The 5 Royales "The Complete Singles 1952-1962"

More than most other rhythm and blues vocal groups, the sound of the "5" Royales never completely divested itself of its gospel background. This in turn opened the door for other Black artists to sing the lyrics of rhythm and blues with the open feelings of gospel. This crossover of styles had a monumental impact on such artists as Clyde McPhatter of the Drifters, Hank Ballard of the Royales/Midnighters, and James Brown. (The History Of Rock)The "5" Royales were a relatively unheralded, but significant, link between early R&B and early soul in their combination of doo wop, jump blues, and gospel styles. Their commercial success was relatively modest -- they had seven Top Ten R&B hits in the 1950s, most recorded in the span of little over a year between late 1952 and late 1953. A few of their singles would prove extremely popular in cover versions by other artists, though -- James Brown and Aretha Franklin tore it up with "Think," Ray Charles covered "Tell the Truth," and the Shirelles (and later the Mamas & the Papas) had pop success with "Dedicated to the One I Love." Almost all of their material was written by guitarist Lowman Pauling, who influenced Steve Cropper with his biting and bluesy guitar lines, which at their most ferocious almost sound like a precursor to blues-rock.
Pauling's guitar is pretty muted on their early sides, though, which sometimes walk the line between gospel and R&B. The gospel elements aren't surprising, given that the Royales were originally known as the Royal Sons Quintet when they formed in Winston-Salem, N.C. In fact, they were still known as the Royal Sons Quintet when they began recording for Apollo in the early '50s, although they had six members. They would change their name to the "5" Royales in 1952, although they would, confusingly, remain a six-man outfit for a while; the quotes around the 5 in their billing were designed to alleviate some of the confusion. The Apollo singles "Baby Don't Do It" and "Help Me Somebody" made number one on the R&B charts in 1953, and they had a few other hits for Apollo before being lured away to King Records in 1954.
Although the group would remain on King for the rest of the 1950s, they would only enter the R&B Top Ten two more times, with "Think" and "Tears of Joy" (both in 1957). Their later sides, however, are their best, as Pauling became much more assertive on the guitar, dashing off some piercing and fluid solos. Some of these solos are among the heaviest and wildest in '50s rock, on both relatively well-known cuts like "Think," and virtually unknown numbers like "The Slummer the Slum." Greil Marcus once wrote something to the effect that a young Eric Clapton would have once paid to hold Pauling's coat. They remained primarily a harmony vocal group, though, and if their late-'50s sides are considerably more modernized than their early Apollo hits, they're still a lot closer to doo wop than soul.
Even when their records weren't selling, the "5" Royales were a popular touring band. Their constant activity at King Records, in all likelihood, had some influence on the young James Brown, then starting his career on the same label; one of Brown's first big R&B hits was a frenetic cover of "Think." They couldn't sustain themselves without more hits, though. After leaving King and recording some more sides in the early '60s, they finally broke up by 1965.(Richie Unterberger, Allmusic)

trax disc 1:
The Royal Sons:
1. Bedside of a Neighbor 2. Journey's End - The Royal Sons
Royal Sons Quintet:
3. Come Over Here 4. Let Nothing Separate Me
The 5 Royales:
5. Too Much of a Little Bit 6. Give Me One More Chance 7. Courage to Love 8. You Know I Know 9. Baby Don't Do It 10. Take All of Me (Baby) 11. Help Me, Somebody 12. Crazy, Crazy, Crazy 13. Too Much Lovin' 14. Laundromat Blues 15. I Want to Thank You 16. All Righty 17. I Do 18. Good Things 19. I'm Gonna Run It Down 20. Behave Yourself 21. Cry Some More 22. I Like It Like That 23. Monkey Hips and Rice 24. Devil With the Rest 25. What's That
trax disc 2:
The 5 Royales:
01 Let Me Come Back Home 02 School Girl 03 One Mistake 04 With All Your Heart (Put Something in It) 05 6 O'Clock in the Morning 06 Every Dog Has His Day 07 You Didn't Learn It at Home 08 How I Wonder 09 Mohawk Squaw 10 I Need Your Lovin' Baby 11 When I Get Like This 12 Women About to Make Me Go Crazy 13 Do Unto You 14 I Ain't Getting Caught 15 Someone Made You for Me 16 When You Walked through the Door 17 Right Around the Corner 18 I Could Love You 19 My Wants for Love 20 Get Something Out of It 21 Come on and Save Me 22 Just as I Am 23 Mine Forevermore 24 Tears of Joy 25 Thirty Second Lover
trax disc 3:
The 5 Royales:
01 Think 02 I'd Better Make a Move 03 Messin' Up 04 Say It 05 Dedicated to the One I Love 06 Don't Be Ashamed 07 Do the Cha Cha Cherry 08 The Feeling Is Real 09 Tell the Truth 10 Double or Nothing 11 The Slummer the Slum 12 Don't Let It Be in Vain 13 Your Only Love 14 The Real Thing 15 Miracle of Love 16 I Know It's Hard but It's Fair 17 Tell Me You Care 18 Wonder Where Your Love Has Gone 19 My Sugar Sugar 20 It Hurts Inside 21 Please, Please, Please 22 I Got to Know
El Pauling & The Royalton:
23 Solid Rock 24 I'm a Cool Teenager
trax disc 4:
The 5 Royales:
1. Don't Give More than You Can Take 2. I'm with You 3. Why 4. (Something Moves Me) Within My Heart
El Pauling & The Royalton:
5. Now Baby Don't Do It 6. Everybody Knows 7. Please, Please Be Mine 8. Rain Drops Keep A-Fallin' 9. Jailbird 10. Here It 'Tis, Right Here
The 5 Royales:
11. If You Don't Need Me 12. I'm Gonna Tell Them 13. Much in Need 14. They Don't Know
El Pauling & Royal Abbit:
15. Send Me Somebody 16. Come on Let's Have a Good Time
The 5 Royales:
17. Help Me Somebody 18. Talk About My Woman, Part 1 19. Talk About My Woman, Part 2 20. Take Me with You Baby 21. Not Going to Cry 22. Catch That Teardrop 23. Goof Ball 24. What's in the Heart 25. I Want It Like That
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