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Groupe Dow Wop Canadien formé en 1953 à Toronto, composé de Ted Kowalski
(né le 16 Mai 1931, décédé le 8 Août 2010),
Phil Leavitt (né le 9 Juillet 1935), Bill Reed (né le 11 Janvier 1936, décédé le
22 Octobre 2004) et Dave Somerville. Les Diamonds se sont dissous en
1962, pour être reformer dans les années soixante-dix par Bob Duncan. Mike
Douglas a remplacé Levitt en 1958, Evan Fisher a remplacé Reed en 1959, John
Felton a remplacé Kowalski en 1959, puis Glen Stetson a remplacé Felton
The Diamonds, four gentlemen from Toronto, Canada, were one of the most popular
singing groups of the 1950s. This versatile group was signed to Mercury Records
and was designated to cover the recordings of black artists, as was often the
practice in those days because many radio stations wouldn't play "black" songs.
Proving they were up to the task, they put 16 hits on the charts of Billboard,
three going gold: "Little Darlin", "Silhouettes" and "The Stroll". They even
showed up on the R&B charts. Group members were David Somerville, lead; Ted
Kowalski, tenor; Phil Levitt; baritone; and Bill Reed, bass. Kowalski and Levitt
were students at the University of Toronto, Somerville was a radio engineer at
the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. (CBC) and Reed was employed by the telephone
company.
In the fall of 1953 Somerville met this unnamed group in the hall of the CBC.
The group was in its original form, with Stan Fisher as lead singer, and they
were going to audition for a CBC show called "Pick the Stars". Being a trained
singer, Somerville thought they weren't ready for the show and offered to tutor
the guys and help them along. He got them practice time in "unoccupied" studios
and also had connections for professional arrangements. Thing
were moving along until the group was scheduled to sing at a Christmas party at
a local church. As it turned out, lead singer Fisher opted out to study for an
exam the next day. Since Somerville knew all the songs, he took the
lead--literally--and the group was an overwhelming success. The decision to go
professional came quickly. Fisher decided not to continue with the group. With
their new lead Somerville, The Diamonds were about to hit the scene.
They, like most artists of that day, were not an overnight success. They worked
hard, developing their craft, learning "barbershop quartet" singing from Bill's
dad, also a bass singer. Whenever possible they would get together with a black
gospel group called The Revelaires, from Detroit. As The Diamonds have said,
"This was the group that had the most effect on our singing; they taught us not
to be so square".
After school in the spring of 1954 Ted and Phil decided not to go back in the
fall. The guys wanted to get serious about their singing, and this gave them
more time to practice. Dave's connections introduced them to Nat Goodman, a
professional classical musician who took the group under his management. It was
at this point that Dave and Bill quit their jobs and the group began to polish
its repertoire. With a performance and a win on the Arthur Godfrey show "Talent
Scouts" (1948), and a week guest-starring on Godfrey's radio show, they soon
were signed to a four-song contract with Coral Records. A later introduction to
Cleveland disc jockey 'Bill Randle', who got them a long-term contact with
Mercury Records. In 1956 they had four charted hits before their 1957 hit,
"Little Darlin'". This was the song that made them a household name. It also
landed them in the teen musical The Big Beat (1958), and they also sang the
theme song for the films Kathy O' (1958) and La guerre en dentelles (1962).
Their contract with Mercury produced over 60 singles, two original albums and
several compilation albums. Even today they still pop up on a soundtrack from a
movie.
