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The Chantels were one of the first commercially successful girl groups, creators of one of the classics of the genre "Maybe." Most of these songs sound similar, but what a sound it is! Arlene Smith had a gospel influenced voice that was more powerful than most, if not all, of the girl group lead singers. And she was very young to boot! The songs have a very dense sound that is quite unique to this day. I believe she left the group and then the Chantels had a different lead singer for another hit called "Look Into Your Eyes." It is good, but more poppy than the group led by Smith. This is a great record for those interested in one of the great groups of the late 50's and early 60's.

The Chantels were, quite simply, the premier girl group of their era. Led by Arlene Smith (born 1941), they included Rene Minus (1943), Lois Harris (1940), Sonia Goring (1940) and Jackie Landry (1940) - barely teenagers all when their first big hit on George Goldner's End label, Maybe, launched them into national prominence.

Going to # 2 R&B and # 15 Billboard Top 100 in March 1958, b/w Come My Little Baby, it spent a combined 25 weeks on those charts. Their next release that year, Ev'ry Night (I Pray) b/w Whoever You Are didn't fare nearly as well, topping out at # 16 R&B and # 39 Top 100 in late April, but that was still quite respectable considering the hefty competition from the likes of Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Pat Boone, Gene Vincent, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly & The Crickets, Connie Francis, Brena Lee, et el.

Their third hit in 1958, I Love You So (b/w How Could You Call It Off) did marginally better on the R&B charts, going to # 14, but just failed to make the Top 100 Top 40 at # 42. In 1959 the man who produced all their hits to date, Richard Barrett, joined them in the billing (Richard Barrett With The Chantels) for Summer's Love, a # 29 R&B charter that September, but only able to make # 93 Hot 100.

Further chart success on End eluded them but in the fall of 1961, after signing with Carlton, they were back with Look In My Eyes (b/w the appropos Glad To Be Back), a # 6 R&B smash and a decent # 14 Hot 100 showing. Their next hit, borrowing from a Country specialty, was an "answer" to the Ray Charles' huge hit, Hit The Road Jack. Called, Well, I Told You, it made # 29 Hot 100 but for some strange reason failed to dent the R&B Top 100. Go figure.

Again there was a two-year hiatus from the charts before they had a minor - their final - hit with Eternally on the Ludix label. Not the same song as either the Sarah Vaughan (1960) OR the Thomas Wayne (1959) hit of the same name, it only managed to reach # 77 Hot 100 in 1963.

With Barrett now concentrating on a new female group, The Three Degrees, The Chantels drifted from Ludix to Verve, and finally to RCA without luck. Arlene then took her powerful voice to Spectorious and Big Top, but again met with no chart success as a single artist. Sadly, any reunion performances will have to be without Jackie Landry, who succumbed to cancer two days before Christmas in 1997.

A very important group who paved the way for The Shirelles, Marvelettes, Cookies, Ronettes and, yes, The Supremes - among others - this CD should be given a prominent place in your collection.

Maybe still brings chills to my spine 48 years after I first heard it on the radio. Many other excellent songs...the Chantels were the first and best of the girl groups.

THE CHANTELS WERE THEE GIRLS! THEY HELPED START IT ALL.THEY PAVED THE WAY FOR HIGH PITCH HARMONIZING GIRL GROUP SOUNDS LIKE THE SHERILLES("DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE"),THE ANGELS ("TIL"), THE CRYSTALS ("THERE'S NO OTHER LIKE MY BABY"),DIANA ROSS("SO CLOSE")AND THEN THE THREE DEGREES ("STARDUST").THOUGH IMITATED BUT NEVER FULLY DUPLICATED THEY REMAIN CLASSIC RTHYM AND BLUES FOUNDERS.I WAS TURNED ON BY THEM WHEN I HEARD "LOOK IN MY EYES" AND THEN WHEN I HEARD THEIR EARLIER STUFF, I LIKED THEM EVEN MORE!DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS C.D. AND ALL THEIR OTHER C.D.'S. YOU CAN'T GO WRONG!!WOW! WHAT VOICES!

I grew up listening to this music, played by my 2 older sisters. Hearing these songs again literally brought tears to my eyes and I recommend this CD to any and all baby boomers. There will never be "girl groups" like this again!

Particularly for those of us who enjoy the early days of Rock, this CD is a must have.The vocal performance of Arlene Smith in "Maybe" is of Top Twenty Of All Time stature.In other words.. "now *that's* what I call music!"

This is a great compilation which contains all of their best songs. I highly recommend this CD to all. Their covers of "The Plea" by the Paragons and "I love You so" by the Crows are well worth the price alone, not to mention the Chantels own classics such as as "Maybe"

I am a big fan of 50's music even though it was before my time, I was born in '61. I first heard the Chantels on PBS Doo-Wop Reunion. The teen love angst in the songs, the tight harmonies are quintessential to the sound of the era. This CD didn't disappoint. Every song is a great song

Although the Chantels had very limited chart success, they had a great sound, led by the wonderful voice of lead singer Arlene Smith and great harmonizing by the group. Their musical approach was obviously rooted in the church and sounded more sacred than secular which may explain why their very nice recordings failed to connect with the public. The group scored with the classic "Maybe", which was their only big hit, although their records and B sides were staples at neighborhood parties and dances in the late '50s. Although just a memory today, the Chantels remain the best pioneer R&B girl group and helped pave the way for the Shirelles, the Ronettes and the Supremes who followed them years later.

Loved this CD, brought back many memories.Arlene Smith ,the lead singer has a great powerful voice. The harmony with the rest of the group is fantastic. The Chantels opened the door for all the future all girl groups. If your into old rock & roll I would highly recommend this CD.