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"Somewhere In Korea"/ |
"Till I Waltz Again With You"/ |
"Waiting, Wanting"/ |
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"Somewhere In Korea"/ |
"Till I Waltz Again With You"/ |
"Waiting, Wanting"/ |
NOTE: This Record of the Week replaces the previous one for Brunswick 84002, and now includes all five records by related groups, The Kalvin Brothers, The Five Bills, and Four Brothers And A Cousin. More information about the member's names added on 3/10/21.
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At Left: From Cleveland Call And Post dated 5/10/52. Jack Hooke, one of Royal Roost's owners, was a close personal friend of Alan Freed. Notice The Kalvin Brothers' description as a "spiritual group." While "Somewhere In Korea" has spiritual overtones, the flip "Please Don't Leave Me" is 100% secular. Above: Label image for The Kalvin Brothers on Royal Roost 549 released in 1952. It was their only release under this name. "D. Williams" is shown as composer on both sides. Matrix number on flip is 1113, so there may be two songs that went unreleased.
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(ADDED 3/10/21) From Marv Goldberg: LOS ANGELES EVENING CITIZEN NEWS, August 4, 1952:
Also from Marv....
*Calvin Williams is NOT the singer of the same name who was with with the 4 Deep Tones (Coral), the Hi-Liters (Hico), the Stereos (Robin Nest), and Johnny Smith's Ink Spots. **Theodore Williams changed his name to Teddy Van and became a composer and producer. The group also recorded as the Four Brothers And A Cousin. |
EXTRA AUDIO SELECTIONS (Windows Media Player):
The Cash Box Review (3/6/54):
FOUR BROTHERS AND A COUSIN - JAGUAR 3003
Whistle Stop Blues (B) The Four Brothers And A Cousin collaborate on a middle tempo blues with ok results. The group works with a simple rhythm backing and comes up with some good sounds.
Trust In Me (B+) The boys dish up a slow love ballad in a styling that is different enough to create some action. The tune is chanted with loads of feeling. Lead handles his end with a solid performance.(NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good" and B+ "excellent".)
Above: The Billboard dated 3/6/54.Listen to "Trust In Me" - Four Brothers And A Cousin - Jaguar 3003 - 1954.
Listen to "Whistle Stop Blues" - Four Brothers And A Cousin - Jaguar 3003 - 1954.
Listen to "Whispering Wind" - Four Brothers And A Cousin - Jaguar 3005 - 1954.
Listen to "Can It Be" - Four Brothers And A Cousin - Jaguar 3005 - 1954.
The labels for three of the four sides show either "D. Williams" or "David Williams" as the composer.
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Above: Clippings from The Billboard dated (Left) 2/7/53 and (Right) 2/21/53 related to Decca's re-startup of the Brunswick label.
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Above: Label image of Brunswick 84002 recorded on January 7, 1953 and released in February 1953. "Till I Waltz Again With You," released in late 1952 by Teresa Brewer, had become a big hit for her.The Cash Box Review (2/14/52):
THE FIVE BILLS - BRUNSWICK 84002
Can't Wait For Tomorrow (B) The Five Bills spin a slow tender love tune softly, tenderly, and romantically. Lead voice is solid and this group could catch on.
Till I Waltz Again With You (C+) The boys get together on an R & B treatment of the currently hot pop lovely.(NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good" and C+ "good".)
The Cash Box Review (4/18/53):
THE FIVE BILLS - BRUNSWICK 84004
Waiting, Wanting (B+) The Five Bills present a tender ballad with velvety effect. The boys charm with a faethery reading that is captivating. The lead does a wonderfuyl job against a hush backing by the balance of the group. A top notch effort that has strong pop possibilities.
Till Dawn And Tomorrow (C+) The "Bills" work with a similar item and handle it gently, but the top deck is the one.(NOTE: A rating of B+ was considered "excellent" and C+ "good".)
The Billboard Review (2/14/53):
THE FIVE BILLS - BRUNSWICK 84002
Till I Waltz Again With You (77) The hit pop tune is performed stylishly and brightly by the Five Bills. Side should pull deejay plays. Group is a good one.
Can't Wait For Tomorrow (68) Vocal group gives a routine performance here.(NOTE: A ratings range of 40-69 was considered "satisfactory" and 70-79 "good".)
AND A LATER BILLBOARD REVIEW....
The Billboard Review (3/21/53):
THE FIVE BILLS - BRUNSWICK 84002
Till I Waltz Again With You (76) Here's a lovely version of the big pop hit by the Five Bills. They sing it with style and taste, tho the disk will probably do better in the pop than the r&b market. The group is a good one.
Can't Wait For Tomorrow (75) A mighty pretty ballad is sung with feeling by the vocal quintet, and it should pull spins from both the r&b and pop jocks.(NOTE: A ratings range of 70-79 was considered "good".)
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Above: Label image of Brunswick 84004 recorded on January 7, 1953 and released in April 1953. The labels for three of the four sides show "Dave Williams" as composer, with two of those also crediting "Leroy Kirkland." Williams is somehow related to all three groups, but other than composing, to what extent? The BMI website credits him with 25 works. BMI lists 519 songs composed by Leroy Kirkland.The song titles on the four Brunswick sides include "Till," "Wait" or "Waiting," and "Tomorrow," all two times each. The Five Bills were an optimistically patient group. Too bad their recording life was so short.
The Billboard Review (4/18/53):
THE FIVE BILLS - BRUNSWICK 84004
Till Dawn And Tomorrow (74) The boys do a smooth and mighty pretty job on this attractive tune, showing off their fine harmony. Group is good, and with their clean, smooth style could probably do better pop-wise than in the r&b field.
Waiting, Wanting (74) Same comment.(All three Billboard Reviews for the Five Bills state that the "group is good.")
(NOTE: A ratings range of 70-79 was considered "good.")
Listen to this week's selections by The Kalvin Brothers and The Five Bills:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.][To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]
A. Stream RealAudio...
1. Somewhere In Korea - The Kalvin Brothers
2. Please Don't Leave Me - The Kalvin Brothers
3. Till I Waltz Again With You - The Five Bills
4. Can't Wait For Tomorrow - The Five Bills
5. Waiting, Wanting - The Five Bills
6. Till Dawn And Tomorrow - The Five Bills
ALL SIX played in sequenceB. Download RealAudio...
1. Somewhere In Korea - The Kalvin Brothers
2. Please Don't Leave Me - The Kalvin Brothers
3. Till I Waltz Again With You - The Five Bills
4. Can't Wait For Tomorrow - The Five Bills
5. Waiting, Wanting - The Five Bills
6. Till Dawn And Tomorrow - The Five BillsC. Stream/Download Media Player...
1. Somewhere In Korea - The Kalvin Brothers
2. Please Don't Leave Me - The Kalvin Brothers
3. Till I Waltz Again With You - The Five Bills
4. Can't Wait For Tomorrow - The Five Bills
5. Waiting, Wanting - The Five Bills
6. Till Dawn And Tomorrow - The Five Bills
