The Del-Vikings were the first successful integrated doo-wop vocal group whose hugely promising career was blighted by contractual and personnel issues. Despite this they had major landmark R&B and pop hits like Come Go With Me, Whispering Bells and Cool Shake along the way. As Bruce Eder writes at www.allmusic.com “the story of the Dell-Vikings is one of the most glorious, complicated, and frustrating of any successful doo-wop group in music history”.
The group consisted of serving members of the US Air Force, who shot to fame with their 1957 R&B No.2 and pop No.4 Come Go With Me, which has become a much-played favourite. Subsequent management issues and fractures even resulted at one stage in two different incarnations of the group performing simultaneously – namely The ‘Del’-Vikings and The ‘Dell’-Vikings to add to the confusion. However, having had further hits they remained active into the ‘60s.
This great LP collection brings together their best releases for a variety of labels – plus selected titles from their Luniverse album The Del-Vikings and their Mercury albums They Sing...They Swing - Del Vikings and The Swinging, Singing Del Vikings Record Session. It naturally includes their hits, which along with their varied work across the years, ranging from pure doo-wop through to rock ‘n’ roll and arrangements of Great American Songbook standards, underline the fact that they were one of the most talented doo-wop groups of the time.
Track Listing
Side A
1. COME GO WITH ME - The Dell Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1956
2. HOW CAN I FIND TRUE LOVE - The Dell Vikings (Kripp Johnson) 1956
3. WHEN I COME HOME – The Dell Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1957
4. WHISPERING BELLS - The Dell Vikings (Fred Lowery, Clarence Quick) 1957
5. DON'T BE A FOOL - The Dell-Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1957
6. COOL SHAKE - Del Vikings (Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney) 1957
7. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - The Del-Vikings (Harold Arlen, E. Y. Harburg) 1957
8. I'M SPINNING - The Dell Vikings (Pat DiCesare, Eula Bray) 1957
SIDE B
1. COME ALONG WITH ME - Del Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1957
2. I'M SITTING ON TOP OF THE WORLD - Del Vikings (Ray Henderson, Joseph Young, Samuel Lewis) 1957
3. OH TONIGHT - Del Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1958
4. PRETTY LITTLE THINGS CALLED GIRLS - Del Vikings (David Clowney, John Howard) 1958
5. FLAT TIRE - Del Vikings (Clyde Otis, Willie Dixon) 1958
6. THE SUN - Del Vikings (Clarence Quick) 1960
7. I HEAR BELLS (WEDDING BELLS) - Del Vikings (Bob Strong, Tony Love) 1961
8. CONFESSION OF LOVE - Del Vikings (Willie Glenn, Carl Stevens, Kenneth Seymour, Ernest Wright) 1962
9. AN ANGEL UP IN HEAVEN - Del Vikings (Jimmy Krondes) 1962
