Early Girls, Vol.1: Popsicles & Icicles

I received some Amazon Vouchers for Christmas and decided to send for the full series of Early Girls. As well as some tracks that I knew there are also some obscure artists in this collection. From the 50's & 60's American Artists and this one is the first of 5.If you like this period this will be for you.

This impressive collection of recordings by female singers, laid down between 1957 and 1963, is the first of three volumes. Few of the ladies featured here had a lot of hits. Skeeter Davis, successful for several years on the country charts, is represented here by I can't stay mad at you, but is best remembered for End of the world.The set begins with Do wah diddy, a minor American hit for the Exciters which later became a number one hit in Britain and America via Manfred Mann's version. Betty Everett's version of You're no good helped launch her career, but the song became much more successful when covered by the Swinging blue jeans in Britain and (later) Linda Ronstadt in America. Completing an unlucky trio is Earl Jean, who had a top forty American hit with I'm into something good, only to see Herman's hermits cover the song and make it their own. There is nothing wrong with any of the original versions of these songs, leaving us to wonder why they did not have more success.There are big hits here - It might as well rain until September (Carole King) and I love how you love me (Paris Sisters) were huge hits in both Britain and America. Other huge American hits include The name game (Shirley Ellis, best known in Britain for the clapping song), Dark moon (Bonnie Guitar) and Dedicated to the one I love (Shirelles, best remembered everywhere for Will you love me tomorrow).There are many other great songs, mostly sung by long-forgotten one-hit wonders. Anybody interested in female singers of the era and looking for less obvious material should check this out.

Great deal!

Really good tracks on this CD

Ace records never fail to amaze me and Early Girls is no exception, for me stand out tracks are obviously the original of Doo Wah Diddy Diddy - Exciters, & You're No Good - Everett, Betty, Name Game - Ellis, Shirley (can't stop trying to sing along with that one!) I'm Into Something Good - Earl Jean - (amazing to hear the original), a personal favourite is I Told Every Little Star - Scott, Linda (first heared Rachel Sweet sing this one a long time ago on Oh Boy! in the 80's), Pink Shoe Laces - Stevens, Dodie... I'll stop there it's just a fantastic compilation!, I've got Vol'2 on order now.

So Far, I Have Purchased Volume 1 And Volume 2 Of The " Early Girls " On CD...From ACE UK , Both CDs Are Loaded With Surprises For The Listener !VOLUME 1 :Contains The Original "Do-Wah-Diddy " As By The Exciters A Year Before Manfred Mann Charted Higher With It.( The Exciters Big Hit " Tell Him " Is On Volume 2 )Ditto For Earl Jean's Early 1964 Outing: " I'm Into Something Good " Before Herman's Hermits Got It..." Triangle " As By Janie Grant From 1961 Was Not A Hit By Any Stretch Of The Imagination, However, CAPRICE Records Tried To Cash-In On Her " Stunning " Looks..." Son-In-Law " Was A Master By The Blossoms Picked-Up By CHALLENGE Records In 1961.It Was A Quasi " Answer " Record For Ernie K-Doe's Smash " Mother-In-Law " For MINIT Records.( Though The Girls Did Countless , Often Un-Credited, Sessions, This Outing Was One Of The Very Few Times The Girls Actually Used That Group Name For The CHALLENGE Release )Of Course, The " Bog-Standard " Recordings And Artists Are Here Too...Betty Everett, Shirley Ellis, The Cookies, The Shirelles, Linda Scott, The Paris Sisters And Others.VOLUME 2 :The Real Treat Here Is The Original " My Boy Lollipop " As By Barbie Gaye From 1956 !Released By The Tiny DARL Imprint, Barbie Could Not Have Ever Even Dreamed The Song Would Be A Number One By Another Song-Bird Millie ( Small ) Some Eight Years Later !Rosie ( Hamlin ) Is Here With Her Second-Outing For HIGHLAND Records " Lonely Blue Nights "( Her " British-Edited " Hit " Angel Baby " Is On Volume 1 And Thought It Reads As " Alternate Take " It Is In-Fact The Original Recording With The Intro And Sax Solo Shortened )San Diego's Own ( Born In Oregon, Raised In Alaska ) Rosie Would Sign With BRUNSWICK Records And The Label Went As Far As Releasing An LP - Entitles " Lonely Blue Nights " - Without Her Originals...Three ( 3 ) " Answer " Records Are Presented Here:" I'll Save The Last Dance For You " As By Damita Jo From 1961, Responding To The Drifters Hit...." Well, I Told You " As By The Chantels, Also From 1961, Responding To Ray Charles' " Hit The Road Jack "" Duchess Of Earl " As By The Pearlettes From 1962, Responding To Gene Chandler's " Duke Of Earl "( It Is Said That Cher Was On This Session, Released On The Same Label As Gene's Hit - VEE JAY Records.)Interestingly, The Johnny Otis-Penned " Every Best Of My Heart " Reads Only As " The Pips " Instead Of The Later, " Gladys Knight & The Pips "This Record Was Released On Both Bobby Robinson's FURY Imprint, And VEE JAY In 1961.This Track Is The VEE JAY " Version "Again, More Bog-Standard Recordings And Artists Are Also Well-Represented...Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee, Ruby & The Romantics, Kathy Young & The Innocents, Lesley Gore, And More.Still, A Great Selection Of The " Early Girls " With Both The Solo And Group Efforts Well-Presented.Thanks To Outlets Like ACE (UK ) Compilations Such As This Will Continue Be Available For All To Enjoy...