Past Show Blog
Show #259
Happy Labor Day weekend. Pretty shocking that we've completed the 'unofficial summer' of 2016, it almost feels like it just began! Now we prepare for the last stretch of the year, and we all know how quickly it passes us by... Labor Day becomes Halloween, Halloween becomes Thanksgiving.. (I'll stop there).
As sad as it is that summer's almost over, some of life's best memories come from Autumn's past.. which is what makes listening to these nostalgic songs even more of a treat for us. We take such joy in sharing music with you, knowing that most people simply don't have the time or the resources to find these old songs we love so much. Show 259 will provide another joyous escapade through your memories of summer's past. Please enjoy.
Spinning this week: Billy Abbott & the Jewels, The Fascinators, Brooklyn Bridge, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, Party of Five, The Scarlets, The Penguins, The Duprees, The Orioles, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, The Knockouts, The Harptones, The Monarchs, The Imaginations, and much more!
Show #258
Every now and again, we get the privelege of having an artist we feature on our show each week as a guest on our show. This is always a thrill for us, as we love to dig into these talented brains to discover as much information about them as we possibly can. We also understand that a whole lot of our listeners enjoy hearing the stories behind the music, so we try to do our best to ask the right questions. For this show, we're very excited to present original founding member of Jay & The Americans, Sandy Deanne! As you'll hear in Segment #1 (pt1), we delve into the history of the band.. from the humble beginnings of the Harbor Lights (Sandy's original band), through the start of Jay & The Americans when Jay Traynor was the lead vocalist, and eventually to the massively successful years with Jay Black as the lead. The music is weaved into the interview, as to provide a chronological journey through the band's success. With interest of keeping the interview separate from the rest of the show, you can hear the whole interview in "Segment 1 (Pt. 1)". We hope you enjoy the conversation, and of course the rest of the show.
Also spinning this week: The Edsels, BQE, Jimmy & The Crestones, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, Rochelle & The Candles, The Drifters, Bill Deal & The Rhondells, The Angels, The Delicates, Little Joe & The Thrillers, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Echoes of Time, The G Clefs, The Dubs, The Hollywood Flames, and much more!
Show #257
We're proud to induct our 8th artist into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame, and there aren't many that are more deserving, The Moonglows! After forging one of the most unlikely paths to DooWop success (Louisville, Kentucky to Cleveland, OH), the Moonglows went on to be one of the most important groups of the Early Rock & Roll Era. Led by two major forces, Bobby Lester & Harvey Fuqua, their unique blend of jazzy DooWop soul helped influence nearly every R&B or DooWop group that followed. Tonight, to start the show, we'll feature six of their best, highlighted by their 2 biggest hits ("Sincerely" & "10 Commandments of Love").
Also spinning this week: The Nutmegs, The Five Keys, The Five Discs, Larry Chance & The Earls, The Jive Bombers, Freddie Scott, The Orioles, Party of Five, The Avalons, The Passions, The Angels, The Royal Jesters, The Quotations, The Ronettes, The Clovers, The Del Vikings, Echoes of TIme, and more.
Show #256
A show that could easily be interpreted as "for true DooWop lovers", you can expect some real deep tracks on this one ("Sometimes When I'm All Alone" Danny & The Juniors, "Solitaire" The Embers).. but you'll also get a dose of classic hits as well ("Under the Boardwalk" The Drifters, "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" The Spaniels). We even threw in a few more recent DooWop gems that we think you'll enjoy.
Spinning this week: The Velours, Vito & The Salutations, The Duprees, Tommy Edwards, The Crests, The Spaniels, Barry & The Tamerlanes, The Dominos feat. Clyde McPhatter, The Drifters, The Diamonds, Acappella Swingers, The Wrens, The Tymes, The Tune-Weavers, The Revalons, Danny & The Juniors, The Plurals, Bill Deal & The Rhondels, and more!
Show #255
Excited to return after a week off. We decided to bring with us an arsenal of tunes that many of you have probably not heard in many years (ie: The Utopians "Along my Lonely Way"). Not to worry though, there are plenty of the all-time DooWop classics that you've come to expect each week (Cleftones "Little Girl of Mine", Paragons "Florence", etc). You'll also hear a few carryover requests made by our friends Peggy, Jiggs, and Bibbs from the Angels.
Spinning this week: The Ronettes, The Roomates, The Platters, Bobby Lewis, The Chantels, The Cleftones, The Utopians, Yesterdaze, The Spaniels, The Moonglows, Nolan Strong & The Diablos, The Penguins, Vito & The Salutations, The Passions, Tony Allen & The Champs, Party of 5, Pearlean Grey, and much more..
Show #254
We're honored to present our conversation with legendary DooWop group The Angels. We were lucky enough to have all three members (Peggy, Bibs, and Jiggs) with us, sharing memories of their North Jersey beginnings, eventually leading them to the top of the charts. Hearing things from the perspective of one of the first successful 'girl groups' in the Rock & Roll Era was captivating. In addition to featuring several of their best songs, we'll also play many of their favorite artists & songs as well.
We hope you enjoy as much as we did..
Show #253
Little Anthony & the Imperials enjoyed one of the longest career runs of any DooWop group, adapting their honey-smooth style to fit the uptown soul sound of the mid-'60s. Right from the beginning, Little Anthony's aching way with a ballad was what made the group stand out, but their repertoire was balanced by more R&B-inflected dance tunes. Tonight, they are the seventh artist inducted into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame. We'll start the show with six of Little Anthony's finest tracks.
Spinning this week: The Cardinals, The Earls, The Desires, Eddie & The Starlites, The El Dorados, The Skyliners, The Cadillacs, The Diamonds, The Chiffons, The Cleftones, Bertha Tillman, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Danny & The Juniors, Jack Scott, The Jaguars, and much more.
Show #252
Available Now!
Spinning this week: The Chevrons, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Flamingos, The Enchords, The DeMilles, Echoes of Time, The Corvairs, Nino & The Ebb Tides, The Moonglows, Jive Five, The Charts, The Bluenotes, The Belmonts, Danny & The Juniors, The Counts, The Excellents, and much more.
