"The Clovers were major R&B vocal group stars in the early to mid 50's. This CD covers their 1951 to 1960 releases on both Atlantic and United Artists records. The first 12 tracks are all very good high-charted Atlantic recordings and track 15, "Love Potion No. 9", was their lone non-Atlantic hit. The remaining 3 tracks are undistinguished. Their 1956 hit, "Love, Love, Love", is conspicuous by its absence. The liner notes contain good historical information."
I can't believe this group is NOT in the Rock Hall of Fame!
Jesse Monteagudo | Plantation, Florida USA | 09/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"While much lesser groups have been inducted. Admittedly, the Clovers somewhat predated the Rock Age but at least they could have been inducted as "early influences" (like the Ink Spots). The Very Best of the Clovers is a great compilation of songs and hits by this unjustly forgotten group. Another triumph for Rhino Records."
Great Group - Great Songs
L. Hall | Sunny Sarasota Florida | 08/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Excellent group and great early R/B songs. If you like this I would suggest you purchase the Atlantic Records album of the Clovers titled " The Clovers, Down in the alley". This CD has all of the great tracks plus more than the 'Very Best". Check it out!"
Early Fifties Torch Carriers
L. Hall | 08/02/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When The Mills Brothers and Ink Spots began their illustrious careers in the Thirties they inspired other black groups to follow in their giant footsteps, such as The Delta Rhythm Boys, The 5 Red Caps, The Charioteers, The Orioles, and The Ravens. The torch was then passed to a new generation as the Fifties arrived, led by The Dominoes, The Five Keys, and The Clovers.
The latter had actually begun under that name as a trio at a Washington, D.C. high school in 1946 where Harold Lucas, Billy Shelton, and Thomas Woods entertained their schoolmates. Later John Bailey joined the group and, as they polished their act, Matthew McQuator and Harold Winley replaced Woods and Shelton. Just before the arrival of the new decade the quartette was joined by guitarist Bill Harris.
After a brief, unsuccessful fling with Rainbow Records their manager, Lou Krefetz, got them a contract with the fledgling Atlantic Records owned by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson, and from 1951 to 1956 they would go on to put out a string of 20 charted R&B hits, only one of which - the last - crossed over into the Billboard Pop charts.
This CD gives you 12 of them, beginning with Don't You Know I Love You and Fool, Fool, Fool - both # 1 in 1951, The following year they chalked up three double-sided hits in a row. One Mint Julip (# 2, later covered by Ray Charles) b/w Middle Of The Night (# 3), Ting-A-Ling (# 1 and later covered by Buddy Holly) b/w Wonder Where My Baby's Gone (# 7), and Hey, Miss Fannie (# 2) b/w I Played The Fool. Unfortunately, none of the flipsides are included here.
Nor are their first and third 1953 hits, Crawlin' (# 3) and Comin' On (# 9), but the middle hit that year is - Good Lovin' (# 2). Both sides of their first charter of 1954 are included - Lovey Dovey (# 2, later covered by Buddy Knox) and Little Mama (# 4), but only the A-side of their next twin-hit that year, Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash, (# 6) is (later covered by The Steve Miller Band). Missing is I've Got My Eyes On You (# 7).
In 1955 they had Blue Velvet reach # 14 (Bobby Vinton would have a # 1 Billboard Hot 100 with it in 1963), while their next that year was Nip Sip (# 10) - missing from this set. In 1956 the Atlantic string ended with Devil Or Angel reaching # 3 R&B (Bobby Vee would have a # 6 Hot 100 with it in 1960) and the B-side, Hey, Doll Baby peaking at # 8 (later done on an album by The Everly Brothers). Also missing from this set - and their only Atlantic crossover - is Love, Love Love (# 4 R&B/# 30 Billboard Top 100, matching the performance of a Pop cover by The Diamonds).
After flops in 1957 they moved to the Poplar label and when nothing worked there either they switched to United Artists in 1958. That label would not only release an LP they cut while with Poplar, but also their last charted single - Love Potion # 9 which, b/w Stay Awhile, reached # 23 on both the R&B and Hot 100 charts in November 1959. The Searchers would cover it in 1965.
The group splintered in 1961 and, with different personnel, cut records for a wide array of labels, including Brunswick, Josie, Tiger, Winley, and Porwin, but without any further chart success. Harris would go on to a respected career as a jazz guitarist before succumbing to cancer on December 12, 1988 at age 63 - the same insidious disease that claimed Lucas on January 6, 1994 at age 61.
Although you have to be careful when purchasing Clovers' hit compilations, since many have been re-done over the years, this CD offers the originals. What we need now is a volume 2 giving us the missing sides as well as some of the other uncharted flipsides which were great in their own way, such as Skylark and Needless (b/o of the first two hits).
And I fully agree with those reviewers who wonder why this influential group has not yet been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame."
GREAT CLASSIC DO-WOP SINGERS!!
erniegarcia3 | 07/22/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"WAIT TIL YOU HEAR THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF "DEVIL OR ANGEL" AND "BLUE VELVET". LIKE WOW!! THIS WAS TRULY A GREAT SINGING DO- WOP GROUP BEST KNOWN FOR THEIR HIT "LOVE POTION #9".IT'S A SHAME THEY DID NOT DO MORE!THEY WERE GREAT BALLADEERS WITH A CLEAR SOULFUL VOICE.MOST OF THEIR SONGS WERE COVERED BY WHITE ARTISTS LIKE BOBBY VEE,BOBBY VINTON AND EVEN THE BEATLES!THE ORIGINALS STILL HOLD AND BETTER THAN THEIR COVER RECORDS.DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS C.D.!!!"
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1