CD & DVD Collection: It All Started With Doo Wop and Doo Wop Legends Live / Various Artists / 9 CDs + 1 DVD / Time Life
My introduction to Doo Wop music first came during the 1970’s while growing up as a teenager, just outside Toronto, Canada. CHUM, which at that time was Canada’s largest independent radio station, every Sunday night, would play hours of music from the 1950’s and early 1960’s. Some of that music, was Doo Wop music, although at the time I did not know it had a name, I only knew that I really enjoyed it. I would listen to Gene Chandler’s voice over the airwaves, as the DJ played, “Duke Of Earl,” and as the Cleftones sung, “Heart And Soul,” I joined in with, “…I fell in love with you / Heart and soul / the way a fool would do, madly…” Now Time Life helps you revisit those days or perhaps if you are older than I am, back in the day, when the records were first played. It All Started With Doo Wop, is a nine CD set, plus the added bonus the DVD Doo Wop Legends Live, originally recorded for PBS in 1999.
There is no adequate way to critique a music collection this large, that features so much outstanding talent from yesteryear, so let’s just highlight a few of the many memorable moments that you will cherish whether you are listening to the CDs or watching the DVD. I can remember strutting and dancing along the street, in the middle of the night, with my friend Bill, while we sang “Duke Of Earl,” in perfect harmony, and so it was a personal thrill for me to hear Gene Chandler explain how the song came to be. The interview with Chandler, which appears on the DVD, is refreshing and surprising. He is also featured on the DVD singing, “Duke Of Earl,” adorned in a top hat, coat and tails, and carrying a cane.
The Dell-Vikings’ Norman Wright, also appears in an interview, chronicling the development of Doo Wop and talks about why he thinks the music is experiencing a renaissance. The group’s hit song “Come Go With Me,” has been featured in numerous major films, including Joe Versus The Volcano, Stand By Me and American Graffiti.
The CD collection includes, The Drifters singing, “This Magic Moment,” “Sh-Boom,” by The Chords, The Marcels singing, “Blue Moon,” and one of my personal favorites, “Stay,” by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs. Johnny Maestro and Brooklyn Bridge, appear on the DVD performing their hit songs, “16 Candles,” and “Worst That Could Happen.” This is however a much bigger experience than just the original artists, because the CD collection highlights some select artists who were heavily influenced by Doo Wop music, such as The 4 Seasons, The Supremes, Dion, and Jay and the Americans.
It All Started With Doo Wop and the DVD Doo Wop Legends Live can be ordered online the Time Life website.
If you are a fan of fabulous vocals, great harmonies and songs that invite you to sing along, then this is a ‘must have,’ collection of songs.
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Reviewed February 2008