By 1961 all the original members had left the group, but The Diamonds still
continued. Ted and Phil went back to school at the University of Toronto and
Bill got on the other side of the record business. Only Dave continued his
singing, adapting to the ever-changing music scene. The original members would
get together for an occasional oldies reunion, but it wasn't until an appearance
in the PBS special Doo Wop 51 (2001) (TV) did they once again gain national
attention. That was followed with an appearance in another PBS special, Magic
Moments: The Best of 50's Pop (2004) (TV). Fortunately these two programs are
available on video and DVD, since there isn't much footage of this fun,
energetic group available prior to those two shows.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Diamonds
Talent :s Ted Kowalski : Tenor - Phil Levitt : Baritone - Bill Reed : Bass - Dave Somerville : Lead
Style musical : Doo Wop
LITTLE DARLIN'
(1957)
DADDY COOL
(1957)
THE STROLL
(1957)
WALKING ALONG
(1958)
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Years in activity :
| 1910 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 2000 | 10 | 20 |
DISCOGRAPHY
Singles & EP
| 1955 | SP CORAL 9-61502 (US) | . | Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots / Nip Sip | ||
| 1955 | SP CORAL 9-61577 (US) | . | Be My Lovin' Baby / Smooch Me | ||
| 01/1956 | SP MERCURY 70790X45 (US) | . | Why Do Fools Fall In Love / You Baby You | ||
| 03/1956 | SP MERCURY 70835X45 (US) | . | The Church Bells May Ring / Little Girl Of Mine | ||
| 05/1956 | SP MERCURY 70889X45 (US) | . | Ev'ry Night About This Time / Love, Love, Love | ||
| 07/1956 | SP MERCURY 70934X45 (US) | . | Ka Ding-Dong / Soft Summer Breeze | ||
| 10/1956 | SP MERCURY 70983X45 (US) | . | My Judge And My Jury / Put Your House In Order | ||
| 12/1956 | SP MERCURY 71021X45 (US) | . | A Thousand Miles Away / Ev-ry Minute Of The Day | ||
| 02/1957 | SP MERCURY 71060X45 (US) | . | Faithful And True /
Little Darlin'
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| 05/1957 | SP MERCURY 71128X45 (US) | . | Don't Say Goodbye / Words Of Love | ||
| 07/1957 | SP MERCURY 71165X45 (US) | . | Oh, How I Wish / Zip Zip | ||
| 09/1957 | SP MERCURY 71197X45 (US) | . |
Daddy Cool
/ Silhouettes |
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| 1957 | SP MERCURY 45223 (CAN) | . | Straight Skirts / Patsy | ||
| 12/1957 | SP MERCURY 71242X45 (US) | . | Land Of Beauty /
The Stroll
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| 1957 | EP MERCURY 1-3356 (US) |
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Shoo Ya Blues / You Are The Limit / My Dog Like Your Dog / Oh, How I Wish | ||
| 1957 | EP MERCURY 1-3357 (US) |
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Honey Bird / For You Alone / Zip Zip / Cool, Cool Baby | ||
| 1957 | EP MERCURY 14168 (F) |
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You Baby You / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Ev'ry Night About This Time / + Lola DEE | ||
| 1957 | EP MERCURY 14189 (F) |
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Faithfull And True /
Little Darlin'
/ Don't Say
Goodbye / Words Of Love |
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| 1957 | EP MERCURY MEP 9515 (UK) |
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PRESENTING THE DIAMONDS - Little Darlin' / The Church Bells May Ring / Ka-Ding-Dong / Soft Summer Breeze |
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| 1957 | EP MERCURY EP 60046 (I) |
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| 1957 | EP MERCURY EP-052 (ISR) |
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Only You (PLATTERS) / I'm Sorry (PLATTERS) / The Church Bells May Ring (DIAMONDS) / Limbo (DIAMONDS) | ||
| 03/1958 | SP MERCURY C-30050X45 (US) | . |
Little Darlin'
/ The Church Bells
May Ring |
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| 04/1958 | SP MERCURY 71291X45 (US) |
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Dont Let Me Down / High Sign | ||
| 06/1958 | SP MERCURY 71330X45 (US) | . | Happy Years / Kathy-O | ||
| 09/1958 | SP MERCURY 71366X45 (US) | . | Eternal Lovers /
Walking Along
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| 1958 | EP MERCURY 1-3358 (US) |
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Till My Baby Comes Home / Girl Of Mine / One And Only / Honey | ||
| 1958 ? | EP MERCURY 1-3367 (US) |
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AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE SINGING STYLISTS - Silhouettes /
Daddy Cool
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| 1958 | EP MERCURY 14196 (F) |
