Doo Wop

Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Baltimore, Newark, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. It features vocal group harmony that carries an engaging melodic line to a simple beat with little or no instrumentation. Lyrics are simple, usually about love, sung by a lead vocal over background vocals, and often featuring, in the bridge, a melodramatically heartfelt recitative addressed to the beloved. Harmonic singing of nonsense syllables (such as "doo-wop") is a common characteristic of these songs.Gaining popularity in the 1950s, doo-wop was "artistically and commercially viable" until the early 1960s, but continued to influence performers in other genres.
== Links to Peel ==
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Peel was a fan of the doo wop genre and would dedicate many doo-wop songs to his wife, Sheila, on his radio programmes, especially the Capris' 'There's A Moon Out Tonight', which he nominated as one of the four songs in the Peelenium 1960. Many of the doo wop records that he played on his shows came from various compilation albums, especially those issued by the Ace Records label. Other doo wop records which Peel liked included the Flamingos' 'I Only Have Eyes For You', a track that was included in his Peel's 77 All Time Favourite Records List which was published in the Disc & Music Echo paper in 1972, as well as his Peelenium 1959. In 1999 Quasi did a cover of the song for the John Peel's 60th Birthday Album.
Doo-Wop was very popular in America whilst Peel was there in the early 60's and In his book, Margrave Of The Marshes, he mentioned seeing amongst others, the doo-wop group, the Drifters, performing at the Sportatorium in Dallas. However, doo-wop music by British artists seemed to be rarely played or if any by Peel on his radio shows, according to available tracklistings on this site. Nonetheless in 1997 he had the chance to narrate a BBC Radio 2 documentary, The Doo-Wop Hall of Fame, which talked about the history of the doo wop music genre.
== Compilations ==
(Tracks played by Peel from various artist (v/a) compilations featuring doo-wop music. Please add more information if known.)
(LP - Doo Wop) Specialty
* 10 September 1981 (BFBS): Jimmy Liggins & His 3-D Music: Drunk
(LP - Dancin' & Romancin' - 18 Doowop Diamonds From The Vee-Jay Vaults) Charly R&B
* 22 February 1986 (BFBS): Magnificents: Ozeta
* 11 March 1986: Magnificents: Caddy Bo
(LP - The Dootone Story Volume 1) Ace
* 29 November 1988: Charles McCullough & The Silks: My Girl 
* 30 November 1988: Vernon Green & The Medallions: Buick '59
* 05 December 1988: Cleve Duncan, Penguins: Please Mr Junkman
* 12 December 1988: Pipes: Be Fair
(LP - Laurie Vocal Groups - The Doo Wop Sound) Ace
* 23 February 1991: Vito & The Salutations: Hello Dolly
* 03 March 1991: Harps: Daddy's Going Away Again
* 10 March 1991: Bon-Aires: The Shrine Of St. Cecilia
(LP - Dangerous Doo-Wop) DDW
* 27 July 1991: Robins: White Cliffs Of Dover 
* 24 August 1991: Artie Wilkins: Darling Patricia
(LP - Dangerous Doo Wop Volume No 2) DDW
* 04 August 1991: Crowns: Please Say You Love Me
* 10 August 1991: Copesetics: Collegian
* 19 August 1991 (Radio Bremen): Copesetics: Collegian
* 28 September 1991: Copesetics: Collegian
* 29 September 1991: Solitaires: Big Mary's House
* 12 October 1991: Barbara Greene: Long Tall Sally
(CD - Doo-Wop From Dolphin's Of Hollywood Vol.1) Specialty
* 07 March 1992: Gassers: My Aching Feet
* 29 May 1992: Gassers: My Aching Feet
(CD - Classic Doo Wop) Ace
* 13 November 1992: Johnny Staton and the Feathers: At The Altar
* 14 November 1992: Joel And The Dimensions: Sweetest One 
* 15 November 1992 (BFBS): Johnny Staton & the Feathers: At The Altar
* 27 November 1992: George Grant & Castelles: One Little Teardrop
* 04 December 1992: Joel And The Dimensions: Sweetest One
(CD - Doo Wop Christmas) Rhino
* 24 December 1992: Margo Sylvia & the Tune Weavers: Merry Christmas Baby
* 24 December 1992: Marcels: Merry Twist-Mas
(CD - Randall Lee Rose's Doo Wop Shop) Ace
* 08 January 1993: Eternals: Rockin' In The Jungle 
* 23 January 1993 (BFBS): Eternals: Rocking In The Jungle
* 30 January 1993: Randy & The Rainbows: Why Do Kids Grow Up 
* 31 January 1993 (BFBS): Jive Five: My True Story 
