Ocapellos - The Stars - Beautiful NJ Doo Wop / Soul Crossover Ballad - Gus Gossert Favorite

[Aldantonio18]

This is doo wop, harmony and excellent lead voice all wrapped into one superb package of a release. I would've loved seeing this group live ....

[T3T3T3S9]

what a tune!! please let me catch a copy of this!!! ;-D

[HIGHSCHOOLHOP]

Terry Lee a D.J. out of Mckeesport, Pa. made this into a western Penna. favorite. It is still requested a lot here in western Pa. at the oldies dances.

I was a member of the 1964 class of Laura Lamar High School. Laura Lamar High School was located in Homer City, PA.

[57MrWill]

I, for one, would love to hear in Bobby Kline's own words how this great song came about. I would really love to hear his story on this group. Are there any other members of this group still living?

[robshannon]

@joycegencarelli Definitely, I know a lot of them but I never heard this until Gus Gossert started playing it. It became one of my favorites as I know it was one of his.

[proudgram61]

DJ Terry Lee used to play this in the 60's in Mckeesport, , near Pittsburgh Pa. what music back then.

[Nickie0016]

Wow!!!! I love this one so much!!!!! and found it here! Thank you!

[chevalierable11]

merci beaucoup j'aime bien bisoi

[918leonard]

Always one of my favorites...We miss you Gus!

[Nickie0016]

@918leonard

Me too!!!!

[cynthia6637]

I AGREE! THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL SONG!

WHERE DID THESE GUYS GO!

WONDER WHERE THEY ARE TODAY!

WONDER WHERE ALOT OF PEOPLE WENT!

[scottybroker]

i remember this song growing up in Brooklyn in JHS. Needs o be brough back.

[crazyromanian1]

Priceless....thanks for posting!!!

[ghilljr50]

Great sound. The singers complement each other. A group singing together instead of a group of guys singing the same song.

[TheMelisaaaaa]

beautiful....



[only1LadyM]

I was Bobby Kline's girl when he wrote "The Stars". He was an extremely talented gentleman. We lost touch in the 70s but I recently ran into him in East Orange NJ. He still has that smooth voice.

[PJDooWop]

Very interesting.... thank you

[09mskitty]

@only1LadyM Bobby Kline was the lead singer for the Melo-Gents who also wrote their only recording "Baby Be Mine". Released in '59 on the Warner Bros label. Has been a favorite of mine, but a girlfriend from the Oranges in Jersey told me about Bobby also writing this one too. You are so right. A very talented gentleman. He should have done more.

[songbird616]

This song and other great ballads can still be heard on Terry Lee's Music For Young Lovers show in Pittsburgh...you can hear him now on the Internet every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 8 - Midnight, Music For Young Lovers every night from 10-Midnight. Google "Official Terry Lee site" and click on TL's Live Feed on the left.

[jonathanprobber]

I renew my love for this gorgeous record, and for the curly-headed kid in the third row.

[ancienttravellar]

I HAVE THIS ON THIS LABEL.IT ALSO CAME OUT IN THE CHECKER LABEL.STILL ITS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG I EVER SANG!

[hautegirl81]

never heard this before until PJ posted it now its one of my fav songs

[PJDooWop]

It instantly became one of my favorites when I first heard it as well. Thanks for listening

[PJDooWop]

I agree. Gus is primarily responsible for turning this into a NY classic

[harptone55]

MEMORIES OF THE GREAT GUS GOSSERT!!!!

[jonathanprobber]

Remembering this wonderful record, and Gus Gossert.

[allaboutrecords]

It just couldn't get any better than this! Flawless!!!

[ancienttravellar]

As a doo-wopp lover and a ballads man,and a singer(includes acapella) to me this is one of the beautifully sung and one of the greatest love songs.To all u great people who enjoy this ,GOD BLESS.

[PJDooWop]

Thanks so much.. I can't agree more!

[livetoshop1]

Bring back the CBS-FM Doo Wop Shop!

