Frankie Lymon was just 14 years old when he burst onto the scene as leader of an R&B doowop group in the wake of the first flush of rock ‘n’ roll in the charts during the mid-50s, and the precociously talented teenager, already writing his own songs, made a huge impact on both sides of the Atlantic with his debut hit with The Teenagers Why Do Fools Fall In Love?
Born in Harlem, New York, in 1942 to Jeanette and Howard Lymon, his parents both sang in the gospel group The Harlemaires, while Frankie and his brothers Lewis and Howie sang with the Harlemaire. At 12 in 1954, Lymon heard a local doo-wop group known as the Coupe De Villes at a talent show.
He became friends with the lead singer, Herman Santiago, and he eventually became a member of the groups The Ermines and The Premiers. Dennis Jackson of Columbus, Georgia, was one of the main influences in Lymon's life. His personal donation of $500 helped start Lymon’s career.
That career was telescoped into a few short years, his hits drying up in 1960, and his career declining until his untimely demise in 1968 at the age of 25 from a drug overdose.
This 61-track set comprises the A-and B-sides of his singles with The Teenagers and as a solo artist on the Gee and Roulette labels during what was the primary era of his career, along with selected titles from the album At the London Palladium and the titles not otherwise released as singles from the album Rock ‘n’ Roll for Roulette.
It features all his 10 US pop and R&B hits, and his UK chart entries from these years, including the Top 10 hits Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Who Can Explain, Promise To Remember, The ABC’s Of Love, Baby Baby and Out In The Cold Again. His music represented a fascinating strand of pop/R&B which was a significant part of the musical zeitgeist of the era.
TRACKS
Disc 1 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
Why Do Fools Fall In Love |
The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon |
2 |
Please Be Mine |
The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon |
3 |
I Want You To Be My Girl |
The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon |
4 |
I'm Not A Know-It-All |
The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon |
5 |
I Promise To Remember |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
6 |
Who Can Explain |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
7 |
The ABC's Of Love |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
8 |
Share |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
9 |
I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
10 |
Baby Baby |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
11 |
Teenage Love |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
12 |
Paper Castles |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
13 |
Am I Fooling Myself Again |
The Teenagers |
14 |
Love Is A Clown |
The Teenagers |
15 |
Miracle in the Rain |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
16 |
Out In The Cold Again |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
17 |
Goody Goody |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
18 |
Creation Of Love |
Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers |
19 |
Flip Flop |
The Teenagers |
20 |
Everything To Me |
The Teenagers |
21 |
I'm Not Too Young To Dream |
Frankie Lymon |
22 |
Goody Good Girl |
Frankie Lymon |
23 |
So Goes My Love |
Frankie Lymon |
24 |
My Girl |
Frankie Lymon |
25 |
It's Christmas Once Again |
Frankie Lymon |
26 |
Little Girl |
Frankie Lymon |
27 |
Footsteps |
Frankie Lymon |
28 |
Thumb Thumb |
Frankie Lymon |
29 |
Mama Don't Allow It |
Frankie Lymon |
30 |
Portable On My Shoulder |
Frankie Lymon |
31 |
Melinda |
Frankie Lymon |
Disc 2 |
|
|
Track |
Title |
Artist |
1 |
The Only Way To Love |
Frankie Lymon |
2 |
No Matter What You've Done |
Frankie Lymon |
3 |
Up Jumped A Rabbit |
Frankie Lymon |
4 |
Before I Fall Asleep |
Frankie Lymon |
5 |
What A Little Moonlight Can Do |
Frankie Lymon |
6 |
Little Bitty Pretty One |
Frankie Lymon |
7 |
Buzz, Buzz, Buzz |
Frankie Lymon |
8 |
Waitin' In School |
Frankie Lymon |
9 |
Jailhouse Rock |
Frankie Lymon |
10 |
Silhouettes |
Frankie Lymon |
11 |
Change Partners |
Frankie Lymon |
12 |
So Young |
Frankie Lymon |
13 |
I Put The Bomp |
Frankie Lymon |
14 |
Young |
Frankie Lymon |
15 |
Let's Fall In Love |
Frankie Lymon |
16 |
So Goes My Love |
Frankie Lymon |
17 |
Somebody Loves Me |
Frankie Lymon |
18 |
Fools Rush In |
Frankie Lymon |
19 |
You Were Only Fooling |
Frankie Lymon |
20 |
My Baby Just Cares For Me |
Frankie Lymon |
21 |
My Girl |
Frankie Lymon |
22 |
Too Young |
Frankie Lymon |
23 |
Yours (Quiéreme Mucho) |
Frankie Lymon |
24 |
Goody Goody |
Frankie Lymon |
25 |
Wake Up Little Susie |
Frankie Lymon |
26 |
Next Time You See Me |
Frankie Lymon |
27 |
Send For Me |
Frankie Lymon |
28 |
It Hurts To Be In Love |
Frankie Lymon |
29 |
Diana |
Frankie Lymon |
30 |
Searchin' |
Frankie Lymon |
31 |
Short Fat Fannie |
Frankie Lymon |