Randy & the Rainbows - Denise (1963)

Formed in Maspeth, Queens, New York in 1962, this doo-wop ensemble consisted of brothers Dominick and Frank Safuto, brothers Mike and Sal Zero, and Ken Arcipowski. When they initially came together, they first operated under the name Junior & the Counts, later The Encores, and finally Randy & the Rainbows, which was bestowed upon them by the owners of Laurie Records, the group’s label. There wasn’t actually a “Randy” in the group, but the record label thought it had a nice ring to it, so Dominick, the lead singer, had to adopt it as his nickname.

The song heard below was written by Neil Levenson; its title was inspired by Levenson’s childhood friend, Denise Lefrak. When the song was recorded and released by Randy & the Rainbows in 1963, it spent seventeen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number ten. It was the group’s only notable song, as their follow-up single, “Why Do Kids Grow Up,” only reached number ninety-seven. The group failed to chart again.

Blondie covered the song in 1978, changing the subject of the song from Denise to Denis.



Randy & the Rainbows - Denise (1963)

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Lyrics:

(Oh, oh)
(Oh, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you)

Denise, Denise
Oh, with your eyes so blue
Denise, Denise
I've got a crush on you
Denise, Denise
I'm so in love with (you)

Oh, when we walk, it seems like paradise
And when we talk, it always feels so nice
Denise, Denise, I'm so in love with you

(You’re my dream)
(And I'm in heaven every time I look at you)
(When you smile it’s like a dream)
And I'm so lucky ‘cause I found a girl like you

(Oh, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you)

Denise, Denise
Oh, won't you hold me tight?
Denise, Denise
Oh, can we kiss goodnight?
Denise, Denise
I'm so in love with you

(Oh, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you, Denise)
(I'm in love with you…)

Rosie and the Originals - Angel Baby (1960)

Born in Oregon in 1945 to a Mexican mother and American father, Rosalie “Rosie” Hamlin spent her youth living in Alaska and California before finally settling with her family in National City, California.

In 1958, at the age of thirteen, Rosie lied about her age and joined her first band as its lead singer. At the age of fourteen, she wrote her first song, based on her first boyfriend, heard below; and at the age of fifteen, Rosie and a group of her friends drove one hundred miles to the closest recording studio so that they could record her song.

After shopping their record around for a while, the group received an offer for a contract from Highland Records under the stipulation that David Ponci, the oldest member of the group, would receive the writing credits. By the time the song was receiving airplay, the members of the group still had not received their copies of the contract. Unfortunately for Hamlin, when she finally did receive the contract, she quickly learned that she would be unable to collect royalties from the song since she wasn’t listed as the songwriter. This, quite immediately, lead to the break-up of the group. And although Hamlin won the copyright to her music in 1961, decades of legal battles followed.

Despite credit originally being given to David Ponci, the song below was written entirely by Rosie Hamlin. It was released in November 1960 and featured the vocal talents of Rosie Hamlin when she was only fifteen years old. By January 1961, the song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by John Lennon in 1973 (though not released until 1986), where Lennon referred to it as one of his "all-time favorite songs." In the song's intro, he also adds, "Send my love to Rosie, wherever she may be..."



Rosie and the Originals - Angel Baby (1960)

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Lyrics:

It's just like heaven being here with you
You're like an angel, too good to be true
But after all, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby

When you are near me, my heart skips a beat
I can hardly stand on my own two feet
Because I love you, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby

I love you, I do
No one could love you like I do

Please, never leave me blue and alone
If you ever go, I'm sure you'll come back home
Because I love you, I love you, I do
Angel baby, my angel baby

I love you, I do
No one could love you like I do

The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)

This doo-wop group was originally formed in 1950 by cousins Jacob “Jake” Carey and Ezekiel “Zeke” Carey. The two had moved from Baltimore, Maryland to the south side of Chicago, Illinois and joined their church’s choir, where they met other original members. As with most doo-wop groups of the time, members of the group left, other members joined, and the lineup switched around quite a few times. The group started out under the name “The Swallowsand,” until they discovered a group in Baltimore using the name “The Swallows” had started to take off. This led them to start calling themselves “The El Flamingos,” followed by “The 5 Flamingos,” and then finally, just “The Flamingos.”

Originally performed in the 1934 movie Dames by Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler, this song was written by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin. It had been featured in numerous films by different performers; and, at its peak, hit number two for Ben Selvin in 1934.

But it was The Flamingos who really put the song into popular culture when they recorded and released their version in 1959. Though The Flamingos’ version only reached number eleven on the national charts, it reached number one in countless local markets, and became a hit in multiple countries surrounding the globe. Since its debut, the version heard below has been used in dozens of movies, television shows, and has been sampled by numerous artists.



