Joan Selects, Volume 20 - The Grand Finale

This post appeared on the original Bebopwino blog on the 2nd of May 2009. It marked the end of a remarkable contribution to the rockin' web - Joan Selects - twenty one compilations of doowop, rock and roll and rhythm and blues, all lovingly put together by Joan K. But was this REALLY the end of Joan Selects? Prepare to be astonished o worshippers of the Big Beat, for I can tell you that this wasn't quite the last in the series. Keep tuned to Be Bop Wino Done Gone for some rockin' good news.

All good things come to an end eventually. It’s time to face the inevitable – the final volume of Joan Selects. Over to Joan:

We have reached "Joan Selects, Volume 20 Joan's Grand Finale" and it is now time to exit stage right, with this volume. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and every person who extended their comments to me over the course of the last half year, as the Joan Selects series unfolded. We've made more than 700 songs available for your listening pleasure. I hope that some, if not all, evoked some memories of times gone by. Perhaps some of the music is new to you and you've been able to widen your musical horizons. It's been my pleasure to select and present this great music of the 1940's - 1960's.

As for the finale here presented, I have culled through my music and selected a last group of songs that I would have on my iPod or on my computer if given the choice.

We start off with arguably the all-time greatest doo-wop song of the 1950's, with New Haven's 5-Satins featuring Fred Paris, "In The Still Of the Night" - one of the greats!
The Velvetones song included here is their follow-up to "The Glory Of Love", and I like it better. All their relevant material was recorded for the Mesner's Aladdin Records marque. Nolan Strong and the Diablos from Detroit are best known for the song I present here - "The Wind" a pure doo-wop masterpiece on Devora Brown's Detroit based Fortune Label. The Five Notes resurface on volume 20 for a second appearance, with the hauntingly beautiful "You Are So Beautiful" recorded for Josie Records. I had to include the Jaguar's treatment of Jerome Kern's "The Way you Look Tonight" - not optional. Seeing a theme on Volume 20 yet?

Tony Passalaqua and the Fascinators are included on this collection with their masterpiece "Chapel Bells" recorded for Capitol Records. Even though the Casinos recording "Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" is from the 1960s, I still consider it as a song I'd take to a desert island as one of my favorites. For the Flamingos, their brief stopover on Chicago's legendary Parrot label, produced three 45's and the one included here is (in Joan's opinion) the ultimate Flamingo's record - "Dream Of A Lifetime".

I reprised several of my favorites from earlier Joan Selects volumes because they fit the theme of the finale nicely - The Nitecaps - "In Each Corner of my Heart" and The Drifters - "Your Promise to Be Mine".

The Iceman, Jerry Butler produced an instant classic, fronting the Impressions for Vee Jay and later the Abner label with the all-time classic - "For Your Precious Love". The Swallows with "I Only Have Eyes for You" and the Checkers "Night Curtains" both for the King Label are really wonderful selections, and are extremely rare on 45 rpm format.

I've included many other of my "Joan's selections to take to a tropical island" choices in volume 20, The Sharp-Tones on Post, Plants on J&S, Orchids on Parrot, Wrens on Rama, and several by the Moonglows, one on Chance and one on Chess.

The Crests first recording for the Coed Label is featured also in Volume 20. The Royals (later to become the Midnighters, with Hank Ballard) are here with their magical ballad "Every Beat of My Heart" for the Federal company in Cincinnati.
"Joan Selects, Volume 20 - Joan's Grand Finale" closes the volume and series with several meaningful songs, The Ink Spots - "When You Come To The End of The Day" recorded for King Records, and the ultimate dance ender and all time top ten doo wop classic - The Spaniels "Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight".

To all who have joined us here on BeBop Wino in listening to the Joan Selects series it is time to say so-long and thanks for listening... I love you all!!!!

Joan


Ripped from vinyl at mostly 128 kbps. Nearly 40 label scans are included. Download from here:


https://mega.nz/#!hYFjnDYY!QOzk4_j1NZmicz8fb8Nf_H25MnEz7eutnE9lswE552E


01 The Five Satins - I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night) - Ember E-1005

02 The Dominoes - Love, Love, Love - Federal 45-12072-A

03 The Velvetones - Found My Love - Aladdin 45-3391

04 The Diablos - The Wind - Fortune 511

05 The Castelles - My Girl Awaits Me - Grand 45-101

06 The Five Notes - You Are So Beautiful - Josie 45-784

07 The Jaguars - The Way You Look Tonight - R-Dell 11

08 The Fascinators - Chapel Bells - Capitol F-4053

09 The Solitaires - The Angels Sang - Old Town O.T. 1026

10 The Five Willows - My Dear, Dearest Darling - Allen 45-1000

11 The Casinos - Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye - Fraternity F-977

12 The Crystals - Come To Me Baby - Luna 45-101

13 Luther Bond and the Emeralds - Starlight, Starbright - Savoy 1131

14 The Duprees - You Belong To Me - Coed CO 569

15 The Flamingos - Dream Of A Lifetime - Parrot 808

16 The Drifters - Your Promise To Be Mine - Atlantic 45-1089

17 The Nite Caps - In Each Corner Of My Heart - Groove 4G-0176

18 The Harptones - Life Is But A Dream - Paradise P-101-A

19 The Five Diamonds - Ten Commandments of Love - Treat 501

20 Jerry Butler & The Impressions - For Your Precious Love - Abner 1013

21 The Sharptones - Made To Love - Post x2009

22 The Cufflinxs - Lawful Wedding - Dootone 438-B

23 The Crests - Pretty Little Angel - Coed 501

24 The Robins - My Heart's The Biggest Fool - RCA Victor 47-5175

25 The Moonglows - Secret Love - Chance CH-1152

26 The Swallows - I Only Have Eyes For You - King 45-4533-AA

27 The Checkers - Night's Curtains - King 4581

28 The Plants - Dear I Swear - J & S 1602 A

29 The Orchids - You're Everything To Me - Parrot 815

30 The Charms - Happy Are We - DeLuxe 6014

31 The TimeTones - In My Heart - Times Square 421

32 The Wrens - Love's Something Made For Two - Rama RR-110

33 The Passions - Just To Be With You - Audicon 45-102

34 The Royals - Every Beat Of My Heart - Federal 45-12064-AA

35 The Orioles - There's No One But You - Jubilee 45-5134

36 The Dubs - Could This Be Magic - Gone 5011

37 Harvey and the Moonglows - Don't Be Afraid To Love - Chess 1735

38 The Admirations - Bells Of Rosa Rita - Mercury 71721X45

39 The Ink Spots - When You Come To The End Of The Day - King 45-1425

40 The Spaniels - Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite - Vee Jay VJ-107