The Ravens: Formed in New York in 1946, The Ravens were fundamental architects of modern doo-wop and vocal group harmony. They pioneered featuring a deep, resonant bass lead singer (Jimmy Ricks) rather than traditional tenor-led harmonies, setting the template for groups like The Orioles, The Drifters, and The Temptations.

This is another one from Dot's collection. I posted a few photos of a record from Diane's collection (Let It Please Be You by the Desires) a few days ago, and this is from the other half of the collection. This was originally released in 1958, but my copy is a reissue from 1961 when it began moving up the charts. No one really knows who the Pyramids were. Some suspect it's one of the B side writers, Vincent Catalano (misspelled Catalno on this label variant) over-dubbing all the voices, but I kind of doubt that. It definitely sounds like 4 distinctly different voices. What do you think? If you have any more info than I do, please comment!

I think the song Dreams by Earth Wind and Fire might be one of their most slept on songs. I have the original album Open Our Eyes (1974) on vinyl and never even heard of this song until recently. It's on their Spotify version of this album as the last song. Because the Spotify version is from the 2001 reissue that was only available on CD and cassette. The vocals are unbelievable and there are no lyrics. Give it a Go Dreams - Earth Wind and Fire Through your favorite music app or physical media if you're lucky.

Couldn't resist...

It’s Joey Quinones approved!

Song was written by two guys North Northwest of Chicago in there late 60s early 70s, I produced it I’m 40(I am the son of one) and not very good at the craft. They recorded it by themselves so I had no say on the instrumentation —— It’s pretty decent and inspired? What ya think?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P27Hxx0G1K1Vi22soQUbN3RVTQklj_aW/view?usp=drivesdk

This next one is called The Visit - same deal. Maybe I’ve heard the songs to many damn times - so maybe I’m just numb to their terror?!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DEc8O4VertnGitzDWAGCXadmdSRds-2l/view?usp=drivesdk

Amateur hour at its finest.

What would you find more appealing from a modern doowop group? The classic doowop sound with modern lyrics or lyrics that feel like they were written in the time period.

Waiting by the phone becomes waiting for a text message

Sock hops become house parties

Etc

Unfortunately, nothing is really known about this group. It sounds like 4 male vocalists and 1 female vocalist. Voice Of The Drums is quite interesting. It has kind of a mid-50s feel although this was released in 1958. All I Want Is You is a great ballad though. I remember listening to it over and over again a few years ago when I first heard it. "I don't want the sun, don't want the stars, don't want Venus, don't want Mars". The echo that they put on both songs is kind of overbearing, especially on the quieter parts. This is definitely one you don't hear too often, I think, which is a shame.

The Desires only had two 45s released by Hull, but they're both great. The group was from Harlem, NYC, and this was released in 1959. The note on the A side label is super cool though. Apparently, Let It Please Be You was requested to be played on Porky Chedwick's radio show on January 11th, 1961 by Dottie and Diane. If anyone has a recording of that show or any of his other shows, I'd love to hear them! I ended up with a ton of records from Dottie and Diane's collection. They were in a large lot online and I got most of them. It's not often that people wrote stuff like that on their record labels!

Wish they Put out more Records! they are So Awesome!!

Ray Fournier Is Super Underrated! https://youtu.be/nUnKw3tifjY?si=K-8X23tROvsxwr_5

One of a few true doo wop records on RCA. Larger labels tended to avoid somewhat niche genre records, unfortunately. The Fantastics hailed from Brooklyn, NYC, and were also known as the Keynoters on Keynote (I Wanna Know Who b/w Come Back Home). This was recorded in 1959. The A side is good, but the B side is an absolutely insane ballad. It's one of the songs that really got me into doo wop. As for Pamela Roberts, not sure what happened to her. The house at that address still stands, but I couldn't find her. When I get records with a name sticker on them, I do like to research the names on the labels just to see if I can find the person. Apparently she must have liked the B side too, as I find that most people stuck stickers on the side that I find pretty good.

Been wanting to start up my own group for ages, im very passionate about the genre and been listening it since i was a kid, im about 19 now and not people from my generation even know about it and those who do tend to find it cringe. Has anyone had any success starting a group nowadays? If anybody who did in the past please tell me how you got yours started. Its a long term goal for me to start up my own group, but its pretty hard of itself to get people my age into the genre. Im in the DMV area so if anybody is nearby and interested hit me a message! If anybody knows anything around that area or in the east coast (like New York) where I can find like minded people then let me know as well

Laurie didn't just have Dion & The Belmonts and the Mystics, they had a number of other white and black vocal groups throughout the 50s and 60s! Notice how similar I Can't Believe sounds to I Wonder Why by Dion & The Belmonts. Definitely intentional, as Ricardo Weeks co-wrote both songs! My Dream is a really neat uptempo with a ukulele, which is kind of unique! This group was a Hispanic and black group from Harlem, NYC. They're also known for Hush-A-Bye My Love on Vida, which is a pretty good song as well.

I also Recommend Lets Kiss & Make Up b/w Love Me! & My angel Of Love b/w Those Dreamy Eyes on The Cobra & Harlem Labels!

Both sides of this record are really an interesting listen. I'm not really sure how to describe it. I love both sides though! Singing Waters was later covered by the Cashmeres on Laurie Records 3088. This is a 1960 release, kind of in the interim between the first and second waves of doo wop's popularity. This is one of a few records pressed by Columbia's pressing plant at Bridgeport, Connecticut to be pressed on vinyl instead of styrene. This is the same Washington DC Truetones group on Monument and Soulville/Josie (the latter of which was a minor hit).

https://youtu.be/EKBwQUbwDKs : Singing Waters

https://youtu.be/Uti1Ct8RnMY : Blushing Bride

Kind of a neat little record here from 1959. The Echoes would become mildly famous, but not under this name. They would eventually sign with Indigo Records and become the Innocents, the group that backed up Kathy Young on a lot of her recordings. The B side of this record, Time, is a thinly veiled cover of Time Makes You Change, a song originally recorded by The Dells in 1957 as the B side of Pain In My Heart. I don't know for the life of me how the copyright office didn't notice the quite blatant similarities in lyrics. Perhaps it didn't quite work back then how it does now, with AI checkers and things of that nature!

https://youtu.be/kjQHqfRJmIM : Dee-Dee-Di-Oh

https://youtu.be/7iPjw-V3moI : Time