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
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
Tracks in episode:
00:00:00 – Richard Berry & The Dreamers – At Last
00:03:08 – The Rainbows – They Say
00:05:36 – The Crests – Gee But I’d Give The World
00:08:02 – The Harptones – My Memories Of You
00:11:14 – Alan Freed & His Rock and Roll Band – Right Now, Right Now
00:13:23 – Otis Williams & The Charms – Thank You Mr. D.J.
00:16:07 – The Mellows – Smoke From Your Cigarette
00:18:40 – The Cobras – Sindy (Aka Cindy)
00:21:48 – The Squires – Sindy
00:26:33 – The Starlings – My Plea for Love
00:29:48 – The Dells – Why Do You Have to Go?
00:32:32 – The Four Kings – My Head Goes Acting Up
00:34:42 – The Crickets – Be Faithful
00:41:41 – The Valentines – Lily Maybelle
00:44:02 – The Valentines – Woo Woo Train
00:46:56 – The Valentines – I Love You Darling
00:49:42 – The Valentines – Hand Me Down Love
00:55:11 – The Avalons – It’s Funny But It’s True
00:57:06 – The Magnificent Four – Uncle Sam
01:01:00 – Duke Jenkins – Something Else
01:03:14 – The Magnificent Four – The Closer You Are
01:05:33 – The “5” Royales – Courage to Love
01:07:55 – The Moonglows – Shoo Doo Be Doo (My Loving Baby)
01:13:08 – The Four Knights – The Way I Feel
01:15:48 – The Four Knights – I Couldn’t Stay Away From You
01:18:42 – The Four Knights – Sentimental Journey
01:22:20 – The Four Knights – A Million Tears
01:26:25 – The Sputniks – Hey Maryann
01:28:52 – Magic Slim and the Tear Drops – The Stars Are Out Tonight
01:32:08 – The Centuries – Lonely Girl
01:34:42 – The Nutmegs – A Story Untold
01:37:03 – The Five Dollars – That’s the Way It Goes
01:42:00 – The Cardinals – The End of the Story
01:44:47 – The Moonlights – So All Alone
01:47:50 – Eugene Church & the Fellows – Miami
01:50:30 – The Decoys – I Want Only You
01:54:26 – The Elgins – Your Lovely Ways
01:57:14 – Gladys Kane & Group – Before You Go
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