Released in 2002 by England's Proper Records Ltd., this 4-CD package is the ULTIMATE "Doo Wop Box," covering American black vocal group harmony from 1940 through 1951. No matter how many "Doo Wop Boxes" from Rhino and /or Collectables you may own, you need this one to explore the beginnings of black vocal group harmony in America.
Each CD contains 25 tracks for a total of 100 songs. Artists represented include many of the "big" names of the era - Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, Deep River Boys, Four Vagabonds, Basin Street Boys, Ravens, Orioles, Larks, etc., and several lesser-known, but equally-deserving groups. A perusal of the track listing below should be sufficient additional description.
Liner notes by British R&B historian Adam Komorowski are extensive, indeed almost exhaustive - a 52-page booklet which provides a capsule history of each group included in the compilation.
Surprisingly, one track is misidentified. Track 24 on Disc 3 is said to be These Things I Miss by the Dreamers on Jubilee. It is actually Forever by Johnny Moore and the Three Blazers on RCA Victor.
Reasonably priced, this is a definite "must" if you are a fan of early group harmony or want to learn about the roots of the idiom.
DISC ONE - VOL.1 : DIGGING THE ROOTS
1. THE INK SPOTS - When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano (Decca 3195) - 1940
2. THE LEWIS BRONZEVILLE FIVE - Natchez Mississippi Blues (Bluebird B-8445) - 1940
3. THE MILLS BROTHERS - Paper Doll (Decca 18318) - 1942
4. THE FOUR VAGABONDS - Coming In On A Wing And A Prayer (Bluebird 30-0815) - 1943
5. THE RED CAPS - Just For You (Beacon 7119) - 1943
6. THE MILLS BROTHERS - You Always Hurt The One You Love (Decca 18599) - 1944
7. THE TOPPERS - I'm Living For You (Savoy 656) - 1944
8. THE TOPPERS - In A Palace Of Stone (Savoy 559)- 1944
9. THE INK SPOTS - To Each His Own (Decca 23615) - 1946
10. THE BASIN STREET BOYS - I Sold My Heart To The Junk Man (Exclusive 225) - 1946
11. THE DEEP RIVER BOYS - That Chick's Too Young To Fry (Victor 20-1863) - 1946
12. THE RAVENS Bye Bye Baby Blues (Hub 3030) - 1946
13. THE FOUR VAGABONDS - P.S. I Love You (Apollo 1057) - 1947
14. THE RAVENS - Ol' Man River (National 9035) - 1947
15. THE BASIN STREET BOYS - Near To You (Exclusive 21x) - 1947
16. THE RAVENS - Together (National 9042) - 1947
17. BILL JOHNSON & HIS MUSICAL NOTES - Shorty's Got To Go (Victor 20-2225) - 1947
18. THE MILLS BROTHERS - Across The Alley From The Alamo (Decca 23863) - 1947
19. THE INK SPOTS - You're Breaking My Heart (Decca 24693) - 1949
20. THE SYNCOPATERS - River Stay Away From My Door (National 9095) - 1949
21. THE SYNCOPATERS - These Are The Things I Want To Share With You (National 9093) - 1949
22. THE FOUR ROCKETS - Loch Lomond (Aladdin 3017) - 1948
23. THE RAVENS - White Christmas (National 9062) - 1948
24. THE TRUMPETEERS - Milky White Way (Score 5001) - 1948
25. STEVE GIBSON & THE RED CAPS - Boogie Woogie On A Saturday Night (Victor 20/47-4294) - 1951
DISC TWO - VOL. 2 : BIRDLAND
1. THE ORIOLES - It's Too Soon To Know (It's A Natural 5000, Jubilee 5000) - 1948
2. THE RAVENS - Be I Bumble Bee Or Not (National 9040) - 1947
3. THE SWALLOWS - Will You Be Mine (King 4458) - 1951
4. THE LARKS - When I Leave These Prison Walls (Apollo 1180) - 1951
5. THE ROBINS - I'm Through (Savoy 762) - 1950
6. THE RAVENS - Careless Love (National 9085) - 1949
7. THE ORIOLES - I'm Just A Fool In Love (Jubilee 5061)- 1951
8. THE LARKS - Eyesight To The Blind (Apollo 427) - 1951
9. THE SWALLOWS - Dearest (King 4458) - 1951
10. THE RAVENS - Someday (National 9089) - 1949
11. THE ORIOLES - Hold Me Squeeze Me (Jubilee 5061) - 1951
12. THE ROBINS - School Girl Blues (Recorded In Hollywood 150) - 1951
13. THE SWALLOWS - Wishing For You (King 4466) - 1951
14. THE LARKS - Darlin' (Apollo 437) - 1951
