1947-1955

by The Orioles

Overview

Led by the sultry tenor voice of Sonny Til, the Orioles -- in spite of being regarded by many as the originators of doo wop -- have been poorly served in the CD era, with most of the collections available consisting of re-recorded versions of their late-'40s and early-'50s hits. There is the massive and definitive six-disc box from Bear Family, of course, but little for the more casual listener to seek out, a situation this double-disc, 52-track set from Acrobat addresses nicely. It features all of their major hits, including "It's Too Soon to Know," "(It's Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas," and their signature tune, "Crying in the Chapel," as well as more bluesy and raucous material like their version of "Baby Please Don't Go." One of the first groups to bring an overt gospel influence into the pop arena, the Orioles are well worth investigating, and since this collection features original recordings (rather than revisits), it makes a perfect and affordable place to begin. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/25/2004
Label:	Acrobat Music
UPC:	0824046500023
Rank:	128942

Tracks

Disc 1

1. It's Too Soon to Know
2. Barbra Lee
3. (It's Gonna Be A) Lonely Christmas
4. Tell Me So
5. Deacon Jones
6. A Kiss and a Rose
7. I Challenge Your Kiss
8. Forgive and Forget
9. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
10. I Cover the Waterfront
11. Every Dog-Gone Time
12. If It's to Be
13. I'd Rather Have You Under the Moon
14. I Need You So
15. Goodnight Irene
16. I Cross My Fingers
17. Walking By the River
18. I Miss You So
19. Happy Go Lucky Local Blues
20. Would I Love You (Love You, Love You)
21. Hold Me! Squeeze Me!
22. Baby Please Don't Go
23. For All We Know
24. How Blind Can You Be
25. I May Be Wrong
26. Blame It On Yourself

Disc 2

27. My Loved One
28. Waiting
29. Barfly
30. A Scandal
31. It Ain't Gonna Be Like That
32. Gettin' Tired, Tired, Tired
33. Pretty Pretty Rain
34. Why Did You Go
35. No Other Love
36. The Night Has Come
37. Don't Stop
38. My Baby's Gonna Get It
39. I Only Have Eyes for You
40. Once in a While
41. Don't Cry Baby
42. See See Rider
43. Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me
44. Bad Little Girl
45. Crying in the Chapel
46. In the Mission of St. Augustine
47. The Robe of Calvary
48. Don't Go to Strangers
49. Secret Love
50. In the Chapel in the Moonlight
51. Fair Exchange
52. I Need You Baby

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Orioles   Primary Artist
Sonny Til   Vocals
Ralph Williams   Guitar
Alexander Sharp   Tenor (Vocal)
Johnny Reed   Bass (Vocal)
Lloyd Thomas Jr. "Tommy" Gaither   Guitar

Technical Credits

Deborah Chessler   Composer
Steven Chino Lewis   Composer
Huddie Ledbetter   Composer
Rudy Toombs   Composer
Mel Torme   Composer
Redd Evans   Composer
Artie Glenn   Composer
Henry Sullivan   Composer
Dave Mann   Composer
Arthur Kent   Composer
Bud Green   Composer
Harry Noble   Composer
Paul Francis Webster   Composer
Walter Kent   Composer
Ivory Joe Hunter   Composer
Billy Hill   Composer
Johnny Green   Composer
Robert Sour   Composer
Lincoln Chase   Composer
Jimmy Henderson   Composer
Thomas Connor   Composer
Sammy Fain   Composer
Harry Warren   Composer
John Lange   Composer
LaVern Farr   Composer
Earres Prince   Composer
William Farrar   Composer
Dave Penny   Liner Notes
Richard Loring   Composer
Vickie Russell   Composer
Michael Edwards   Composer
Pamela Rose   Composer
Frank Loesser   Composer
Stella Unger   Composer
Paul Weston   Composer
Sydney Robin   Composer
Sonny Til & the Orioles   Composer
Bertha Scott   Composer
Bill Tennyson   Composer
Bob Russell   Composer
J. Fred Coots   Composer
Frankie Laine   Composer
James P. Johnson   Composer
Una Mae Carlisle   Composer
Hy Heath   Composer