Previous Vocal Group Record of the Week
#814 (5/24/14 - 6/6/14)

SPOTLIGHT ON THE MEADOWLARKS - PART TWO

"Heaven And Paradise"/"Embarrassing Moments"
by Don Julian And The Meadowlarks
on DooTone 359-A/B
released in 1955


Above: The Meadowlarks (L-R) Ronald Barrett (tenor), Glen Reagan (tenor), Don Julian (tenor) and Earl Jones (baritone/bass).

Click HERE for an article about The Meadowlarks by Marv Goldberg.
(Will open in a separate window)


[The above clipping is courtesy of Galen Gart.]
Above: A DooTone advertisement from April 1955 hyping The Meadowlarks' first release on the label.

From Trade Magazine, January 1955: ....Dootsie Williams, president of DooTone Records, this week added to his talent roster with the signing of two new groups, the Swans and the Meadowlarks....

From Trade Magazine, March 1955: ....Dootsie Williams, the guiding light of DooTone Records, says "Heaven And Paradise" by the Meadowlarks is showing the same initial reaction as "Earth Angel" did—all of which indicates that, it too, can become another smash hit....

(Reference Links:   Earth Angel   Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild)


[The above clipping is courtesy of Galen Gart.]
Above: DooTone "Best Seller" advertisement from May 1955.

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MINI-SPOTLIGHT ON WALTER "DOOTSIE" WILLIAMS:


Dootsie Williams was a trumpet player, orchestra leader, combo leader, composer, music publisher, and record company owner/president (Blue, DooTone, Authentic, Dooto). The car is a 1955 Buick.


(California Eagle 12/18/41)


(California Eagle 1/15/42) THE FOUR CHOCOLATEERS...smilingly above, are destined for sky rocket prominence in swing circles during '42, according to wise musical observers. Watch 'em!
SMALL COMBO WILL INCREASE IN FAVOR, DOOTSIE CLAIMS— "The small musical combination will come into its own in 1942," says Dootsie Williams, leader of the fine vocal and instrumental quartet featured at the 331 Club in Hollywood.... Dootsie Williams will be remembered as the young band leader who developed one of the finest large bands on the coast a few years back, the Harlem Dukes. Now, however, he is creating a sensation in Hollywood with his quartet, the Four Chocolateers.


(California Eagle 3/18/48)

(Pittsburgh Courier 2/24/51)


(California Eagle 3/10/55)


(Washington Afro-American 3/4/58)

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Above: Label image of DooTone 359 recorded in January 1955 and released the following month. "Don Julian" is shown as composer on both sides. Previously, The Meadowlarks had two records released on RPM (1954) and three sides released on Specialty (1954-55) as The Maytones backing Percy Mayfield. They followed with several releases on DooTone (1955-56).

The Billboard Review (4/9/55):

DON JULIAN AND THE MEADOWLARKS—DOOTONE 359
Heaven And Paradise
(74) A lazy beat ballad very prettily harmonized. With the exposure it deserves, this reading could go a long way.
Embarrassing Moments (70) The group swings here, too, but objectionable lyrics will kill its chances with many deejays.

(Interesting that the California Eagle 3/10/55 article, further up on this page, suggests that Dootsie wouldn't employ off-color lyrics!)

Listen to this week's selections by Don Julian And The Meadowlarks on DooTone 359 from 1955:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

     A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...
 
          1. Heaven And Paradise
          2. Embarrassing Moments
 
          BOTH played in sequence

     B. Download RealAudio...
 
          1. Heaven And Paradise
          2. Embarrassing Moments

     C. Stream/Download Media Player...
 
          1. Heaven And Paradise
          2. Embarrassing Moments

     [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

Click HERE for SPOTLIGHT ON THE MEADOWLARKS - PART ONE.
(Above link will open in a separate window)


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