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The Stroll
/ One And Only / Ka-Ding-Dong / Zip
Zip |
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| 1958 | EP MERCURY 14197 (F) |
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Daddy Cool
/ Cool, Cool Baby / Honey Bird / For
You Alone |
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| 1958 | EP MERCURY 14198 (F) |
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Silhouettes / You Are The Limit / My Dog Likes Your Dog / Soft Summer Breeze | ||
| 1958 ? | EP MERCURY EP 60091 (I) |
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Little Darlin'
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| 1959 | SP MERCURY 71404X45 (US) | . | From The Bottom Of My Heart / She Say | ||
| 1959 | SP MERCURY 71449X45 (US) | . | A Mother's Love / Gretchen | ||
| 06/1959 | SP MERCURY 71468X45 (US) | . | Holding Your Hand / Sneaky Alligator | ||
| 1959 | SP MERCURY 71505X45 (US) | . | The Twenty Second Day / Young In Years | ||
| 1959 | SP MERCURY 45325 (CAN) | . | Oh Carol / Believe Me | ||
| 1959 | SP MERCURY 71534X45 (US) | . | Walkin' The Stroll / Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein Or Dracula | ||
| 1959 | EP MERCURY ZEP 10026 (UK) |
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THE DIAMONDS ARE TRUMPS - From The Bottom Of My Heart / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) / Gretchen / A Mother's Love |
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| 1959 | EP MERCURY EP 60100 (I) |
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Silhouttes /
Daddy Cool
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| 1959 | EP MERCURY MG-10 114 (S) |
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THE PLATTERS - THE DIAMONDS - PLATTERS : Winner Take All (El Ganador Se Lleva Todo) / My Dream (Mi Sueño) / DIAMONDS : Straight Skirts / Patsy |
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| 1959 | EP MERCURY MG-10.117 (S) |
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She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) (Ella Dice) / Don't Let Me Down (No Me Dejes) / From The Bottom Of My Heart (Desde El Fondo De Mi Corazón) / Every Night About This Time (Todas Las Noches A Esta Hora) |
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| 1960 | SP MERCURY 71586X45 (US) | . | Real True Love / Tell The Truth | ||
| 1960 | SP MERCURY 45349 (CAN) | . | Passion Flower / San Antonio Rose | ||
| 1960 | SP MERCURY 71633X45 (US) | . | Slave Girl / Pencil Song | ||
| 11/1960 | SP MERCURY 71734 (US) | . | The Crumble / You'd Be Mine | ||
| 196? | EP MERCURY 1-4038 (US) | THE DIAMONDS' GOLDEN HITS -
Little Darlin'
/ Churchs
Bells May Ring /
The Stroll
/ Why Do
Fools Fall In Love |
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| 1960 | EP MERCURY 14218 (F) |
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Sneaky Alligator / Gretchen / Holding Your Hand / A Mother's Love | ||
| 1961 | SP MERCURY 71782 (US) | . | I Sho Lawd Will / You Short Changed Me | ||
| 1961 | SP MERCURY 71818 (US) | . | Munch / Woomai | ||
| 1961 | SP MERCURY 71831 (US) | . | It's A Doggone Shame / One Summer Night | ||
| 1962 | SP MERCURY 71956 (US) | . | The Horizental Lieutenant / Vanishing American | ||
| 1968 | SP MERCURY C-30132 (US) | . |
Walking Along
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| 1979 | SP GUSTO GT4-2019 (US) | . |
The Stroll
/
Little Darlin'
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| 1982 | SP ARC 022-82 (NL) |
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By Request Great
Oldies -
Little Darlin'
(DIAMONDS) /
Chantilly Lace
(Big BOPPER) |
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| 1986 | SP ERIC 4116 (US) | . |
The Stroll
/
Little Darlin'
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| 1986 | SP COLLECTABLES COL 4235 (US) |
Little Darlin'
(DIAMONDS) /
The Bells Of Rosa Rita
(ADMIRATIONS) |
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| 1986 | SP COLLECTABLES COL 4236 (US) | . |
The Stroll
(DIAMONDS) / Purple People Eater (Sheb
WOOLEY) |
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| 1986 | SP COLLECTABLES COL 4237 (US) | . |
Lover Please
(Clyde
McPHATTER) / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) (Diamonds) |
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Albums
| 1957 | LP 12" MERCURY MG-20309 (US) |
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AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE SINGING STYLE - Til My Baby Comes Home / Shoo Ya Blues / Oh, How I Wish / One And Only / Honey / Girl Of Mine / Honey Bird - For You Alone / My Dog Likes Your Dog / Zip Zip / Cool, Cool Baby / You Are The Limit | ||||