The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You (1959)

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Lyrics:

My love must be a kind of blind love
I can't see anyone but you

Are the stars out tonight?
I don't know if it’s cloudy or bright

I only have eyes for you, dear

The moon may be high
But I can't see a thing in the sky

I only have eyes for you

I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue

You are here
And so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you

The Tokens - Tonight I Fell In Love (1961)

This doo-wop group was first assembled under the name the Linc-Tones in 1955 while its members attended Abraham Lincoln High School together in Brooklyn, New York. One of the original members was Neil Sedaka, who would go on to become a huge star in his own right; but, by 1957, Sedaka and nearly all of the other original members of the band had parted ways, leaving behind only Hank Medress as the sole original member.

In 1960, the group welcomed brothers Mitch and Phil Margo to fill the void. At the time of his acceptance into the group, Mitch Margo was only thirteen years old and already a multi-instrumentalist. By February 1961, the group released the song heard below, which had been co-written by the young Mitch Margo, his brother Phil, and Hank Medress. The song reached number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100, and created the opportunity for the group to appear on American Bandstand. The popularity which they achieved from appearing on the television show provided the group with the opportunity to further their careers by recording what would become their most famous song: a cover of Solomon Linda’s “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”



The Tokens - Tonight I Fell In Love (1961)

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Lyrics:

(Tonight I fell in love)

Tonight, tonight I fell in love
I want the stars above
To know tonight I fell in love

Tonight, I gave my heart away
True love is here to stay
'cause tonight I fell in love

Oh, what a wonder
This magic spell I'm under
This feeling that I feel
Is it really real?
My heart beats so fast
I pray that it will last
'til the end of time

(Tonight I fell in love)

Tonight, oh, may it last forever
Forever and ever
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love
Yes, tonight I fell in love

Barry Mann - Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) (1961)

Barry Mann has written over six hundred thirty-five songs. Out of them, forty-six have been played more than a million times on the radio. He co-wrote “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (for The Righteous Brothers); “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” (for The Animals); numerous songs for movies (Top Gun, Christmas Vacation, etc.); and many, many others.

Despite his accomplished career as a songwriter, Mann sometimes took the spotlight and sang songs, as well. In 1961, he sang the song heard below, which he had co-written with Gerry Goffin. The lyrics of this novelty song tell the somewhat true tale of how doo-wop music led his girl to fall in love with him. In a sense, this was true, as Mann and his future wife/songwriting partner, Cynthia Weil, had worked together writing doo-wop songs for groups of the time.

The song was released the same month that Mann and Weil got married, August 1961, and reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Songs referenced in this track, via various onomatopoeias, include The Marcels’ “Blue Moon,” The Diamonds’ “Little Darlin’,” Chubby Checker’s “Pony Time,” and The Edsels’ “Rama-Lama-Ding-Dong.”



Barry Mann - Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) (1961)

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Lyrics:

I’d like to thank the guy
Who wrote the song
That made my baby fall in love with me

Who put the “bomp”
In the “bomp ba bomp ba bomp”?
Who put the “ram”
In the “rama-lama-ding-dong”?
Who put the “bop”
In the “bop shoo bop shoo bop”?
Who put the “dip”
In the “dip-da-dip-da-dip”?
Who was that man?
I’d like to shake his hand
He made my baby fall in love with me
(Yeah)

When my baby heard
“Bomp ba ba bomp”
“Ba bomp ba bomp ba”
Every word went right into her heart
And when she heard them singin’
“Rama lama lama lama”
“Lama ding dong”
She said we’d never have to part

So
Who put the “bomp”
In the “bomp ba bomp ba bomp”?
Who put the “ram”
In the “rama-lama-ding-dong”?
Who put the “bop”
In the “bop shoo bop shoo bop”?
Who put the “dip”
In the “dip-da-dip-da-dip”?
Who was that man?
I’d like to shake his hand
He made my baby fall in love with me
(Yeah)

Each time that we’re alone
“Boogity boogity boogity”
“Boogity boogity boogity shoop”
Sets my baby’s heart all aglow
And every time we dance to
“Dip da dip da dip”
“Dip da dip da dip”
She always says she loves me so

So
Who put the “bomp”
In the “bomp ba bomp ba bomp”?
Who put the “ram”
In the “rama-lama-ding-dong”?
Who put the “bop”
In the “bop shoo bop shoo bop”?
Who put the “dip”
In the “dip-da-dip-da-dip”?
Who was that man?
I’d like to shake his hand
He made my baby fall in love with me
(Yeah)

Darling, bomp ba bomp ba bomp ba bomp bomp. And my honey, rama lama ding dong forever. And when I say, “dip da dip, da dip, da dip,” you know I mean it from the bottom of my boogity boogity boogity shoop.

