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All The Co-Ed Hits Are Here

M. Worman | 08/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the late summer of 1962 to February 1964 this Italian-American quintet from Jersey City put seven tunes into the Billboard Pop Hot 100 for the Coed label, three of which crossed over to the Adult Contemporary [AC] charts - and they are all here along with three of the flipsides. That, the sound quality, and the background notes makes this a 5-star compilation in my eyes.



Most of their material revisited hits from the past, but lead Joseph (Joey Vann) Canzano, along with Tom Bialablow, John Salvato, Mike Arnone, and Joe Santolo, gave those hits new life with their close harmonizing.



They began in 1962 with You Belong To Me, which had been a # 1 for Jo Stafford a decade earlier, taking it to # 7 Hot 100 that September b/w Take Me As I Am [tracks 1 and 2]. For their follow-up single later that year they used the melody of Tara's Theme from Gone With The Wind on My Own True Love which made it to # 2 AC/# 13 Hot 100 in November. The flipside, Ginny, is not included.



In 1963 they scored four times. I'd Rather Be Here In Your Arms was a minor hit, reaching # 91 Hot 100 in February b/w I Wish I Could Believe You. Gone With The Winf, inspired by, but not actually from the film, had been a # 1 for Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights way back in 1937. but their version struggled, reaching # 89 Hot 100 in April b/w Let's Make Love Again.



In September they returned to the Top 40 Pop with the Joni James # 1 hit from 1952, Why Don't You Believe Me? which reached # 10 AC/# 37 Hot 100 b/w My Dearest One. Another Joni James hit, Have You Heard? [# 4 in 1953], made it to # 8 AC/# 18 Hot 100 in December, b/w Love Eyes. Neither of those B-sides are included. nor is the flip [The Sand And The Sea] of their last Coed hit, (It's No) Sin. A # 1 for Eddy Howard in 1951, this levelled off at # 74 Hot 100 in February 1964. From Gone With The Wind to this record each was billed to The Duprees featuring Joey Vann.



In 1965 they secured a contract with Columbia, but the only hit there was Around The Corner which stalled that August at # 91 Hot 100 b/w They Said It Couldn't Be Done. Five years later they would have their final charter for the Colossus label with Check Yourself, a # 97 Hot 100 b/w The Sky's The Limit in May 1970 under the billing I.A.P. Co. [The Italian Ashphalt & Pavement Company].



It would have been nice for us completist collectors had these last two missing hits been included, but this clearly focuses only on their stay with Coed. A nice compact compilation of the offerings of yet one more American group buried by the British Invasion."

Probably the most unsung Doo Wop group in rock n roll histor

Old Guy | 08/28/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"These guys had a sound that was similar to other Doo Wop groups but with their own unique harmony and easy to listen to voices. Their harmony is as good as any of the top groups of that era and just a step below Dion and the Belmonts. Known more for their ballads it was certain that when one of them was played at a sock hop, the floor would be packed with slow dancers.



Every song on this CD is easy to listen too. Those that you'll remember (or if you weren't around in that era, the ones that were their biggest hits) You Belong To Me, Have You Heard, and My Own True Love are here and bring back memories of last dances. Why Don't You Believe Me has the sound of a slow big band era song but with Doo Wop harmony an performed with excellence.



This is a must add to any oldies collection because it reflects a sound that was unmistakable and this is one of the groups that made that sound a big part of early rock n roll. Good listening for Doo Wop and street corner harmony fans of all ages."