Street Corner Symphonies CD-Album-Series by Bear Family

Street Corner Symphonies CD-Album-Series with Doo Wop Music on CDs

Doo-Wop is one of the foundation stones of rock 'n' roll.

This CD-Album-Serie gives you the most important Doo-Wop tunes from 1939-1963!

  • Every Doo-Wop hit on CDs!
  • Every neglected classic! 
  • Every ground-breaking record!

Detailed song-by-song notes and amazing rare photos from the golden era! Bear Family's definitive history of Doo-Wop, Street Corner Symphonies. As always, you can trust Bear Family to get it right.

The Vocal Group Explosion

Street Corner SymphoniesThe roots of the 1950s rhythm and blues vocal group explosion were buried deep in a previous generation of African-American harmonizers that paved the way for what's now termed doo-wop. The Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, and Golden Gate Quartet were three of the most influential pre-war black groups. Their network radio broadcasts embraced by countless listeners nationwide; their pop-slanted recordings sold very well too. By the mid-1940s, they had plenty of competition on both coasts and across the U.S. This vocal group movement was overwhelmingly urban in scope; quartets in the hinterlands tended to stick to gospel pursuits.

Many groups of the pre-war generation started out singing spirituals, eventually crossing over to the secular side to broaden their commercial potential and gain more radio and record exposure. A few—The Southern Sons/Melody Masters, The Trumpeteers/Four Rockets--recorded both sacred and secular material under different names, apparently recognizing no conflict between the two worlds. The Golden Gate Quartet's pioneering efforts embraced both genres at the same time without any name changes at all (they were prime motivators in the rhythmically syncopated 'jubilee' style of gospel singing).  

The Cats and The Fiddle, The Big Three Trio, and The Four Aces

With few exceptions, pop song publishers didn't save their best new material for black groups, meaning the groups either had to reinvent older repertoire, or write their own songs. The Cats and The Fiddle, The Big Three Trio, and The Four Aces were self-contained units. Playing their own instruments behind carefully honed vocal harmonies. If a group only sang, an accompanying pianist or guitarist was a must.

The Ravens and The Orioles

The post-war emergence of The Ravens and The Orioles signaled the next step in the idiom's development. Their revolutionary platters were aimed at a younger generation; Orioles lead tenor Sonny Til was the genre's first matinee idol, appealing to teenaged African-American girls in a way that The Ink Spots' Bill Kenny and various Mills siblings never did.

Though hipper whites were no doubt aware of them, The Ravens and Orioles made limited concessions to the pop world; they weren't radio stars and relied on record sales to fuel their popularity. Their mammoth impact inspired hundreds of promising young groups to gather under the nearest corner street lamp and harmonize on their latest hit songs.  

This collection provides a primer on the most important groups and recordings of the 1940s. Without these pioneers, it's hard to imagine The Dominoes and Clovers shaking up the R&B scene so forcefully at the dawn of the 1950s. The die had already been cast.

Street Corner Symphonies CD-Album-Series with Doo Wop Music on CDs Doo-Wop is one of the foundation stones of rock 'n' roll. This CD-Album-Serie gives you the most important Doo-Wop tunes... read more »
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Street Corner Symphonies CD-Album-Series by Bear Family

Street Corner Symphonies CD-Album-Series with Doo Wop Music on CDs

Doo-Wop is one of the foundation stones of rock 'n' roll.

This CD-Album-Serie gives you the most important Doo-Wop tunes from 1939-1963!

  • Every Doo-Wop hit on CDs!
  • Every neglected classic! 
  • Every ground-breaking record!

Detailed song-by-song notes and amazing rare photos from the golden era! Bear Family's definitive history of Doo-Wop, Street Corner Symphonies. As always, you can trust Bear Family to get it right.

The Vocal Group Explosion

Street Corner SymphoniesThe roots of the 1950s rhythm and blues vocal group explosion were buried deep in a previous generation of African-American harmonizers that paved the way for what's now termed doo-wop. The Ink Spots, Mills Brothers, and Golden Gate Quartet were three of the most influential pre-war black groups. Their network radio broadcasts embraced by countless listeners nationwide; their pop-slanted recordings sold very well too. By the mid-1940s, they had plenty of competition on both coasts and across the U.S. This vocal group movement was overwhelmingly urban in scope; quartets in the hinterlands tended to stick to gospel pursuits.

Many groups of the pre-war generation started out singing spirituals, eventually crossing over to the secular side to broaden their commercial potential and gain more radio and record exposure. A few—The Southern Sons/Melody Masters, The Trumpeteers/Four Rockets--recorded both sacred and secular material under different names, apparently recognizing no conflict between the two worlds. The Golden Gate Quartet's pioneering efforts embraced both genres at the same time without any name changes at all (they were prime motivators in the rhythmically syncopated 'jubilee' style of gospel singing).  

