Again: The Best of the Concords

• Artist: The Concords
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1998
• Type: Compilation (best of)
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Brooklyn doo wop group the Concords didn't even rise to the status of one-hit wonders, but their tight harmonies are still remembered and admired by collectors. Their first record, a busy remake of the late-'40s Doris Day hit "Again," didn't spark much interest despite national release on RCA. Thereafter, the group recorded for Gramercy, Rust, Herald, and, later, Epic. The Epic single, "Should I Cry" from 1964, is an absolute gem, but success for the group remained a will-o'-the-wisp. Again: The Best of the Concords assembles practically everything the group recorded from 1961-1965, including sides by spin-off groups such as the Planets ("Mr. Moon") and recordings on which the Concords backed other singers. The latter cuts are quite diverse and include songs by Sue Kenny, Joel Grayson, and Neil Scott (a pseudonym of record label executive Neil Bogart). A handful of alternate takes brings the total track list to 30, rounding out what is an impressively comprehensive retrospective of an obscure vocal group. The disc is mastered from a variety of tape and vinyl sources, which means that the sound quality is not always optimal, but the thoroughness of the presentation compensates for any shortcomings. Listeners drawn to the sweet and sharp harmonies of early-'60s doo wop will, at the very least, find much to applaud in the Concords' masterpiece, "Should I Cry." ~ Greg Adams, Rovi

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