Chordettes - The Chordettes Collection 1951-62 (2019)

The Chordettes were one of the female vocal groups who epitomised the style and atmosphere of early '50s popular music but who continued to have pop hits through into the rock 'n' roll era following their landmark No. 1 in 1954 with Mr. Sandman. Formed in Wisconsin just after WWII, they moved from singing folk music to performing barbershop harmony, and in 1949 made a winning appearance on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts radio show leading to their making a number of records for Columbia, without kickstarting their career in a major way. When Archie Bleyer, the musical director of Talent Scouts, launched the Cadence label in 1953, he signed The Chordettes, and they hit the No. 1 spot with their second record for the label Mr. Sandman, the first of fifteen chart entries they had through to 1961. This great-value 60-track 2-CD set comprises their early 78s for Columbia along with all of the A and B sides for Cadence through to 1962, by which time their chart career was over, plus selected titles from their various albums on Columbia and Cadence during this era, Close Harmony, Sing Your Requests, Drifting And Dreaming and Never On Sunday. It naturally features all their hits, including Mr. Sandman and the Top 5 classics Born To Be With You and Lollipop. It's an enjoyable and evocative showcase for their distinctive talent.