Sonny Til & The Orioles - Still Crying In The Chapel 1948-1962

Published Wednesday 12th March 2014
Sonny Til & The Orioles - Still Crying In The Chapel 1948-1962
Sonny Til & The Orioles - Still Crying In The Chapel 1948-1962

STYLE: R&B
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 149162-21677
LABEL: Jasmine Records JASCD246
FORMAT: CD Album
ITEMS: 2

Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

This generous 57 track Jasmine Records compilation sees the back catalogue of early doo wop pioneers the Orioles - most famous for their pre-Elvis version of "Crying In The Chapel" - put on display in a collection that stretches from the vocal group's inception in 1948 to its third incarnation 14 years later. In essence, the sumptuous harmonies of the Orioles - enhanced by the silky tones of lead tenor Sonny Til - were a secularised take on the old jubilee gospel harmony sound but the linear nature of this release makes it possible to see how the sound of Til and his men evolved through the years. For instance, the restrained nature of early songs such as the tender "It's Too Soon To Know" and the festive stalwart "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve" sit beside fledgling rock'n'roll numbers like "See See Rider" and the blues of "Barfly" whilst the bigger sound of "Shrimp Boats" betray an obvious Louis Jordan influence. Whilst the majority of the material here is secular in nature, gospel numbers such as the aforementioned "Crying In The Chapel", the somewhat laboured follow up "Back To The Chapel Again" and the previously unreleased "Yes Indeed" - featuring a charismatic guest appearance from Jackie 'Moms' Mabley - represent an admittedly tenuous faith element to the Orioles' work. A handful of solo Til cuts, duets with teenage star Edna McGriff (who hit big with "Heavenly Father") and tracks from each of the group's first three incarnations provides enough variety to make this a palatable listen as well as being an important document of the work of one of popular music's most influential yet unsung acts.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

Be the first to comment on this article

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.