Before American music was seismically changed by the British Invasion of the Beatles and The Motown/STAX sound, the two most popular styles of music were Doo-Woppish R&B vocal groups and sleek and sweet solo singers. Here are some of the best before the walls were sacked by the Vandals.
Adam Wade was a pop vocalist in the 
Johnny Mathis mold, with a clean and polished wide-eyed sound. This single disc contains two albums, And Then Came Adam and Adam and Evening, from 1960 & 61 respectively. Both have him backed by George Patton’s orchestra, which ranges from swaggering swing to Nelson Riddle classy. Wade’s in the water with lush moods on a delicate “Tenderly” and “My Reverie” and is Rat Pack confident with a Basie-sounding backup on “Just In Time” and a noir-to-hip “Witchcraft”. The woodwinds on “Guess I’ll Hang My Tears Out To Dry” and the alto sax on “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” fit Adam like an Italian suit. Adam, pre-fall.
The Duprees consisted of Joey Canzano, Joe Santollo, Tom Bialoglow, Michael Arnone, Joey Vann and John Salvato, forming one of the quintessential Italian Doo Wop bands, with a NJ Street Corner Symphony of harmony. They had a number of hits, including the classic and definitive take of “You Belong To Me, while they coo on the ballad “Why Don’t You Believe Me”. Their harmonies are reminiscent of the Four Freshman on the upbeat “Have You Heard” and the dark “Exodus” while they are velvety like a sax section on “My Own True Love”. Nostalgia and beyond.
One of the first mixed racial vocal groups, the Crests (TJ Carter, “Tommy” Gough, Chico Torres and Johnny Mastrangelo/Mastro) are best known for their 1959 classic “Sixteen Candles” with it’s unforgettable “Happy Birthday” intro. They also delivered a biggie with “Earth Angel” while showing some rocking styles on the fun “Step By Step” and the guitar riffing “Angels Listened In”. Harmonic heaven.
There were two bands that were named The Rivieras; this one is NOT the one that had a 60s hit with “California Sun”, but were also a NJ-based Doo Wop team lead by Homer Dunn along with Ronald Cook, Andrew Jones, Charles Allen, Charles Bailey and Charles Williams. They deliver a gorgeous read of “Count Every Star” and give some blues hues on a soulful “Since I Made You Cry”. They show an allegiance to the Swing Era with a take of Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade” that feature palpable harmonies, with the Clyde McPhatter-toned Dunn showing great range on “Midnight Cocktails”. Dreamy ditties.