THE JOYS OF DOO-WOP…The Del Vikings: The Del-Vikings Collection 1956-62

One of the most enjoyable, if not complicated, of the groups that were part of the doo wop/R&B genre was the Del Vikings, or the Del-Vikings, or the Dell-Vikings, or the…

Even the name had various forms!

The band itself, originally composed of 5 fellow members of the Pittsburgh Air Force base, slowly evolving into one of the first integrated vocal groups, producing the wonderful hit “Come Go With Me.” This 2 disc set includes their various incarnations and labels (Dot, Fee Bee, Mercury, Luniverse, Starr, Alpine and ABC-Paramount). Also in the mix is the infectious guitar riffed “Whispering Bells” and other hits like “Cool Shake” and “Bring Back Your Heart” which made it into both the pop (“white”) and R&B (“black”) charts. Besides the teen oriented material, the Del-Vikings delved into some more mature material, being backed by an orchestra conducted by Carl Stevens on “Jetterbuy Bary,” “Your Book of Love” and “Woke Up This Morning.” Also, the jazz oriented Hal Mooney Orchestra brings some nice support on “Preety Little Things Called Girls.” A few guest vocals by Buddy Carle (“Understand” and Mary Kay (“It’s Too Late”) keep things diverse, while the leads of Willie Glenn, Kripp Johnson and Norman Wright are more than mere nostalgia; they are reflective on the believe that feeling is more than just histrionics. A surfeit of vocal joy, with timeless harmonies and moods, when people sang instead of screamed.

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