X-RARE DooWop 45 Record - ALICE JEAN & Mondellos - NM-

$

594

oldies, doo wop, r&b, rhythm and blues, vocal group, record, vinyl, fifties, '50s rock n roll,
ARTIST: 16 Yr. Old ALICE JEAN
LABEL: Rhythm 109 (1957)
SONGS: Happiness Street / Hard To Please

This is one of over 600 rare doo-wop, R&B and blues 45s that I am selling.

This record is a collector's dream! Recording for a tiny San Francisco label (Rhythm Records, owned by ex-Boston Celtic star and local KWBR DJ, Big Don Barksdale), the group was little known outside of California. To this day, aside from some collectors, their name draws mostly, "Huh?" Too bad!

Lead singer, Alice Jean (Wilton), was just 16, but she had an amazing voice. Influenced by gospel, blues and doo-wop, she had perfect voice control and an emotional depth beyond her years. Add to that her fresh youthfulness and you came away with one of the most appealing voices ever to sing into a microphone. When she sings the words, "I love you," in Hard To Please, it's a real shivers-up-your-spine event. She takes the words and makes them hers.

The Mondellos themselves are top-notch. They're youth shines and they prove to be the perfect compliment to Alice Jean. Hard To Please is a prize – a tart little "once you had me, now you don't!" piece of teen drama, with fresh lyrics ("...but this mornig before dawn / I saw you standing on my front lawn...") and a sly, lazy beat.

The B-side, Happiness Street, is another gem with real street- corner old-school background vocals and sweet bluesy guitar licks adding a touch of real life to this doo-wop fairy tale. There are a couple of breaks in the song where Alice Jean gets to show her stuff. They're worth the price of the record alone!

Check your handy price guide and trust me: even if you've never heard of this group or this record, if you're a collector of the best doo-wop, you'll want Alice Jean and the Mondellos.

Matrix numbers are: 45PR-1021, 19221 and 45PR1020, 19220.

CONDITION: Near Mint-. Label very clean, with slightest superficial scuffing (see photos). Vinyl also very clean, with a few hard-to-spot superficial scratches. Music is bright, clear and upfront. (As always, should there be any discrepancies about sound quality, I will gladly refund your money if you notify me within 5 days of receiving the record.)

Super-scarce rarity from the West Coast – in fine condition! Thanks for dropping by. Good luck bidding!

Any questions? Feel free to contact me.

(Record guaranteed as described. In U.S., package will be shipped USPS Media Mail, $3, plus any insurance. Other countries will be shipped USPS Airmail Letter Post, $7. I accept PayPal, money orders and cashier's checks. Cash OK, if prearranged.Thanks again!)