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Liner Note Author: Bill Dahl. Illustrators: Stefan Wriedt; Charlie Horner; R.A. Andreas; Pamela Horner; Victor Pearlin; Billy Vera. Photographers: Stefan Wriedt; Charlie Horner; R.A. Andreas; Pamela Horner; Victor Pearlin; Billy Vera. Street Corner Symphonies, Vol. 15 chronicles 1963, a year where doo wop still existed in its purest form but only in pockets across the country. Usually, these vocal harmonies could be heard in permutations, within the explosive Sound of Young America coming from Motown, the girl group singles cut all over the US, the wave upon wave of dance novelties, and the gorgeous gossamer uptown soul. Unlike the previous handful of volumes in Street Corner Symphonies, Vol. 15 isn't heavy on hits from some of these sounds -- there are no iconic Motown singles, although there are cuts by the Miracles, the Temptations, and Martha & the Vandellas -- but there are only a handful of throwbacks to traditional doo wop, such as the Rivingtons' glorious "The Bird's the Word" and Randy & the Rainbows' "Denise." Instead, this is heavy on girl group classics -- the Ronettes' "Be My Baby," the Jaynetts' "Sally, Go 'Round the Roses" -- and dance songs ("Shake a Tail Feather," "You Can't Sit Down"). It's not a monumental shift in style, but it's clear that things have changed, that doo wop was in its sunset, but there is still a bounty of wonderful songs from all different vocal harmony styles to be heard here. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
