The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 [Box set]

Various Artists - Rock - Vintage Rock & Roll | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 1, 1996)
• Original Release Date: October 1, 1996
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B0000033UQ
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,366 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. My Reverie

2. Fool, Fool, Fool

3. (Where Are You) Now That I Need You

4. Is It a Dream?

5. I Love You So

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. You Baby You

2. Eddie, My Love

3. Ruby Baby

4. Zoom

5. The Woo Woo Train

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Disc: 3

1. Could This Be Magic

2. Zoom Zoom Zoom

3. We Belong Together

4. The Things I Love

5. Oh Gee, Oh Gosh

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Disc: 4

1. Once in a While

2. Valarie

3. To Be Loved (Forever)

4. In My Heart

5. Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You)

See all 25 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The memories keep rolling on!, May 27, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

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.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Quite good, but not quite up to the level of the first set, December 1, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Still well worth having for dedicated Doo Wop nuts, but not quite as good a value overall as the first box set, especially in the pre-1958 selections. The quality level of these tracks is just a tad lower overall, though Rhino does pick up a few of the well-known and a few of the obscure later gems they probably tried unsuccessfully to get the first time around. Still a first-rate booklet and first-rate sound. If money's no object, you'll enjoy both box sets.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous obscurities, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

Because all of the really famous songs went into the first Doo Wop Box, the selection here runs to the obscure but very deserving regional hits that in many cases are superior to the "hits". Many of the cuts here I never heard before this, and they really have to rate among my all-time favorites now. One of the best music purchases I have ever made!