Vernon Green & The Medallions Golden Classics (LP)

(Collectables) 12 tracks - original 'Dootone' recordings, taken from the original tapes - Sealed cut-out LP

 As we look back on the 1950's, it is both informative and interesting to examine how American popular music reflected the changes that that were occurring in society. In the 1950's, the United States became a mobile society. Spurred by low gasoline prices, automobiles kept getting bigger and faster. A better highway system led to the growth of industries that catered to travel conscious Americans. Everything from otels and diners to drive-in movies and drive-in soda shops were geared toward the automobile. Musically, the fifties began with the steady rise in popularity of Rhythm & Blues, a form of music originally recorded by and for black-Americans but soon enthusiastically received also by white teenagers. One of the more popular styles of Rhythm & Blues was urban harmony. Vocal groups hung out on the street corners of all the major cities, harmonizing. Los Angeles was no exception.

While Los Angeles was awash with R&B vocal groups, relatively few record companies recognized their potential in the early years. One exception was Dootsie Williams, owner of the independent Dootone label. While Dootone concentrated on blues records in the beginning, the label was soon recording such talented groups as the Penguins, Meadowlarks, Cuff-Links and the Pipes, to name a few. So it happened that young Vernon Green formed a vocal group in the Watts section of Los Angeles in 1954, to record for Dootone records. Vernon Green was born in Denver, Colorado, but moved to Los Angeles as a child. Other original members of the group included Andrew Blue, Randolph Bryant and Ira Foley, through Blue was replaced by Willie Graham shortly after the group's first record.

Taking the name the Medallions, the young group (aged 18 - 20) waxed their first release, 'Buick 59' b/w 'The Letter' in June 1954. 'Buick 59' was the epitome of fifties car songs. The rhythmic hand-clapping tune, complete with vocal sound effects, described a mythical car that had to be the envy of all car enthusiasts. The flip side, 'The Letter', included a Vernon Green recitation of a note to his girlfriend, backed by some classic urban harmony. Both sides were national hits and inspred follow-ups by the Medallions. In the automobile vein, the Medallions released such car classics as 'Coupe De Ville', 'Speedin', 'Pushbutton Automobile' and '59 Volvo'. Each record seemed to carry the car saga one step further.

'The Letter' also drew enough attention to merit a follow-up. The Medallions answered it with 'The Telegram' on their next Dootone release. The group also used the same formula of recitation/harmony for their third record, 'Edna',  in 1955.  The Medallions continued recording for Dootone/Dooto records through 1960, though the personnel behind Vernon Green changed considerably. With the  changing personnel came changes in singing style — from the bluest' 'Shedding Tears For You' to the smooth ballads like 'Magic Mountain'. The group finally broke  up in 1964. Vernon Green did reassemble a Medallions group for a 1973 Dootone recording of 'Can You Talk'.
As this album is issued, word has reached as that Vemon Green and the Medallions have gotton back together and are again recording. This album presents some of the finest and best-known sides of a great vocal group, The Medallions.