The Dubs - Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely (1957)

In 1956, two vocal doo-wop groups from Harlem, New York merged together. Billy Carlisle and Richard Blandon came from The Five Wings (which had originally been called The 5 Stars). Jake Miller, Thomas Gardner, and Cleveland Still came from The Scale-Tones after having only recorded one record. Originally naming themselves The Marvels, the group recorded and released a failed single titled “I Won’t Have You breaking My Heart.” After renaming themselves The Dubs, they put out their first (and immediate) success, the song heard below. After its release in early 1957, Thomas Gardner was replaced by a different ex-member of The Five Wings, Tommy Grate. This new lineup had two more hits with the songs “Could This Be Magic” and “Chapel of Dreams”. The group split up in November 1958 after declining success. The group was resurrected in July 1959, and although there were no more hits, they remained together until the mid-1980s. At that time, the group splintered into two separate entities, each of which still performs to this day.

Written by Richard Blandon, this song was the group’s first taste of success. It was initially released locally on the Johnson label, but was soon picked up for national release on George Goldner’s Gone label. Although it reached number seventy-two on the Billboard Hot 100, it never charted on the R&B charts. After the song’s success, Thomas Gardner left the group and was replaced with Tommy Grate.



The Dubs - Don't Ask Me to Be Lonely (1957)

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Lyrics:

Ask me for the world
It doesn't seem much
Ask me for the moon, dear
And I'll reach out to touch
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

Ask me for the stars, dear
And I'll do your command
Ask me for the diamonds
I'll put them on your hand
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

I searched this world
This whole wide world
Looking for a girl such as you

I gave up my search
When I looked into
Pretty, pretty eyes of blue

Ask me for the stars, dear
And I'll do your command
Ask me for the diamonds
I'll put them on your hand
Anything for you; for you, dear, only
But please don't ask me to be lonely

Don't ask me to be lonely

The Fleetwoods - Come Softly to Me [Undubbed] (1958)

Gary Troxel and Gretchen Christopher were waiting to be picked up after school during their senior year of high school. The duo began to pass the time by singing and humming together. Gretchen thought the vocals they were toying around with would go great with some music she had written, so she convinced Troxel to join her in combining the two. The duo was pleased enough with the result that they asked Gretchen’s singing partner, Barbara Ellis, to join them in their newly formed vocal group. Originally calling themselves Two Girls and a Guy, the trio named their song “Come Softly” and recorded the vocals over a five month period (June – November 1958). Since the trio was singing a capella, they kept time by having Gary jingle his car keys. Once the vocals were perfected, the group’s co-producers flew the tapes to Los Angeles and had acoustic and bass guitars overdubbed. The song, renamed “Come Softly to Me” was officially released by the renamed group, The Fleetwoods, in February 1959. It stayed on the charts for sixteen weeks, with four weeks at number one.

Later that very same year, the group released “Mr. Blue,” which also went to number one. This feat made the trio the very first group in the world to have multiple number one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in a single year. They were also they first ever mixed-gender group to achieve more than one number one hit. All in all, the trio had eleven hit songs in their short career. Gary Troxel’s involvement with the group waned, as he had been obligated to join the U.S. Navy’s Naval Reserve in 1956. That, combined with the nation’s growing desire for British pop, saw the vocal group split up in 1963.

The song heard below is the finalized vocals of “Come Softly to Me” that were sent by the group to Los Angeles for overdubbing. The version heard here does not include the overdub of the Latin-influenced acoustic guitar playing (by Bonnie Guitar) nor the bass guitar. The only non-voice element heard is the jingling of Gary Troxel’s keys to help the singers keep time.



The Fleetwoods - Come Softly to Me [Undubbed] (1958)

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Lyrics:

Oh, I was busy kissing Gary.
Tee-hee.
Take three.

