Search - Nutmegs :: Nutmegs G.H.

Al V. (Al) from HOOVER, AL
Reviewed on 6/21/2007...

One of the Greatest Doo Wop groups. The Nutmegs from Connecticut. Story Untold was their biggest hit bvut Ship of Love is right there too. If you liked 50's music or DooWop vocal groups, this is one of the top ten groups at their best.

Classic Doo Wop

HardyBoys.us | Long Island USA | 02/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Nutmegs' Greatest Hits contains their biggest hits "Story Untold" and "Ship Of Love".

But the other lesser known songs are classic Doo Wop and a joy to listen to.

All the songs are the original recordings and the recording quality is excellent.

"

Lost In The Small Label Whirlpool

07/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's a group you seldom hear of during discussions about the greatest Doo-Wop groups of the Fifties and, considering they had but two charted hits, I suppose that's to be expected.



Still, you shouldn't let that sway you from purchasing this CD because, charted or not, this five-man group from New Haven, Connecticut could harmonize with the best of them. Like many such groups of that era, their disadvantage was being contracted to a small label, in this case Herald, which simply could not compete with the big, established companies in getting their artists heard.



Leroy and James Griffin, William Emery, James Tyson and Thomas McNeil, who culled their unusual name from their state motto, hit it big on the R&B charts in 1955 with the Leroy Griffin-penned A Story Untold (b/w Make Me Lose My Mind), highlighted by Leroy's mournful lead and the wailing harmony of the others. It soared to # 2 in July and was kept from the # 1 spot by five tunes called Ain't It A Shame by Fats Domino (11 weeks), Unchained Melody by Al Hibbler (1 week), Bo Diddley by Bo Diddley (2 weeks), A Fool For You by Ray Charles (1 week) and Maybellene by Chuck Bertry (11 weeks).



Even so, it was such a big hit that, in retrospect, it's safe to say it would also have eventually found its way onto the Billboard Top 100 Pop charts in due time as word spread. But, as was the case back then, one of the big boys, Mercury, had their resident group cut a quick cover version and so it was that The Crew Cuts kept The Nutmegs from entering those charts with their # 16 hit and, perhaps, also prevented Herald from obtaining the cash they needed to expand their operations and promote their artists.



Later in 1955 the group had their second charter in Ship Of Love which, b/w Rock Me, Squeeze Me, hit # 13 on the R&B charts. That was unlucky # 13, however, because they would never have another hit. In 1969 Leroy died in an industrial accident, and when the group got together again in 1974 to cut a new version of A Story Untold (uncharted) his place was taken by nephew Harold Jaynes.



If you're looking at this CD and figuring, well, since there were only two hits among the selections it's hardly worth the price, I urge you to reconsider. Each and every one of these fine cuts stands on its own against anything to emerge from the era. And remember, the only thing preventing most - if not all - from making the charts was more often than not a lack of money and, consequently, poor distribution and air play."