by Teddy as immitation of their group 3 Chuckles).

LISTEN...




The song have a big acceptacion and was covered by Eddie Delmar in Philadelhia.the group travel with Alan freed at the NY. Paramount.


Two new releases in 1956-57 for Lido Records without any success(the group are influencied by the pop sound of The Tree Chuckles and in those days of Rock & Roll sound their sound were untimely) caused the breakup of the group Frankie go as a solo artist and Tony and Joey recorded many demos one of these _Short Short. later recorded by Joey Villa and their band The Royalteens was a hit # 3 in 1958.

Tony sang background Tenor for The Royalteens,Four Seasons  for solo artists as Eddie Robbins,Teddy Randazzo or Eddie Reardon many of these work were credited to The Three Friends.

In 1962 Joey Villa reissued_Blanche on MF and Chevron Records with different B Sides.

In 1957 The Three Friends recorded on Lido Records their last single,this have the side_Chinese Tea Room.

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/0bc5ony54h

Complete Discography...

***The Heartbeats.

-Finally/Boil & Bubble. Jubilee Records-1955. 

***The Three Friends.

-Blanche Baby I'll Cry. Lido/Relic Records-1956.
-I'm Only A Boy (To Her)/Jinx. Lido. Records-1956.
-Chinese Tea Room/Jinx. Brunswick Records-1957.
-Now That You'Re Gone/Chinese Tea Room. Lido Records-1957.

 ***Joey Villa & The Original Three Friends.

-Blanche/The Oriental. Chevron-1962.

*** Joey Villa (with The Original Three Friends).

-Blanche/Mona Lisa. MF Records-1962.

*** Eddie Robbins with Tony Grochowski.

-Dear Parents/A Girl Like You. Power/Dot/Tip Top Records-1957.

LISTEN...

THE DOMINIONS (Graves Records)

-Spanish Harlem/I Need Her.Graves Records-1965.

Were the sides present in The Complete Book Of Doo Wop.

But they don't have a doo wop sound.

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THE PARLAY BROTHERS_My Girl

Another mistake from the Complete Book Of Doo-Wop?.

THE PARLAY BROTHERS.

George Aguilar & Mickey Gonzalez are the Parlay Brothers

-My Girl/Do You Really Wanna Dance-Valjay Records-1965.

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THE GENTLE-TONES_Darling

In July 1958 this white group recorded in New York City one demo with three acappella sides unafortunely these sides never were released but soon this group recorded for Arc Records under the name of The C-Notes(see in this blog).

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/hri63vi5jm

THE MUDLARKS_My Grandfather's Clock

The Mudlarks were an English pop vocal group from Luton in Bedfordshire present in The Complete Book Of Doo-Wop with...

-Love Game/My Grandfather's Clock-Roulette Records-1959.


To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/6lirthuen3


The group consisted of the brothers Jeff Mudd,Fred Mudd and Mary Mudd. they all had jobs at the Vauxhall motor plant in Luton, and spent their spare time singing together. In 1958 they attracted the attention of BBC disc jockey David Jacobs, who won them an appearance on the "Six-Five Special" TV show, and a recording contract with EMI's Columbia label.


The Mudlarks' first release "Mutual Admiration Society" was unsuccessful, but their second, a cover of the American novelty song "Lollipop" originally recorded by duo Ronald and Ruby, and more successfully by The Chordettes, rose to # 2 in the UK pop charts.

They followed this with another UK top ten hit, a cover of The Monotones' "Book of Love". At the end of 1958, the Mudlarks were voted top British vocal group.They continued to release records until 1964, but had no more hits.

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THE SECRETS (Philips Records)

This girl group is only present in the Jeff Kreiter’s Vocal Group Record Guide with…

-The Boy Next Door/Learning To Forget .Phillips Records-1963.

This girl group was formed in Cleveland’s Shaw High School in Ohio by Karen Gray Cipriani (Lead) ,Carole Raymont McGoldrick(Alto/Bass), Jackie Allen Schwegler(High Dum-Dee-Dums) and a girl named Sue.
When Sue married Patty Miller(Soprano) form part of the group.

They don’t have a group name and in one of their first shows the pianist of the show named the group as The Sonnets(which was the brand name of the piano).The group singing in shows with another Shaw classmate named Tony King(of The Starfires,see in this blog),in one of these acts the group know to the Bocky Boo & The Visions manager Redda Robbins who signed manager of the group,Redda send the girls to an audittion with songwriters team Johnny Madara and David White who liked the group and signed a recording contract in Philadelphia.

