The Marcels
Biography
This Pittsburgh ensemble deserved a much better fate than being known primarily for a novelty-tinged cover of "Blue Moon." Baritone vocalist Richard F. Knauss teamed with Fred Johnson, Gene J. Bricker, Ron Mundy, and lead vocalist Cornelius Harp to form an integrated ensemble. They named themselves after Harp's hairstyle, the marcel. The group did a string of covers as demo tapes that were sent to Colpix. The label's A&R director had them cut several oldies at RCA's New York studios in 1961, one of them being "Blue Moon." They used the bass intro arrangement from the Cadillacs' "Zoom" and the result was a huge hit. It eventually topped both the pop and R&B charts, and also was an international smash. The group eventually appeared in the film Twist Around the Clock with Dion and Chubby Checker, and recorded an 18-cut LP for Colpix. Alan Johnson and Walt Maddox later replaced Knauss and Gene Bricker, making the Marcels an all-black unit. The group did score another Top Ten pop single with "Heartaches," another cover of a pre-rock single. This peaked at number seven pop and number 19 R&B in 1961. They continued recording on Kyra, Queen Bee, St. Clair, Rocky, and Monogram with varying lineups, but never again equaled their past success. . This Pittsburgh ensemble deserved a much better fate than being known primarily for a novelty-tinged cover of "Blue Moon." Baritone vocalist Richard F. Knauss teamed with Fred Johnson, Gene J. Bricker, Ron Mundy, and lead vocalist Cornelius Harp to form an integrated ensemble. They named themselves after Harp's hairstyle, the marcel. The group did a string of covers as demo tapes that were sent to Colpix. The label's A&R director had them cut several oldies at RCA's New York studios in 1961, one of them being "Blue Moon." They used the bass intro arrangement from the Cadillacs' "Zoom" and the result was a huge hit. It eventually topped both the pop and R&B charts, and also was an international smash. The group eventually appeared in the film Twist Around the Clock with Dion and Chubby Checker, and recorded an 18-cut LP for Colpix. Alan Johnson and Walt Maddox later replaced Knauss and Gene Bricker, making the Marcels an all-black unit. The group did score another Top Ten pop single with "Heartaches," another cover of a pre-rock single. This peaked at number seven pop and number 19 R&B in 1961. They continued recording on Kyra, Queen Bee, St. Clair, Rocky, and Monogram with varying lineups, but never again equaled their past success.
Top Albums |
1. The Best of ..
| 2. Blue Moons, ..
| 3. A Fallen Tea..
| 4. A Fallen Tea..
| 5. I Could Have..
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6. Loved Her th..
| 7. Now Is the H..
| 8. Runaround Su..
| 9. Stormy Weath..
| 10. Sunday Kind ..
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11. Who Wrote th..
| 12. My Love for ..
| 13. I Wanna Be t..
| 14. I'll Be Fore..
| 15. My Melanchol..
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16. One Last Kis..
| 17. Over the Rai..
| 18. Footprints i..
| 19. Friendly Loa..
| 20. Goodbye to L..
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Top Songs |
| Name | Album | Time | Price | |
1. | Blue Moon | Blue Moon - Single | 2:10 | $0.99 | |
2. | Blue Moon | 50s Teenage Hits | 2:16 | $0.99 | |
3. | Blue Moon | Top 100 Classics - The Very.. | 2:18 | $0.69 | |
4. | Merry Twist-Mas | Christmas Songs We Never He.. | 2:06 | $0.99 | |
5. | Blue Moon | Best of The Marcels | 2:15 | $1.29 | |
6. | Heartaches | Blue Moon / Heartaches - Si.. | 2:28 | $0.99 | |
7. | Heartaches | History of Doo Wop, Vol. 5 .. | 2:33 | $0.99 | |
8. | Blue Moon | Rock 'N Roll at Its Bes.. | 2:18 | $0.99 | |
9. | Merry Twistmas | Golden Oldies Christmas: Do.. | 2:07 | $0.99 | |
10. | Heartaches | Rock & Roll Doo Wop, Vo.. | 2:30 | $0.99 | |
11. | Blue Moon | Heartaches | 2:20 | $0.99 | |
12. | Heartaches | Heartaches | 2:32 | $0.99 | |
13. | Don't Cry for Me This Christmas | Christmas Doo Wop & Pop.. | 2:29 | $0.99 | |
14. | Merry Twist-Mas | Christmas Doo Wop & Pop.. | 2:07 | $0.99 | |
15. | Lollipop Baby | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:20 | $0.99 | |
16. | Loved Her the Whole Week Through | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 1:58 | $0.99 | |
17. | Merry Twist - Mas | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:06 | $0.99 | |
18. | My Love for You | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:12 | $0.99 | |
19. | Heartaches | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:33 | $0.99 | |
20. | Sunday Kind of Love | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:21 | $0.99 | |
21. | Most of All | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:11 | $0.99 | |
22. | Blue Moon | Blue Moons, Heartaches and .. | 2:17 | $0.99 | |
23. | Goodbye to Love | Rare Doo Wop, Vol. 9 | 2:35 | $0.99 | |
24. | Blue Moon | 50 U.S. Number Ones of the .. | 2:18 | $0.99 | |
25. | Who Wrote the Book of Love (Remaster.. | Who Wrote the Book of Love .. | 2:21 | $0.99 | |