Show #251
Our last stop on the journey through the "Golden Age of DooWop", we'll feature the music of 1962 on this weekend's show. You'll notice the obvious shift in style with the majority of the music here, even though all 30 songs can be classified as DooWop to some degree. That said, there are only a handful that represent the classic sound of the '55-'59 era (ex. The Volumes "I Love You", The Earls "Remember Then").
My Father and I would like to wish you and yours a Happy Fourth of July. Keep it safe, and wear Red White & Blue with pride. We hope you enjoy the music!
Spinning this week: The Cookies, Jay & The Americans, The Drifters, The Volumes, The Crystals, The Rivingtons, Shep & The Limelites, The Duprees, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Valentinos, Ruby & The Romantics, The Marvelettes, Dion, Ronnie & The Hi Lites, The Cascades & More..
Show #250
Available a few days early.. we hope you don't mind :) Amazing to think we've made it to our 250th show (even though we've gone beyond that number with our specialty shows). What a brilliant journey it has been, and we're glad you've come along for some or all of it.
To continue the exploration of the Golden Age of DooWop, we'll now feature 1961. Every song on this show will be from 1961 (either released or charted). So many absolute classics.. including several of the genre's most popular ("Blue Moon", "Barbara Ann", "Runaround Sue", "Lion Sleeps Tonight", etc) and lasting songs.
Show #249
This week we induct our 6th artist into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame.. and our first all Girl Group, The Chantels. From Bronx NY, led by the dramatic lead vocals of Arlene Smith, The Chantels were arguably the best true DooWop Girl Group of all time. From the first single, "He's Gone", to their 1961 classic "Look In My Eyes", they consistently released authentic, soulful songs that stood head to head with some of the biggest (male) groups of the genre. Because they were active & successful in the sweet-spot DooWop years (1958-1961), it made their musical imprint even more credible and impressive.
Spinning this week: The Chantels, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Duprees, Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans, The Charts, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, The Harptones, The Kensingtons, Party of Five, Impact, The Shields, The Del Vikings, The Kodaks, The Heartbeats, The Crests, Harry & The Tributes, and much more.
Show #247
Often-times we talk about the 'golden era' of DooWop music, and in certain cases we discuss which year might've been the best for the vocal group sound. The discussion always gets heated, as there are so many great songs from ALL the golden years (1956-1963), making it very difficult to anoint a clear cut winning year.
Starting this weekend, we'll give you a chance to decide for yourself. Show 247 will feature ONLY DooWop music from the year 1959, followed by shows dedicated to 1960, '61, & '62. You will hear how 'our' music really began to hit its stride. The sound quality was certainly better.. but DooWop artists were also finally being recognized on Mainstream Pop Radio stations (unlike the early years of 1954-1958). We'll present the Top 30 charting DooWop songs for the year (all were in the Top 100 on the year end charts), starting with the most successsful. So many memorable hits, by some of DooWops most successful artists (The Drifters, Dion & Belmonts, The Platters, etc). As always, we hope you enjoy the journey.
Spinning this week: Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Impalas, The Fleetwoods, The Platters, The Falcons, The Shirells, The Flamingos, The Skyliners, The Bell Notes, Skip & Flip, The Coasters, The Drifters, The Clovers, Clyde McPhatter, The Fiestas, The Miraclese, and much more.
Memorial Day 2016 "Oldies Radio Tribute"
As we kick off the summer of 2016, we thought we'd provide something a little nostalgic. Nostalgia for the good ol' days of Rock & Roll radio.. when radio wasn't just something you kept on in the background. A time when the DJ's were a part of our lives.. a part of our family. Back in those days, when I listened to the radio before bed at night, it felt as if I was the only one the DJ was talking to. One on one. It's the reason I knew from age 6 that I wanted to be a radio DJ. That connection, born of a musical bond. Hearing a favorite song presented by a favorite DJ was a magical kinda thing.
This weekend - my Father Frank, Producer Pete, and I have contributed a 'show' dedicated to those great songs. The songs we remembered listening to on the radio as kids growing up. You'll get a glimpse into each of our hearts, and it will be quite a bit different from what we normally do on DooWop Drive.
So think about each of these shows as if it were being presented to you at a family gathering at some point in your past. One of those vivid memories of a wonderful time in your life... where everyone you knew and loved was with you.. and the music was just right. The music of our lives.
Show #246
Not easy following up the Hall of Fame show, but we think you'll enjoy this unique installment of DooWop Drive. We'll be featuring tunes that share the same name, but are NOT the same song. We were surprised at how many there actually were, which is why there are a couple extra songs within the show. This is far from a novelty edition of our show, just something fun and different.
Reminder: Next week - for Memorial Day Weekend - we'll be doing something we've never done before: A Tribute to Oldies Radio. Each of us (including Producer Pete) will have our own segment featuring 18-20 songs that remind us of the good ol' days of radio. For a holiday weekend, and the BBQ's & Block Parties, we think it will be a perfect fit.
Spinning this week: Jay & The Americans, The Pentagons, Rochelle & The Candles, The Skyliners, The Duprees, The Royal Teens, Dion & The Belmonts, The Starlites, The Volumes, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, The Innocents, The Stereos, Jackie & The Vagrants, The Mello Kings, Herb Johnson & The Cruisers, The Students, and much more.
Show #245
It's already time for us to induct our 5th band into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame - and there are very few more deserving than Harlem New York's CADILLACS. Led by the charismatic Earl "Speedo" Carroll, the Cadillacs were one of the first choreographed acts in Rock & Roll, demonstrating a particular "High Energy" style that very few groups could replicate. They were also among the first black groups to cross over from Soul & R&B to Pop radio ("Gloria" 1954). We hope you enjoy our tribute to them in Segment #1, as we'll feature six of our favorites of theirs.
Spinning this week: Dion, The Duprees, The Larks, The Paragons, Dons of DooWop, The Crows, The Jewels, The Veltones, The Four J's, Ruby & The Romantics, Shep & The Limelites, The Fireflies, The Earls, The Cadillacs, The Shirells, Little Anthony, The Diamonds, and much more.
Show #244
To start, we'd like to wish every Mom listening to our show a Happy Mother's Day. In my eyes there is no kinder, more selfless person on the planet than my mother.. and she deserves a perfect day. I'm sure many of you feel the same about your own mothers, and of course the mother to your children. Please take the time to appreciate them, and let them know how much they matter.
