Who was/is The Four Aces ? - CDs, Vinyl LPs, DVD and more

The Four Aces

The Four Aces

Who Is There To Blame

Not to be confused with Al Alberts' pop quartet of the same name from Chester, Pennsylvania who became infinitely more popular (at least from a mainstream perspective), these Four Aces made their musical mark first.

The Original 4 Aces, as they became known after Alberts' crew made such a huge impression from 1951 on, got their start in Fort Worth while still in high school. First tenor James Franks, second tenor Algia Pickett, baritone George Smith, and bass Otha Jackson eventually relocated to San Francisco, and while the war stalled their momentum (three Aces were inducted into the Navy), they reformed after war's end and proceeded to tear up the Bay Area club scene, leading to a deal with Rene La Marre's Trilon label in 1946. Along the way, they became a self-contained unit with Franks picking up the guitar, Smith on piano and Jackson on upright bass.

The Aces waxed their biggest seller, the two-part I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder (they only sang on Part 2) at their first Trilon session (see our previous volume). The Aces' half dozen Trilon encores didn't make the same local impression, so they moved on to Bill McCall, Jr.'s 4 Star logo. Or at least some of their masters did. Bob Geddins, one of the Bay Area's top R&B indie producers, reportedly sold 4 Star several Four Aces tracks in 1949, and the company pressed up Lazy Navajo b/w Aces Swing, then Too Late b/w Jumpin' Out, before the year was over.

Penned by George Smith and issued in January of '50, the luxurious ballad Who Is There To Blame was half of the Aces' last 4 Star offering. Otha Jackson sang it with suave assurance over Smith's chunky piano chording (he embarks on an aggressive solo halfway through). Yoked to a Pickett-led Because I'm In Love With You, it was the quartet's 4 Star swan song. By the time Geddins released their rendition of Eddie Miller's country classic Release Me in 1954 on his Big Town logo, necessity forced Geddins to issue it as by The Original 4 Aces to differentiate it from the East Coast's Four Aces (ditto their last release the next year, I Can See An Angel). Franks left the act in 1957, and by year's end their last hand was played.

Bill Dahl

Various - Street Corner Symphonies Vol.03

1951 The Complete Story Of Doo Wop

Read more at: https://www.bear-family.de/various-street-corner-symphonies-vol.03-1951-the-complete-story-of-doo-wop.html
Copyright © Bear Family Records

Copyright © Bear Family Records®. Copying, also of extracts, or any other form of reproduction, including the adaptation into electronic data bases and copying onto any data mediums, in English or in any other language is permissible only and exclusively with the written consent of Bear Family Records® GmbH.

More information about The Four Aces on Wikipedia.org

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The Swingin' Aces (LP)
The Four Aces: The Swingin' Aces (LP) Art-Nr.: LPDH8766

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

(Dunhill) 15 tracks - Uptempo and jiving stuff by the Four Aces! Heavy vinyl and tough sound! Last copies!
$16.92 $17.54
Saturday Swing Out (CD)
The Four Aces: Saturday Swing Out (CD) Art-Nr.: CDTLR97440

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

(Teen Life Records) 28 Tracks - Jive, Jive, Jive!
$11.26 $18.05
Heart And Soul (CD)
The Four Aces: Heart And Soul (CD) Art-Nr.: CDINTRO2080

This article is deleted and can no longer be ordered!

24 tracks
$6.73 $16.92
When You're Gone - 10inch LP
FOUR ACES: When You're Gone - 10inch LP Art-Nr.: RPRLP106

only 1x still available
Ready to ship today, delivery time** appr. 1-3 workdays

(Rock Paradise) 10 tracks, great authentic Rockabilly stuff from France!!
$28.24
Best - 18 Original Recordings
FOUR ACES: Best - 18 Original Recordings Art-Nr.: CD544270

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(2000/UNIVERSAL) 18 tracks (MCA 1951-57)
$11.26 $14.66
1946-1955 (CD)
FOUR ACES: 1946-1955 (CD) Art-Nr.: CDFLY62

the very last 1 available
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Four Aces - 1946-1955 (CD)
$40.68 $45.21
The Hits And More (2-CD)
FOUR ACES: The Hits And More (2-CD) Art-Nr.: CDJAS504

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(2010/JASMINE) 49 tracks
$19.18
More Greatest Hits (CD)
FOUR ACES: More Greatest Hits (CD) Art-Nr.: CDVSD5617

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More Greatest Hits (CD)
$21.45
Goin' Strong With ... (2012)
The Four Aces: Goin' Strong With ... (2012) Art-Nr.: CDRPR21

only 1x still available
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Rock Paradise) 13 tracks, French authentic Rockabilly band! Seven tracks are their own compositions - the sound of this combo is tough & straight and really makes fun to listen to it!! A+ album!
$21.45
Hits From Hollywood & Broadway
FOUR ACES: Hits From Hollywood & Broadway Art-Nr.: CDSEPIA1153

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)2010/SEPIA9 26 tracks
$14.66
20 Greatest Hits (CD)
The Four Aces: 20 Greatest Hits (CD) Art-Nr.: CD081020

the very last 1 available
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(Collectables Records) 20 tracks
$22.58
Three Coins In The Fountain - A Garden In The Rain (7inch, 45rpm)
The Four Aces: Three Coins In The Fountain - A Garden In The... Art-Nr.: 45MCA60009

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(MCA Records) 2 tracks
$11.26
Mister Sandman (CD)
FOUR ACES: Mister Sandman (CD) Art-Nr.: CD265923

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(Delta Leisure) 26 tracks
$11.26