Vocal Groups and Doo-Wop Emphasized melody above rhythm Emphasized Song above singer Beautiful blending of voices Started with city kids singing a cappella harmonies on street corners Was called rock and roll until 70s when the Doo-Wop label was given Many groups tried and many had one hit

Background Styles Emotional singing with falsetto and background vocals Wordless lyrics like “ooh-wee-ooh” or “Papa Oom Mow Wow” Compared to 12 bar blues chords change more often for more melodic singing in all the parts. Ballads with a beat.

Earth Angel Penguins hit is first pure doo-wop Not very accurately or musically sung song but the emotion of the song triumphs Sounds like it was sung in a garage because it was High school guys singing to their girl friend

The Platters More professional than Penquins with a polished professional and romantic sound Between had 18 songs in the top 40 including 4 #1 hits “The Great Pretender”, “Twilight Time”, “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers Pure street corner Doo-Wop “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” Frankie was 13 when that song was recorded. Lyrics express discovery of mysteries and heartaches of love of a teenager sung by a teenager helped make it a hit.

The One Hit Wonders Few Doo-Wop groups had long careers Only Platters, Drifters and Coasters lasted as long as the solo careers New groups were always competing just waiting for their chance So many sounded alike it was hard to create a unique identity Since they were young and naïve they were often taken advantaged of by recording companies by signing away their rights to the songs

Doo-Wop Ballads “Story Untold” – The Nutmegs “In The Still of The Night” – The Five Satins “Silhouettes” – The Rays “For Your Precious Love” - Impressions “Ten Commandments of Love” – Harvey & the Moonglows “Come Softly To Me” – Fleetwoods “16 Candles” – The Crests

More Doo-Wop Ballads “Where or When” – Dion & the Belmonts “Since I Don’t Have You” – The Skyliners “I Only Have Eyes For You” – The Flamingoes

Up Tempo Doo-Wop “Speedo” The Cadillacs “Come and Go With Me” – The Dell-Vikings “Get A Job” – The Silhouettes “Book of Love” – The Monotones “Little Darlin’” – The Diamonds “At The Hop” – Danny & the Juniors “Teenager in Love” – Dion & the Belmonts

Early Sixties and “New-Doo-Wop” “Blue Moon” - The Marcels “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” – The Tokens “Papa-Oom-Mow-Wow” – The Rivingtons “Yakety Yak” – The Coasters “Charlie Brown” The Coasters “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King

Leiber & Stoller Wrote for Elvis, Coasters, Drifters, Big Mama Thorton’s “Hound Dog” One of the first independent producers not tied to a record company Wrote and produced for complete control of the product

The Coasters “Yakety Yak” “Charlie Brown”

The Drifters “There Goes My Baby” “This Magic Moment” “Save the Last Dance for Me” “Up On The Roof” “On Broadway” “Under the Boardwalk”