that thing: doo wop

if only all pop songs ended in three minutes or less!

i've been listening to the doo wop box set that rhino records released in 1993. the front of the box says "101 vocal group gems from the golden age of rock 'n' roll." rarely do you hear doo wop referred to as rock 'n' roll's "golden age," but it really is. elvis presley and jerry lee lewis' entrance into the genre forever changed how it was labeled and the image it provoked in people's minds.

but songs like "the glory of love," "count every star," "sh-boom," "a sunday kind of love," "goodnite sweetheart, goodnite," "sincerely" and "only you (and you alone)" make you remember what you forgot you forgot! those songs are just on disc one (my favorite. i'm actually stuck on that one).

listening to the doo wop box also reminded me of how much of an influence frankie lymon had on rock 'n' roll. it's no surprise he was such a huge influence to people like ronnie spector.

another thing: all those songs have endings. they are complete. a fade-out doesn't leave you hanging, making you feel like you're missing part of the picture. those songs are perfect for singing on street corners and for serenades. they are the blueprints for crafting a great pop song.