15. THE RAVENS - I'm Gonna Take To The Road (National 9131) - 1950
16. THE ROBINS - If I Didn't Love You So (Savoy 726) - 1950
17. THE ORIOLES - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Jubilee 5017) - 1949
18. THE SWALLOWS - Since You've Been Away (King 4466) - 1951
19. THE LARKS - My Reverie (Apollo 1184) - 1951
20. THE ROBINS - Our Romance Is Over (Savoy 738) - 1950
21. THE RAVENS - If You Didn't Mean It (National 9089) - 1949
22. THE ORIOLES - I Miss You So (Jubilee 5051) - 1951
23. THE SWALLOWS - Eternally (King 4501) - 1951
24. THE ROBINS - There's Rain In My Eyes (Savoy 752) - 1950
25. THE LARKS - Coffee Cigarettes And Tears (Apollo 1177) - 1951
DISC THREE - VOL.3 : DOO-WOP DREAMIN'
1. THE DOZIER BOYS - She's Gone (Aristocrat 409) - 1949
2. THE MELLO-MOODS - Where Are You (Red Robin 105) - 1951
3. THE FIVE KEYS - With A Broken Heart (Aladdin 3085) - 1951
4. THE MELODY MASTERS - Don't You Ever Mind Them (Apollo 383) - 1947
5. THE RIVALS - Don't Say You're Sorry Again (Apollo 1166)- 1950
6. THE ROYALES - Give Me One More Chance (Apollo 434) - 1951
7. THE CARDINALS - Shouldn't I Know (Atlantic 938) - 1951
8. THE DOMINOES - Do Something For Me (Federal 12001)- 1950
9. THE FIVE KEYS - Too Late Baby (Aladdin 3085) - 1951
10. JOHNNY MOORE & THREE BLAZERS - What Does It Matter (RCA Victor 22-0034) - 1949
11. THE ROYAL SONS QUINTET - Journey's End (Apollo 253) - 1951
12. THE ORIOLES - I'd Rather Have You Under The Moon (Jubilee 5031) - 1950
13. THE DREAMERS - Can't Get You Off My Mind (Jubilee 5053) - 1951
14. THE DOMINOES - Weeping Willow Blues (Federal 12039) - 1951
15. THE SULTANS - You Captured My Heart (Jubilee 5054) - 1951
16. THE FIVE KEYS - The Glory Of Love (Aladdin 3099) - 1951
17. THE CARDINALS - I'll Always Love You (Atlantic 952) - 1951
18. THE STRIDERS - Cool Saturday Night (Apollo 1159)- 1950
19. THE BASIN STREET BOYS - Summertime Gal (Exclusive 19x) - 1947
20. THE DOMINOES - I Am With You (Federal 12039) - 1951
21. THE LARKS - I Don't Believe In Tomorrow (Apollo 430) - 1951
22. THE FOUR BLUES - Missing You (Apollo 1160)- 1951
23. THE RHYTHM KINGS - Christmas Is Coming At Last (Apollo 1171) - 1950
[24. THE DREAMERS - These Things I Miss (Jubilee 5053) - 1951]
24. JOHNNY MOORE & THREE BLAZERS - Forever (RCA Victor) - 1949
25. THE FOUR BLUES - As Long As I Live (Apollo 1160) - 1951
DISC FOUR - VOL.4 : DOO-WOP DANCIN'
1. THE ROYALES - Too Much Of A Little Bit (Apollo 434) - 1951
2. THE ROBINS - Rockin' (Modern 807) - 1951
3. THE SWALLOWS - Roll Roll Pretty Baby (King 4515) - 1951
4. THE CLOVERS - Fool Fool Fool (Atlantic 944) - 1951
5. THE LARKS - I Ain't Fattening Frogs For Snakes (Apollo 427) - 1951
6. THE ROBINS - If It's So (Savoy 726) - 1950
7. THE CARDINALS - Please Don't Leave Me (Atlantic 938) - 1951
8. THE RIVALS - Rival Blues (Apollo 1166) - 1950
9. THE LARKS - How Long Must I Wait For You (Apollo 435) - 1951
10. THE TRENIERS - Buzz Buzz Buzz (Will You Be My Honey) (Mercury 8045) - 1947
11. THE CLOVERS - Don't You Know I Love You (Atlantic 934) - 1951
12. THE LARKS - Hey Little Girl (Apollo 429) - 1951
13. THE FIVE KEYS - Old MacDonald (Aladdin 3113) - 1951
14. THE DOMINOES - Sixty Minute Man (Federal 12022) - 1950
15. THE ROBINS - Turkey Hop (Savoy 732) - 1950
16. THE DOMINOES - That's What You're Doing To Me (Federal 12072) - 1951
17. THE SWALLOWS - It Ain't The Meat (King 4501) - 1951
18. THE CARDINALS - Pretty Baby Blues (Atlantic 952) - 1951
19. THE LARKS - Ooh...It Feels So Good (Apollo 430) - 1950
20. THE ROBINS - I'm Living O.K. (Savoy 752) - 1950
21. THE DOMINOES - Chicken Blues (Federal 12001) - 1950
22. THE FIVE KEYS - Hucklebuck With Jimmy (Aladdin 3099) - 1951
23. THE RED CAPS - Tuscaloosa (Beacon 7115) - 1951
24. THE SULTANS - Lemon Squeezing Daddy (Jubilee 5054) - 1951
25. THE TRENIERS - Go Go Go (Okeh 6804)- 1951
