It seems incongruous that a vocal group which was only responsible for a total of 8 sides back in the 1950s should be the subject of a 23-track 2-CD package. But Dick Plotkin, guru of Debra Records, has pulled off a real winner here. None of the tracks included here are the original 1950s work of the Dots/Troys - they are all either re-recordings or new material. However, this package is highly recommended.
The Four Dots started as the Mellows around 1950, in the Hill District and Homewood sections of Pittsburgh, PA. After a few personnel changes, the members were Fletcher Williams (lead), Melvin Peters (second tenor), Kenneth Miller (baritone) and Marvin Brown (bass). They signed with booking agent Don DeCarlo, who suggested that they change their name to the Four Dots - if they had a name that reminded people of the "Ink Spots," he could get them better bookings. Legendary Pittsburgh DJ Porky Chedwick knew the owner of Bullseye Records in New York, and persuaded him to set up a recording session. This sole Bullseye session took place in February 1956. The first record (Rita / He Man Looking For A She Girl) was released in March 1956 and was played in Pittsburgh on WHOD and WCAE. When the record failed to take off nationally, Bullseye released the 4 Dots' second record (Peace of Mind / Kiss Me Sugar Plum) in June 1956. It also got local play, but no national success, so Bullseye never asked the Four Dots to record again as a group. Bullseye did bring Fletcher Williams into the studio for two additional solo tracks - Stop Look And Love Me and Mary Lou.
In 1959, with a couple of personnel changes, the Four Dots got another shot at recording; this time for the Freedom label, a subsidiary of Liberty Records of California. Brown and Peters were still active in the group, but Williams and Miller had been replaced by Kenny Jackson and Manning Rosemont, respectively. Since Freedom already had a California-based Four Dots group, the two tracks, In The Moonlight and Suddenly You Want To Dance were released as being by the Four Troys.
Over time, our Pittsburgh Four Dots, at the request of audiences, added the California Four Dots' song Pleading For Your Love to their repetoire in live performances, so it is also included here.
The Four Dots on this new package from Debra Records are Fletcher Williams (lead), Aubrey Kirkland (second tenor), Nate Benson (baritone), later replaced by Lonnie Patterson, and Marvin Brown (bass). Although recorded in 2003-2004, these works evoke a true "fifties" feeling, and belong in your vocal group harmony collection.
Tracks:
Disc 1 -
1. Pleading For Your Love
2. Peace Of Mind
3. Rita
4. Kiss Me Sugar Plum
5. He Man Looking For A She Girl
6. Mary Lou
7. In The Moonlight
8. Stop Look And Love Me
9. Suddenly You Want To Dance
10. My Vow To You
11. My Dream
Disc 2 -
1. Julie
2. I Walk In The Shadow
3. Love Her So
4. Heavenly Angel
5. My Promise To You
6. Baby
7. Once Upon A Time
8. Legend Of Love
9. My Angel
10, Linda Lou
11. There She Goes Again
12. The African Queen