| 1958 | LP 12" MERCURY MG-20368 (US) |
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THE DIAMONDS MEET PETE RUGOLO - Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (And Dream Your Troubles Away ) / Baby Won't You Please Come Home / The Best Things In Life Are Free / Ain't Misbehavin' (I'm Savin' My Love For You) / Until The Real Things Comes Along / I'll Always Be In Love With You / Will You Still Be Mine / Tenderly / For All We Know / One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) / Lulu's Back In Town / You'll Never Walk Alone | ||||
| 1959 | LP 12" WING MGW-12114 (CAN) |
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AMERICA'S FAMOUS SONG STYLISTS - The Stroll / You Baby You / Ev’ry Night About This Time / Ka-Ding-Dong / A Thosand Miles Away / Ev’ry Minute Of The Day / Little Darlin’ / Faithful And True / Straight Skirts / Silhouettes / Passion Flower / Daddy Cool | ||||
| 1960 | LP 12" MERCURY MG-20480 (mono) / SR-60159 (stereo) (US) |
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SONGS FROM THE OLD WEST - Cool Water / San Antonio Rose / Beautiful Brown Eyes / High Noon / Wagon Wheel / Gold Mine In The Sky / My Little Buckaroo / Cattle Call / Empty Saddles / Streets Of Laredo / Train Of The Lonesome Pine / Home On The Range | ||||
| 1962 | LP 12" WING MGW-12178 (CAN) |
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POP HITS BY THE DIAMONDS - High Sign / Patsy / Little Girl Of Mine / Moonglow / Land Of Beauty / I'll Always Be In Love With You / Words Of Love / Sweet Wild Honey / Don't Say Goodbye / Don't Let Me Down / Eternal Lovers / Streets Of Laredo | ||||
| 1984 | LP 12" RHINO RNDF 209 (US) |
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BEST OF THE DIAMONDS - Little Darlin' / Church Bells May Ring / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Words Of Love / Ka-Ding Dong / Silhouettes / Daddy Cool / The Stroll / Love Love Love / High Sign / Zip Zip / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) / Kathy-O / Walking Along | ||||
| 1993 | CD ? (US) |
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SILHOUETTES FROM THE PAST - Crocodile Rock / Come Go With Me / One Summer Night / Buddy Holly Medley / Walkin' Along / Ka-Ding Dong / Trickle, Trickle / Silhouettes / Barbara Ann / You Belong To Me / Rock And Roll Heaven | ||||
| 1995 | CD ? (US) |
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WE'RE STILL ROCKIN' - American Rock And Roll / Zip Zip / Elvis Presley Medley / Little Darlin' / So In Love / Baby Come Back To Me / Day By Day / The Stroll / You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling / We're Still Rockin' | ||||
| 07/1996 | CD POLYGRAM 532734 (US) |
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THE BEST OF THE DIAMONDS - THE MERCURY YEARS - Why Do Fools Fall In Love / The Church Bells May Ring / Cool, Cool Baby / Ka-Ding-Dong / My Judge And My Jury / Ev'ry Minute Of The Day / Little Darlin' / Zip Zip / Don't Say Goodbye / Words Of Love / Dance With Me / Daddy Cool / Silhouettes / The Stroll / Walking Along / High Sign / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) / Batman, Wolfman,Frankenstein Or Dracula / Oh! Carol / Believe Me / Chimes In My Heart / One Summer Night | ||||
| 09/1996 | CD STARDUST 1010 (US) |
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THE DIAMONDS COLLECTION - Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots / Smooch Me / Why Do Fools Fall In Love? / Church Bells May Ring / Love, Love, Love / Ka-Ding-Dong / Soft Summer Breeze / Little Darlin' / Words Of Love / Zip Zip / Silhouettes / Daddy Cool / Stroll / Straight Skirt / High Sign / Don't Let Me Down / Kathy-O / Happy Years / Walking Along / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) / Sneaky Alligator / Oh! Carol / Walkin' (The Stroll) / Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein Or Dracula / One Summer Night | ||||
| 1998 | CD ? (US) |
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SILVER BELLS & DIAMONDS - Silver Bells Fanfare / Christmas Rock 'n' Roll Medley / Jingle Bells Medley / Deck The Halls Medley / Silver Bells / Let It Snow / Boots And Stockings / What Can I Give You This Christmas / Sleigh Ride / Joy To The World Medley / White Christmas | ||||
| 1999 | CD REMEMBER 14317 (US) |
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LITTLE DARLIN' - Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Church Bells May Ring / Love, Love, Love / Ka-Ding-Dong / Soft Summer Breeze / Little Darlin' / Words Of Love / Zip Zip / Silhouettes / The Stroll / High Sign / Kathy-O / Happy Years / Walking Along / She Say (Oom Dooby Doom) / One Summer Night / Black Denim Trousers And Motorcycle Boots / Smooch Me / Daddy Cool / Straight Skirt / Don't Let Me Down / Sneaky Alligator / Oh! Carol / Walkin' The Stroll / Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein Or Dracula | ||||