Johnny and White send the group to Mercury Records where in 1963 recorded in the subsidiary label Phillips Records the sides_The Boy Next Door/Learning To Forget. Under the name of THE SECRETS.

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The A Side charted #18 in December of 1963. The group was invited to appear on America Bandstand the weekend of November 22nd,1963 which was cancelled due to John F. Kennedy assassination.

The Madara-White compositions_Hey Big Boy/The Other Side Of The Town. Were released in the early 1964 with the classic girl group sound of the time but without any success.

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In June,1964 Phillips release_Here He Comes Now/Oh Donnie. The A Side was also recorded by The Pixies Three(see in this blog) in one Lp(this was another Madara-White-Mercury white girl group).

The group appear on the last American Bandstand show before the show moved from Philadelpia to California.

In late 1964 Phillips released_He Doesn’t Want You/He’s The Boy. But the music industry was changing an the record dead soon.

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Jacki and Karen leave the group and Carole and Patty continue singing locally under the name of The Memories,finally the duo broke up in the end of 1965.

Complete information at;http://www.spectropop.com/gg/secrets.html

LES KOOL KATS_Dans la Nuit Mon Amour

LES KOOL KATS .
- Si je prétends(Making Believe) / Dans la nuit mon amour(In The Still Of The Night).Rusticana Records(Québec-Canada)-1960

The B side is a french version of The Five Satin's classic_In The Still Of the Night.

To Listen or download please visit; http://www.box.net/shared/7kvv7lt73q

A SIDE...
(Doo wop version of Jimmy Work's "Making Believe", popularized by country singer Dolly Parton. )

THE DAWNS_The Three Bells

THE DAWNS.

-The Three Bells/I Want To Walk You Home.Bell/Gala Records-1959.

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/sfoh8lco02

THE PLAYMATES_First Love

Novelty vocal group from Waterbury,Connecticut formed in the university of Connecticut and led by the pianist Chic Hetti (real name-Carl Cicchetti), drummer Donny Conn(real name-Donald Claps) and Morey Car(Bass).they began their carrer in Canada in 1952 as a comedy trio know as the Nitwits.

In the mid 50's they decide to singing change their name to The Playmates and in 1957 signed with Roulette Records and recorded for this label several singles and four LP's. the group on Roulette have 10 charts singles in five years their best charts were in November of 1958 charted #4 with the song_ Beep Beep. and in July 1959 charted # 15 with_What Is Love?.

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In 1963 the group signed with ABC Records recorded four singles and moved to Colpix Records where recorded three singles in 1964 but with the british invasion their novelty style were dead and the group broke up in the late 1964.

In 1959 on Roulette they recorded_First Love. a tune with nice harmonies.

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THE FOUR SEASONS_Mirage

In early 1959 two high school friends from Baldwin,PA.(Pittsburgh) Bill Stammer and Ched Mertz formed a vocal group named as a know restaurant The Four Seasons they moved to Philadelphia recorded a demo and the group broke up.

Back to Pittsburgh Bill(1st Tenor) and Ched(2nd Tenor) recruited to Don McGinnis((Lead) and Don Fanzo(Bass) and the new Four Season's were born.the group signed with Bill Lawrence of Alanna Records and in the summer of 1959 recorded their original tunes_Don't Sweat It Baby/That's The Way The Ball Bounces. with Lenny Martin of Calico Records on the instrumentacion. The record was a big hit in Pittsburgh(some DJ consider the title of the A side innapropied and the label changed this in a second press to_I'm Still In Love With You).

With their first release the group have a promotional tour in Chicago,Detroit and Cleveland with Bob Kobert of The Donnybrooks(see in this blog) as lead singer of these life perfomances.

In January of 1960 The Four Seasons recorded_Hot Water Bottle/Love Knows No Reasons. on Alanna Records without anny success.

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In July 1960 Ched married and left and Chuck Isler joined the group and this signed with Lennie Martin's new label Robbee Records where the group recorded_Nancy's Trampoline/Mirage. in the instrumentacion of this record Lenny used a theremin.

To Listen or Download please visit;http://www.box.net/shared/88nhn1t7e3

This recording receive very little airplay and Bill Stammer left the group to enter to military obligations and the rest of the group broke up soon without made another recording.

Of course this group don't are involved with The Four Season's of Frankie Vally.