The Cats and The Fiddle, The Big Three Trio, and The Four Aces

With few exceptions, pop song publishers didn't save their best new material for black groups, meaning the groups either had to reinvent older repertoire, or write their own songs. The Cats and The Fiddle, The Big Three Trio, and The Four Aces were self-contained units. Playing their own instruments behind carefully honed vocal harmonies. If a group only sang, an accompanying pianist or guitarist was a must.

The Ravens and The Orioles

The post-war emergence of The Ravens and The Orioles signaled the next step in the idiom's development. Their revolutionary platters were aimed at a younger generation; Orioles lead tenor Sonny Til was the genre's first matinee idol, appealing to teenaged African-American girls in a way that The Ink Spots' Bill Kenny and various Mills siblings never did.

Though hipper whites were no doubt aware of them, The Ravens and Orioles made limited concessions to the pop world; they weren't radio stars and relied on record sales to fuel their popularity. Their mammoth impact inspired hundreds of promising young groups to gather under the nearest corner street lamp and harmonize on their latest hit songs.  

This collection provides a primer on the most important groups and recordings of the 1940s. Without these pioneers, it's hard to imagine The Dominoes and Clovers shaking up the R&B scene so forcefully at the dawn of the 1950s. The die had already been cast.

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Vol.10, 1958 Street Corner Symphonies
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.10, 1958 Street Corner Symphonies Art-Nr.: BCD17288

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with c. 80-page booklet, 34 tracks. Playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 10 - 1958 The term 'doo-wop' is bandied about much too freely as a catch-all phrase...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.12, 1960 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.12, 1960 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17290

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD album Digipac (4x) with extensive booklet, 28 titles. Playtime approx. 69 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 12 - 1960 The vocal group sound was splitting in several directions as the new decade...
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.13, 1961 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.13, 1961 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17291

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD-Album Digipak (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 35 tracks. Total playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 13 - 1961 The vocal group scene was a veritable dichotomy in 1961....
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.07, 1955 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.07, 1955 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17285

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with c. 80-page booklet, 33 tracks. Playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 7 - 1955 More R&B vocal groups than ever populated the musical landscape in 1955, the...
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.08, 1956 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.08, 1956 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17286

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with c. 80-page booklet, 32 tracks. Playing time approx. 86 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 8 - 1956 If this collection sounds like it rocks a little harder than its predecessors...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.11, 1959 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.11, 1959 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17289

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD-Album Digipak (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 34 tracks. Total playing time approx. 84 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 11 - 1959 Cutting edge R&B vocal groups were beginning to move away from the...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.06, 1954 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.06, 1954 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17284

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with c. 80-page booklet, 32 tracks. Playing time approx. 89 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 6 - 1954 Rock 'n' roll was busting out all over in 1954 and R&B vocal groups were in...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.09, 1957 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.09, 1957 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17287

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with c. 80-page booklet, 34 tracks. Playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 9 - 1957 Rock and roll had conquered the vocal group field by 1957, so much that...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.14, 1962 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.14, 1962 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17292

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

1-CD-Album Digipak (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 34 tracks. Total playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 14 - 1962 America's longterm love affair with doo-wop was beginning to fade a...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.02, 1950 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.02, 1950 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17280

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 30 tracks. Playing time approx. 83 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 2 - 1950 1950 was something of a transitional year for African-American vocal...
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.04, 1952 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.04, 1952 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17282

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD DigiPac (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 31 tracks. Playing time approx. 85 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 4 - 1952 The R&B vocal group landscape was shifting in 1952. Groups that would persevere...
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.05, 1953 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.05, 1953 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17283

Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 32 tracks. Playing time approx. 88 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Volume 5 - 1953 The R&B vocal group explosion was in full swing by 1953. Incendiary...
$15.23 $19.18
Vol.03, 1951 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.03, 1951 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17281

Item has to be restocked

1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 32 tracks. Playing time approx. 89 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story of Doo Wop Volume 3 - 1951 The old guard continued to steadily lose ground within the black vocal...
$16.92 $19.18
Vol.01, 1939-1949 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop
Various - Street Corner Symphonies: Vol.01, 1939-1949 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop Art-Nr.: BCD17279

Item has to be restocked

1-CD-Album DigiPac (4-plated) with 84-page booklet, 30 tracks. Playing time approx. 87 mns. Street Corner Symphonies The Complete Story of Doo Wop Volume 1 - 1939-1949 The roots of the 1950s rhythm and blues vocal group explosion were...
$16.92 $19.18