A 1986 release from Mercury/Polygram, this early CD was definitely designed to appeal to the music collector, more than to the casual fan. My guess is that it was intended to get collectors to "convert" from vinyl to the then-new CD format. The package contains 28 tracks (7 by each group), quite a departure for its time from the "enhanced LP" format of perhaps 15 tracks which was then prevalent in the United States.
Track selection tends to concentrate on "non-hits" although Cool Shake by the Del Vikings and One Summer Night by the Danleers are included, as is the Del Vikings' collector-favored "jump" version of A Sunday Kind Of Love. Liner notes by Peter Grendysa provide a capsule history of each of the groups. While the notes mention what is perhaps the Penguins' best effort for Mercury, Dealer Of Dreams, it is a real disappointment that this track is not present in the compilation. One minor omission - the notes fail to indicate that the Danleers were originally known as the DANDLEERS, and that the original AMP 3 label release of One Summer Night is so denominated. The track listing is an example of what should have become a standard practice for compilation CDs - each title is followed by the original release record number(s) and the original release date on the Mercury label.
Worth acquiring if you can find it.
Track listing:
1. Bark, Battle And Ball - Platters (Mercury # 70633) 6 May 1955
2. Winner Take All - Platters (Mercury 70819) 20 Feb 1956
3. You'll Never, Never Know I Care - Platters (Mercury 70948) 17 Aug 1956
4. It Isn't Right - Platters (Mercury 70948) 17 Aug 1956
5. On My Word Of Honor - Platters (Mercury 71011) 15 Nov 1956
6. One in A Million - Platters (Mercury 71011) 15 Nov 1956
7. Helpless - Platters (Mercury 71246) 11 Dec 1958
8. Be Mine Or Be A Fool - Penguins (Mercury 70610) 6 Apr 1955
9. Don't Do It - Penguins (Mercury 70610) 6 Apr 1955
10. It Only Happens With You - Penguins 70654 16 Jun 1955
11. Walkin' Down Broadway - Penguins 70654 16 Jun 1955
12. Devil That I See - Penguins (Mercury 70703) 31 Aug 1955
13. Promises, Promises, Promises - Penguins (Mercury 70703) 31 Aug 1955
14. She's Gone, Gone - Penguins (Mercury 70799) 23 Jan 1956
15. Cool Shake - Del Vikings (Mercury 71132) 29 May 1957
16. Come Along With Me - Del Vikings (Mercury 71180) 19 Aug 1957
17. A Sunday Kind Of Love - Del Vikings (Mercury EP 1-3359) 3 Sep 1957
18. When I Come Home - Del Vikings (Mercury 71198) 17 Sep 1957
19. You Cheated - Del Vikings (Mercury 71345) 7 Jul 1958
20. Flat Tire - Del Vikings (Mercury 71390) 27 Oct 1958
21. How Could You - Del Vikings (Mercury 71390) 27 Oct 1958
22. One Summer Night - Danleers (AMP-3 A-2115X45 / Mercury 71322) 12 May 1958
23. Wheelin' And A-Dealin' - Danleers (AMP-3 A-2115X45 / Mercury 71322) 12 May 1958
24. I Really Love You - Danleers (Mercury 71356) 21 Aug 1958
25. My Flaming Heart - Danleers (Mercury 71356) 21 Aug 1958
26. A Picture Of You - Danleers (Mercury 71401) 1 Dec 1958
27. Prelude To Love - Danleers (Mercury 71401) 1 Dec 1958
28. Your Love - Danleers (Mercury 71441) 9 Mar 1959
