Songs with Earlier Histories Than the Hit Version

Help support this site! Consider clicking an ad from time to time. Thanks!

 
« Go Back to Previous Page «  

Tagged: Crew Cuts

Young Love

Co-written and first recorded by Ric Cartey & the Jiva-Tones (1956).
Hit versions by Sonny James (US #4/C&W #1 1957), Tab Hunter (US #1 1957), The Crew Cuts (US #17 1957), Connie Smith & Nat Stuckey (C&W #20 1969), Donny Osmond (US #25/UK #1 1973).

From the wiki: “‘Young Love’ was written by Ric Cartey and Carole Joyner, and was first recorded by Ric Cartey & the Jiva-Tones in November, 1956. Cartey’s version never charted but better-known versions were released within a short time – by Sonny James (January 5, 1957), Tab Hunter (a January 19, 1957 release that did even better on the charts than James’) and The Crew-Cuts (January 26, 1957). James’ recording was produced in October 1956 at Bradley Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, with vocal backing provided by the Jordanaires, the Nashville-based vocal group most known for their work with Elvis Presley.

Sh-Boom

Written and originally recorded by The Chords (US #9/R&B #2 1954).
Other hit version by The Crew Cuts (US #1/UK #12/AUS #1 1954).

From the wiki: “‘Sh-Boom’ was written by James Keyes, Claude Feaster, Carl Feaster, Floyd F. McRae, and James Edwards, all members of the R&B vocal group The Chords, and was first recorded on Atlantic Records’ subsidiary label Cat Records by The Chords on March 15, 1954 . It would be their only hit song.

Earth Angel

First recorded by The Penguins (R&B #1 1954).
Other hit versions by The Crew Cuts (US #3/UK #4 1955), Gloria Mann (US #18 1955), New Edition (US #21/R&B #3 1985).

From the wiki: “The recording sounds so simple, and it is: four voices and a piano. It first aired on the radio before the records were even pressed, and the immediate and massive reaction it received forced the group to release the recording “as-is” without the additional embellishment and orchestration that had been originally planned. ‘Earth Angel’ became one of the blueprints for Doo-wop; the second such recording to hit the Top 10 (after The Chords’ ‘Sh-Boom’). The Penguins were four high school students from Fremont High in Los Angeles, and they recorded ‘Earth Angel’ in a garage and released it on a small black-owned label called Dootone Records. The recording became the first independent label release to appear on Billboard’s national pop charts.