CAMEO-PARKWAY RECORDS: The Vocal Groups, Vol. 1

Cameo Records was founded in December 1956 in Philadelphia by Bernie Lowe and Kal Mann (it has no connection to a 1920s record label also called Cameo Records). Parkway, initially a subsidiary label, was formed in 1958...
...Mann and Lowe had been a successful songwriting team prior to the start of label, with Mann writing lyrics and Lowe the music; their biggest hit prior to starting the label was Elvis Presley's "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear". Dave Appell joined the label from its inception as A&R director, and the three worked together as a production team on many early Cameo releases. Mann and Lowe wrote many of the label's early singles, while Mann and Appell also became a successful songwriting team that was responsible for many of the label's hits, particularly after Lowe cut back on his songwriting (c.1961/62) to attend to the business of running the label. In addition, Appel's group The Applejacks functioned as the de facto Cameo house band for the first few years of the company's existence, serving as backing musicians for the label's vocalists as well as issuing a handful of instrumental singles on their own. Lowe, also a musician, played piano on many early tracks.
The first hit for Cameo was "Butterfly" by Charlie Gracie, which reached #1 nationally in early 1957; it was also Cameo-Parkway's first of five chart toppers. Throughout the remainder of the decade Cameo continued to have hits by groups like the R&B group the Rays, who had a #3 hit with "Silhouettes" later that year. In 1958 the label had further hits with "Dinner With Drac", a novelty record by John Zacherle in the top 10, and "Mexican Hat Rock", an instrumental by The Applejacks, in the top 20.
A major factor in Cameo-Parkway's success was its relationship with the Philadelphia-based TV program American Bandstand. Being located in the same city where this popular nationally-broadcast music show was produced meant that Cameo-Parkway artists were always available to perform on the show—especially in the event any other act should cancel. Bandstand host and producer Dick Clark has spoken of the "warm relationship" the program had with Cameo-Parkway, and the of the label's willingness to ensure that quality musical acts were always available to the program on short notice. The label benefited tremendously from the arrangement, as the exposure many Cameo-Parkway artists received on American Bandstand helped propel them to stardom.
Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo-Parkway_Records
Read more about this legendary label here:
http://aln2.albumlinernotes.com/Cameo_Parkway_1957-1967.html
trax:
1. Down By the Ocean - The Exeptions (early Tramps) 2. The Secret - The Gainors (Featuring Garnet Mimms) 3. Malibu - The Tymes 4. Loser's Club - Gari & The Pristines 5. Hey Chickie Baby - Denny Randell & Group 6. My Debbie - Jack Merlin & Group 7. You Are the One - The Gleems Aka The Fabulous 8. You'll Never Walk Alone - Patti LaBelle & The Bluebelles 9. Memory Lane - The Hippies (Aka The Tams) 10. Where You Goin' Little Boy? - Zip & The Zippers Aka The Orlons 11. I'll Be True - Johhny Maestro & The Tymes 12. The Shadow of Your Love - Blue Eyed Soul Feat Billy Vera 13. We Belong Together - Honey Love & the Love note aka the Swans 14. Dear Judy - Richie Dennis & Group 15. Society Girl - The Rag Dolls 16. Talking to Myself - The Ly-Dells 17. Three Coins in the Fountain - The Skyliners 18. Gee, But I'm Lonesome - Lee Andrews & The Hearts 19. Yo Me Pregunto - The Valrays 20. Meat On My Tomatoes - George Kirby & Group 21. What a Lovely Way to Start the Summer - The Bittersweets 22. Open The Door Richard - Melvin Smith & Group 23. That's How it Goes - The Breakaways 24. I Don't Care - The Chants 25. First Kiss - Tiny Robin & Group 26. Emily - Doug Billard & The Soul Patrol 27. Making Up is Fun to Do - Tina Powers & Group 28. When Are We Getting Married? - Elaine Williams & Group 29. Come Back, Don't Go - The Turbans (Unreleased)
...originally served by Gyro1966...