The Ames Brothers
The Ames Brothers got their beginning in Malden, MA, where all four were born. The act consisted of Joe (b.5/3/21), Gene (b.2/13/23), Vic (b.5/20/25, d.1/23/78) and Eddie (b.7/9/27). Born into a non-professional but musical family, the boys were brought up on classical and operatic music. Their parents, David and Sarah Urick, were Russian Jewish immigrants from the Ukraine who read Shakespeare and semi-classics to their nine children from the time they were old enough to listen.
The brothers formed a quartet with a cousin Lennie, and had been touring Army and Navy bases entertaining the troops and were offered a job at the Foxs and Hounds nightclub, one of the fanciest clubs in Boston. This one week engagement turned into several months when the word got around of their appearance. At the time, they were going by the name of the Amory Brothers, a name taken from Vic's middle name and they were becoming quite popular in the area. It was at this time that Joe decided to rejoin the group. He said they were just having too much fun together for him to miss out. Taking their act to New York they got a job with bandleader Art Mooney. One day while at Leeds Publishing Company in search of a song called "Should I" that their mother had asked them to sing, Milt Gabler of Decca records heard them singing it and had them cut a few sides for Decca just before the ban which started in January, 1948. A year later when the ban was lifted, the Ames Brothers were the first artists to record for Coral Records. The name Amory was shortened to Ames. They were swept into national top billing with their first hit record, "Rag Mop," in January, 1950. Doing radio shows for free at times just for the experience, they later became regulars on such shows as The Arthur Godfrey Hour. One of the first acts to appear on the original Ed Sullivan Show when it was known as Toast of the Town, they made their debut with him when the show was telecast live from Wanamaker's Department Store.
Soon, they were the top paid group in nightclubs and supperclubs everywhere and their popularity on television was nationwide. In 1956 they starred in their own show, The Ames Brothers Show, which was seen on Friday nights. It was the first syndicated television show to be shown in foreign countries.
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A Tree in the Meadow w. Monica Lewis You, You, You Are the One Cruising Down the River Rag Mop Sentimental Me Music, Music, Music Stars Are the Windows of Heaven Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No!) Thirsty For Your Kisses Oh Babe The Thing The Wang Wang Blues Hawaiian War Chant Undecided w. Les Brown Sentimental Journey w. Les Brown I Wanna Love You I'll Still Love You Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart String Along My Favourite Song No Moon At All Can't I? You, You, You My Love, My Life, My Happiness I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me |
Tell Me A Story Sing Me A Song of the Islands Shadrack I Love You Much Too Much Only, Only You Music By the Angels Lovely Lady Dressed in Blue Who'll Take My Place When I'm Gone The Last Round Up Blue Hawaii My Little Grass Shack Stardust If You Had All the World and Its Gold My Love Serenade Hoop Dee Doo Dormi Dormi Lorelei To Think You've Chosen Me You Are my Sunshine Moon of Mankoora Lazy River I Don't Mind Being All Alone Wagon Wheels Candy Bar Boogie (Eight Bites to the Bar) Lingering Down the Lane |
Growing up in a family of Russian Jews from the Ukraine named Urick who settled in Massachusetts, the athletic Ames Brothers first landed a gig in NYC in the mid-40s with up and coming bandleader Art Mooney. Over their 15-year career the prolific Brothers notched up 50 U.S. Chart entries, 21 of them on the Coral label before signing with RCA Victor. Two generous CDs here, with 25 songs on each; most of the big hits on CD #1. Comfortable in many genres, they scored hits with top-40 pop like "Sentimental Me" and "Rag Mop," the country songs "Wagon Wheels" and "The Last Roundup," the religious-styled "Lovely Lady Dressed In Blue," the spiritual "Shadrack," the Hawaiian songs, Moon Of Manakoora" and "Hawaiian War Chant," the popular ballad "To Think You've Chosen Me, and novelty numbers such as "The Thing." There are of course standards such as "Stardust" and polkas like "Hoop Dee Doo." All are band accompanied, particularly nice are those recorded with Les Brown and his Band of Renown, "Undecided," "Sentimental Journey" and the wonderful "No Moon At All." There's too much good, entertaining stuff here to review, but the Brothers' trademark rich, smooth harmonies are consistently delightful throughout.
