The Vocal Group Archives is a 5 CD series from Old Time Records consisting of 110 tracks recorded by more than 60 groups between 1935 and 1955. While a limited number of the tracks in this series have appeared in other compilations, this collection consists principally of music which is hard to find on CDs. In the main, the tracks come from old 78 rpm records, but there are also a few items taken from transcription discs, and a couple of movie soundtrack pieces, too.
The music in this series has been described as "pre-doo-wop," which, I suppose, is as good a description as any. The harmonies are generally smoother than those associated with doo-wop music of the 1950s, and come from both famous and relatively obscure groups and labels. Audio quality is very good, especially when one considers the nature of the source materials; Old Time seems to have removed virtually all of the hisses, pops, and clicks normally associated with the remastering of old 78s.
The series is a definite "find" for collectors of vocal group harmony. Regrettably, as is usual with this label, Old Time has provided no liner notes with these CDs. However, they have provided your reviewer with extensive original source and release date information, which appears in significant part in the track listings below.
Due to production problems, the series was released out of sequence, thus the numbering OTR-108 (Vol. 1), OTR-107 (Vol.2), OTR-112 (Vol. 3), OTR-109 (Vol. 4) and OTR-110 (Vol. 5).
For those who have asked how to acquire these CDs, one method is via eBay online auctions, which Old Time uses as a distribution channel, keeping its prices moderate.
Dates shown in the track listings are generally original release dates.
Recommended!
Track listings:
VOCAL GROUP ARCHIVES - Volume 1 Sweetheart Of Mine (OTR-108):
1. A Bird In The Hand - Deep River Boys - Bluebird 10847 (Aug 1940)
2. It's Too Late Now - Four Deals - Capitol 1313 (Dec 1950)
3. I Want A Little Girl - Progressive Four - D.C. 8036 (Dec 1947)
4. I Had To Find Out For Myself - Drifters - Coral 65040 (Nov 1950)
5. It's Over Because We're Through - Magichords - Domino 360 (May 1950)
6. Doubt In Your Mind - Magichords - Domino 360 (May 1950)
7. If I Had Wings - Esquires - Jubilee 5067 (Fall 1951)
8. The Night You Said Goodbye - Four Deep Tones - Coral 65062 (Aug 1951)
9. One Hundred Years From Today - Four Shades of Rhythm - Vitacoustic 1005 (1947)
10. I Won't Cry Anymore - Deep River Boys - HMV 10157
11. Why My Darling Why - Rhythm Kings - Apollo 1181 (Apr 1951)
12. I Gotta Go Now - Rhythm Kings - Apollo 1181 (Apr 1951)
13. Just In Case You Change Your Mind - Antlers of Miami - Artists 1260 (Jul 1951)
14. I Don't Mind Being All Alone - Antlers of Miami -Artists 1259 (Jul 1951)
15. My Last Affair - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0016 (Jun 1949)
16. I'm The Guy - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0016 (Jun 1949)
17. I'm So Crazy For Love - Cap-Tans - Dot 1009 (Aug 1950)
18. Bewildered - James Quintet - Coral 65002 (Nov 1948)
19. Don't Ask Me Why - Deep River Boys - RCA Victor 22-0003 (Feb 1949)
20. Wrapped Up In A Dream - Deep River Boys -RCA Victor 22-0003 (Feb 1949)
21. No One, No Sweeter Than You - Deep River Boys - RCA Victor 22-0013 (Mar 1949)
22. I Left Myself Wide Open - Deep River Boys - RCA Victor 20-2397 (Aug 1947)
23. Sweetheart Of Mine - Delta Rhythm Boys - Atlantic 889 (Nov 1949)
24. The Laugh's On Me - Delta Rhythm Boys - Atlantic 889 (Nov 1949)
25. Pleasing You - James Quintet - Coral 65002 (Nov 1948)
