Classic ‘50s doo-wop sound applied to pop classics and ‘70s hits
Though typically thought of as the second half of “Dion and the Belmonts,†the group came together before their two-year stint backing Dion, and continued for decades afterwards. In addition to their immediate post-Dion records, the group continued into the 1960s with their own label and releases on United Artists, ABC and Dot. When the oldies revival of the early ‘70s caught back up to them, they released this fine album for Buddah in 1972, applying their a cappella street corner harmonies to pop classics and then-contemporary hits. The ballads are richer than the up-tempo numbers, giving the vocalists more room to stretch out and intertwine, but a cover of the Crystals’ “Da Doo Ron Ron†will remind you of the Belmonts’ swaggering days with Dion. Their cover of B.J. Thomas’ “Rock and Roll Lullaby,†with its soaring falsetto lead and lush harmonies, is terrific and the closing “Street Corner Symphony†takes a four-minute stroll through the history of doo-wop riffs. This is a sweet, nostalgic album that’s weathered the years a lot better than the group’s velveteen jackets. [©2011 hyperbolium dot com] 