Frank Zappa often complained by the Eighties that he found it difficult to find musicians who were familiar with the Doo-Wop and R&B records of the Fifties.
So his love of that music could not be featured in his later concerts as much as he would like.
Frank would occasionally mention that he had a sizable collection of 45s from the Fifties.
I now encounter young people who never even heard of this music, not even from their parents.
When I lived in New York City between 1993 and 2008, I would listen to WFUV, broadcasting from Fordham University in the Bronx, almost every Saturday night between midnight and 2am, and record Dan Romanello’s “GROUP HARMONY REVIEW”.
Romanello was one of the most knowledgeable DJs of the music from the Fifties and early Sixties in the world.
https://wfuv.org/content/thank-you-dan
https://wfuv.org/users/dan-romanello
We have now made 45 of his shows available – that’s approximately 90 hours of this incredible music!!!
His commentary throughout the shows is exemplary for its scholarship, including interviews with many of the musicians, who performed in those years on the street corners, since so many of them were still living in the New York City area.
This collection may not interest all Zappa enthusiasts but we are making it available to those who already enjoy this music as well as those who have never experienced it before. Frank showed me this collection occasionally and we would often listen to a few records.
Bob Dobbs
Spotlight: Female leads in male groups
Tracks in episode:
0:02:35 – John Lee Hooker – In My Lonely Room
0:05:01 – Tony Passalacqua – Oh Rose Marie
0:07:36 – Jackie & the Starlites – Give Me One Kiss
0:13:08 – The Platters – Someone To Watch Over Me
0:15:54 – The Platters – My Old Flame
0:21:23 – The Spiders – Bells in My Heart
0:23:12 – The Federals – While Our Hearts Are Young
0:25:53 – The Harmonaires – Lorraine
0:28:07 – The Rose Buds – Dreamtime
0:33:47 – The Moonglows – Most of All
0:38:42 – Jackie & the Starlites – Missing You
0:41:24 – The Stereos – A Love for Only You
0:43:43 – Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords – Please Tell the Angels
0:46:53 – The Originals – At Times Like This
0:54:30 – Jude Ciccolella – Doo-wop 59. Lady Familiar
1:05:30 – The Cardinals – Lovely Girl
1:08:28 – The Cardinals – I’ll Always Love You
1:11:39 – The Cardinals – Wheel of Fortune
1:14:36 – The Cardinals – Here Goes My Heart to You
1:19:12 – The Shirelles – Will You Love Me Tomorrow
1:22:05 – Anita Tucker – Let’s Make Love
1:24:18 – Esther Phillips – Double Crossing Blues
1:28:04 – Deltas – Let Me Share Your Dreams
1:30:41 – The Five Scamps – I’ll Never Smile Again
1:33:50 – The Marvels – Come To The Wedding
1:35:57 – The Five Scamps – Fine Like Wine
1:40:25 – The Monorays – My Guardian Angel
1:43:08 – Tammy – Five Minutes To Love
1:47:08 – The Hide-A-Ways – Can’t Help Loving That Girl of Mine
1:49:05 – The Mello-Moods – Where Are You?
1:52:27 – The Charmers – Tony My Darling
1:56:25 – The Sparrows – Moments Like This
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