The Spaniels were a pioneering doowop vocal group from Gary, Indiana, and were probably the first successful R&B group to emerge from the USA's MidWestern states. They were also the first group to be signed by the new VeeJay label (they had already signed Jimmy Smith), and became the label's most successful vocal group as it established itself as probably the first independent African-American owned label of any significance. The group came together at Roosevelt High School in Gary, led by James 'Pookie' Hudson, and they were the first vocal group to use the technique of having a lead singer at one microphone with the other members at a second. They scored in 1953 with their first release Baby It's You, which made the R&B Top 10 and in 1954 had their biggest hit with Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite which was an R&B No. 5 and crossed over to No. 24 in the pop charts. This great value 51-track 2-CD collection brings together all the tracks that they released during the first decade of their career, either as A & B sides of their singles or on their two LPs for VeeJay, and it is a great showcase for their distinctive vocal talents and high quality songwriting. It's welcome addition to Acrobat's already substantial catalogue of doo-wop offerings.
22 Everyone's Laughing (The Spaniels with Al Smith's Orchestra)
23 You're Gonna Cry (The Spaniels)
24 I Need Your Kisses (The Spaniels)
25 I Lost You (The Spaniels)
- Disc 2 -
1 Crazee Babee (The Spaniels)
2 Great Googley Moo (The Spaniels)
3 Tina (The Spaniels)
4 Stormy Weather (The Spaniels)
5 Here Is Why I Love You (The Spaniels)
6 Baby It's You - Re-recorded version (The Spaniels)
7 Heart And Soul (The Spaniels)
8 Trees (The Spaniels)
9 I Like It Like That (The Spaniels)
10 These Three Words (The Spaniels)
11 100 Years From Today (The Spaniels)
12 People Will Say We're In Love (The Spaniels)
13 I Know (The Spaniels)
14 Bus Fare Home (The Spaniels)
15 A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (The Spaniels)
16 Little Joe (The Spaniels)
17 The Posse (The Spaniels)
18 So Deep Within (The Spaniels)
19 Baby Sweets (The Spaniels)
20 I Love You For Sentimental Reasons (The Spaniels)
21 Meek Man (The Spaniels)
22 Turn Out The Lights (The Spaniels)
23 John Brown (The Spaniels)
24 Boot-Um (Clarence Pro McClam with The Spaniels)
25 A Rockin' Good Way (Priscilla Bowman)
26 I Ain't Givin' Up Nothing (Priscilla Bowman)
The Spaniels were a pioneering doowop vocal group from Gary, Indiana, and were probably the first successful R&B group to emerge from the USA's MidWestern states. They were also the first group to be signed by the new VeeJay label (they had already signed Jimmy Smith), and became the label's most successful vocal group as it established itself as probably the first independent African-American owned label of any significance. The group came together at Roosevelt High School in Gary, led by James 'Pookie' Hudson, and they were the first vocal group to use the technique of having a lead singer at one microphone with the other members at a second. They scored in 1953 with their first release Baby It's You, which made the R&B Top 10 and in 1954 had their biggest hit with Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite which was an R&B No. 5 and crossed over to No. 24 in the pop charts. This great value 51-track 2-CD collection brings together all the tracks that they released during the first decade of their career, either as A & B sides of their singles or on their two LPs for VeeJay, and it is a great showcase for their distinctive vocal talents and high quality songwriting. It's welcome addition to Acrobat's already substantial catalogue of doo-wop offerings.