(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)
(Come softly, darling)

(Come softly, darling)
(Come to me, stay)
(You're my obsession)
(Forever and a day)

I want- want you to know
I love- I love you so
Please hold- hold me so tight
All through- all through the night

(Speak softly, darling)
(Hear what I say)
(I love you always)
(Always, always)

I've waited- waited so long
For your kisses and your love
Please come- come to me
From up- from up above

(Come softly, darling)
I want- want you to know
(Come softly, darling)
I love- I love you so
(Come softly, darling)
I need, need you so much
(Come softly, darling)
Wanna feel your warm, warm touch

The Pastels - Been So Long (1957)

In 1954, DiFosco “Dee” Ervin, Jr., Richard Travis, Tony Thomas, and Jimmy Willingham were all stationed at a local base in Narsarssuak, Greenland as members of the U.S. Air Force. Together, they formed a doo-wop outfit and reached local acclaim after performing at the local military affairs. Within a couple of years, all four members of the group were transferred to a base located in Washington D.C., where they eventually shone at the “Tops in Blue” Air Force talent show. They decided to make a run at getting a record deal and were successfully signed by the small Hull Records around 1956. In total, the quartet released three singles: one top five hit heard below, and two less successful follow-ups. In early 1959, the group decided to disband.

Ervin, Jr., whose name may have actually been Defosca Erwin by some accounts, would later have a successful solo career. He would go by the stage name Dee Erwin, was called Big Dee Irwin, and recorded a successful 1963 duet cover of Bing Crosby's 1944 "Swinging on a Star" with Little Eva.

Released in November 1957 on the Hull label, this song was the group’s most successful release. Written by Ervin, Jr., the song got the attention of Chess Records, who decided to release the single nationally on their Argo subsidiary label. The new release of the song reached number four on the R&B charts in early 1958 and even reached number twenty-four on the Billboard pop charts.



The Pastels - Been So Long (1957)

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Lyrics:

Been so long
(Been so long)
Since I held you tight
(Held you tight)
Been so long since
(Been so long)
Since I kissed you goodnight
The blues are mine

Been so long
(Been so long)
My hours seemed like years
(Seemed like years)
Been so long
(Been so long)
I shed precious tears
The blues are mine

I never ever
Thought I'd fall in love like this
I need your arms
That warmth of your sweet kiss

Been so long
(Been so long)
I need you, oh, so bad
(Oh, so bad)
Been so long
(Been so long)
My heart is sad
The blues are mine

The Rivingtons - Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (1962)

Although the band name above was created in the very early 1960s, the men behind the name had been performing with one another for quite some time before that. Their lead singer, Al Frazier, had been in groups since high school. One group he was in, the Mello-Moods, is notable for containing a future member of The Platters, Paul Robi. That group fizzled when Frazier left to fight in The Korean War. When he came back, he quickly got back into the swing of things and picked up the other members of this group piece by piece with a new band name each time along the way. The Emanons (“no name” backward), The Lamplighters, The Tenderfoots, The Jacks, The Sharps, The Rebels, The Four After Fives, and The Crenshaws were all various attempts at stardom with little or no success. Finally, around early 1962, the band renamed themselves after a street in New York’s Lower East Side that two of the members had at one point lived on: Rivington Street. Finally, with their new name, The Rivingtons, the group broke out into the charts with the 1962 song heard below. They would follow it up with their 1963 hit “The Bird’s the Word,” but disappeared from the public’s eye soon after. Although they lost their record deal and had trouble getting resigned by 1967, the band continued to perform through the early ‘90s in various oldies circuits. Al Frazier passed away on November 13th, 2005.

As The Rivingtons’ first hit in their already lengthy career, this song came about when the group’s bass singer, Turner “Rocky” Wilson, began to sing the “papa-oom-mow-mow” hook while goofing off in the studio. Naturally the rest of the group loved it and they built a song around it. After being turned down for release by Capitol Records the song eventually went to Liberty Records who waited six months before releasing it because they “couldn’t figure out how to market such a nonsensical song.” Once released, however, the song was a hit and reached number forty-eight on the Billboard’s and thirty-five on the Cashbox charts. The song went on to inspire numerous artists to cover it and sample it, including The Trashmen, The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Kermit the Frog, and more recently Rob Zombie. The Trashmen merged the song with another Rivingtons' hit, “The Bird’s the Word,” renamed the two “Surfin’ Bird,” took the song to number four. But, heard below, is the original as created by The Rivingtons.



The Rivingtons - Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow (1962)

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Lyrics:

(Doot-doot-doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)

The funniest sound I ever heard
And I can't understand a single word
Now is he serious or is he playing?
“Oom-mow-mow” is all he's saying
Papa-oom
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot-doot-doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)

I said, “Hey there partner, what's your name?”
Now don’t you dare tell me, “the same old thing”
The words you sing, I can’t figure out
But you’ve got a sound, make me stomp and shout
Papa-oom
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)

(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot doot doot)

Now I hear this sound everywhere I go
On the records, TV, and the radio
And now it’s spread all over the land
I still can’t seem to understand
Papa-oom
Papa-papa-papa-oom
Papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)
Papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)
(Doot-doot-doot)
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)
Papa-papa-papa-oom
(Doot doot doot)…