This show will be a nice treat for the holiday. So many unappreciated gems ("Wishing Ring" Five Satins, "When You're Gone" Brenda & The Tabulations), paired with some modern classics and old - and we mean OLD - vocal essentials (The Swallows "Beside You", The Valentines "Woo Woo Train"). We hope you enjoy the journey..
Spinning this week: The Crests, The Flamingos, The Jesters, The Eternals, Brenda & The Tabulations, Yesterdaze, The Rainbows, Wade Flemons & The Newcomers, The Chiffons, The Elegants, Quiet Storm, BQE, The Swallows, The Bop Chords, The Casinos, The Ravens, The Skyliners, and much more.
Show #242
Last show of April, which means we've weathered 4 months of 2016. Those in the NorthEast are faced with warmer days, but the shows will continue to sizzle. Many DooWop classics in this show (Capris "Morse Code of Love", Jive Five "My True Story"), but also a bunch of deep cuts (Velours "This Could be the Night", The Accents "I Give My Heart to You"). You should also keep an ear out for Producer Pete's former band, The Kensingtons, doing an Acapella version of "Teardrops" (Seg 3, Song 3).
Spinning this week: The Accents, The Jive Five, The Tributes, The Five Discs, The Heartbeats, The Kensingtons, The Shirells, The Channels, Kenny Vance & The Planotones, The Three Friends, Jackie Wilson, Thurston Harris, Skip & Flip, Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Harptones, The Halos, and much more.
Show #241
This week we'll be joined by Producer Pete in the DooWop Drive studios, as we induct our fourth artist into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame (The first three: The Flamingos, Johnny Maestro, The Drifters).
Spinning this week: The Skyliners, The Roomates, The Belmonts, Bronx Wanderers, The Tokens, Twilight (feat Joel Katz), The Marcels, The Chantels, The Valentines, The Tymes, Vito & The Salutations, The Velvetones, Billy Ward & The Dominos, The Chiffons, Quiet Storm, and much more.
Show #240
Sometimes we become overwhelmed with the nostalgia of the songs we feature on this show. It's hard not to, considering they are attached to so many memories. But tonight's nostalgia is brought to you in the form of our first 2 shows on WOBM AM (1160 AM) over 5 years ago. To think all these years later that we'd be still going, 240+ shows later, is almost unbelievable. The playlist will consist of the same songs that we featured all those years ago, but the talk breaks are from today.
Couple of things to keep in mind while listening to this one: 1) The shows were only 1hr long back then (and were only heard on terrestrial radio), so shows only featured about 14 or 15 songs... thus why we combined shows 1&2 to create one super show. 2) Every song would be classified as a 'classic', by doowop standards. Absolutely NO filler here, no deep cuts, no modern recordings, etc. 3) Lastly, if you listened to our first few shows, you probably would agree that we've come a LONG way. This is most likely a much more 'listenable show' than the original :)
Spinning this week: The Devotions, The Fidelities, The Passions, The Blue Jays, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Skyliners, Robert & Johnny, The Students, The Fantastics, The Heartbeats, The Solitaires, The Dubs, The Collegians, Don & JUan, The Pentagons, The El Dorados, The Jive Five, The Drifters, and much more.
Show #239
Some real standout songs in this show, and we're not just talking about the obvious classics like The Jacks "Why Don't You Write Me" or The Cleftones "Heart & Soul". Songs like Pearlean Gray's inspired version of Ed Townshend's "For Your Love" will blow your mind, and Billy & The Essentials take on the Sinatra standard "Young At Heart" is both clever and original.
Also a special nod to our listeners that love the acapella stuff.. we have a few treats for you in this one (check out the brilliant "My Juanita" from The Clusters in Segment 1, Song 5).
Spinning this week: The Clovers, Dion, Jive Five, Billy & The Essentials, The Corvairs, The Cascades, The Cleftones, The Knockouts, The Drifters, The Marvelows, Jay & The Americans, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Party of 5, The Jacks, Pearlean Gray, BQE, The Clusters, The Chantels, The Avalons, & much more.
Show #238
There have been too many untimely passings over the first few months of the year, and it seems bad news comes evey day. This week we'll do our tribute to the great Lee Andrews (of Lee Andrews & The Hearts), sharing 4 songs that we've never featured on our program in the past. Known for his big 3 hits: "Long Lonely Nights", "Teardrops", and "Try the Impossible", Lee Andrews was one of the best pure vocalists of the DooWop Era.. and even enjoyed a lasting career as a soul artist well beyond his DooWop career.
Spinning this week: The dubs, The Platters, Ronnie & The Hi Lites, The Bell Notes, The Velours, The Cleftones, Michael D'Amore, Gene Chandler, Randy & The Rainbows, Lee Andrews & The Neons, The Carousels, The Earls, The Imaginations, Bill Deal & The Rhondells, The Fidelitys, The Penguins, and more.
Show #237
Very excited to present our 3rd Hall of Fame show.. even though it gets harder and harder to decide upon artists that should be inducted next. We've always said from the start of this concept for the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame, that there wasn't a pecking order per se, but that we'd try to get the most deserving artists inducted early. So it seemed pretty obvious to us that tonight we should induct (arguably) the most successful DooWop artist, The Drifters. The first segment of this show will feature 6 songs spanning the golden era of The Drifters, showcasing 3 different lead vocalists.. each providing the band its own distinctive sound.
We should mention that we recorded this show one day prior to the passing of Lee Andrews (of Lee Andrews & The Hearts), so we didn't mention it on the broadcast. We will certainly do a tribute to Lee Andrews on next week's show, as he was one of the most prominent pure soul vocalists of the DooWop era.
RIP Arthur Lee Andrews 6/2/31 - 3/16/16)
Spinning this week: The Flamingos, Earl Lewis & The Channels, the Four Evers, Yesterdaze, The Cadillacs, The Drifters, The Penguins, The Pastels, The El Dorados, The Mystics, The Dubs, The Beach Boys, The Collegians, The Stereos, The VoxPoppers, The Cleftones, The Manhattan Transfer, and much more.
