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The Top Ten Biggest Doo-Wop Hits Of All Time

Posted on 12/15/2012 12:21:10 PM PST by JoeProBono

This list represents the biggest and most popular doo-wop songs of all time, as determined by Billboard chart rankings. These are not necessarily the best doo-wop songs ever -- although they're classics all -- but they remain the most popular, the ones that have stuck with us through decades of changing trends and styles. 1. "At The Hop," Danny and the Juniors Singular 711 (11 November 1957) b/w "Sometimes" recorded October 1957, Philadelphia, PA

Originally conceived by the songwriter as "Do The Bop," no less an authority than Dick Clark convinced Danny and the Juniors to rename this song to take advantage of the record/sock hop craze (after all, Danny and the Juvenairs -- as they were known before their manager got to them -- were discovered at a hop). Modeled as a sort of doo-wop take on Jerry Lee Lewis' "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," this went on to define an era where you could calypso and chicken. 2. "Duke Of Earl," Gene Chandler Vee-Jay 416 (13 January 1962) b/w "Kissin' In The Kitchen" recorded November 1961, New York, NY

Already dated when it was cut, perhaps, but time smooths out those edges in our memory, anyway, and Chandler's whole rep is based on this late-period doo-wop classic. The Dukays, Gene's group, turned their vocal "doo doo doo"s into "Duke"s, and Dukay Earl Edwards provided the finishing touch to the name. The result is a pledge of fidelity only matched in its era by Ben E. King's "Stand By Me." 3. "Blue Moon," The Marcels Colpix 186 (February 1961) b/w "Goodbye To Love" recorded 15 February 1961, New York, NY

Laid down in the last ten minutes of a recording session and done in one unbelievable take, this came about because the Marcel's producer wanted the group to combine the intro of one song, the Collegians' "Zoom Zoom Zoom," with the Rodgers-Hart standard "Heart And Soul." One problem: the band didn't know that song. But they did know another standard by the same team. The rest, as they say, is history. Murray the K made this one a smash, playing the acetate over and over before it was even turned into a record! 4. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," The Tokens RCA Victor 47-7954 (September 1961) b/w "Tina" recorded 21 July 1961, New York, NY

One of the stranger anomalies in rock history, "Lion" began life as a spontaneous recorded outburst by a Zulu tribesman, morphed into a misinterpreted folk smash, found its way to a Noo Yawk doo-wop group, and eventually wound up in the hands of the Sam Cooke producing duo known as Hugo and Luigi, who added tympani, silly woodwinds, and an opera singer. You have to hear it to believe it. But you already have. 5. "Little Star," The Elegants Apt 25005 (June 1958) b/w "Getting Dizzy" recorded October 1957, New York, NY

Staten Island made its most enduring contribution to New York Italian-American doo-wop with these five teens, who adapted the words if not the actual melody of Mozart's "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" (itself an adaptation) to create one of the era's most breathlessly beautiful odes. Recast as a romantic idyll, it shot up the charts, but the Elegants, like many of their brethren, never found success again. 6. "Stay," Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs Herald 552 (October 1960) b/w "Do You Believe" recorded July 1960, New York, NY

Written way back in '53 by the composer of "Little Darlin'," this was one of the finer entries in doo-wop's latter-day Golden Era; if it sounds flat, that's because the producer wanted the vocals sung just that way so that Joe Average could hum it on the street. And that's just what happened. Matters may have been helped by the abbreviated length (1:36), as this remains the shortest ever Number One record. 7. "Little Darlin'," The Diamonds Mercury 71060 (February 1957) b/w "Faithful And True" recorded February 1957, Chicago, IL

When is a parody not a parody? This white quartet (Canadians, no less!) takes a lot of heat to this day for covering the (black) Gladiolas' original and then inserting a silly spoken-word bridge. But if it's just a joke, then why is it such an improvement, right down to those immortal opening castanets? Writer Maurice Williams went on to front the Zodiacs ("Stay") and the Diamonds went on to "The Stroll. 8. "16 Candles," The Crests Coed 506 (30 November 1958) b/w "Beside You" recorded 12 August 1958, New York, NY

A real crowd favorite, this sweet little number -- originally titled "21 Candles" but quickly changed once the teenage market started booming -- retained its popularity long enough to inspire a Eighties teen sex comedy. The Crests never had another big hit after this ode to the coming-of-age milestone, but leader Johnny Maestro went on to success with the Brooklyn Bridge ("Worst That Could Happen"), while writer Luther Dixon went on to pen hits for the Shirelles. 9. "There Goes My Baby," The Drifters Atlantic 2025 (May 1959) b/w "Oh My Love" recorded 6 March 1959, New York, NY

One of the strangest and yet most breathtaking productions in rock history, this number -- another important soul milestone, but more urbane and filled with Latin inflections and off-tune tympani -- caused Atlantic's Jerry Wexler to threaten to throw the master out the window. There's no denying the dizzying romantic swell of the orchestration, however, which would guide singer Ben E. King through his own solo career. 10. "Come Go With Me," The Del-Vikings Fee Bee 205 (December 1956), Dot 15538 (16 February 1957) b/w "How Can I Find True Love" recorded November 1956, Pittsburgh, PA

Another example of a hit that shouldn't have been; this integrated group of Air Force buddies recorded this classic, written by their bass vocalist, as the b-side. One of the rare doo-wop records from this era that incorporates the feel of a real rock and roll band, it led to two more hits -- rather, two more hits for members using the group name. (It's complicated.)


