Customer Reviews

Chapel of Love: Very Best of

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The Dixie Cups were a Sixties girl group from New Orleans made up of sisters Barbara Ann and Rose Lee Hawkins, and their cousin Joan Marie Johnson. Actually, the trio started off as the Meltones and then Little Miss and the Muffets (winner: worst name for girl group ever) but in 1964 when they had their mega hit with "Chapel of Love" (written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector) they had settled on the Dixie Cups. That one song was enough to assure the group of musical immortality, but the Dixie Cups were more than one hit wonders putting out "People Say" (#12), "You Should Have Seen the Way He Looked at Me" (#39), "Iko Iko" (#20), and "Little Bell" (#51); the best of the non-hits is "Another Boy Like Mine," one of several Barry/Greenwich compositions in the collection. Unfortunately, after two years of success the group's record label went out of business and songs like "Girls Can Tell" and "Gee the Moon Is Shining Bright" failed to get them back on the charts. "The Very Best of the Dixie Cups: Chapel of Love" is the proverbial one album you will ever need for this group, especially since there is a very nice a cappella version of "Iko Iko" written by the girls and their producer Joe Craig Johnson, which reflects their New Orleans roots. The liner notes are excellent in recounting the group's history and only three of the 16 tracks are not in stereo, which is rather surprising. Everything you want to own by the Dixie Cups although the competing collection of "The Complete Red Bird Recordings" does offer up a couple of more tracks. You really cannot go wrong with either collection.

While best known for their signature song, "Chapel Of Love", the Dixie Cups placed several tunes on the pop charts during their stint at Leiber-Stoller's Red Bird label in the mid 60's. While not nearly as popular at the time of its original release, their quirky "Iko Iko" has become nearly as well-known in subsequent years, challenging "Chapel..." in popularity.

This set includes all their other charting singles - "People Say", "You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me" and "Little Bell" - all of which are Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich compositions. As well as the hits, there are several b-sides and other singles that didn't see the light of day. The disc finishes up with alternate versions of "People Say" and "Iko Iko". Some of the additional tracks are of a-side quality and could have been hits in their own right - "Girls Can Tell" and "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" for instance.

Previous Red Bird collections have been mediocre sonically and with Collectables' spotty reputation in this regard, at first this piece may be viewed with some suspicion. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out to be an excellently produced CD. Most of the tracks appear in stereo (4,10 and 12 being the exceptions), having been taken from recently uncovered multitrack masters. The sound rates up there with the recent high-quality Taragon and Varese Vintage Red Bird collections as opposed to the muddy mono of earlier reissues of Red Bird material. A two-page history of the group is included in the six-page flopover liner notes booklet. All told, this is an excellent compilation of the music of this mid-60's forefront girl group.

While best known for their signature song, "Chapel Of Love", the Dixie Cups placed several tunes on the pop charts during their stint at Leiber-Stoller's Red Bird label in the mid 60's. While not nearly as popular at the time of its original release, their quirky "Iko Iko" has become nearly as well-known in subsequent years, challenging "Chapel..." in popularity.

This set includes all their other charting singles - "People Say", "You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me" and "Little Bell" - all of which are Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich compositions. As well as the hits, there are several b-sides and other singles that didn't see the light of day. The disc finishes up with alternate versions of "People Say" and "Iko Iko". Some of the additional tracks are of a-side quality and could have been hits in their own right - "Girls Can Tell" and "I'm Gonna Get You Yet" for instance.

Previous Red Bird collections have been mediocre sonically and with Collectables' spotty reputation in this regard, at first this piece may be viewed with some suspicion. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out to be an excellently produced CD. Most of the tracks appear in stereo (4,10 and 12 being the exceptions), having been taken from recently uncovered multitrack masters. The sound rates up there with the recent high-quality Taragon and Varese Vintage Red Bird collections as opposed to the muddy mono of earlier reissues of Red Bird material. A two-page history of the group is included in the six-page flopover liner notes booklet. All told, this is an excellent compilation of the music of this mid-60's forefront girl group.

This CD presents classic pop/rock from this all girl band while preserving the original SOUND as recorded by the original aritists. A must for the true audiophile looking for vinyl on CD effects.

Actually, to expand upon another review, this CD contains both sides of all five hits, and so is a perfect buy for completist collectors.

Discovered by New Orleans talent scout and bandleader Joe Jones while they were still attending Southern University, sisters Barbara Ann and Rosie Lee Hawkins and their cousin Joan Marie Johnson were handed a song written originally by Phil Spector, Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich for The Ronettes.

Why they never recorded it is a mystery, but as Red Bird 001, Chapel Of Love sure got Leiber & Stoller's label off with a bang by hitting # 1 Billboard Hot 100/R&B in June 1964, and staying there for three weeks, right in the midst of the early phases of the British Invasion. The flip was Ain't That Nice.

And while they didn't fare nearly as well with their second hit, People Say, it still finished a quite respectable # 12 Hot 100/R&B in August b/w Girls Can Tell. By November, however, the growing multitude of bands from the U.K. began taking its toll on all but the very best North American artists, and so You Should Have Seen The Way He Looked At Me just made the Top 40, settling for a # 39 Hot 100/R&B b/w No True Love.

When, early in 1965, Little Bell peaked at # 51 Hot 100/R&B b/w Another Boy Like Mine, it looked like the end of their run. But hold on, they had one more substantial kick at the can, and in April 1965 the quaint, semi-traditional New Orleans chant, Iko Iko, reached # 20 on both charts b/w Gee Baby Gee. The song then received new life in 1987 when it was featured in the film, and soundtrack CD, The Big Easy.

As one of two primary groups responsible for the temporary success of Red Bird [along with The Shangri-Las], this is an absolute must-have for both completist collectors and those who focus on the girl group sound of the Sixties. Good job, Collectables.

The Dixie Cups recieve almost no credit for their fabulous use of vocals, talent, and well played musical instruments that smoothly blend together to creat an AMAZING rythmic tone and music that will hopefully be treasured by future generations to come.

-Thank You

This is not really a greatest hits collection, simply The Dixie Cups "Chapel of Love" album with a few extras thrown in. And what, you may ask, is wrong with that? Absolutely nothing! "Chapel of Love" was a sweet little song, followed up by "People Say" and "Iko Iko", nothing much after that. But the sound of the Dixie Cups was unique, one that wouldn't be around much longer as rock and heavy guitars took over the sound of the 60's. Harmonies are perfect here and while some of the songs may sound a bit insipid, the melodies are catchy and the recordings sound as good as if they were just recorded yesterday. This is a very listenable disc and though you won't be dancing to it like you did when it ws first released it certainly makes for some fine listening.

I purchased this album for my Husband, who enjoys listening to it. He was very pleased with the entire experience, from the seller to the DVD.