Show #236
Daylight Savings weekend.. we made it back to longer days. Spring is near!
This week brings the loss of two more musical legends: RIP Sir George Martin - Composer/Producer (1926-2016), and Keith Emerson - Keyboardist/Emerson Lake & Palmer (1944-2016). Thanks for the gifts you left behind.
We hope you enjoy this show. A lot of songs we're excited to present for the first time. The first two tracks, an A Side/B Side from the Cadillacs that happens to be their only release on Mercury Records, are songs we've never played before ("Thrill Me So" / "I'm Willing" - 1960).
You'll hear many tracks you likely haven't heard in ages, and plenty that you wish you heard more often.
Spinning this week: The Heartbeats, The Duprees, The Kensingtons, The Cadillacs, the Lee Andrews & The Hearts, The Roomates, The Jive Five, Robert & Johnny, The Persuasions, The Videos, The Cleftones, The Teen Queens, The Dreamers, The Echelons, The Platters, Vito & The Salutations, and much more.
Show #235
Sometimes we surprise ourselves when it comes to getting new tracks onto the show. Just when we think we've discovered the most obscure gem, another comes along in the blink of an eye. To think we'd never played "Unchained Melody" by the 5 Discs, or "Crazy For You" by The Aquatones (thanks Producer Pete)! Tonight will take us on a familiar journey.. lots of nostalgia, some songs you thought you'd never hear again, and lots of amazing DooWop!
Spinning this week: The Skyliners, The Heartbeats, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, The Camelots, The G Clefts, The Solitaires, The Jive Bombers, Danny & The Juniors, The Cadillacs, The Dovells, Rosie & The Originals, The Sheps, Wee Jams, The Aquatones, Chuck Jackson, The Moonglows, The Olympics, Dion & The Belmonts, and much more.
Show #233
DooWop Drive Hall of Fame Edition - Johnny Maestro
So many brilliant artists that we can consider for our very own Hall of Fame, but this week we salute maybe the most deserving single voice of them all. Starting as the lead singer of the very integral (and groundbreaking) interracial group from Manhattan NY, The Crests, Johnny solidified himself as an elite vocalist. In the years that followed the disbanding of the Crests, Johnny regrouped and became the leader of one of the more unique ensembles of the 60's & 70's, The Brooklyn Bridge. Built to showcase the sheer power of his voice, Johnny teamed up with some of the premiere songwriters of the time to produce a new kind of sound... and it worked even better than they imagined (see "Worst That Could Happen", "Welcome Me Love").
Tonight we feature a handful of classics from Johnny's catalog with both bands (and beyond). We include his single biggest hit with each of his primary groups, as well as some lesser known gems. We think you'll appreciate the song choices as much as we do. Today, we celebrate the great, late, Johnny Maestro.
Spinning this week: The Colts, Hollywood Flames, The Diamonds, The Eternals, BQE, The Cardinals, The Fascinators, The Clovers, Johnny Maestro & Kenny Vance, The Sapphires, The Embers, The Drifters, Danny & The Juniors, Party of 5, The Coasters, The Inspirations, and much more.
Show #232
It's Valentine's Day weekend already, so we were sure to include some of those 'perfect" love songs and ballads (The Platters "One In A Million", The Five Satins "Wonderful Girl"). However, it's the uptempo dance songs that will shine on this show, each set starting with something that might encourage dancing around the house (The Flares "Foot Stompin'" Hank Ballard & The Midnighters "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go", The 5 Discs "I Remember").
Song Highlight: The Eternals "My Girl" (Seg 1, Song 6)... A far cry from "Babalu's Wedding Day" and "Rockin' in the Jungle", the Eternals proved they could write a perfect ballad. This was the band's answer to their record label after the major (and unexpected) success of "Rockin in the Jungle". They felt there was something to prove in that they weren't just a novelty group, but one that could write proper doo wop ballad. The vocals are smooth and 'easy', with a very inspired background (notice the bass vocal riding the drum like another percussive instrument). Crazy to think this wasn't a hit, as it fits perfectly in the mold with other DooWop released in 1962.
Spinning this week: The Heartbeats, The Five Discs, The Eternals, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, Five Boroughs, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs, The Five Keys, The Imaginations, The El Dorados, Ernie Maresca, The Moonglows, The El Domingos, The Jaguars, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Legacy, The Nylons, and more.
Show #231
Many highlights on this one, including some of our all time favorites (The Chapperones "Cruise to the Moon", Bertha Tillman "Oh My Angel, The Blue Jays "Lovers Island"). Some obscure tracks to note.. Freddie Cannon & the Belmonts "Let's Put The Fun Back in R&R" (which was a minor hit, oddly, in 1981), The Chevrons "Lullabye", featuring a young Terry Cashman, and The Shadows (aka The Carlos Brothers) "Tonight".
Show #230
For the last weekend of January, as we get through some of the dog days, we proudly present our 230th DooWop Drive. Hard to imagine this labor of love has carried us this far along. What started as a really sweet gesture from a dear friend, has now evolved into a new reality for my father and I. They say music brings us all together; the great common denominator, if you will. This rings true on many levels, and this show proves it. Although DooWop might be considered a bit of a niche, we're a pretty damn passionate bunch that would go anywhere to hear the sounds we love. Thanks for coming here with us.
Song Highlight: The Dreamlovers "When We Get Married" (Seg 2, Song 9)... Super difficult to pick the highlight for this particular show. I feel like we give proper esteem to songs like "Whispering Bells" , "To the Aisle", and "My Saddest Hour", so it seemed approprite to give some extra love to a gorgeous (and deserving) song that we barely spoke about in the broadcast. The Dreamlovers perfectly capture young love using a familiar DooWop ballad formula (strikingly similar to "A Thousand Miles Away"), and managed a Top 10 single on the Billboard Pop charts. Not bad for a group that made a living being Chubby Checker's backing band.. having played on the mega smash "The Twist". Being a true "studio band" explains why the instrumentation of this song is so prominent and so subtley perfect.
Spinning this week: Dion & The Belmonts, The Five Keys, The Dreamlovers, Darrell & The Oxfords, The Whiptones, The Fiestas, The Dominoes, The Drifters, The Del-Vikings, Danny & The Juniors, The Accents, The Danderliers, The El Dorados, The Fascinators, The Alley Cats, Eddie & The Starlites, The Desires, and much more.
