ALBUM REVIEW

THE THREE CHUCKLES - GOLDEN CLASSICS-
(Collectables CD #COL-5835)

This 1997 release features 18 of the 20 tracks which the Three Chuckles recorded.

The Three Chuckles were named for a candy bar. When their agent told them that they needed a name, they saw a kid nearby eating Chuckles candy and adopted that name. Brooklyn vocalists Tommy Romano and Tommy (Russ) Gilberto, who also played guitar and bass, respectively, teamed up with accordionist Phil Benti and became the Three Chuckles in the early 1950s. The group toured the East Coast playing various lounge-type venues, but had no recording contract. In 1953, Benti decided to quit, so Tommy and Russ recruited 15-year-old accordionist Teddy Randazzo to replace him. This lineup eventually recorded under the Three Chuckles name.

While performing at a club in New Jersey, songwriter Cirino Colacrai gave them a song called "Run Around," which they held on to. [Colacrai, incidentally, was the "Cirino" of the group Cirino and the Bow Ties who recorded for the Royal Roost label of New York.] During a stint at a lounge in Detroit, they were offered the chance to record for the new pop division of Great Lakes Records, a rhythm and blues label. The pop division was to be called Boulevard, and Runaround by the Three Chuckles was a debut for both group and label in 1953.

Both the recording and the group were acquired by RCA's "X" label in 1954. The song charted nationally and was the group's biggest hit. The Three Chuckles, while more in the realm of the Ames Brothers and the Four Lads than in the Rock 'N' Roll idiom, were featured in several of Alan Freed's live shows and in his movie Rock, Rock, Rock.

The group last recorded in 1956.

Track Listing:
1. At Last You Understand (Boulevard 100 / X 0066) - 1953/Sep 1954
2. Runaround (Boulevard 100 / X 0066) - 1953/Sep 1954
3. Foolishly (X 0095) - Jan 1955
4. If You Should Love Again (X 0095) - Jan 1955
5. So Long (X 0134) - Apr 1955
6. You Should Have Told Me (X 0134) - Apr 1955
7. Blue Lover (X 0150) - Jun 1955
8. Realize (X 0150) - Jun 1955
9. Times Two, I Love You (X 0162) - Aug 1955
10. Still Thinking Of You (X 0162) - Aug 1955
11. Anyway (X 0186) - Dec 1955
12. The Funny Little Things We Used To Do (X 0186) - Dec 1955
13. Tell Me (That Your Love Is For Me) (X 0194) - Feb 1956
14. And The Angels Sing (X 0194) - Feb 1956
15. Gypsy in My Soul (Vik 0216) - Jun 1956
16. We're Still Holding Hands (Vik 0216) - Jun 1956
17. Midnight 'Til Dawn (Vik 0232) - Sep 1956
18. We're Gonna Rock Tonight (Vik 0244) - Dec 1956

Copyright � 2001 - Doo Wop Gino

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Last updated 11 December 2001.

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