Listen to " Thirsty For Your Kisses" in RealAudio
| 4568 2CDs $15.98 |
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You You You Cruising Down The River Noah's Ark Rag Mop Sentimental Me Music Music Music Blue Prelude Can Anyone Explain No No No Oh Babe Stardust The Wang Wang Blues The Haiwaiian War Chant Sentitimental Journey Undecided Dry Bones String Along Can't I No Moon At All Do Nothin' Till You You Hear From Me I Can't Believe that Your In Love With Me My Favorite Song Leave It To Your Heart The Man With The Banjo Man, Man Is For The Woman Made The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane It Only Hurts For A Little While My Bonnie Lassie Auf Widerdeh'n Sweetheart |
Another great selection of 50's songs from this classic vocal group.
| 7613 CD $14.95 |
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I'm Gonna Love You It Only Hurts For A Little While Wrong Again The Cradle Song My Bonnie Lassie Southern Cross So I Will The Game Of Love One More Time The Next Time It It Happens The Man With The Banjo Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ra Mercy Beaucoup Forever Darling Once Upon A Tune I Saw Esau My Love Your Love Gotta Be This Or That Let's Walk And Talk I Got A Cold For Christmas Time For Sleeping If You Want My Heart The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane Sympathetic Eyes That's The Way Love Goes Autumn Leaves Why Do I Keep Lovin' You You And I Sweet Brown Eyed Baby I Hadn't Anyone Till You Together |
Everything's Gonna Be All Right Lonely Wine Too Many Women Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder Somewhere There Must Be Happiness Break The Bonds That Bind Me Blue Prelude This Is Fiesta Far Away Places Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho And So I Waited Around Crazy 'Cause I Love You Tumblin' Tumbleweeds Just A Dream Of You Dear Who Built The Ark White Christmas Winter Wonderland Sing A Song Of Santa Claus Winter's Here Again Jolly Old St. Nicholas Ting-A-Ling-A-Jingle God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Hark The Herald Angel Sing O Little Town Of Bethlehem Adeste Fideles It Came Upon A Midnight Clear Silent Night, Holy Night Twelve Days Of Christmas Wassail Song |
The four Massachusetts-born Ames Brothers were the first group to be featured on new Decca subsidiary Coral Records in the late 1940s, scoring their first smash hit with "Sentimental Me"/"Rag Mop" in 1949. This began a succession of major hit records that continued through the 1950s: "Can Anyone Explain?," "Stars Are the Windows of Heaven," "The Hawaiian War Chant," "Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart," "String Along" "My Favorite Song" and "You, You, You." This 2 CD compilation (we love all the great music you get for your money on these remastered collections!), is a blend of recordings issued by Coral and RCA Victor. Disc 1 is their RCA output and includes several best-selling recordings: "The Man with the Banjo," "My Bonnie Lassie," "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane" and "It Only Hurts for a Little While." Disc 2 is special because it features all Coral material, most of which are debuting on CD here. These include "Far Away Places," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," the spirituals "Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho and "Who Built the Ark?", and all 8 tracks from their 1950 Christmas album, with 14 Christmas songs altogether. All these tunes are band-accompanied, and all feature the Brothers' bright, velvety rich, upbeat leads and harmonies. Great 50s stuff from one of the great vocal quartets!
| 7614 2CDs $16.95 |
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Fontana Di Trevi (J. Styne) orrin, Corrin (J.M. Williams) Dammi Dammi Dammi (D. Di Minnio) Fiamma D'amor (B. Green) Volare (D. Modugno) Luna Malinconica (L. Hart) Ritorna A Me (D. Di Minnio) Chi Sara? (E.L. Poletto) Nastri Rossi (J. Segal) Ciao Ciao Bambina (D. Modugno) Tre Campane (J. Villard) Arrivederci Roma (P. Garinel) In the Middle of the House (B. Hilliard) I'll Lend You Everything I've Got Except My Wife (J. Havez) If I Had My Life To Live Over- I'd Live Over a Grocery Store (F. Davis) Knees Up! Mother Brown (H. Weston) Take Your Fingers Out of Your Mouth- I Want a Kiss from You (J. Schluster) When Banana Skins are Falling- I'll Come Sliding Back to You (A. Frazzini) Shut the Door- They're Comin' Through the WIndow (W. Ives) Where Can I Find a Bookie?- The Daily Double Blues (F. Davis) When it's Night Time in Italy it's Wednesday Over Here (J. Kendis) That Old Red Undershirt My Daddy Wore (F. Davis) When Grandma Got Her Teeth in Upside Down (H. Bruyninx) Two Ton Tessie (R. Turk) |
Vic, Gene and Joe Ames were born and grew up in Boston, and the rich harmonies that made them international celebrities were in evidence as early as grammar school, when they began singing together. They won prizes in virtually every amateur contest they entered; then they were booked at the Fox and Hound in Boston for a week, were held over 3 monthsand were on their way to a long career as pop singing stars with a slew of gold records. A compilation of two lps from the early 1960s, "Hello Italy!" is their debut lp for Epic Records, and a cinch for the multilingual Brothers, who could read or converse in 6 languages. Some favorites on "Hello" (all accompanied and in Italian) are "Fontana di Trevi" (Three Coins in the Fountain), "Corrin Corrina" (Corrine, Corrina), "Volare" (Nel Blu DiPinto Di Blu), "Luna Milinconica" (Blue Moon), "Ritorna A Me" (Return to Me), "Nastri Rossi" (Scarlet Ribbons) and "Arrividerci Roma." "Knees Up!" is not a typo, but the title of one of the songs on this collection of wonderful fun and nonsense from the talented Brothers. Some favorites here are "I'm Walking the Floor Over You," "I'll Lend You Everything I've Got Except My Wife," "If I Had My Life To Live Over I'd Live Over A Grocery Store," "Take Your Finger Out of Your Mouth I Want A Kiss From You," "When It's Night Time In Italy It's Wednesday Over Here," and the touching ballad, "Where Can I Find A Bookie." 24 popular vintage hits from the celebrated Ames Brothers, whose smooth, rich harmonies fill this generous CD. By the way, Mother Brown had just turned 100, and "Knees Up" refers to dancing, but you knew that!