Show #229
Every once in a while a show comes along that unassumingly turns into a classic, and this is definitely one of them. So many classic tracks that would be classified as 'essential' DooWop. One-hit wonders (The Shields, Jackie & The Starlites) and Hall of Fame-worthy artists (The Moonglows, The Ronettes) combine to create a perfect blend of music. If you're snowed in, this would be the perfect soundtrack.
Song Highlight: Shep & The Limelites "Daddy's Home" (Seg 2, Song 3)... A long standing favorite that only seems to get better with each passing year, each listen. The Heartbeats, had they remained together as long as the Drifters or the Flamingos, would be mentioned in the same sentence as those leaders of the genre. There are few that had as many A List, Top Tier songs as the Heartbeats, so when the band split and Shep & The Limelites were formed, many were skeptical of whether we'd hear such quality ever again from the great James "Shep" Sheppard. "Daddy's Home" proved he still had an all time classic in him, and his pure & passionate vocals prove it from the very first lyric:"Your'e my love, you're my angel". The song also features one of the finest and most memorable bridges in DooWop history.. closing with the most impactful line Shep ever sang.. "I made it back, hoooome to you!". The power of his conviction in those words melted many hearts, and made this song one of the greatest examples of a DooWop love song.
Spinning this week: Shep & The Limelites, The Ronettes, Yesterdaze, The Pentagons, Johnny Maestro & The Tymes, The Shields, The Tokens, Vito & The Salutations, The Quotations, The Larks, The Moonglows, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Mellows, Ron Holden & The Thunderbirds, The Olympics, the Persuasions, and much more.
Show #228
Just the right batch of songs to get you through the dog days of winter. No theme here, just the full scope of TRUE DooWop. Sometimes it's nice to just put away the computer or phone, and allow the music to bring you on a journey. We hope you get lost in your memories for just a little while.
Song Highlight: The Swallows "Beside You" (seg 1, song 8)... Formed in 1946 as the Oakaleers, a group of guys that performed on street corners until 1948 when the lineup was finalized and the band changed its name to the Swallows. Known for thier 1951 hit "Will You Be Mine" (one of DooWop's FIRST hits), it wasn't until one year later when they wrote & released the classic "Beside You".. one of the smoothest songs of DooWop's first era. Almost a jazz piece with a smoky piano bar vibe, the song's arrangement was common in many songs of the early 50's (Five Keys "Glory of Love", The Spaniels "Baby Its You", etc). But it was the vocals, as smooth as satin, that made this stand out of the pack. Laid back and effortless, but saturated in autheticity, the song takes you on a journey in such a short time (2:34).
Spinning this week: The Duprees, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, The Spaniels, Yesterdaze, The Tokens, The Earls, The Fascinators, The Showmen, The Robins, The Scarlets, The Vibrations, The Five Discs, Shirley Gunter & The Queens, The Excellents, The Crests, The Van Dykes, Vince Castro & The Tonettes, The Students, and much more.
Show #227
First ever artist inducted into the DooWop Drive Hall of Fame - The Flamingos - Formed in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois.. Universally hailed as one of the finest and most influential vocal groups in pop music history, the Flamingos defined doo wop at its most elegant and sophisticated.
Show #226
Back for another New Year! Happy 2016 to all of our friends, family, and listeners (our extended family).. we hope you enjoyed your holiday season to the max. We all love the holiday season very much, but now it's time to get back to some sense of 'normal'. Plus we're excited to bring you some new features to the show in the new year. As you listen to this new show, youll hear all about our DooWop Drive Hall of Fame. The 2nd weekend of each month, we'll induct a deserving artist and feature them on the show. This will be a lot of fun, but it's only the beginning. But before I get too far ahead of myself...
This first show of '16 will provide everything you'd expect.. some classics, some rare gems, some acapella, and some tracks you may've never heard before.
Song Highlight: The Paragons "Florence" (seg 2 song 8)... A song that found itself on one of the most (if not THE most) influential DooWop full length LP of all time. It showcases a super simple piano riff that bounces along with the almost sluggish drum tempo, with the harmonies weaving in and out to create what sounds like a studio full of musicans and voices. All the while, lead falsetto Julius McMichael hovers above with perfection to create one of the all time classic street corner anthems.
Spinning this week: The Whiptones, The Duprees, The Paragons, The Rivieras, Dion, The Bop Chords, The Cupids, The Dubs, The Kensingtons, The Chiffons, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, The Uptones, Kenny Vance & The Polanotones, The Sheps, The Ronettes, The Fleetwoods, The Charts, Randy & The Rainbows, and more.
Show #225
Our second installment of Christmas in the DooWop spirit, and we believe it's a really good one (this is also our last 'new show' of the year). We've even invited our dear friend Producer Pete to join us for this one, as we reminisce about some of our fondest Christmas memories. Hopefully you'll include us in the background of your Christmas morning, or when you're sitting fireside on Christmas Eve having a nice glass of Port... or Brandy.
Next week, for New Years weekend, we'll be re-visiting our 200th Show Extravaganza.. so if you're desperate for some good ol' 'theater of the mind' entertainment, then be sure to give it another listen.
Finally.. we want to send our best wishes for a Happy & Healthy Christmas to you and your family. May the joys of the season light up your home. Your loyalty & support of our show means more than you'll ever know.
We'll see you in 2016.. Happy New Year!
Spinning this week: The Belmonts, The Moonglows, Little Isidore & The Inquisitors, The Tokens, Wee Jams, The Robins, The Marcels, The Five Keys, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Sheps, The Del Jays, The Shells, Randy & The Rainbows, The Crystals, The Drifters, The Orioles, and much more!
Show #224
This is the first of two Christmas inspired installments for the season, and it will feature the same great artists that we play each and every week. Some of these tracks will not get airplay on any radio station in the country, which is a true shame. The same songs get repeated over and over when you listen to local or satellite radio, but here you'll find some of the finest Christmas DooWop Christmas songs ever recorded. Some new... some old... all pretty great. We hope you get a dose of Christmas Spirit by listening to this week's show... ENJOY!