VOCAL GROUP ARCHIVES - Volume 2 - Harlem After Midnight (OTR-107):
1. Harlem After Midnight - Boyce's Harlem Serenaders - Decca 8602 (Feb 1942)
2. How Can I Help It - Cabineers - Abbey 3001 (Sep 1949)
3. Don't You Think I Oughta Know - Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes - Harlem 1011 (Jan 1947)
4. Honey - Ravens - Hub 3030 (Sep 1946)
5. Little Mr. Big - Jubalaires - Capitol 1054 (Jun 1950)
6. I Love An Old Fashioned Song - Five Red Caps - Davis 2102 (Apr 1946)
7. Wrapped Up In A Dream - Four Tunes - Manor 1083 (Sep 1947)
8. Fool That I Am - Quintones - Vocalion 5172 (Nov 1939)
9. You're The Dream Of A Lifetime - Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes - RCA Victor 20-2498 (Oct 1947)
10. Ev'rything Depends On You - Madeline Green and Boys - Bluebird 11036 (Feb 1941)
11 Believe Me, Beloved - Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes - RCA Victor 20-3037 (Nov 1948)
12. Pour Me A Glass Of Teardrops - Billy Williams Quartet - Mercury 70094 (Jan 1953)
13. That Old Piano Roll Blues - Jubalaires - Capitol 845 (Jan 1950)
14. I Found A Twinkle - King Odom Quartet - Musicraft 579 (Jul 1948)
15. Each Time - Cabineers - Prestige 904 (Oct 1951)
16. They Say It's Wonderful - Four Knights - Lang-Worth AS-277 (Jul 1946) (transcription)
17. Black Is The Colour - Delta Rhythm Boys - Metronome MEP 316 (1953)
18. You�ll Never Know - Deep River Boys - Lang-Worth AS-27 (May 1943) (transcription)
19. Confetti - Billy Williams Quartet - M-G-M 11184 (Mar 1952)
20. Thursday Evening Swing - Basin Street Boys - from "The Duke Is Tops" (1938) [movie soundtrack]
21. Home, Home, Home - Johnny Smith and the Jubalaires - Capitol 784 (Nov 1949)
22. Come In Out Of The Rain - Delta Rhythm Boys - RCA Victor 20-2365 (Jul 1947)
23. Mickey - Brooks Brothers - Decca 24267 (Nov 1947)
24. May That Day Never Come - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0131 (Jun 1951)
25. At Our Fireplace - Deek Watson and the Brown Dots - Manor 1170 (Mar 1949)
VOCAL GROUP ARCHIVES - Volume 3 Careless Love (OTR-112):
1. The Greatest Song I Ever Heard - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 47-4489 (Jan 1952)
2. Naturally Too Weak For You - Victorians - Specialty 420 (Feb 1952)
3. Recess In Heaven - Deep River Boys - RCA Victor 20-3203 (Oct 1948)
4. Tenderly - Vivian Gary and the Blenders - Miltone 5220 (1948)
5. It Had To Be You - Madeline Greene and the Three Varieties - Bluebird 11308 (Oct 1941)
6. Wishing You Were Here Tonight - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 47-4102 (Mar 1951)
7. Careless Love - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0008 (May 1949)
8. Hurry Home - Thelma Carpenter and the Deep River Boys - Majestic 1023 (Dec 1945)
9. Foolishly Yours - Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists - Manor 1046 (Dec 1946)
10. Don't Ever Leave Me - Pearl Bailey and the Charioteers - Harmony 1059 (Aug 1949)
11. Why - Ruth Brown and the Delta Rhythm Boys - Atlantic 899 (Feb 1950)
12. You're My Love - Four Tunes - Arco 1246 (1950)
13. I'm Afraid Of You - Cats and the Fiddle - Manor 1112 (Feb 1948)
14. The Best Of Friends - Savannah Churchill and the Four Tunes - Columbia 30146 (Nov 1948)
15. All Of Me - King Odom Four - Derby 757 (Mar 1951)
16. Poor Butterfly - Three Barons (a/k/a Three Riffs) - Savoy LP SJL 2241 (recorded Nov 1944) (released 1979)
17. Rhythm Lullabye - Palmer Brothers - Decca 389 (Feb 1935)
18. Big Boy Blue - Palmer Brothers - Variety 531 (Mar 1937)
19. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good - Billy Eckstine, Madeline Green and the Three Varieties - Bluebird 11374 (Dec 1941)
20. Tuxedo Junction - Deep River Boys - RCA Victor 20-3835 (Aug 1950)
VOCAL GROUP ARCHIVES - Volume 4 - Jitter Joe (OTR-109):
1. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry - Jubalaires - Decca 18916 (Aug 1946)
2. I'll Try To Forget I've Loved You - Varieteers - M-G-M 10888 (Jan 1951)
3. For Once In Your Life - Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes - RCA Victor 20-2427 (Sep 1947)
4. I�ll Never Love Anyone Else - Steve Gibson and the Redcaps - Mercury 5380 (Feb 1950)
5. Don't Worry 'Bout Me - Savannah Churchill - RCA Victor 47-4773 (Jun 1952)
6. Public Jitterbug No. 1 (Jitter Joe) - Cats and the Fiddle - Bluebird 8429 (May 1940)
7. Carolina In The Morning - Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet - Bluebird 7415 (Feb 1938)
8. Am I Blue - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0072 (Mar 1950)
9. Till The Day I Die - Big Three Trio - Delta 202 (May 1949)
10. You Must Know - Knickerbockers - It's A Natural 3000 (1953)
11. If You See Tears In My Eyes - Beavers - Coral 65018 (Oct 1949)
12. Cherie - Four Aces - Trilon 178 (1947)
13. There's A Rumor Going Around - Four Aces - Trilon 145 (Jan 1947)
14. You Don't Know Nothin' - Deep River Boys - Bluebird 10847 (Aug 1940)
15. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You - Ink Spots - Decca 3077 (Apr 1940)
16. There Goes My Heart - Four Tunes - RCA Victor 50-0072 (Mar 1950)
17. I Love The Way You Walk - Five Scamps - Columbia 30177 (Nov 1949)
18. No One Else Will Do - Deep River Boys - Jay-Dee 788 (Feb 1954)
19. The Key To My Heart - Keys - London 30101 (Apr 1950)
20. Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho - Thelma Carpenter and the Four Amory Brothers - Majestic 1104 (Jan 1947)
VOCAL GROUP ARCHIVES - Volume 5 - Marshmallow Moon (OTR-110):
1. Marshmallow Moon - Four Knights - Capitol 1914 (Dec 1951)
2. If I Can't Have The One I Love - Four Pals - Royal Roost 610 (Oct 1955)
3. Heartbroken Blues - Ebony Three - Decca 7503 (May 1938)
4. I'm The Lonesomest Girl In Town - Dolores Martin and the Striders - Mystery 526 (1953)
5. When That Man Is Dead And Gone - Mildred Bailey and the Delta Rhythm Boys - Decca 3661 (Apr 1941)
6. Two Hearts To Beat Tonight - Four Tones - Ebony 100 (1945)
7. In The Midst Of A Dream - Cats and the Fiddle - Bluebird 8519 (Sep 1940)
8. That Night We Said Goodbye - Bill Johnson and his Musical Notes - RCA Victor 20-2298 (Jun 1947)
9. Old Black Magic - Delta Rhythm Boys - Jubilee Transcription (AFRS DEL-7) 61 (Oct 1943) (transcription)
10. Knock Me A Kiss - Delta Rhythm Boys - Jubilee Transcription (AFRS MER-2) 61 (Dec 1943) (transcription)
11. Dancin' With Someone - Delta Rhythm Boys - RCA Victor 47-5217 (Feb 1953)
12. Pleasing You - James Quintet - Coral 65002 (Nov 1948)
13. Do You Love Me - Cats and the Fiddle - Gotham 239 (Summer 1950)
14. The Things You Do To Me - Savannah Churchill and the Four Tunes - Columbia 30146 (Nov 1948)
15. How Can You Not Believe - Four Knights - Capitol 3689 (Apr 1957)
16. Daddy - Charioteers - Okeh 6247 (Jun 1941)
17. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon - Fats Waller and the Deep River Boys - Bluebird 11569 (Jul 1942)
18. Brother Bill - Jubalaires - Soundie (Mar 1945) [short movie]
19. Lead Me To That Rock - Four Knights - Decca 48018 (Jan 1947)
20. He'll Understand And Say Well Done - Four Knights - Decca 48018 (Jan 1947)