The Drifters - White Christmas (1954)

Created in 1953 by George Treadwell to be a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, this group has never had a consistent lineup. With over sixty people being in various incarnations of the group, they are regarded as one of the least stable groups in doo-wop and rhythm and blues/soul history. As an example of their different lineups, “Money Honey” was released in 1953 by the original Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters; “This Magic Moment” was released in 1960 by Ben E. King with The Drifters, a different incarnation; and “Under the Boardwalk” was released in 1964 by The Drifters featuring Johnny Moore (a previous singer from the group in 1958), also a different incarnation. Although the group has had more than twenty successful songs, it would be far too complex to accurately and clearly explain which members were in which incarnation of the group during the time of each of their many hits. Instead, we’ll just say that there’s a reason so many people wanted to be affiliated with The Drifters’ name: they were known for success.

This song, written and composed by Irving Berlin, was first recorded and released by Bing Crosby in the 1942 film, Holiday Inn. Crosby’s version has sold over fifty million copies and is the best-selling single of all time for any music category. This version of the song, recorded and released by a version of The Drifters that featured Bill Pinkney and Clyde McPhatter, was released in 1954 and topped out at the number two spot on the US R&B charts in December. On the US pop charts, it reached number eighty. In recent years, it has been most memorably associated with Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin McCallister, in the 1990 movie Home Alone.



The Drifters - White Christmas (1954)

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Lyrics:

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where those treetop glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow
The snow

And I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and the children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May those days, may your days, may your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white

Jingle bells, jingle bells
Jingle all the way

The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away (1957)

Originally known as The Hearts, this doo wop group is most closely related to their hit song heard below. Formed in Jamaica, Queens, New York in the mid-‘50s, they had to change their name, The Hearts, to something else when they discovered in 1955 that an all-female group of the same name had had a minor hit on the Billboard music charts. Choosing the name seen above, they also soon recruited James “Shep” Sheppard to join. After one hit song and being signed to multiple labels, the group finally split up in 1959. Shep went on to form Shep and the Limelites in the early ‘60s, but died on January 24th, 1970 after being beaten and robbed in his car near the Long Island Expressway in New York.

Written by Shep and William H. Miller, this song reached number fifty-two on the US Hot 100 and number five on the R&B Singles charts. The song’s inspiration came about after Shep’s ex-girlfriend moved from New York to Texas. It was released on Roulette Records and featured the B-Side, “Oh Baby Don’t”. And, finally, as with many other doo wop songs, this song was mentioned in Frank Zappa and The Penguins' 1963 song, "Memories of El Monte," which A Bit Like You And Me previously featured.



The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away (1957)

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Lyrics:

You're a thousand miles away
But, I still have your love to remember you by
Oh my darling, dry your eyes
Daddy's coming home soon

On my knees every day
All I do is pray, baby, just for you
Hope you always want me, too
Daddy's coming home soon

It may be on a Sunday morning
It may be on a Tuesday afternoon
But no matter what the day is
I'm going to make it my business to get home soon

You're (a thousand miles away)
But, I still have your love to remember you by
Oh my darling, dry your eyes
Daddy's coming home soon

The Jive Five - My True Story (1961)

Coming out of Brooklyn, New York in the late 1950s, this American doo-wop group struggled to remain with any one label in their fifty year history. Starting with Beltone records, they were known as the name seen above (and released their most famous song, heard below); since, they have been signed to United Artists, Decca, Avco, Chess, and Columbia Records using various names such as The Jyve Fyve, Shadow, and Ebony, Ivory, and the Jades. If you were born in the ‘70s or ’80s, you may remember an older group of gentlemen singing jingles on the kids’ television network, Nickelodeon. The famous “Nic-Nic-Nic” jingle was sung by them.

Released in 1961, this song was the group’s most popular recording. It reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as the top of the charts, number one, on the R&B tracks.

[Note: If you'd like to hear the group singing the doo-wop jingles for Nickelodeon, check out this video that someone posted on YouTube.]



The Jive Five - My True Story (1961)

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Lyrics:

(Cry) Cry, cry, woah
(Cry) Cry, cry, woah

There is a story, yeah
That I must tell
Of two lovers
That I bewail

Now they must cry, cry
(Cry) Woah
Their blues away
(Cry, cry, cry, their blues away)

Her name was Sue, yes
His name was Earl
His love was Lorraine
She's a wonderful girl

But they must cry, cry
(Cry) Woah
Their blues away
(Their blues away)

Love will make you happy
And love will make you cry
Love will make the tears fall
When your lover says goodbye

And then you'll cry, cry
(Cry) Woah
Your blues away
(Cry, cry, cry their blues away)

This story ends, yes
It was no lie
Names have been changed, dear
To protect you and I

But we must cry, cry
(Cry) Woah
Our blues away
(Cry, cry, cry)
Mmm (Woah, our blues away)
We must cry (Cry)
(Cry, cry, cry, woah, our blues away)
Oh...