[crusher1944]

@livetoshop1 Bring something back from the 50s before it's too LATE

[livetoshop1]

Love Love Love this tune! This is another one I remember hearing on CBS-FM doo wop show with Norm N Nite in the 70s

[cefaludese100]

150 sec. masterpiece .love the lush background vocals and a band that can hold it down while seeming to not be there- vaguely hear Smokey singing "i did you wrong" and " what a price to pay" from ooo baby baby...wonder if he had heard this thanks for another beautiful ballad

[PJDooWop]

Although this didn't sell well, it was picked up for national distribution by Checker records. Smokey very well may have heard it.

[elisa412]

I just gotta stop coming here and listening to this song..it really has become my favorite all time song....sometimes I wake up in the morning and the first thing I remember is this song in my head ( think I'm addicted ) ...

[PJDooWop]

Out of the current 4,215 views, you're responsible for 4,115 lol

[elisa412]

@PJDooWop ..I told you I listen to this song..all the time..

[57Will]

I'm not the least bit ashamed to say that sometimes when I hear this beautiful song, it brings tears to my eyes.

[crusher1944]

BRING DON K REED BACK WCBS FM NEW YORK

[PJDooWop]

At this point I don't think Don would go back, but there are plenty of DJs like myself that would kill (ok, not literally) for that opportunity.

[DickAllen4HOF]

@PJDooWop You certainly have the knowledge to rank with Don K. Reed, Harvey Holliday, and Ken Held. I can't listen to this song enough. I first heard it on Don K. Reed's show while visiting the USA from my then home in Durban, South Africa. I've never stopped listening to this great song and never will.

[doowopman49]

always a fav of mine.never tire of listening this gem. if you look up slow dance, this side will be it's logo. thank you sooooooooooo very much for the beautiful memories tom d brick,nj

[desertrat1111]

sounds a little like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

[filmnyc1956]

Great Tune Great memories God Bless Gus Gossert and God bless all of you that help keep the sounds alive.

[13NJJACK]

A group out of Staten Island called,BOP SHOP,covered this also on Joke label.

[DickAllen4HOF]

Found it again! Thank God. I love this song. I first heard it on Don K. Reed's doo wop show on a Sunday night and never forgot it.

[TemptinTina1]

Very, very nice smooth sound. I remember hearing this one on CBS FM. Thanks to pioneers like Gus Gossert and Don K. Reed. These guys were the best DJ's the station ever had, and thousands shared this opinion. Alas thousands were disappointed with the station's shortsightedness.

[13NJJACK]

Don K Reed also played this on WCBS on his DooWop Shop.Too bad CBS changed its format.

[57Will]

@13NJJACK Yes, Don K. Reed used to play this one fairly often on "Doo Wop Shop". Too bad indeed.

[crusher1944]

@57WilWCBS 101.1 FM NY. SUNDAY NIGHTS

[soulguy10306]

I listened to WNJR non stop in the mid 60's. Why don't I know this song??!!

[eljee46]

Definitely a nice dreamy tune. Hmmm, does not say BMI or ASCAP -- very odd to be left off! LG

[PJDooWop]

Very good point. General was a shoestring operation, although the record was recorded and mastered surprisingly well

[scorpivision]

This production of this song is flat-out incredible. I was a little too young and top-40 oriented at the time to catch it and only discovered it a few years ago thanks to the great DJ Felix Hernandez. Thanks to you, PJDooWop, for bringing it to YouTube. Learning that they're a biracial group just puts the cherry on top of this treat for me.

[jerzeyblu27]

Oh wow i can't believe this song is on here. This was my dad favorite song they played it at his funeral. SO BEAUTIFUL

[MRDOOWOP1]

Real nice...

[doowopp64]

One of my favourite songs ever....

[wynonie]

Yes, the label color was an off white not blue like yours. I only heard it a few times after on WNJR. It was actually a pretty big hit in the Pittsburgh area .Most people in the NY/NJ first heard it when Gus Gossert played it in the early 70`s. I guess that`s the only record the group made.

