Harlem Holiday - NY Rhythm & Blues, Volume 2

by Various Artists

Unknown Contributor Roles: Earl Lewis; The Pretenders ; Carl Hogan ; C Notes; Louie Lymon & the Teenchords; Federals; The Mello-Moods; The Quadrells; The Scarlets ; The Topps; The Charts.

Harlem Holiday: New York Rhythm & Blues is a seven-volume series from Collectables that documents New York's thriving doo wop and R&B scene of the late '50s and early '60s. This is a fine series of CDs for those who want to dig deeper -- perhaps after devouring Rhino's Doo Wop Box sets -- but it's definitely too specialist for beginners, since it focuses on groups that were primarily local or regional sensations. On the second volume, the featured groups include Earl Lewis & the Channels ("The Girl Next Door," "My Heart Is Sad"), Lewis Lymon & the Teenchords ("Please Tell the Angels"), the Federals ("While Our Hearts Are Young"), the Topps ("What Do You Do"), and the Mello-Moods ("How Could You"). ~ Andy Kellman