The Safaris - Image of a Girl (1960)

Formed in 1959, this group was only a one-hit wonder. Coming out of Los Angeles, California, they released the song heard below in 1960 on Eldo Records and watched it cruise to number six on the Billboard Hot 100. With high hopes, the group put out another song, “Girl with the Story in Her Eyes,” the same year only to watch it flop. Two songs in 1961 had the same ill-fated demise. Disappointed with their lack of success, they changed their name to The Suddens and tried one last time to release a song in 1961. Unfortunately, it flopped as well and the group became nothing more than a fond memory.

It’s unfortunate that this song, written by members Richard Clasky and Marvin Rosenberg, was the first release to be put out by the group. If it had been one of their later releases, the group could have celebrated their success after having a few bumps in the road. But, as it is, the group started with success and unfortunately failed to ever reach it again.

[Update 01/09/2015: Alan Brackett of The Peanut Butter Conspiracy left some interesting anecdotes in the comments section below.]



The Safaris - Image of a Girl (1960)

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Lyrics:

As I lie awake resting from the day
I can hear the clock passing time away
Oh, I couldn't sleep, for on my mind
Was the image of the girl I hope to find
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh

I look straight up at the ceiling above
Thinking of the girl whom I will love
Oh, would it be soon when she exists?
The image of the girl I've always wished
Whoa, oh, oh, oh, oh

I twisted and I turned, ooh, trying to sleep
But all I could do was only to weep
For I haven't found that image yet
Of all the girls that I have met

And now the clock is still passing time
And I know someday that she will be mine
And I know she'll always bring me love
For she's the image of the girl I love
Whoa, (image of a girl) oh, oh, oh, oh

Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh (image of a girl) oh, oh, oh, oh
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh (image of a girl)
Whoa, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh (image of a girl)…

Dion & The Del-Satins - Runaround Sue (1961)

Born in 1939, Dion DiMucci was a huge star before the British Invasion. His popular hits came in the forms of doo-wop, rock and roll, and pop. After being dismissed as a teen idol, he began to write more poignant and reflective material such as his hit “Abraham, Martin & John,” which you can hear here.

The Del-Satins were a harmony group widely known for replacing Dion’s original backing group, The Belmonts. Their name was an amalgam borrowed from The Dells and The Five Satins, popular doo wop groups of the time.

This song was co-written by Dion DiMucci and his friend, Ernie Maresca, from the group The Regents (“Barbara Ann”). Both men agreed that the song came about after a forty-five minute jam session in a neighborhood schoolyard where boxes were being used as drums. It reached number one for a single week in October and was listed in Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.”



Dion & The Del-Satins - Runaround Sue (1961)

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Lyrics:

Here's my story; it's sad, but true
It's about a girl that I once knew
She took my love then ran around
With every single guy in town

Yeah, I should have known it from the very start
“This girl will leave me with a broken heart”
Now listen people what I'm tellin’ you
a’Keep away from a‘Runaround Sue, yeah

I might miss her lips and the smile on her face
The touch of her hand and this girl's warm embrace
So if you don't want to cry like I do
a’Keep away from a‘Runaround Sue

She likes to travel around, yeah
She'll love you and she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
a’Sue goes out with other guys

Here's the moral and the story from the guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say
“a’Keep away from a‘Runaround Sue”

Yeah, keep away from this girl
I know- know what she'll do
Keep away from Sue

a’She likes to travel around, yeah
She'll love you and she'll put you down
Now people let me put you wise
a-‘She goes out with other guys

Here's the moral and the story from that guy who knows
I fell in love and my love still grows
Ask any fool that she ever knew, they'll say’a
a’Keep away from a‘Runaround Sue, yeah

Stay away from that girl
Don't you know what she’ll do, now
Keep away from that girl
Don't you know what she’ll do…

The Cadillacs - Speedoo (1955)

Known as The Carnations at their start in 1953, this group released their first single, the widely covered “Gloria,” in 1954. A small hit for the group, it can be heard being sung by Billy Joel in “The River of Dreams,” near the end as the song fades out. The group has featured numerous members, numerous break-ups, and just as many reunions.