| 4579 CD $14.98 |
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It Must Be True The Alphabet Ol' Man River Noche de Ronda That's the Way Love Goes Why Do I Keep Lovin' You Gotta Be This or That Anniversary Song Love, Your Magic Spell Is Everywhere I Can't Give You Anything But Love I'll Never Get You Off My Mind Not You, Not I Destination Moon Clear Out of This World Moonglow East of the Sun Count Every Star No Moon At All I'm Shooting High Music from Outer Space Stella by Starlight It's Only A Paper Moon The Starlit Hour Beyond the Blue Horizon |
The four tall (all six-footers), healthy-looking young singing brothers were a standout quartet even back in their grammar school days, but hit their stride, and the charts in the late 40s and through the 50s. This CD combines 2 lps in one bargain-priced CD, effectively giving us twice as much great music for our money. The first, a 1956 lp with Hugo Winterhalter and His Orchestra, features 12 (accompanied) hits, like "It Must Be True," "Ol' Man River," "That's The Way Love Goes," "Gotta Be This Or That," "Anniversary Song," "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Not You, Not I." The 1958 space-race inspired "Destination Moon," with Sid Ramin and His Orchestra, features another 12 (accompanied) winners, the title tune, "Moonglow," "East of The Sun," "No Moon At All," "Music From Out of Space," "Stella By Starlight," "It's Only A Paper Moon," "Beyond The Blue Horizon" and others. Powerful harmonies, great solos, memorable hooks in every tuneŠthis CD is a truckload of big-fun 50s pop!
Listen to "Destination Moon" in RealAudio
| 4556 CD $15.98 |
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You, You, You I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me The Man With The Banjo The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane My Bonnie Lassie My Love, Your Love Forever Darling It Only Hurts For A Little While Summer Sweatheart I Saw Esau The Game Of Love Tammy Melodie D' Amour A Very Precious Love Little Serenade Pussy Cat No One But You (In My Heart) Red River Rose China Doll Destination Moon |
Four brothers named Urick - foreign-sounding names were frequently changed back then - began singing as kids and in their Boston neighborhood. It was at Franklin Field, a semi-pro baseball park, where they played their first gigs. Much dues-paying later, they were signed to Coral Records in 1948, and their first number one was "Sentimental Me." The Ames Bros. produced a clutch of hits throughout the 1950's: "You, You, You," "The Naughty Lady Of Shady Lane," and many others. These are four young men you could bring home to mother - their romantic lyrics, sweetly orchestrated arrangements, and cheerful delivery epitomize the wholesome American optimism of this decade.
Listen to "You, You, You" in RealAudio
| 4535 CD $14.98 |
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The Christmas Song Deck The Hall O Holy Night Silver Bells Good King Wenceslas The Night Before Christmas Song Santa Claus Is Coming To Town CHRISTMAS Go Tell It On The Mountain There'll Always Be A Christmas I Got A Cold For Christmas |
The Ames Brothers, one of the most popular pop groups of the 50's, released "Christmas" on Dec. 2, 1957, just in time for the holidays. The album reached #16 on the charts, and remained popular for many years and now, for the first time, it has been reissued on CD. The rich, deep sound of the Brothers lends a classic sound to "The Christmas Song," "O Holy Night," "Silver Bells," "The Night Before Christmas Song," "Jingle Bells," "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town," and bonus track "I Got A Cold For Christmas." A 50's vintage harmony Christmas winner!
Listen to "I Got A Cold For Christmas" in RealAudio
| 7498 CD $14.98 |
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