Customer Reviews

Mystics Meet the Jarmels

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Both The Mystics and The Jarmels were quintets who recorded for Laurie Records with distinctly different styles. The Mystics, from Brooklyn, were an archtypical Doo-Wop Group, while The Jarmels, who started out in Virginia as a Gospel quintet, became known as an R&B group. And here Ace of London draws together the best of both in their usual meticulous fashion, complete with great sound and informative notes.

The first to join Laurie were The Mystics (tracks 1 to 16) - lead Phil Cracolici, tenors Bob Ferrante and George Galfo, baritone Albee Cracolici and bass Allie Contrera (Jay Traynor of Jay & The Americans was an early member). They started out with a solid # 20 Billboard Pop Hot 100 hit in June/July 1959 with Hushabye on Laurie 3028 b/w Adam And Eve.

Their follow-up, however, barely enabled them to escape the One-Hit Wonder tag as Don't Take The Stars squeaked into the Hot 100 at # 98 that October on Laurie 3038 b/w So Tenderly. All four side are here, along with all eight sides of their subsequent singles, none of which charted: All Through The Night/To Think Of You Again (Laurie 3047) and The White Cliffs Of Dover/Blue Star (Laurie 3058) - both in 1960, Star-Crossed Lovers/Goodbye Mr. Blue (Laurie 3086) and A Sunday Kind Of Love/Darling I Know How (Laurie 3104 - both in 1961.

The Jarmels (tracks 17 to 30), made up of Nathanial Ruff, Earl Christian, Tom Eldridge, Paul Burnett and Ray Smith, who took their name from a Harlem street despite hailing from Richmond, were unfortunately destined to become a member of the One-Hit Wonder Club with their sole charter being A Little Bit Of Soap which hit # 7 R&B and # 12 Hot 100 in August 1961 on Laurie 3098 b/w the old standard The Way You Look Tonight. Both sides are here, along with their first single release, Little Lonely One b/w She Loves To Dance on Laurie 3085 which had failed earlier that year.

Also here are all eight sides of their next four failed singles: I'll Follow You/Gee Oh Gosh (Laurie 3116), Red Sails In The Sunset/Loneliness (Laurie 3124), and Little Bug/One By One (Laurie 3141) - all 1962 releases, and Come On Girl/Keep Your Mind On Me (Laurie 3174) from 1963. It seems Major Harris briefly became a membetr of the group at one time.

You want throughness, even when it comes to the lesser-known artists, check out Ace first and foremost. You will never be disappointed.