Search - Moonglows :: The Moonglows - Their Greatest Hits [MCA]

Excellent 50's doo-wop

03/29/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains all 7 R&B charted sides by the Moonglows plus 9 other good cuts from the 50's when they were most popular. Every track is excellent starting from their 1954 "Secret Love" originally on Chance Records to their 1959 "Twelve Months of the Year". Their signature tune and biggest hit is "Sincerely" which reached R&B #1 in 1955. However, I particularly like their hauntingly beautiful version of "Blue Velvet" and their 1955 hit "Most of All". Every track on this CD is excellent 1950's doo-wop music."

Still one of the best after all these years. Brilliant !!

T. H VonZabern | Boston, MA, USA | 02/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Harvey Fuqua and the Moonglows were one of the earlier of the great doo wop groups of the '50's, and one of the most disciplined. In numbers like "Sincerely" and "In my Diary" they serve up arrangements of considerable complexity and no small vocal demands, and deliver them with standout precision and intonation.
Their structure and style was often emulated by other groups and their influence can be heard in other groups that followed, i.e. the Platters and Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
This Chess 50th Anniversary CD brings it all back with fine clarity, and without the detraction excessive remastering. If you can find one of these treasures, grab it and enjoy !"

Feel the shimmer like moonglow!

Josh P. | 03/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A fitting name for such a golden group that was definetly one of the most important doo-wop groups of the '50s. This 16-track compilation opens with their signature song, "Sincerely". This song never sounded better; the remastering is that perfect for a 50 year old song. Listen to it on a machine with heavy bass boost; it kicks boo-tay! Other songs on here include their cover of Doris Day's "Secret Love" (their first record and cut with the Chance label which shortly afterward became defunct). The group then moved up the street to Chess and signed a contract. There's "Shoo-Doo-Be-Doo" recorded as Bobby Lester and the Moonlighters on the Checker label, "In My Diary", "See Saw" with Harvey Fuqua on lead and a wailing sax player, "The Masquerade Is Over", which might have you smiling if not laughing when you hear the bass man singing, "Ten Commandments of Love", another classic, "Blue Velvet" (yes, the same one that Bobby Vinton later covered). There are more songs to enjoy including the smooth closing track "Twelve Months of the Year" with the spoken parts done by a young Marvin Gaye. 4 more songs would have made this more complete, but I'm sure record companies have their reasons for marketing things as they are. What's not to enjoy?"