[.ca] Doo Wop Box II, the

From Amazon.com:
The second set of Rhino Records' The Doo Wop Box includes such gems as Robert & Johnny's "We Belong Together," Gene Chandler's "Duke of Earl" and the Robins' original version of Leiber & Stoller's "Smokey Joe's Café." The box set contains 39 Top 30 R & B hits plus such pop smashes as the Platters' "My Prayer," the Clovers' "Love Potion No. 9," Dion & the Belmonts' "Where or When," the Crests' "Step by Step," the Marcels' "Heartaches" and Don & Juan's "What's Your Name." Putting more emphasis on uptempo tunes than its predecessor, the new box includes both the Cadillacs' "Zoom" and the Collegians' "Zoom Zoom Zoom" as well as Frankie Lymon's giddy, boy soprano on the galloping "ABC's of Love." The first Doo Wop Box is still the better collection, for it had first crack at the widely acknowledged classics of the genre, but The Doo Wop Box II is full of historical milestones and dizzying music. --Geoffrey Himes

The memories keep rolling on!:
I bought both Doo Wop sets - 202 Vocal Group Gems, and I'm not in the least bit disappointed. These groups and their songs brought back so many good memories of my growing-up years in Staten Island, New York City, in the '50s. I'm 62 years old and still can remember my childhood pal telling me all about the "Moon Dog Show," carried by a New Jersey (Newark, I think) radio station. It was a black oriented music station playing something called Rhythm & Blues. We listened to our radios late into the nights - without our parents knowing about it - and began to "connect" with the new sounds in no time at all. Entering high school in 1952, we were at the right place and time for the Rock 'n Roll explosion soon to come. Allan Freed had yet to "hit" the town, but the groups surely had. We were rocking and bopping throughout our four years, and of course, were members of a doo wop group of our own - The Seniortones of Port Richmond High School. Rhino has done an outstanding job of compiling these songs and putting together two great 79-page books to go along with the collections. Listening to the originals always means so much more in that what those sounds bring back in terms of good feelings and vibes is just a bit difficult to describe. Anticipating a sound here or there from the originals is also a treat, something definitely missed with so many other collections purported to be "the best," etc. These collections ARE the best. Whether listening to the "A" or "B" sides, you just cannot escape being brought back to another place and time when life was defined quite differently for all of us. For so many of us back then, it was the music that helped us cope and propelled us into what was to come. Looking at the pictures of the groups and catching up on the assorted memorabilia and recording details adds yet another dimension to these collections - great idea! As these years have passed on by, I still find myself drifting back to my favorite sounds - before (and in spite of) the "pretenders" - before Elvis - before Frankie Avalon (ugh) - before the "pop culture" ran the real Rhythm & Blues based Rock 'n Roll aground. Thank you, Rhino, for putting these groups and their songs all together for us in what will be a cherished keepsake of so many years gone by.

Obscure Doo-wop classics:
The difference between DWB#2 and DWB#1 is that DWB#2 contains lesser-known, but by no means less enjoyable tunes. Even thoguh I was born in 1964 and thus did not expereince listening to Alan Freed's show or seeing these groups at the Brooklyn Paramount, I still love the hell out of this music! Lots of fun stuff. Dig the atmospheric "Woo Woo Song' by the Valentines and "Love Potion #9 by the Clovers. Enjoy the silliness of the original "Rubber Biscuit" by the Chips. Chafe somewhat at the politically incorrect "Ling Ting Tong" by the 5 Keys and "Japanese Sandman" by the Cellos. Smile at the streetcorner style of "Zoom Zoom Zoom" by the Collegians. Enjoy "Memories of El Monte" by the Penguins ("Earth Angel II?"), and the Frankie Lymon clone "Rendezvous With You" by the Desires. But enough of that-just buy the damn thing and love it!

Obscure Doo-wop classics:
The difference between DWB#2 and DWB#1 is that DWB#2 contains lesser-known, but by no means less enjoyable tunes. Even thoguh I was born in 1964 and thus did not expereince listening to Alan Freed's show or seeing these groups at the Brooklyn Paramount, I still love the hell out of this music! Lots of fun stuff. Dig the atmospheric "Woo Woo Song' by the Valentines and "Love Potion #9 by the Clovers. Enjoy the silliness of the original "Rubber Biscuit" by the Chips. Chafe somewhat at the politically incorrect "Ling Ting Tong" by the 5 Keys and "Japanese Sandman" by the Cellos. Smile at the streetcorner style of "Zoom Zoom Zoom" by the Collegians. Enjoy "Memories of El Monte" by the Penguins ("Earth Angel II?"), and the Frankie Lymon clone "Rendezvous With You" by the Desires. But enough of that-just buy the damn thing and love it!