Released in 1955, this particular song was a narrative about, and sang by, their lead vocalist Earl “Speedoo” Carroll. It was a major progressive step forward in music as it played a large role in attracting white audiences to black rock and roll music. Important in the emergence of “mainstream” rock and roll, it was this group’s largest hit and has sadly become little more than a footnote to the history of music.



The Cadillacs - Speedoo (1955)

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Lyrics:

Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’
Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’
I’m known for meetin' brand new fellas
And takin' other folkses’ girl

Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
'Cause I don't believe in wastin' time
Well, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
'Cause I don't believe in wastin' time
Well, I've known some pretty women
And I taught them to change their mind

Well now, some may call me ‘Joe’
Some may call me ‘Moe’
Just remember ‘Speedoo’
He don't never take it slow

Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’
Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’

Well now, some may call me ‘Moe’
Some may call me ‘Joe’
Just remember ‘Speedoo’
He don't ever take it slow

Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’
Well now, they often call me ‘Speedoo’
But my real name is ‘Mr. Earl’
And now they got to call me ‘Speedoo’
'til they call off makin' pretty girls

The Penguins - Memories of El Monte (1963)

Formed by former classmates Cleve Duncan and Curtis Williams (previously of The Hollywood Flames), this group was formed in late 1953 when the two men decided they wanted to form a new vocal group. One of the members smoked Kool cigarettes, which featured the advertising character “Willie the Penguin”. Considering themselves cool and following the trend of groups named after birds, they named themselves after the character. In 1954, they released their biggest hit, “Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)”.

Wanting to pay tribute to the music of the '50s, Frank Zappa and Ray Collins (before forming The Mothers of Invention) wrote this song. With lead vocals from Cleve Duncan, this song references eight hits from the doo wop era: “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins; “You Cheated” by The Shields; “A Thousand Miles Away” by The Heartbeats; “The Letter” and “Buick 59” by The Medallions; “Cherry Pie” by Marvin & Johnny, “Nite Owl” by Tony Allen and The Chimes/The Champs; and “Earth Angel,” originally by this group, being mentioned and sang toward the end.



The Penguins - Memories of El Monte (1963)

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Lyrics:

I'm all alone feeling so blue
Thinking about you
And the love we once knew
And each time I do
It brings back those memories
of El Monte

Remember the dance?
I held you so tight
The Satins were singing
“In the Still of the Night”
You gave me your heart
And your love undying
Now I'm alone
I'm sitting here crying

If only they had
Those dances again
I'd know where to find you
And all my old friends
The Shields would sing
"You cheated, you lied"
And The Heartbeats
"You're a thousand miles away"
And The Medaillons with "The Letter" and
"Sweet words of his mortality"
Marvin and Johnny with
"Cherry Pie"
And then, Tony Allen with
"Night Owl"
And I, Cleve Duncan, along with The Penguins
Will sing
"Earth angel
Earth angel
Will you be mine?"
At El Monte

If I could go back
To those days of the past
I'd show you a love
A love that would last
Oh, I remember
Those wonderful dances
In El Monte

In El Monte
Ooh

"Earth angel
Earth Angel
Will you be mine?"
At El Monte…

The Mothers of Invention - Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder (1966)

Originally known as The Soul Giants when formed in 1964, this group changed their name when their new frontman, Frank Zappa, joined the group that same year. Their new name, often referred to as only “The Mothers,” was said to be an abbreviation of the term “mother****ers,” which was an adjective at the time to describe great musicians. Other members of the group have included Flo & Eddie (previously of The Turtles); Elliot Ingber (later of Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band); and Ian Underwood (who recorded with Barbra Streisand as well as performed on the theme to Knight Rider).

This song comes from the group’s debut double album, Freak Out!. The album was noted for being one of rock’s first concept albums, satirizing American rock music and pop culture, as well as influencing the production of The Beatles’ masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.



The Mothers of Invention - Go Cry On Somebody Else's Shoulder (1966)

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Lyrics:

A year ago today
Was when you went away
But now you come back knocking on my door
And you’ll say you're back to stay
But I say:

Go cry on somebody else's shoulder
I'm somewhat wiser now
And one whole year older
I sure don't need you now
And I don't love you anymore

You cheated me baby
And told some dirty lies about me
Fooled around with all those other guys
That's why I had to set you free
I sure don't need you now
And I don't love you anymore

A year ago today
You went away
And now you come back cryin'- cryin'
“Darling please let me in”
But I don't need you
No, I don't love you anymore
So go lean on- go cry on
Somebody else's door

Go cry on somebody else's shoulder
I'm somewhat wiser now
And one whole year older
I sure don't need you now
And I don't love you anymore

