The Marcels
This Pittsburgh ensemble deserved a much better fate than being known primarily for a novelty-tinged cover of "Blue Moon." Baritone vocalist Richard F. Knauss teamed with Fred Johnson, Gene J. Bricker, Ron Mundy, and lead vocalist Cornelius Harp to form an integrated ensemble. They named themselves after Harp's hairstyle, the marcel. The group did a string of covers as demo tapes that were sent to Colpix. The label's A&R director had them cut several oldies at RCA's New York studios in 1961, one of them being "Blue Moon." They used the bass intro arrangement from the Cadillacs' "Zoom" and the result was a huge hit. It eventually topped both the pop and R&B charts, and was also an international smash. The group eventually appeared in the film Twist Around the Clock with Dion and Chubby Checker, and recorded an 18-cut LP for Colpix. Alan Johnson and Walt Maddox later replaced Knauss and Gene Bricker, making the Marcels an all-Black unit. The group did score another Top Ten pop single with "Heartaches," another cover of a pre-rock single. It peaked at number seven pop and number 19 R&B in 1961. They continued recording on Kyra, Queen Bee, St. Clair, Rocky, and Monogram with varying lineups, but never again duplicated their past success. Fred Johnson died on March 31, 2022 at the age of 80 years old.
© Ron Wynn /TiVo
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Diskografie
86 Album, -en • Geordnet nach Bestseller
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Blue Moon / Heartaches (Rerecorded)
Soul - Erschienen bei K-Tel am 18.07.2023
Verfügbar in24-Bit/96 kHz Stereo -
Anthology: The Deluxe Collection (Remastered)
Blues - Erschienen bei Master Tape Records am 28.08.2020
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Very Best Of The Marcels
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone UK am 04.07.2005
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Best Of The Marcels
Pop - Erschienen bei Parlophone UK am 01.04.1990
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Their Greatest Tracks (Digitally Remastered)
Rock - Erschienen bei Nub Music am 11.01.2019
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
The Marcels Blue Moons, Heartaches & Melancholy Babes
Rock - Erschienen bei Giggling Gecko am 16.05.2020
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Blue Moon1961 Original Version (1961 Original Vintage Sound Record)
Rock - Erschienen bei RPM records am 06.09.2013
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Essential Classics, Vol. 527: The Marcels
R&B - Erschienen bei Essential Classics am 21.12.2024
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Blue Moon - 24 Doo Wop Hits
Pop - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 24.04.2020
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Blue Moon (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 01)
Blues - Erschienen bei Music Manager am 19.12.2018
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
Blue Moons, Heartaches and Melancholy Babes
R&B - Erschienen bei Jasmine Records am 16.09.2013
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo -
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Blue Moon (Remastered)
Blues - Erschienen bei Conarte Grabaciones am 12.02.2024
Verfügbar in16-Bit/44.1 kHz Stereo