Previous Vocal Group Record of the Week
#555 (Week of 2/16/08 - 2/22/08)

UNCREDITED BACK-UP GROUP: THE MOONGLOWS

"Please Come Back To Me"
by Claudia Swann
on Chess 1586
released in 1955

"Diddley Daddy"
by Bo Diddley
on Checker 819
released in 1955


       
[Above clippings courtesy of Galen Gart.]

Above: Clippings from May and July 1955. Claudia "Griffin" is Claudia Swann. The Moonglows may have been "upcoming", but they already had two hit records for Chess before "Foolish Me."

Click HERE to view an article about The Moonglows by Marv Goldberg.
Click HERE to view an article about The Moonglows by J.C. Marion.
(Will open in separate windows)


     
[Chess label image and corresponding audio provided by Andrew Bohan.]
Above Left: Label image for Chess 1586 recorded on 11/8/54 and released in January 1955.

Above Right: Label image for Checker 819 recorded on 5/15/55 and released in June 1955. It's Little Walter playing harmonica on this one.

Trade Magazine (October 1954): Leonard and Phil Chess have pacted singer Lowell Fulson and the Griffin Brothers for the Chess label. Thrush Claudia Swann, who sings with the brothers, will be heard as the band's singer. Thrush Margie Day, now with Decca Records, was the previous singer with the Griffins....

Trade Magazine (January 1955): Checker Records artist Little Walter reportedly has just been released from Mt. Sinai Hospital, this city, where he had been since Xmas morning. Seems he was rushed to the hospital a very sick man. Walter is now at home recuperating.... Len Chess just back from Miami, where he spent the New Year holiday with his family. Len's real excited over "I Wanna Hug Ya, Kiss Ya, Squeeze Ya" by Buddy and Claudia Griffin with the Griffin Brothers orchestra. The Griffins were discovered in their hometown of Norfolk, Va. and recorded on the spot.... The Moonglows are set for a Jan. 21 opening at New York's Apollo Theater....

Listen to this week's selections by (1) Claudia Swann and (2) Bo Diddley:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]
(Above: Bo Diddley)
  A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...
 
       (1) Please Come Back To Me - Chess 1586 - 1955
       (2) Diddley Daddy - Checker 819 - 1955
 
       BOTH SONGS played in sequence

  B. Download RealAudio...
 
       (1) Please Come Back To Me - Chess 1586 - 1955
       (2) Diddley Daddy - Checker 819 - 1955
 
  C. Stream/Download** Media Player...
 
       (1) Please Come Back To Me - Chess 1586 - 1955
       (2) Diddley Daddy - Checker 819 - 1955
 
       [**To download Media file, right-click on link under C
       and then click "Save (Link) Target As..."]


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