| 1999 | CD ? (US) |
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CLASSIC CUTS - Are You Ready? / Church Bells May Ring / Groups Of Four Medley / Ka-Ding Dong / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / A Thousand Miles Away / The Stroll / Walking Along / One Summer Night / Zip Zip / Bandstand Boogie / Silhouettes / Little Darlin' | ||||
| 1999 | CD ? (US) |
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RADIO HEROES - At The Hop / Splish Splash / Elvis Presley Medley / Rock Around The Clock / Rockin' Robin / Sea Cruise / Blue Velvet / Buddy Holly Medley / Tequila / Chantilly Lace / Come Go With Me / Little Darlin' / Radio Heroes | ||||
| 04/2007 | CD CANETOAD 013 (AUS) |
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SONGBOOK - Little Darlin / The Stroll / Silhouettes / Cool Cool Baby / The Church Bells May Ring / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Love Love Love / Daddy Cool / Black DeNim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots / Passion Flower / Straight Skirt / One And Only / Where Mary Go / Kathy-O / You Are The Limit / Honey / Oh How I Wish / Sweet Wild Honey / Words Of Love / Ill Always Be In Love With You / Walking Along / Dont Let Me Down (Chicklets) / Happy Years / High Sign / She Says (Oom Dooby Doom) / Eternal Lovers / Sneaky Alligator / Walkin The Stroll / Batman, Wolfman, Frankenstein Or Dracula / Land Of Beauty / One Summer Night / Youd Be Mine / The Horizontal Lieutenant | ||||
| 2008 | CD Blue Label SPV 50982 CD (EUR) |
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The Nutmegs Meet The Diamonds - Nutmegs : Let Me Tell You / Hello / You're Crying / I Like To Cha Cha / Down To Earth / Roseanne / Why Must We Go To School / Shifting Sands / Out Of My Heart / Wide Hoop Skirts / The Way Love Should Be / Down In Mexico / My Sweet Dreams / Story Untold / Whispering Sorrows / Diamonds : Daddy Cool / Walking Along / The Stroll / Dance With Me / Little Darling / Words Of Love / Cool Cool Baby / Why Do Fools Fall In Love / Ev'ry Minute Of The Day / My Judge And My Jury / Zip Zip / Silhouettes / Church Bells May Ring / Ka-Ding Dong / Don't Say Goodbye | ||||
| 12/2011 | 2 CD JASMINE 8801772 (UK) |
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THE STROLL :
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| 2013 | CD Not On Label ? (US) |
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As Long As We're Singin'... And Swingin'! - As Long As I'm Singin' / Rockin' Robin / Bobby Darin Medley / Graduation Day / The Stroll / So Much In Love / Sea Cruise / Come Go With Me / You Belong To Me / Radio Heroes / Lovin' Feeling / Day By Day / Little Darlin' / In My Room / Jump, Jive And Wail / Blue Velvet / Trickle, Trickle |
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| 2013 | CD Not On Label ? (?) |
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Bandstand Boogie - Bandstand Boogie / Chantilly Lace / Unchained Melody / Crocodile Rock / What's Your Name / Rock & Roll Is Here To Stay / Surfer Girl / Splish Splash / Tequila / I Get Around / The Stroll / Church Bells May Ring / Silhouettes / Why Do Fools Fall In Love? / The Wanderer / A Thousand Miles Away / Little Darlin' |
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| 2015 | 4 CD REAL GONE RGMCD193 (UK) |
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Four Classic Albums Plus Singles 1955-1961 :
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| 12/2016 | 4 CD One Louder AUPCD 4031 (UK) |
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Doo Wop Dreams -
The Platters,
Dion & The Belmonts, The
Coasters, The Diamonds :
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| 07/2017 | 2 CD Acrobat ADDCD3200 (UK) |
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The Complete Singles As & Bs 1955-62 :
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| 2017 | CD Calle Mayor VM0996 (S) |
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DOO WOP - Little Darling / The Stroll / Eternal Lovers / Zip Zip / Sweet Wild Honey / Passion Flower / Walking Along / Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams / Gretchen / Happy Years / San Antonio Rose / Shoo Ya Blues / Baby Won't You Please Come Rome / Tenderly / You Are The Limit / Ka-Ding-Dong / Soft Summer Breeze / Will You Still Be Mine / Faithful And True / Honey / High Noon / Words Of Love / Cattle Call / Trail Of The Lonesome Pine / Don't Say Goodbye |
© Rocky Productions 1/02/2021