TOPICS: Music/Entertainment
KEYWORDS: doowop; music
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To: Mouton

Heh, heh
I had forgotten about “WADO on your radio”

Wasn’t there a show on after his called “Night Train” that used to play ALL doo-wops?


41 posted on 12/15/2012 1:28:49 PM PST by Roccus
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To: a fool in paradise
I only have eyes for you:
42 posted on 12/15/2012 1:29:03 PM PST by vger
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To: a fool in paradise

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvLjI09F2E


43 posted on 12/15/2012 1:30:22 PM PST by vger
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To: JoeProBono

Happy to see The Diamonds’ “Little Darlin’” on the list.

It is my favorite R&R song of all time.

Here it is, performed twice; once in 1957, then in 2004:

http://www.flixxy.com/the-diamonds-little-darlin-1957-2004.htm#.UMzqpW_Af2Q

Enjoy!


44 posted on 12/15/2012 1:30:59 PM PST by Peter W. Kessler (Dirt is for racing... asphalt is for getting there.)
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To: Mouton

I used to listen to Wolfman Jack on XERB 50,000 Watts of Soul Baby. Wolfman always played:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlvLjI09F2E


45 posted on 12/15/2012 1:33:09 PM PST by vger
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To: a fool in paradise

Karl Denver: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09SXTH699xE

And let’s not forget the working class hero’s Pete Seeger’s role in the theft of the royalties for this song: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_Sleeps_Tonight


46 posted on 12/15/2012 1:38:17 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: NewJerseyJoe

I consider “I Wonder Why” to be the best doo wop song ever written. I was surprised to earn that it got nowhere near the number one spot in it’s day. (I think it hit #17 or #12)


47 posted on 12/15/2012 1:38:39 PM PST by TalBlack (Evil doesn't have a day job.)
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To: Roccus; Mouton

Answered my own question here

http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/air1961.html


48 posted on 12/15/2012 1:39:54 PM PST by Roccus
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To: a fool in paradise

Everybody knows good Doo Wop. How about bad? Links will be appreciated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo_d5KOJ8_M


49 posted on 12/15/2012 1:41:55 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: vger; Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows
I only have eyes for you:


50 posted on 12/15/2012 1:43:33 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: Joe 6-pack
"The Crests never had another big hit after this ode to the coming-of-age milestone."

‘Step By Step’ charted @ 14
51 posted on 12/15/2012 1:45:12 PM PST by stylin19a (obama -> Fredo smart)
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To: JoeProBono

Marty and the Muff-Tones: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UspGqdwcbQs


52 posted on 12/15/2012 1:47:49 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: Joe 6-pack

For the Longest Time is excellent.

I personally think “In the Still of the Night” is a marvel of Ur-Doo Wop.


53 posted on 12/15/2012 1:50:55 PM PST by Mad Dawg (In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.)
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To: JoeProBono

Much of what you guys call doo-wop is known as Beach Music down here, Virginia Beach all down the southern Atlantic coast, withe the capital being Myrtle Beach, SC. Very popular scene at the time and all the way through to today with dance clubs and dance contests dedicated to the music and the unique dance associated with it, a sort of heavily modified Jitterbug known as the Shag (yes we know what it means in England). Students at southern universities would be familiar, too, learning to Shag has been a rite of passage for many a fraternity brother and sorority sister.

One of the definitive Shag tunes would be “It Will Stand” by The Showmen. Couldn’t find a good YouTube of it, so here’s a video of a Shag dance contest from the Spanish Galleon in Myrtle Beach, amateurs, a second grade teacher and a policeman, turning in a very respectable performance to “White Port Lemon Juice” by The Bel Aires:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAtiyPmEFSg


54 posted on 12/15/2012 1:51:30 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: JoeProBono; a fool in paradise

It’s ancient history, but at the time to discerning listeners Danny & the Juniors were the very epitome of everything that’s wrong with white imitative and soulless rock promoted by the likes of payola king Dick Clark, you know Pat Boone singing Tutti Frutti, Fabian out of tune on everything.


55 posted on 12/15/2012 1:52:47 PM PST by Revolting cat! (Bad things are wrong! Ice cream is delicious!)
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To: JoeProBono
Some of my favorites. These are all Los Angeles-area groups:
56 posted on 12/15/2012 1:59:35 PM PST by Fiji Hill (Io Triumphe!)
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To: Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows; JoeProBono

Lou Reed - Merry Go Round
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0TeQdE4bzc
Lou Reed - So Blue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dQ3H4Li7zs

Ritchie Marsh (Sky Saxon) - Half Angel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIC9b3rcdQ
Ritchie Marsh - Do The Swim
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=—CN3mYEI2A

Ronnie James Dio - An Angel Is Missing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC84rCeBZQI
Ronnie James Dio - Walking Alone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7cr-vp0-_I

Sun Ra - It’s Christmas Time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEpFZmN0USQ
Sun Ra - Somebody’s In Love
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hajMoRK_lJQ


57 posted on 12/15/2012 1:59:59 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: JoeProBono
I still like Don & Juan's “What's Your Name” as my favorite
58 posted on 12/15/2012 2:00:21 PM PST by stylin19a (obama -> Fredo smart)
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To: stylin19a

Spin the flip side of that one “Chicken Necks”.


59 posted on 12/15/2012 2:02:39 PM PST by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: RckyRaCoCo; JoeProBono
Have You Heard - The Duprees
60 posted on 12/15/2012 2:03:39 PM PST by Kid Shelleen (Beat your plowshares into swords. Let the weak say I am strong)
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