* 05 February 1993: Crowns: Possibility 
(CD - Old Town Doo Wop Volume One) Ace
* 07 August 1993: Keynotes: A Fool In Love
* 14 August 1993: Bonnevilles: Zu Zu
* 10 September 1993: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 17 September 1993: Symbols: Last Rose of Summer
* 17 September 1993 (BFBS): Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer 
* 18 September 1993: Bonnevilles: Lorraine
* 25 September 1993: Symbols: Crying My Heart Out 
* 02 October 1993: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 04 October 1993 (Ö3): Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 29 October 1993: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* Peel Out In The States (Program 23 & 24): Symbols: Last Rose of Summer
* 22 January 1994: Packards: Dream Of Love 
* 04 November 1995: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 11 November 1995 (BFBS): Symbols: Last Rose of Summer
* 02 June 1996: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 09 June 1996 (BFBS): Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 08 September 1996: Bonnevilles: Lorraine
* 22 September 1996: Bonnevilles: Zu Zu
* 23 September 1996 (BBC World Service): Bonnevilles: Lorraine
* November 1996 (FSK): Symbols: Crying My Heart Out 
* 14 December 1996: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 10 June 1997: Symbols: Crying Out My Heart Out
* 20 September 2001: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 08 November 2001: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
* 15 May 2003: Symbols: Last Rose Of Summer
(CD - Old Town Doo Wop Volume 2) Ace
* 01 October 1993: Royal Tones: Hong Kong Jelly Wong
* 02 October 1993: Vocaleers: Love And Devotion
* 15 October 1993 (BFBS): Royaltones: Hong Kong Jelly Wong 
* 16 October 1993: Solitaires: The Angels Sang 
* 05 February 1994: Fiestas: Our Anniversary 
* 11 February 1994: Ovations: My Lullabye 
(CD - Dootone Doo Wop Volume 1) Ace
* 02 February 1996: Charles McCullough & The Silks: You're Not Too Young
* 10 February 1996: Charles McCullough & The Silks: You're Not Too Young 
* 10 February 1996 (BFBS): Charles McCullough & The Silks: You're Not Too Young 
* 17 February 1996 (BFBS): Charles McCullough & the Silks: My Girl
* 24 February 1996: Dootones: The Day You Said Goodbye
(CD - Dootone Doo Wop Volume 2) Ace
* 25 March 1997: Calvanes: Crazy Over You
* 27 March 1997: Don Julian & The Meadowlarks: Heaven And Paradise
* 02 April 1997: Romancers: I Still Remember
* 10 April 1997: Penguins: I Ain't Gonna Cry No More
* 22 April 1997: Romancers: I Still Remember
* 24 April 1997 (BFBS): Romancers: 'I Still Remember
* 04 June 1997: Saigons: You're Heavenly
* 05 June 1997 (BFBS): Henry Houston & Cufflinx: Lawful Wedding (JP: 'The older I get, actually, the more I like doo-wop.')
(CD - Dootone Doo Wop Volume 3) Ace
* 26 February 1998: Eli & The Manhattans: My Big Dream
(CD - The Finbarr Golden Treasury Of Doo Wop Volume Two) Finbarr International
* 09 March 1999: Dee Cals: Stars In The Blue, What Should I Do? 
* 18 March 1999: Cineramas: Crying For You
* 18 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Cineramas: Crying For You
* 30 March 1999: Fabulaires: Lonely Days Lonely Nights
(CD - Old Town Doo Wop Volume 5) Ace
* 27 July 1999: Sharps: We Three-My Echo, My Shadow And Me
(CD - Wop Ding A Ling - Classic New York Doo Wop From Time, Brent & Shad) Ace
* 25 November 1999 (Radio Eins): Tradewinds: Aggravation
* 02 December 1999: Big Five: Blue Eyes
* 09 December 1999: Creators: There's Gonna Be An Angel
* 13 December 1999 (BFBS): Creators: There's Going To Be An Angel
(CD - Miami Rockin' Doowop From The Chart Label) Ace
* 08 June 2000: Evergreens: Guitar Player
(CD - Flip Doo Wop - Volume 1) Ace
* 12 December 2001: Six Teens: A Casual Look
* 12 December 2001: Falcons: Du-Bi-A-Do
* 12 December 2001: Donald Woods & The Vel-Aires: Death Of An Angel
== See Also ==
* Beltones
* Capris
* Casinos
* Coasters
* Drifters
* Five Birds
* Flamingos
* Harptones
* Impressions
* Olympics
* Orchids
* Orioles
* Paragons
* Pastels
* Shep & The Limelites
* Supremes
== External Links ==
* Wikipedia
* Britannica
Category:Genres
Category:Compilations
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