Spinning this week: The Five Keys, The Orioles, The Shells, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, Dion, Frankie Lymon, Pentatonix, The Crystals, The Meadowlarks, The Penguins, Frankie & The Fashions, The Ronettes, The Echelons, The Bonairs, and much more.
Show #223
Our last show of the year that won't feature ALL DooWop Christmas music, and we think you're going to enjoy it. Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, lets focus on this one. This show will be songs that were made (more) famous by other artists.. and there are some great ones. In a handful of instances, the version we'll be playing might even be BETTER ("I Sold My Heart to the Junkman" by The Silhouettes).
Also - There might never have been a show of ours that has featured as much Acapella as this one, either. We know that many of our regular listeners enjoy it, as do we, but we mostly feature only a couple per show. This show will have many..
Song Highlight: 5 Royales "Dedicated to the One I Love" (Segment #1 Song #6).. Released in December of 1957, this happens to be the original version of this timeless track (made more famous by the Shirells & The Mamas & The Papas). I must admit that I wasn't very familiar with this version before this show, but that will never be the case again. Featuring a very empassioned vocal, belted by band vocalist Jimmy Moore, this isn't just a straight forward take. Notice the soaring, bluesy guitar riff cascading throughout the song, almost weaving with the vocals to form a call and response dialogue. Not only one of the finest hidden gems in our library, but also in the 5 Royales catalog.
Spinning this week: Kathy Young & The Innocents, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Tren-Dells, The Dell Vikings, BQE, The Students, Manhatttan Transfer, The 5 Royales, Jay & The Americans, The Silhouettes, The Chantels, The Traditions, Frankie Canta & The DreaMakers, Echoes of Time, Randy & The Rainbows, The Marcels, The Tymes, and much more.
Show #222
Hope all of our family & friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all know the next 4 weeks will go by in the blink of an eye, so we remind you to stop every now and then to remind yourself what the holidays are truly about. Nothing is more important than sharing memorable moments with those who are nearest to our hearts. We'll start and end the show with our first Christmas songs of the year.. just to give you a taste of the holidays. But we don't believe it's time to go ALL Christmas.. not yet. Let us just enjoy the moment.
Song Highlight: The Fantastics "There Goes My Love" (Seg 2 Song 7).. A song that really should be mentioned in the same breath as other "All time DooWop classics" like "In the Still of the Night" and "I Only Have Eyes for You", but rarely gets the credit. While they created what's pretty much a perfect 'ballad' of heartbreak and desperation, The Fantastics never came close to recording another song that could match the quality of this track.
Spinning this week: The El Dorados, The Crests, Frankie & The Fashions, The Elegants, The Devotions, The Five Satins, The Five Keys, Curtis Lee, The Delmonicos, Echoes of Time, The Del Vikings, The Flamingos, Dion, The Earls, and much more.
Show #221
This week's show will feature all three contributing members of DooWop Drive, as invite Producer Pete to join us for the full show. As exciting as it always is to have the 3 of us all under one umbrella (definitely not in one room!), we tried our best to contain it and focus on all this great music. You'll get the usual hit brigade to go along with some newer tracks and the usual deep cuts. One way or another, I'm sure we'll all be in agreement about the quality of this playlist and we hope you enjoy. This is also our last Pre Thanksgiving Show, so we'd all like to wish you and your loved ones a Happy Thanksgiving!
Song Highlight: The El Dorados "At My Front Door" (Seg 3 Song 1).. Another stand out song from a Vocal Group that also featured a full backing band (ala The Spaniels), to give the song just that extra bit of tempo and danceability. Much like last week's highlight track, "The Girl I Love", "At My Front Door" also features horns and a touch of jazz swing which melds seamlessly with the raw soul vocals of frontman and lead vocalist Pirkle Lee Moses Jr (the original name of the band was Pirkle Lee & The 5 Stars). When you think of life in 1955, it would be hard to imagine the tuning into the radio and not hearing this gem. One of the absolute classics of DooWop's early years.
Spinning this week: The Cadillacs, Angel Rissoff, Johnny Maestro & The Brooklyn Bridge, The Crests, Dion & The Belmonts, The Corsairs, The Capris, The Chiffons, The Chanters, The Collegians, The Kensingtons, Bob B Soxx & The Blue Jeans, Anthony & The Sophomores, The Earls, The Cleftones, BQE, The Chantels, and much more.
Show #220
One of the greatest things about DooWop music is the ability for the songs to come back into our lives after many years, and we almost immediately remember every melody, every lyric (or these days, most). In some cases, we even forget how much we really LOVE a song. Hell.. there are even a handful that I never liked a whole lot, but now i love... even if only because of the nostalgia surrounding it. Tonight will be one of those shows that reminds us why we all love this music so much.
Song Highlight: The Cadillacs "The Girl I Love" (Seg 2 Song 1).. You'll hear my father and I discuss my new-found adoration for this song during the show, but it should also be noted in writing that it was NOT a hit record by any means. As a matter of fact, this wasn't even given a proper release until later reissues of the band's hit singles. Pretty crazy to think a song this beautiful can go unnoticed by the majority of the music listening universe, even though it possesses some of the most brilliant arrangements and transitions in the genre. This shows the versatility of the Cadillacs that rarely gets mentioned.
Spinning this week: The Earls, The Clovers, The Students, Dion & The Belmonts, The Drifters, The Five Keys, The Fascinators, The Royal Teens, The Valentines, The Passions, The Nylons, The Pastels, Carla Thomas, The Marcels, The Five Satins, The Moonglows, The Heartbeats, The Cadillacs, and much more.
Show #219
Back to our standard show format for #219, but we made sure it was an exceptional one. As the days and nights get cooler, and the holidays approach us quickly, there is nothing like the 'right' music to comfort us. I'm sure each and every one of us can remember hearing "Why Do Fools Fall In Love" on the radio, attaching it to a memory of our distant past. There are plenty of similar gems tucked within this show ("Sunday Kind of Love", "Stormy Weather", etc), but also a few lost classics (The Jesters "Love No One But You", "Rochelle & the Candles "Each Night").
