CAMEO-PARKWAY RECORDS: The Vocal Groups, Vol. 3

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. Sandra Baby - The Gleems Aka The Fabulous 2. Gonna Rock Tonight - The Gainors (Featuring Garnet Mimms) 3. That Old Black Magic - The Tymes 4. Can't We Just Be Friends - Little Cheryl & Group 5. Come Go With Me - The Chants 6. Letter From You - Tiny Robin & Group 7. Hey Chickie Baby - Denny Randell & Group 8. He's Braggin' - The Tip Tops 9. Tonight - The Premiers 10. Peter Cottontail - The Taffys 11. Is It You? - Johnny Maesto & The Crests 12. There's Gonna Be A Showdown - Denny Randell & Group 13. Gig - Zip & The Zippers Aka The Orlons 14. Please Don't Be Mad - Bobby Rydell & Group 15. When You Dance - The Turbans 16. Apple Taffy - Johnny Stevens & His Group 17. Born To Be Lonely - The Skyliners 18. Operator - Lee Andrews & The Hearts 19. Let It Please Be You - Rick & The Masters 20. So Much In Love - The Tymes 21. Mark My Words - The Bittersweets 22. To Know Him Is To Love Him - Dee Dee Sharp 23. Haircut - Leon & The Dreams 24. Try Me - Johnny Maesto & The Crests 25. Beggin' For Your Love - Scott Brothers 26. Lana - George McCannon III & Group 27. Please Hurry Home - The Swans 28. I Wanna Be Lonely - Nicky Dematteo & The Sorrows 29. How Long Will It Last? - Eddie Custis & Group (lead of the Superiors)
...originally served by Gyro1966...