[wynonie]

My friends & I were all in a car celebrating our High School gradutation in June of `66 drinking Colt 45 Malt liquor listening to WNJR out of Newark. All of a sudden,out of nowhere, The Stars came on. We stopped talking & laughing are were spellbound by the beauty of the song. We hadn`t heard anything like it or close to it in `66. At the end of the song the DJ said that was the Ocapellos with a brand new one.After much searching found it at a black record shop in Asbury Park & still have it!

[PJDooWop]

Very cool wynonie. Did you get yours on the General label too?

[Daluche1]

PJ, I got this on a reddish General label. Definately re-issue

[jonathanprobber]

@wynonie I don't remember where I was when I first heard this record, but my reaction was much like yours...removed from time, just sort of stunned. I react that way to this day.

[DickAllen4HOF]

@wynonie I had a similar experience with this song albeit a different time. I drove with three friends up from Philly to New York for a Phillies-Mets game at Shea. On the drive back I tuned in Don K. Reed's doo wop show. My friends, not doowop fans, largely ignored the music. When Don played this song, they suddenly shut up, one saying "Quiet! This song is fantastic!"

[robshannon]

Yes this is one of the best doo-wops ever. I remember Gus Gossert played this all the time. I can hear him talking over it ever so low as it is playing.

[isabelmihwa]

Hey PJ,

Great music and I'll never forget buzzy. Actually have the 45 version of Gloria done

by Nicky Addeo and I think buzzy was on that too. Spoke to your mom not too long ago and shared some great memories. Hope she is doing well. Tell her HI

Diana Lusardi....remember Chris? went to school together. 

[PJDooWop]

Hey Isabel. I'm looking for a copy of Gloria on Savoy.. The one I really want is Darling Forever by The Darchaes on Buzzy's. I think you may have me confused with another PJ though.. My family was never in touch with the Lubinskys

[Cch092775]

As far as I'm concerned this is the best doo wop song EVER. PJ, do you have any pictures of the group. What was the chart action of this song?

[PJDooWop]

It is one of the best songs ever in my opinion as well. I'm not sure about chart action, but i don't think there was much. There is a picture of Bobby Kline on an obscure old acapella LP, but I don't think a picture of the Ocapellos exists. At least two of the Ocapellos were in a group called The Cameos, and a picture of them is available on the "Best Of Johnson Records" album put out by Relic.

[wharptones]

One of the finest vocal group recordings of the mid-60s as far as my dime is concerned...simply great!

[PJDooWop]

I never did have a picture of him. The funny thing is that for years I remembered his name being Gary, but a few months ago I spoke to one of my neighbors and they confirmed that it was Bobby Kline. I guess when you're 15 years removed these things can happen

[PJDooWop]

Bobby used to live 6 blocks from me. Apparently he moved to the Jersey shore but I know nothing else. We lost touched when he moved, and that was in the mid 90s

[netspeaky]

Delightful tune - Do you know if Bobby Kline was the same guy who sang "Say Something Nice To Me" on M-S

[PJDooWop]

I do believe it's the same Bobby Kline

[netspeaky]

delightful tune - Do you know if Bobby Kline was the same guy who sang "Say Something Nice To Me" on M-S

[dukeofsoul]

KILLER !!

[SANDYBLUEFORYOU]

this song reminds me of rain on my window x

[Kirke182]

Hi PJ, been awhile! Beautiful stuff--as usual. I love all those old label logos. I'll have to look for some General discs. I found Nathaniel Mayer's "Village of Love" Fortune single a couple of weeks back. Probably not all that rare especially when you live in Detroit. And not really doo-wop but close. If people only knew how much old doo-wop there is out there. And RIP Johnny Maestro.

[PJDooWop]

I think this was the only thing released on General, or at least this General label. Village of Love isn't all that rare, although vinyl copies are quite hard to find.

Glad to hear from you again.. I hope all is well.

[web45]

I had the cream colored label 45 a few years back and sold it on e-bay. To the best of my knowledge it was the same copy Gus played on the air during the doo-wop revival in the early 70's. Of course he's no longer with us, but I bought Gus' 45 collection about 16 or 17 years ago, from his brother. I've never seen the blue label one, has to be rarer than the cream colored?

