Doo-wop music always makes me incredibly nostalgic for my grandparents. There’s a charming simplicity in the a capella approach, 4-5 voices sung over a sparse arrangement of drums, guitar, bass and orchestral strings all laying a foundation for the vocals to take center stage.
The Flamingos were one of the preeminent leaders in doo-wop, their soaring melodies and pitch perfect harmonies defining the genre in the early 50’s and inspiring the sound of Motown that would come just a few short years later. The vocal performances on “Flamingo Serenade” are impressive, drenched in reverb and practically floating in the atmosphere.
As an aside– music from the 50’s always impresses me considering the method they had to produce records in this era. At the end of the day you have 15 people in a single room together putting everything on tape cleanly in a single take. That’s impressive as hell.
Standout Songs: “I Only Have Eyes For You”, “But Not For Me”, “I’m In The Mood For Love”
