The fourth edition in the
Old Town Doo Wop series proves something of a disappointment. Far too many of the disc's entries simply serve up mono recordings of singles featured on previous volumes, and while comparing and contrasting the differences will no delight R&B scholars, to the casual fan it seems like filler. It's a shame, because there are some real discoveries here as well. The sheer scope of the Old Town archives simply boggles the mind, in terms of both quality and quantity, and the label's signature sound, an inimitable fusion of street-smart energy and otherworldly beauty, distills the essence of doo wop to its purest form of expression. Highlights include
the Solitaires' "Round Goes My Heart,"
the Gems' "The Night Is Over," and
the Earls' "It's You."