Search - Modern Vocal Groups :: Vol. 1-Modern Vocal Groups

For Hard Core Group Collectors

Jon R. Wittman Re/Max | San Marino, Ca United States | 11/23/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Modern Records was a large west coast record label during the fifties that was never known for great R&B vocal group recodings and this disc shows why. I don't think there is a really great cut on the entire compilation. There are some good tracks and there are titles that are very rare and sought after on 45 RPM by hard core collectors, but more for their rarity I think than by their quality. Some of these tracks are very rough and primitive sounding and do not hold up well through the years. You can hear a very young Richard Berry, ( the original creator of Louie Louie) who must have recorded hundreds of sides and only had sucess with his solo recordings. Some of the other tracks are very pop like in sound and some by the Jubilaires sound like 40's spirituals. There's no classics in this bunch and I was somewhat disappointed in the selections. The other volumes in this series are better but as I said Modern wasn't known for group recordings and had better success with Etta James, Jesse Belvin, Elmore James and Richard Berry as a single artist. This ones for hard core group collectors who are looking for certain recordings to fill out their collections. Okay but definitly not great."