Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers

by The Clovers

Overview

This 21-song compilation covers the six-year history of one of history's most important R&B groups at Atlantic Records. All of the Clovers' charting singles are represented (albeit not in release order), along with notes indicating their chart history. For the uninitiated, this is where rhythm & blues started as a popular phenomenon, from a group that was incredibly consistent for its six years on the label. The material is representative of rhythm & blues as it sounded at its point of origin, and at its most well-defined and powerful, an unerring jump band beat melded with elements of urban blues and superb quartet singing, all of which were a new musical phenomenon when the Clovers brought it to the charts in 1951. Moreover, one hears the basis in these early tracks for Atlantic's subsequent move into R&B vocals with the Drifters and the Coasters, the sound of these early sides highlighted by very powerful sax and electric guitar accompaniment and the stomping beat one would expect out of a roadhouse band. From "Don't You Know I Love You" through "Ting-A-Ling," "Crawlin'," "Hey, Miss Fannie," and "Lovey Dovey," right into the middle of the decade, this CD moves from one jewel-like R&B-cum-rock & roll classic to the next, and the only complaint that one could reasonably have is that there isn't a complete compilation of the Clovers' work on Atlantic, from Rhino, Collectables, or Sequel. ~ Bruce Eder

Product Details

Release Date:	10/01/1991
Label:	Rhino
UPC:	0075678231223

Tracks

1. One Mint Julep
2. Good Lovin'
3. Don't You Know I Love You
4. I Wonder Where My Baby's Gone
5. Ting-a-Ling
6. Crawlin'
7. Hey, Miss Fannie
8. Lovey Dovey
9. Middle of the Night
10. Fool, Fool, Fool
11. I've Got My Eyes on You
12. I Confess
13. Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash
14. Little Mama
15. Down in the Alley
16. Nip Sip
17. Devil or Angel
18. Blue Velvet
19. In the Morning Time
20. Love Bug
21. If I Could Be Loved by You

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Clovers   Primary Artist,Vocals
Lloyd Trotman   Guitar (Bass)
Bill Harris   Guitar
John "Buddy" Bailey   Vocals
Harold Lucas   Baritone (Vocal)
Randy Weston   Piano
Mickey Baker   Guitar
Harry Van Walls   Piano
Billy Mitchell   Vocals
Harold Winley   Bass (Vocal)
Matthew McQuater   Tenor (Vocal)
Willis Jackson   Sax (Tenor)
Charlie White   Vocals
Connie Kay   Drums
Frank Culley   Sax (Tenor)
Sam "The Man" Taylor   Sax (Tenor)

Technical Credits

Jesse Stone   Arranger,Composer
Leroy Kirkland   Composer
Ahmet Nugetre   Composer
Tom Dowd   Engineer
Jesmet   Composer
Bill Harris   Composer
Stephen Innocenzi   Digital Remastering
Danny Taylor   Composer
Chuck Calhoun   Composer
Nick Tosches   Liner Notes
Minnie McCoy   Composer
Michael Mazzarella   Research Coordination
Herb Abramson   Producer
Ahmet Ertegun   Composer,Producer,Executive Producer
Mamie Thomas   Composer
Willis Carroll   Composer
Yves Beauvais   Reissue Producer
Thomas Bricker   Design
Bob Defrin   Art Direction
Lou Krefetz   Composer
Paul Winley   Composer
Bernie Wayne   Composer
The Clovers   Composer
King Curtis   Composer
Johnny Carroll   Composer
Charles E. Calhoun   Composer
Lee Morris   Composer
Rudy Toombs   Composer
Jerry Wexler   Composer,Producer
Blanche Carter   Composer
Carmen Taylor   Composer