Customer Reviews

Echoes of a Rock Era: Groups

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I am a diehard Harptones fan. The silky, stylish voice of Willie Winfield, the Harptone's lead singer, is impeccably displayed in this selection of Harptone hits. The tight and well arranged background vocal harmonies the group became famous for come through true to form. Some Harptones classics that helped make the group famous are not listed in this selection like "Life Is But A Dream" and "What Is Your Decision," but that didn't take away from my experience of listening to this CD and the songs the Harptones recorded when they were at the top of their game. Other classics like "Sunday Kind of Love," "Shrine of St. Cecilia," "Cry Like I Cried" and "Three Wishes" are front and center in this CD for me to enjoy again and again.

The Crow's recording "Gee" is an all time classic that I found myself playing over and over. Like the groups of their time, The appeal of the Crows sound is the unpretentious simplicity of their delivery.

I was just a new born babe the year both groups were at the height of their fame in the 50's. Though I wasn't old enough to enjoy and listen to them then, not lost on me today is the artistic and emotion filled skill with which these groups performed their songs. The magic of this CD is its ability to put me back in the time when DooWop was pure, clean and real.

I recommend this recording highly. Willie Winfield and the Harptones are an American jewel whose voices and style is preserved excellently for us to enjoy for a long, long time. Finally, don't be surprised if The Crow's rendering of "Gee" has you tapping your feet and snapping your fingers to its get up and dance rhythmic beat.

This CD contains 12 tracks by the Crows and 12 by the Harptones, both from their mid-50's recordings for Bruce/Rama/Gee. Both groups were originators of many aspects of the Doo-Wop vocal group style. The Crows portion of this CD includes all of their releases other than 2 obscure B sides. The topnotch cuts are their double sided 1953 R&B #2 smash hit "Gee" and "I Love You So" and the 1954 ballad "Untrue". This is balanced out by 2 lemons, "Mambo Shevitz" - a mambo record to the tune of a wine commercial, and "Perfidia" - an uptempo tune with an ear piercing near falsetto lead throughout. The rest of the Crows tracks are good ballad and uptempo sides.The excellent Harptone cuts are their 1953 ballads "A Sunday Kind Of Love" and "My Memories Of You" and the 1956 "The Masquerade Is Over". The only weak track is the uptempo "So Good, So Fine, You're Mine". All other tracks are good ballads. This CD omits some fine Harptones tunes done for other labels.The liner notes contain some interesting historical information about both groups and some original release data but does not contain a discography.

In 1968 I asked my Oldie DJ:Tony Pigg to play;"Baby" by the Crows(Even though I had the record) After the speedy swinging song was over,Tony exclaimed;"What a gas!!!" These songs are accompanied by a jazz guitar,sax,piano,bass,drums. Lorraine Ellis is the lead on;"Perfidia" (Great voice) You got;"Gee","Untrue" etc. I think Sonny Norton is the lead on most songs?
In 1973 I asked my Oldie DJ:"The Autumn King" to play something fast by the Harptones:"So fine, You're mine..." A great relay tune song with Willie Winfield and I believe,Linda Champion. Winfield is one of the greatest tearful R&B Ballad singers of all time!
"The Masquerade is over","A Sunday Kind Of Love" and MUCH MUCH More! 14 year old kid,Carol Blades tore my heart out,singing:"What Did I Do Wrong?" on the last track. How could it get better than this????!!!!!

Crows most likely never met Harptones. Even the lengendary corners of New York streets would not have crissed/crossed this complilation.
Crows had a big hit, "Gee" and maybe some others that cawwed loudly while on the telephone pole wire as they tried to make a noise. The best part of the Crows is the sweet attempt to hit the right note while blinking back the tears/happiness they knew would come when the neighborhood asked for an autograph.
Harptones had the Mom and Dad nod that, yes, it was Rhythm and Blues, but Willie Winfield was as good as Nat "King" Cole and no problem there. And surely Harptones sang "Sunday Kind of Love" like a picnic in the park.

This CD is 12 Crows and 12 Harptones, 24 songs of an era. This is for completists and wided-eyed would-be crooners.

Back In 1968,I asked my Oldie DJ:Tony Pigg to play;"Baby" by the Crows(Even though I had the record) after the speedie swingin' song was over,Tony exclaimed:"WHAT A GAS!!!" These song's are accompanied by a Jazz guitar,Tenor sax,piano,bass,drums.On track 11 there are Perez Prado type trumpets happening here, Also, I never knew "Sweet Sue" could sound so hip!!!
Lorraine Ellis is the lead on;"Perfidia"(Great voice)...You got "Gee","Untrue" etc. Sonny Morton may be one of the lead singers?

In 1973 I asked my Oldie DJ;"THE AUTUMN KING" to play something fast by the Harptones;"So fine,You're mine..." a great song with Willie Winfield and Toni Williams or Linda Champion (I think?). Willie(b.1929) is one of the greatest tearful R&B ballad singers of all time!!!
"The masquerade is over","A sunday kind of love" "Memories Of You"etc. and MUCH,MUCH,MORE! I played "Sunday Afternoon" about 5 or 6 times. It would be nice to give credit to the song composers, but, no info about that.
14 year old kid;Carol Blades tore my heart out,singing;"What did I do wrong?" on the last track. Dan(THE KID)Celli X-DJ.

PS;1955 I saw some of the great R&B act's all on one show:Eldorado's,Shirley&Lee etc,Introduced by our 1950's DJ:"Jumpin'George Oxford(Which I Knew through the phone, letters, exchanging music tapes and even a 78 record of himself,singing"Bucket Blues".) I've been a fan of this music since my 12 year old girl friend turned me on to R&B in 1953.
How could it get better than this?????!!!!!

The Crows were one of the first doo wop groups, and one of the more important one-hit wonders in rock & roll history. Discovered at the Apollo Theater in 1952, their hit "Gee," was their best single, reaching number 14 in the pop charts.

The Harptones were an oddity because they were not on the pop charts for their entire careers, Their leader, Willie Winfield and his brothers Jimmy and Clyde were more jazz-oriented in their harmonies and arrangements. Wifield's "I Want a Sunday Kind of Love" was a regional success, but never hit the pop charts and never scored a national hit. This CD showcases a group which full potential never hit a stride.