[PJDooWop]

My understanding is that the cream colored label and blue label are both worth about $200 if they're NM, and both are considered original pressings. I'm not sure if the cream colored label was used as a promo or if it came before the blue label. I live in NJ, about 15 miles where this label was from, and I've only come across 2 copies on the blue label and one copy on the cream label, which was beat.

[mrbizuet]

heii this is the beutiful doo wop ....this song i remember show of terry lee music for youn lovers

[PJDooWop]

Terri Lee did play good stuff according to a few of his old albums that I've seen

[soulwopp]

wow, nice pj

[PJDooWop]

Thank you

[angelofbebop]

Aaahhhhh....this is beautiful! Thanks PJ!

[kjboogie]

@angelofbebop

ditto !!!!! ahhhhhh

[lakewoodil]

Amazing tune and group, thanks.

[BrooklynBabe]

How can we forget....Love it!

BB

[BrooklynBabe]

Bobby Kline if you see this please contact me for Paul....

Wishing you the best..

BB

[60andcounting]

Haven't heard this since the early seventies when Gus Gossert was playing it on his WPIX in NY show. Had several of his colored vinyl albums back then and just plain wore them out!

Thanx 4 the memories.

Joe

[DickAllen4HOF]

Thankyou so much for bringing this back to me. I lived in Durban, South Africa, from 1985 to 1995. During this time I would return home to Philadelphia just to watch baseball and record doo wop from Harvey Holliday's Sunday night show. I had this song on just one of hundreds of hours of tapes. I would lidten to it over and over. This truly does rank amoung the most beautiful songs ever and that is including opera and classical.

[MrInkSpotsBillKenny]

GREAT!

[CrisVangel]

This is really a hot one! I heard it years ago on Gus' show, but didn't remember it, so very glad u posted it, I loved hearing this!

[PJDooWop]

I figured you'd get a kick out of that

[niteowl147]

Brill!! PJ.

[ALVALCRA]

My kind of music.

Love it!

[13loomisst]

Can't get enough of this one. (Staring at the label, it occurred to me that the saluting general looks more like an attendant at a Mobil station in the 1950s.)

[13loomisst]

This is one of those records that is just obviously, undeniably good. Fascinating label. PJ, was this covered by anyone else? I know this song quite well, but cannot place it and don't (unfortunately) recognize the name of the group.

Top shelf. Thanks very much.

[yardlet6]

@13loomisst There was a group called The Bop Shop who did covers of it in the 70s and 80s.

[PJDooWop]

I am not sure of any covers. Yardlet6 mentioned a cover by Bop Shop, but I haven't heard it myself. A group from Matawan NJ called The Wathington Brothers did an excellent rendition of this, but I don't think they ever recorded it.

[hah13]

what a nice sound

[PJDooWop]

One of my favorites

[Newmapsofsocal]

Mellow. I love it.

[PJDooWop]

1966 believe it or not. I think it may have been recorded in '65 though. The copies on General are extremely rare unless you find the maroon label copy with no saluting general on it. You can grab a copy on Checker without much trouble

[DickAllen4HOF]

@PJDooWop 1966? Facinating. I have heard doo wop afficianados call George Goodman and the Headliners "Let Me Love You" circa 1964 as the last great DooWop song. This one obviously presents a challenge to that title.

[PJDooWop]

I agree there.. I really can't choose a favorite between this and George Goodman's record.. They're both quite wonderful. There were many great doo wops released after this, although most of those were geared towards the oldies market and not issued as contemporary issues such as these were.

[DickAllen4HOF]

@PJDooWop I like how you distinguish between releases for a present, general audience and a, as Ken Held terms it, "New Wop." Doo wop is gaining popularity in Brazzil as an exotic music form and not just nostalgia or oldies. Brazilian singer Ana Volans even re-recorded Dick Allen's "Echoes of November." It is selling briskly and is getting airrplay on contemporary formated Brazilian radio stations.