Sold Date: April 1, 2017
Start Date: March 25, 2017
Final Price: $37.51 (USD)
Bid Count: 13
Seller Feedback: 86
Buyer Feedback: 13

The Cadillacs
Twisting With The Cadillacs
JGM 5009

Original 1962 US pressing of The Cadillacs' "Twisting With The Cadillacs" LP on the Jubilee label.

Grading:
Sleeve:  VG   Solid, shelf-wear, no splits, legible spine
Vinyl:  VG   Sounds great, but has a few scattered light background crackles

Notes:
The Cadillacs were an American rock and roll and doo-wop group from Harlem, New York, active from 1953 to 1962. The group was noted for their 1955 hit "Speedoo", which was instrumental in attracting white audiences to black rock and roll performers

The group came together as The Carnations in 1953, with the members Earl "Speedo" Carroll (lead vocalist), Bobby Phillips, Lavern Drake (bass vocalist), and Gus Willingham. As the group moved into the recording studios, James "Poppa" Clark was added as a fifth member, and the name "The Cadillacs" was given to them. The group's first recording came in July 1954, with Josie Records #765, featuring "Gloria" and "Wonder Why."

 In 1955, Willingham and Clark left the group and were replaced by Earl Wade and Charles Brooks. At this time, the group first began to experiment with choreography. Later that year came the group's biggest hit, "Speedo", Carroll's nickname. Lavern Drake left the group in 1956 and was replaced by J. R. Bailey.

 In 1957, differences in opinion caused the group to split. One group was initially known as The Four Cadillacs, with current bass J. R. Bailey, former bass Lavern Drake, and new members Roland Martinez and Bobby Spencer.That same year band released a doo-wop version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that peaked at No. 11 on Billboard magazine's Rhythm & Blues Records chart.

The other four current members - Carroll, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips - continued recording separately, later as Earl Carroll and the Cadillacs. Bailey's group also included former group saxophonist Jesse "Tex" Powell, and recorded in early 1958 as Jesse Powell and the Caddys. Both groups recorded simultaneously on Josie Records. Later in 1958, the groups combined back into one. Carroll's backup vocalists, Wade, Brooks, and Phillips, all decided to retire and Carroll joined Bailey, Drake, Martinez and Spencer. Carroll's lead spot had been given to Spencer and Bailey, and he left shortly thereafter, creating a new group, Speedo and the Pearls, which recorded briefly in 1959.

The group split and re-formed in 1960, with Carroll, Martinez, Kirk Davis, and bass Ronnie Bright. Later the group was Carroll, Martinez, the returning Bobby Spencer, Milton Love, and Reggie Barnes. Martinez, Love and Barnes were all members of The Solitares at one time.

In 1961, the group began to resemble The Coasters in their music. The lineup shifted again, now with Carroll, Martinez, Curtis Williams, Ray Brewster, and Irving Lee Gail. Carroll was out by 1962 to enter the group they'd been emulating, The Coasters, with Carl Gardner, Billy Guy, and Will "Dub" Jones. 1963 also ended the group's run on Josie Records.



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