(Oh, my darling)
Go ahead and cry
Go ahead and let the tears fall out of your eye
(Darling)
Let 'em fall on your dress
Who cares if it makes a mess?
I gave you my high school ring
At the root beer stand
We had a teenage love, baby
I thought it was sharp
It was really so grand, but

You cheated me baby
And told some dirty lies about me
Fooled around with all those other guys
That's why I had to get my khakis pressed
I sure don't need you now
And I don't love you anymore

(Baby)
Baby
(I- I- I- I)
I love you so much, darling
(I, oh, I love you)
Why don't you dig me?
(Baby)
I- I dig you
But you don't dig me
(Oh, I need you)
I don't understand what it is
(Baby)
I- I had my car re-upholstered
I got my hair processed
(Oh, I love you)
I got a nice pompadour job on it
(Oh, my baby)
I bought a new pair of shoes
(Oh, my love)
I got some new khakis and I met you
And we went out to get a Coca-Cola…

The Spaniels - Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (1954)

Originally named Pookie Hudson and The Hudsonaires, this group is sometimes considered the first vocal group to have a “leader” due to Hudson having his own microphone while the others shared a second for backup vocals. They came from Gary, Indiana in 1952 after having played for their high school.

Upon graduation, they changed their named and signed with Vee-Jay Records, the first large, African-American owned record company. Although this was the group’s most well-known hit, The McGuire Sisters had more success covering it later in the year when trying to record a version that would “appeal to white audiences.”



The Spaniels - Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (1954)

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Lyrics:

Goodnight, sweetheart; well it's time to go
Goodnight, sweetheart; well it's time to go
I hate to leave you, but I really must say
Oh, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight

Goodnight, sweetheart; well it's time to go
Goodnight, sweetheart; well it's time to go
I hate to leave you, I really must say
Oh, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight

Well, it's three o'clock in the morning
Baby, I just can't get right
Well I hate to leave you, baby
I don't mean maybe, because I love you so

Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go
I hate to leave you, I really must say
Oh, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight

Mother, oh, and your father
Wouldn’t like it if I stay here too long
One kiss and we'll stop
And I’ll be going
You know I hate to go

Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go
Goodnight, sweetheart, well, it's time to go
I hate to leave you, I really must say
Oh, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight

The Chantels - Maybe (1957)

Singing together as early as 1950, the girls of this group got their name from their high school basketball rivals, St. Francis de Chantelle. They were one of the few all-female groups in the 1950s, and one of the even fewer female groups to be writing their own material.

This song has had its writing credits given to a few different people, but most agree that it was probably written by the group’s lead singer, Arlene Smith. You can really hear the emotion she put into the vocals of this song.

Later, a unique cover of the song was recorded in the ‘60s by Janis Joplin.



The Chantels - Maybe (1957)

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Lyrics:

Maybe, if I pray every night
You'll come back to me
And maybe, if I cry every day
You'll come back to stay
Oh, maybe

Maybe, if I hold your hand
You will understand
And maybe, if I kissed your lips
I’d be at your command
Oh, maybe

I've prayed and prayed
To the Lord
To send you back, my love
But, instead, you came to me
Only in my dreams

Maybe, if I pray every night
You'll come back to me
And maybe, if I cry every day
You'll come back to stay
Oh, maybe

(Maybe, maybe, maybe)
Maybe
(Maybe, maybe, maybe)
Maybe
(Maybe, maybe, maybe)
Maybe
(Maybe, maybe, maybe)
Maybe
(Maybe, maybe, maybe)…

The Del Vikings - Come Go With Me (1956)

One of the few racially integrated groups of the 1950s, these guys were able to produce a string of hits throughout the decade. Their history is full of people leaving, joining, reuniting, and lawsuits. What’s important is the music that they created.

This song, which was their second hit, propelled the group to stardom. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over a million copies, earning itself a gold disc. It was the group’s largest hit and remains one of the most recognizable doo-wop songs of the ‘50s.



The Del Vikings - Come Go With Me (1956)

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Lyrics:

Well, I love- love you darlin’
Come and go with me
Come with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So, come go with me

Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me

Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please, say you'll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
(You never give me a chance)(Ohhhh!)

Come, come, come, come
Come into my heart
Tell me darlin’
We will never part
I need you darlin’
So come go with me
Yea!

Yes, I need you
Yes, I really need you
Please, say you'll never leave me
Well, say you never
Yes, you really never
(You never give me a chance) (Ohhhh!)

Love, love me darlin’
Come and go with me
Come with me
Way beyond the sea
I need you darlin’
So, come go with me

Come on, go with me
Come on, go with me
Come on, go with me