The Five Keys 14 Hits - Classic Rhythm And Blues Records - Vintage Vault Collectors Series (LP)

(Bellaphon/Gusto Records) 14 tracks - Stereo German pressing

The Five Keys originated with the Sentimental Four, a group formed in the late 1940s in Newport News, Virginia, by brothers Raphael and Ripley Ingram and Rudy and Bernie West, who went to school together. Later Dickie Smith joined the group and it became the Five Keys. In early 1951, they met Ernie Mesta of Aladdin Records and recorded a demo session in Newport News (the same songs were later re-recorded and released in New York). This demo included "Glory of Love," which would become their second release and their biggest hit among the nineteen singles recorded for Aladdin. In 1954, they moved to Capitol Records, where they recorded twenty singles, including the hits "Ling Ting Tong," "Out of Sight, Out of Mind," and "Wisdom of a Fool." In 1959, they left Capitol and joined the King label. The Five Keys at King consisted of original members Bernie West, Maryland Pierce and Raymond Loper (who joined the group when they recorded at Capitol Records). Thomas Treat became the new lead singer of the Five Keys and sang most of the leads along with Dickey Smith, who returned from military service. Rudy West, who recorded three singles of his own for King, appears as lead singer on only a couple of sides. The Five Keys recorded twenty-four tracks for the King label, all of which are included on their two albums. All but six of the tracks were originally released as singles. (They also recorded a session for RCA Victor that was never released).