Song Highlight: The Heartbeats "Your Way" (Seg 2, Song 11).. When I think of DooWop, I often think of the songs that wouldn't be classified as 'hit records', and this song sits right at the top of that list. A song that was a runner up as a highlight track, "The Angels Sang" by the Solitaires, also would fit snuggly on that list. Hearing James "Shep" Sheppard pouring out his soul to his lost love will bring us all back to a time of heartbreak from our past, as he paints a perfect (and bleak) picture in a short 2min39sec. Imagintive and full of unique arrangements, this is one of those rare songs that straddles the line between heartbreak and beauty with brilliant effect. Haunting and gorgeous.
Spinning this week: The Harptones, The Four Evers, The Tymes, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Four J's, Yesterdaze, The Marcels, Ruby and the Romantics, The Nutmegs, The Drifters, The Crests, The Shirells, Lewis Lymon & The Teenchords, Johnny Ace, The Flying Pickets, The Heartbeats, The Spaniels, and much more.
Show #218
Hard to imagine it's already November, and we're creeping upon the holiday season. For some reason, this time of year brings out the nostalgic side of all of us.. thus making the music all the more resonant. This week's show will incite a rush of memories, as my father and I take the time to reminisce about some of OUR memories attached to the music (not so much about the songs themselves).
Show #217
Our last edition of the ABC's of DooWop, wrapping it up with W, X, Y, Z (the slimmest of pickings). You'll hear artists from the bottom of the Alphabet in Seg 1 & 2, and then you'll hear us close out the final Segment with some of our favorite Non-Traditional DooWop (or rather, classic oldies).
Song Highlight: The Willows "Church Bells May Ring" (Seg #1, Song 3).. Formed as the Dovers in Harlem 1953, the band then changed their name to The Five Willows in 1954. Eventually they dropped "5" and became The Willows featuring Tony Middleton. It was then (early 1956) that they had their ONE hit record, the timeless "Church Bells May Ring", which was a modest Pop hit (#62) and a #11 R&B song. As was typical for the times, the song was remade later that year by Canadian (and White) DooWop group, The Diamonds, who had much more success on the Pop charts (#14). However, it's the original that will always resonate with most DooWop junkies.. as the song has stood up as one of the true classics of its time.
Spinning this week: The Willows, Wade Flemmons & The Newcomers, The Walker Brothers, Yesterdaze, The Zircons, The Zebulons, Willie Williams & the Tones, Ben E King, Barbara Lewis, The Critters, The Wanderers, The Wrens, The Whispers, Chuck Jackson, and much more.
Show #216
The ABC's of DooWop continue with the letters T, U, and V. One would think that the letter 'T' would have a ton of songs, but it's the suprising letter 'V' that proves to be the real winner on this one. Only one 'U' represented here (The Uniques), but at least it's a good one. Only one more edition of the ABC's of DooWop left after this week.. then begins a new adventure.
Song Highlight: The Volumes "I Love You" (Segment #3, Song 1).. This certainly might seem like the obvious choice, coming from me... but it wasn't without some serious consideration (Velours "Can I Come Over Tonight", and The Veltones "I Need You So" were the other two I was wrestling with). The Volumes really had something here, and who would've thought that this little One-Hit Wonder would write a song that could stand up against all the other uptempo DooWop classics. The lyrics are almost undecipherable at times, but the sincerity and passion are on display at all times. Every second of this track broods with authenticity, which is all the more remarkable considering the band could never come close to this level again.
Spinning this week: The Vydells, The Uniques, The Tymes, The Tokens, The Velours, The Videos, The Veltones, The Teenchords (Lewis Lymon), The Timetones, Thurston Harris, The Velvets, The Valrays, The Tune-Weavers, The Teen Queens, The Velvetones, Teddy Randazzo & The Three Chuckles, and much more.
Show #215
Getting to the most weighted part of the alphabet (at least when it comes to DooWop artists).. we'll continue the ABC's of DooWop with the letters Q, R, and S. There will only be 2 songs represented from the letter Q, for obvious reasons, but there is absolutely no filler here.
Song Highlight: The Spaniels "Everyone's Laughing" (Hear it in Segment 3).. When you think of The Spaniels, of course "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight" and "Stormy Weather" probably come to mind. However there are several other songs from this band that can stand up to even the most classic tracks. Tonight we'll feature one of those songs, and it's the surprisingly melancholy 'cha-cha', "Everyone's Laughing". Lyrically it's some of the band's best work ("Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone. I hear the whole world laughing and I'm sitting here all alone.").. but it's the unassuming mix of tempo, background, and Pookie Hudson's striking lead that make this song so perfect. Truly a stunning, underappreciated song.
Spinning this week: The Quintones, The Ravens, The Students, Ronnie & The Hi Lites, The Spaniels, The Skyliners, The Ronettes, The Raindrops, The Sheps, Richard Berry & The Pharoahs, The Regents, The Rivileers, Quiet Storm, and much more.
Show #203.5
This week’s show will break the trend of our typical “DooWop” programming, and I hope you don’t mind. As my father (Frank) travels around Italy, I figured this would be a good time to try something a little different for one week. Hopefully you’ll be up for a new kinda journey…
Show 203.5 is a tribute to Oldies Radio, as I remember it growing up in the 80’s. Unfortunately, there are so many songs that are no longer played by radio stations that call themselves “Oldies” radio. The playlists are now 70’s & 80’s centric, and the very few songs that are played from the 60’s are usually only the biggest of the big (think “Hey Jude”by The Beatles or “ABC (123)” by The Jackson 5). Yet, when I was a kid, Oldies radio is all that we listened to… it’s what made me want to get into the radio business.
So this program will represent the way I would program an oldies station if I could do it MY way. A little bit of Pop, DooWop, Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Soul, R&B, Funk, and all that fits in between. JUST GREAT MUSIC that sounds as fresh today as it did 30-40-50 years ago. I really hope you enjoy the tunes, as they all are very near & dear to my radio heart.
Spinning this week: Fats Domino, Floyd Cramer, Joe Jones, Chuck Willis, Sam Cooke, Lou Christy, Ricky Nelson, Archie Bell & The Drells, Billy Stewart, Buddy Holly, Barbara Mason, Marvin Gaye, Beach Boys, Mary Wells, Del Shannon, and much more!
