The Diamonds - Woomai-Ling 1961 Mercury 71818.wmv

The Diamonds (2) (Toronto, Canada)
(By Hans-Joachim)


Members :

Dave Somerville (Lead) (replaced by Jim Malone 1961)

Ted Kowalski (Tenor) (replaced by Evan Fisher 1958)

Phil Levitt (Baritone) (replaced by Mike Douglas 1957)

Bill Reed (Bass) (replaced by John Felten 1958)The Diamonds were a clean-cut white vocal group that had sixteen hits between 1956 and 1961, ten which were covers of songs sung by black R&B artists. The original group, formed in 1953, consisted of Dave Somerville, Phil Levitt, Ted Kowalski, and Bill Reed. In the beginning the group practiced several types of vocal styles, including four part "barber style" harmony. The Diamonds began their singing in local clubs, school functions, church socials, and anywhere they could find an audience.

They came to the attention of Coral Records, a subsidiary of Decca Records, where they covered two records, Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots (a hit for the Cheers) b/w "Nip Sip" (a Clovers song) during the summer of 1955. Neither sold well enough to convince Coral to retain them. However, Bill Randle, an influential Cleveland deejay, liked them enough to mention their name to an executive at Mercury Records. The Diamonds signed with one of the labels that developed the market for "covers."
The Diamonds decision to cover rhythm and blues artist was the result of economic reality: cover records sold very well in markets where the original versions wouldn't be acceptable. Among their hits in 1956 were "Why Do Fools Fall In Love," "Church Bells May Ring," "Love, Love, Love" and "Ka-King-Dong," originally recorded by The Teenagers, The Willows, The Clovers, and The G-Clefs, respectively.




Their biggest hit was a cover of The Gladiola's "Little Darlin'." The Gladiolas version came out in the first week in February, 1957. In less then two weeks the Diamonds version was out. Legend has it that prior to the recording session the group rehearsed the song all night in their hotel room, becoming so fed up that they exaggerated the bass and falsetto parts in an attempt to turn the song into a satire of itself. This is only partly true. Maurice Williams, The Gladiola's lead singer, invented all the vocal trills and hiccups. However, the spoken bridge was not performed by The Gladiolas.

The Diamonds continued covering other artists and their version of "Words of Love" brought the song's writer Buddy Holly his first significant royalties. By late 1957, the music industry began to accept as true that what had been known by teenagers for two years: original rock and roll couldn't be copied just by anyone. Rock and Roll was a form of expression that relied as much on delivery as on lyrics and musical notation. Rock and Roll singers learned this lesson for themselves as they many switched from small companies to major labels. Often their first session's attempted to record their earlier hits by copying the original style.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Diamonds
• Woomai-Ling
• 1961
• Mercury
• 71818.

[ricknelson69]

My favourite song by the Diamonds! Like Doowop should be!!

[raredoowop]

@ricknelson69 .yes my too.thanks

[ausfan100]

Not bad but a bit too much like 'She Say'.

[Fefos1000]

Fantástico, maravilhoso, divino. à minha infância, adolescência, juventude e início da fase adulta. Nessa época tínhamos qualidade musical.Hoje, com algumas e raras exceções, temos, principalmente no Brasil, a bundalização da música. Tempos que não voltam mais, que saudade.

Fernando Fonseca.

[MrRJDB1969]

The great Diamonds with a tune written by the great Bill Medley !

[myraredoowop]

@Polyphemus47 ,it's my pleasure,

[Polyphemus47]

I've loved The Diamonds almost all my life, and I only found this 45 a few years ago - never heard it on the radio. Thanks for posting!