Cadillacs, The

From Harlem, New York, The Cadillacs deserve a spot near the end of the top-ten list for best R&B vocal groups of all time. They began their recording career in 1954 singing high-spirited rhythm & blues with sunny harmonies, hard-rocking numbers and joyful doo-wop ballads that find so much favor among certain collectors today. The production throughout has that flashpoint of R&B, a hint of jazz, and a trace of pop that defined a lot of early New York vocal-group rock & roll. This release features the first two Cadillacs LPs, which were released on the Jubilee label: The Fabulous Cadillacs (1957), and The Crazy Cadillacs (1959). Both albums consist of selections from Josie Records’ singles dating back as far as 1954, including a number of R&B staples like “Zoom”, “I Wonder Why”, “No Chance”, and their biggest hit, “Speedoo”. This is a sure-bet purchase that maintains the original LP track sequence highlighting lesser heard cuts, which are just as enjoyable as the hits. These sensational recordings have been packaged together in this very special collector’s edition, which also includes 6 bonus tracks from the same period.

16-PAGE BOOKLET - RARE PHOTOS - VINTAGE MEMORABILIA - DETAILED LINER NOTES

“The Fabulous Cadillacs… hot hits from Jubilee. Lots of excitement in New York!” - Billboard Magazine (August 1957)
“A surprisingly varied set.” - Steve Leggett (AMG)

THE CADILLACS:

Earl “Speedo” Carroll, James Bailey (lead tenor vocals), James “Poppa” Clark, Charles “Buddy” Brooks, Bobby Spencer (tenor vocals)
Bobby Phillips, Earl Wade, Bill Lindsay, Roland Martinez (baritone vocals), LaVern Drake, Waldo “Champ Rollow” Champen (bass vocals), plus René Hall’s Combo, featuring René Hall (guitar and arranger) and The Jesse Powell Orchestra, featuring Jesse “Tex” Powell (conductor and tenor sax). Further personnel information is detailed inside booklet.

Recorded in New York City, between 1954 and 1959.

Tracks:

THE FABULOUS CADILLACS
01 ZOOM
02 I WONDER WHY
03 SYMPATHY
04 WOE IS ME
05 THAT’S ALL I NEED
06 WISHING WELL
07 SPEEDO
08 DOWN THE ROAD
09 YOU ARE
10 THE GIRL I LOVE
11 NO CHANCE
12 SUGAR SUGAR

THE CRAZY CADILLACS
13 MY GIRL FRIEND
14 BROKEN HEART
15 BETTY MY LOVE
16 SHOCK-A-DOO
17 GLORIA
18 ZOOM-BOOM-ZING
19 DON’T BE MAD WITH MY HEART
20 WINDOW LADY
21 WHY
22 CARELESSLY
23 BABY’S COMIN’ HOME TO ME
24 LET ME EXPLAIN

BONUS TRACKS
25 COPYCAT
26 DUMBELL
27 HOLY SMOKE BABY
28 PEEK-A-BOO
29 A’ LOOKA HERE
30 COOL IT FOOL

Total Time: 74:07