Not as strong as Vol. 1, but still worthwhile.:
Rhino really did a great job with the two sets of Do Wop Classics. I think that the first set had a handful more notable classics, but this volume also does an admirable job. Included here are Dion & the Belmonts "Where or When", Curtis Lee's "Pretty Little Angel Eyes", "You Belong To Me" by the Duprees. There is a good number of other treasures in this set. Filled with "Those Oldies But Goodies"

Back on The Street Corner:
Yes, it's true..there aren't the same "well-known" doo wop sounds in this boxed set. However, if you're a true doo-wop fan, you KNOW these tunes and it's magic to hear them again. Sure, some of the quality could be better, but these sounds weren't recorded in a 90's studio. Sit back and relax and get taken back to almost Acapella sounds in the night! Buy it!

• My Reverie - The Larks, The Larks
• Fool, Fool, Fool - The Clovers
• (Where Are You) Now That I Need You - The Mello-Moods
• Is It a Dream? - The Vocaleers
• I Love You So - The Crows
• Baby It's You - The Spaniels
• Marie - Sid Bass, Four Tunes
• My Saddest Hour - The Five Keys
• Thousand Stars - The Rivileers
• Darling Dear - The Counts
• Secret Love - Red Holloway Orchestra, The Moonglows
• Dear One - The Scarlets
• Hey Señorita - The Penguins
• Oop Shoop - Shirley Gunter
• Ling-Ting-Tong - The Five Keys
• Smoke from Your Cigarette - Lillian Leach, The Mellows
• Door Is Still Open to My Heart - The Cardinals
• Lonely Nights - The Hearts, Al Sears
• Heaven and Paradise - Don Julian & the Meadowlarks
• Chop Chop Boom - The Danderliers, Dallas Taylor
• Life Is but a Dream - The Harptones, Willie Winfield
• Soldier Boy - Abie Baker, The Four Fellows
• Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Robins
• Crazy for You - The Heartbeats
• I'll Be Forever Loving You - The El Dorados, Al Smith
• You Baby You - The Cleftones, Jimmy Wright
• Eddie, My Love - The Teen Queens
• Ruby Baby - The Drifters
• Zoom - The Cadillacs, Jesse Powell Orchestra
• Woo Woo Train - The Valentines, The Valentines, Jimmy Wright
• Up on the Mountain - The Magnificents
• Kiss from Your Lips - The Flamingos
• Ka-Ding-Dong - The G-Clefs
• My Prayer - The Platters, Tony Wilson
• Castle in the Sky - The Bop Chords, Ernest Harriston
• Angels Sang - The Solitaires
• Pretty Little Girl - The Monarchs
• ABC's of Love - Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, Jimmy Wright
• Rubber Biscuit - The Chips
• (You Gave Me) Peace of Mind - Al Smith, The Spaniels
• Guided Missiles - The Cuff Links
• Over the Mountain, Cross the Sea - Rex Garvin & His Orchestra, Johnnie & Joe
• Glory of Love - The Velvetones
• Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am the Japanese Sandman) - The Cellos
• United - The Lovenotes
• To the Aisle - The Five Satins
• Mr. Lee - The Bobbettes, Reggie Obrecht Orchestra
• Can I Come over Tonight? - Sammy Lowe Orchestra, The Velours
• Let's Start All over Again - The Paragons
• Peanuts - Little Joe & the Thrillers
• That's My Desire - The Channels
• Could This Be Magic - The Dubs
• Zoom Zoom Zoom - Collegians
• We Belong Together - Robert & Johnny
• Things I Love - The Fidelitys, Teacho Wiltshire
• Oh Gee, Oh Gosh - The Kodaks, Pearl McKinnon
• Two People in the World - Little Anthony & the Imperials
• Stormy Weather - The Spaniels
• You're So Fine - The Falcons
• Dedicated to the One I Love - The Shirelles
• This I Swear - Lenny Martin & the Orchestra, Skyliner
• Island of Love - The Sheppards
• Love Potion No. 9 - The Clovers
• Bad Girl - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
• Believe Me - The Royal Teens
• Canadian Sunset - The Impacts
• Babalu's Wedding Day - The Eternals
• Bells of Rosa Rita - The Admirations, The Admirations
• Darling Lorrane - The Knockouts
• Where or When - Dion, Dion
• Let It Please Be You - The Desires
• I Only Want You - Passions
• Barbara - The Temptations
• Step by Step - The Crests
• Rendezvous with You - The Desires
• Diamonds and Pearls - The Paradons
• Once in a While - The Chimes
• Valarie - Jackie & the Starlites
• To Be Loved (Forever) - The Pentagons
• In My Heart - The Timetones
• Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You) - Little Caesar & the Romans
• Heart and Soul - The Cleftones
• Lover's Island - The Blue Jays, Leon Peels
• Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee
• When We Get Married - The Dreamlovers
• Runaround - The Regents
• Look in My Eyes - The Chantels
• I Really Love You - The Stereos
• Heartaches - The Marcels
• Duke of Earl - Gene Chandler
• Rip Van Winkle - The Devotions
• What's Your Name? - Don & Juan
• I Found a Love - The Falcons
• I Love You - The Volumes
• You Belong to Me - The Duprees
• What Time Is It? - The Jive Five, Eugene Pitt
• Arabia - The Delcos
• Play Those Oldies Mr. Dee Jay - Anthony & The Sophomores
• Memories of El Monte
• Don't Leave Me Baby - The Camelots
• Till Then - The Classics