Shirelles

The Shirelles were the first major female vocal group of the rock era, defining the so-called girl group sound with their soft, sweet harmonies and yearning innocence. Their music was a blend of pop/rock and R&B – especially doo wop and smooth uptown soul – that appealed to listeners across the board, before Motown ever became a crossover pop phenomenon.

The Shirelles - Baby It's You & The Shirelles And King Curtis Give A Twist Party (1962) {Ace Records CDCHD 1199 rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 432 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 159 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2008 Scepter / King Records / Ace Records | CDCHD 1199
R&B / Early Pop / Soul / Doo Wop / Brill Building Pop

The second volume of Ace’s Shirelles reissue project finds our heroines firmly entrenched as America’s premiere group. Shirley, Doris, Beverly and Micki (“Mouse” to her friends) were on top of the world as they rang in 1962 at the Apollo Theater’s holiday show – the youngest-ever women to headline Harlem’s fabled showplace. 1961 had seen them rise to dizzying heights with seven major hits, numerous TV appearances and non-stop touring, including an appearance at the Hollywood Bowl. The craze they had incited was booming – the Apollo bill featured the Marvelettes, who had recently become the second girl-group chart-toppers.

The Shirelles - Tonight's The Night / Sing To Trumpets And Strings (1960-61) {Ace Records CDCHD 1196 rel 2008}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 333 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 147 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1960-61, 2008 King Records / Ace Records | CDCHD 1196
R&B / Early Pop / Soul / Doo Wop / Brill Building Pop

2008 release, the first in a series that will restore to catalogue the original Scepter and Pricewise vinyl albums by The Shirelles, in the same running order as issued plus bonus non-album flipsides. This one pairs their first two albums, which include the Top 40 hits: classics such as 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', 'Mama Said' and 'Dedicated to the One I Love' amongst others. The Shirelles were the door openers for the girl group sound of the early '60s. Their strongest sides stand alongside the best of anything that splendid genre has to offer. Exquisitely remastered - and in stereo where stereo tapes still exist - this CD and future releases in the series will provide the definitive Shirelles collection for anyone who wants something more than the umpteenth rehash of their Greatest Hits.

The Shirelles - Lost And Found: Rare & Previously Unissued (1994) {Ace Records CDCHD 521}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 343 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 149 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1994 Ace Records | CDCHD 521
R&B / Early Pop / Soul / Doo Wop / Brill Building Pop

This collection of rarities from the Sceptor vaults strengthens the case for the Shirelles to be considered the finest of the girl groups of the 60s. Lost & Found succinctly describes this rare collection of Shirelles material. The remastering job is excellent here and equally fine on all other Shirelles collections re-issued on the Ace label. Hooray!!!!

The Shirelles - Sing The Golden Oldies / Spontaneous Combustion (1964, 1967) {Ace Records CDCHD 1262 rel 2010}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 332 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 154 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 79 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 1967, 2010 King Records / Ace Records | CDCHD 1262
R&B / Early Pop / Soul / Doo Wop / Brill Building Pop

All good things must come to an end. Thus it is with tears in our eyes and handkerchiefs in hand that, this month, we bring the curtain down on our series of pairings of the Shirelles’ original Scepter albums. We’d love it to have continued for longer but, unfortunately for us all, the girls just did not release enough long players to make that happen. If you’re looking for someone to blame for that, blame Florence Greenberg – Scepter was her label, not ours. Few big (or small) girl groups of the 1960s could have achieved the level of success that they did without the pioneering work of Shirley Alston, Micki Harris, Doris Coley and Beverly Lee. The conclusion of the series is with two very rare albums, neither of which has ever been on CD before.