These 1997 CDs from France's Famous Groove label are significantly mis-named. The virtually non-existent liner notes reference the Savoy Ballroom at "55th and Central Avenue," which was the location of the Los Angeles Savoy Ballroom. But it is extremely unlikely that any of the groups whose work is captured on these CDs ever played that venue.
Instead, what we have are a total of 50 selections (several of which are previously unreleased) from Newark, New Jersey entrepreneur Herman Lubinsky's Savoy label during its heyday in the 1950s (one track by the Ravens was on the predecessor National label). If any of these acts ever played a Savoy, it is much more likely that they would have played at the one on Lenox Avenue in New York City's Harlem.
Good selection of groups that performed in the "Savoy label style." Recommended for the MUSIC, despite the lack of documentation.
Track listing:
Volume 1:
1. Darlene - Dreams (Savoy #1130) 1954
2. Mr. Moon - Five Pennies (Savoy #1182) 1955
3. Why Do You Make Me Cry - Cubs (Savoy #1502) 1956
4. When Your Hair Has Turned To Siliver - Jive Bombers (Savoy #1508) 1957
5. My Summer's Gone - Four Buddies (Savoy #789) 1951
6. Fifty Million Women - Carols (Savoy #896) 1956
7. I Won't Cry - Little David & the Harps (Savoy #1178) 1955
8. Deep Freeze - Roamers (Savoy #1147) 1954
9. One Day - Velvetones (Unreleased) circa 1957
10. Sweet Tooth For My Baby - Four Buddies (Savoy #866) 1952
11. Walk Along - Five Wings (Savoy #1183) 1956
12. Say You're Mine - Savoys with Jimmy Jones (Savoy #1188) 1956
13. Mighty Like A Rose - Carols (Unreleased) circa 1954
14. Is It Too Soon To Know - Debutants (Savoy #1191) 1956
15. All Of Me - Jive Bombers (Unreleased) circa 1957
16. Money - Five Pennies (Savoy #1190) 1956
17. I Hear Wedding Bells - Cubs (Savoy #1502) 1956
18. We Made A Vow - Savoys with Jimmy Jones (Unreleased) circa 1956
19. Chop Chop Ching A Ling - Roamers (Savoy #1156) 1955
20. I'm Losing My Mind - Dreams (Savoy #1140) 1954
21. Stop Hittin' On Me - Four Buddies (Unreleased) circa 1952
22. Bad Boy - Jive Bombers (Savoy #1508) 1957
23. Just Leave It To Me - Debutantes (Savoy #1191) 1956
24. Count Every Star - Ravens (National #9111) 1950
25. Pack, Shack And Stack - Five Wings (Savoy #1183) 1956
Volume 2:
1. I Will Wait - Four Buddies (Savoy #769) 1951
2. My First, Last And Only Girl - Wanderers (Unreleased) circa 1953 [Savoy 1099 - 1975*]
3. See What you Done - Luther Bond & the Emeralds (Savoy #1124) 1954
4. Giddy Up A-Ding Dong - Three Playmates - circa 1958
5. The Blues Don't Mean A Thing - Jive Bombers (Savoy #1513) 1957
6. Close To You - Four Buddies (Unreleased) circa 1952
7. Who'll Be The Fool From Now On - Marshalls (Savoy #825) 1951
8. Call For Me - Carols (Unreleased) circa 1956
9. Wah Diddy Wah - Little David & the Harps (Unreleased) circa 1955
10. My Darling - Imperials (Savoy #1104) 1952
11. Hey Mae Ethel - Wanderers (Savoy #1109) 1953
12. It's Written In The Stars - Luther Bond & the Emeralds (Savoy #1159) 1955
13. I Won't Believe You Anymore - Marshalls (Unreleased) circa 1951
14. Stardust - Jive Bombers (Savoy #1560) 1959
15. It Must Be Love - Three Playmates - circa 1958
16. Homework - L'Captains (Savoy #1567) 1959
17. Come Back Baby - Frankie & the Echoes (Savoy #1544) 1958
18. Angels Sent You To Me - Carnations (Savoy #1172) 1955
19. What If You - Luther Bond & the Emeralds (Savoy #1124) 1954
20. I Got A Feeling - Carols (Savoy #896) 1956
21. It's A Blue World - Jive Bombers (Unreleased) circa 1957
22. You Should've Told Me - Imperials (Savoy #1104) 1952
23. I Dreamed - Three Playmates (Savoy #1537) 1958
24. Don't Do Nothing I Wouldn't Do - Wanderers (Unreleased) circa 1953 [Savoy #1098 - 1975*]
25. Night Time Is The Right Time - Carnations (Savoy #1172) 1955
* 1975 "Reissues" were bootlegs.