Show #203
It’s the dog-days of summer, and although we appreciate the warm weather, we would probably all agree that the summer doesn’t hold the same meaning as it did when we were kids. Sure, a lot of us go on vacation in the summer months, but just think back to how EXCITING it was when we had nearly 3 full months off from school. Being outside playing stickball with friends, watching baseball, swimming in your local community pool, going to the beach, etc.. it makes you really pine for the old days.
Somehow these songs bring us right back. Long days would tire us, but we’d lay down at night and listen to the radio, just to hear all of our favorite songs. So many songs featured on these shows take me back to a specific place and time. It’s the easiest way to exercise our memories.. listening to music that is close to our hearts. So when you listen to “A Wonderful Dream” by the Kodaks on this very show, let your nostalgia run free and see where your memories take you.
Spinning this week: The Kodaks, The Drifters, Shep & The Limelites, Del-Vikings, The Eternals, The Solitaires, Jimmy Charles, BQE, The Crows, The Jarmels, The Essex, Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers, Carlo, The Dominos, Curtis Lee, The Shirelles, Vito & The Salutations, and much more!
Show #202
Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone.. we hope you enjoyed the celebrations safely, with your family & friends. Of course, because the 4th fell on a Saturday, most of us had an extended weekend... so today feels like a second Sunday. Use it to relax, enjoy the weather, and celebrate the greatest DooWop of all time. Sit back, and enjoy the journey.
We'll feature a few new tracks to the show ("Take Me As I Am" Echoes of Time, "See You In September" The Happenings), and a whole lot of songs you’ll remember (“At the Hop” Danny & The Juniors, “The Stroll” The Diamonds. Hopefully we’ve achieved the perfect balance for your listening pleasure.
Spinning this week: The Crests, The Halos, The Duprees, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Heartbeats, The Earls, Paul Anka & Jacks, The Mellows, The Pentagons, The Jaguars, The Imaginations and much much more!
Show #201
Our 200th Anniversary show will be a tough act to follow, so instead of trying to outdo ourselves, we'll take it back to the old-school method of just playing some great DooWop classics in a more traditional way. Back to playing the studio versions of these great songs, and highlighting a time when the vocal chords reigned supreme.
To keep things unpredictable, we've included several songs we've never featured on a prior DooWop Drive show (Velvet Candles "Take a Chance on Love", Persuasions "Stardust", Penguins "Promises Promises Promises", The Students "Because of You"). We've also included a few Acapella tracks and even a 60's Pop hit that only dabbles in DooWop. We're sure you'll enjoy the journey..
Spinning this week: The Students, The Shields, The Persuasions, The Crests, Rochelle & Candles, The Clovers, BQE, The Sheppards, The Cleftones, The Desires, The Dells, The Cascades, Randy & the Rainbows, The Acapella Swingers, The Diamonds, and much more!
-Gregg
Show #200
We're so excited to present our 200th Show LIVE Extravaganza a bit early, as a treat to every great Father that loves this music.
It's an absolute honor and a privelege to have the opportunity to do this show every week with my personal hero, my Father. My earliest memories bring me back to sitting shotgun with my Dad, listening to just about every artist we feature on this very show. As a bright-eyed kid, nothing excited me more than to spend hours upon hours listening to 45's of my Dad's favorite music from when he was growing up. It was monumental in my growth- not only as a person, but as a music lover. Those moments are the primary reason I chose a career path in music, doing the one thing I loved more than ANYTHING else: sharing music on the radio.
I'm not sure I would've ever taken this path in radio had it not been for all those times my Dad spent with me, listening to Doo Wop and Rock & Roll music. Fast forward many years later... and it's a dream-come-true for me to have my father as a co-host on a program that highlights the greatest music of all time. To think that we've delivered over 200 shows over the course of the past several years is almost unimaginable. There isn't another person on this planet that I would rather do this with, and I thank God every single day for affording me this opportunity.
...And it wouldn't even be possible without YOU our loyal listeners.
As a gift to YOU, our fans (and fans of this timeless music), we've decided to take it back to the days when Radio was ALL we had. Unlike TV or internet, the radio is a personal, one on one medium. It encourages a personal relationship with the DJ and the artists we hear. Every single one of us can probably recall a single moment in time when we were laying with our transistor radios, in the dark, listening to our favorite DJ spin our favorite new song! There was nothing quite as exciting...
But most importantly, it opened up the "Theater of our Mind". This 200th show extravaganza is "Theater of the Mind" in its purest form.
Sit back, and allow yourself to go on a journey to a time when TV's, cellphones, and tablets weren't a distraction. Reminisce about the glory days, when these songs were featured on the radio in whatever city you grew up near, and every single one of these artists were alive & well. Escape from reality for a change, and let the music take you on a journey to a much more magical time.
We hope you enjoy this show as much as we enjoyed making it. Thank you to my father Frank, Producer Pete, and most importantly all the artists that delivered the music that shaped every single one of our lives. We will always have a place in our hearts for this music, and tonight is a tribute to the under-appreciated and mostly unheralded artists that made it possible.
HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
-Gregg.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
As some of you may've heard, Sunday March 30th was our last show on 1160 WOBM-AM. We're so grateful for the opportunity to deliver our favorite DooWop songs & artists for the past 3 years, especially to our friends in the New Jersey shore area.
However, with change comes new opportunities, and we're excited to say that DooWop Drive is using this opportunity to expand. Even though we won't have the luxury of the FM Dial in NJ any longer, we're going to continue to bring you the music that YOU Love. Here on our brand new website, we're going to have a new show available on Sundays, starting with our first show on Sunday April 6th, 2014.
With our new platform, you'll be able to stream us RIGHT here on our website, and listen at your own convenience. Listen at the same time as you always have (Sundays @ 7p EST), or at another time entirely. And when you DO listen, you can pause, rewind, fast forward, or simply stop us until later (or tomorrow).
Also, we're really ecstatic to tell you that our shows will be expanding to 90 minutes. Our new format will allow for more music, more information about your favorite artists, more special guests... and the best part is, it's all COMMERCIAL FREE!
Thank you to everyone for your continued support of DooWop Drive. We love being able to share this great music with you, our extended DooWop Family!
Sincerely,
Gregg & Frank
(Updated 3/30/14)