BOOK REVIEW: Could This Be Magic? The Story Of Doo-Wop.

TITLE: Could This Be Magic? The Sory Of Doo-Wop
AUTHOR: Spencer Leigh
PUBLISHER: Beatles, Liverpool and More Ltd.

Author, Spencer Leigh provides the perfect overview and exploration of 'Doo-Wop', the much neglected side of popular music. This latest labour of love conveys the story of Doo-Wop from its early foundations and provides synopses of significant performers. It shows the progression of music through the 1960s to present day and demonstrates how it has been taken up by other performers, in particular, British Doo-Wop, which he cites has generally been somewhat ignored. It also provides a fascinating look at Doo-Wop in the rest of the world, with a guide to how Doo-Wop looks geographically throughout the United States; key groups are listed along with some of their early influences, the singers who made the music style popular. It is a litany of Black music and its performers. 

Whilst reading, I couldn’t help but reminisce and recall the music my parents and grandparents listened to when I was growing up and remember the pleasure it brought to them at family gatherings. Artistes such as The Ink Spots, The Platters, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole were firm favourites. Spencer’s synopsis is both engaging and amusing; reading about the Doo-Wop bands from the 1950’s era with delightful names such as vocal quartet, The Brown Dots (who couldn’t keep their name for long as The Ink Spots objected, so they became The Four Tunes), The Clovers, The Coasters, The Colts, The Charms, The Moonglows and The Harptones. Others with captivating names such as The Five Royales, The Matadors, The Solitaires, Four Fellows, The Turbans, The Five Satins, The Nutmegs, The Heartbeats, The Flamingos, The Cufflinks, and of course, The Drifters; and it demonstrates how Berry Gordy and Phil Spector used Doo-Wop as a springboard for their individual uniqueness. 

We also hear about nonsense songs such as ‘Ka-Ding-Dong’ by The G-Clefs and ‘Rubber Biscuit’ by The Chips. ‘Wiggie Waggie Woo’ from The Cadets and the even more ludicrous ‘Rang Tang Ding Dong (I Am The Japanese Sandman)’ by The Cellos. Examples of British Doo-wop from the 1960’s are included, such as ‘Peanut Butter’ (The Big Three), ‘Runaround Sue’ (Doug Sheldon), ‘Cherry Pie’ (Jess Conrad), ‘(Ain’t That) Just Like Me’ (The Hollies) and ‘Duke Of Earl’ (Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders). 

During the British beat era, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes went to the top with The Contours’ ‘Do You Love Me’, The Searchers went to No.1 with their first single, a cover of The Drifters’ ‘Sweets For My Sweet’ and a personal favourite of mine, Zoot Money with ‘Please Stay’ along with The Cryin’ Shames who slowed down The Drifters’ original version. 

Spencer’s love of Doo-Wop shines through in Could This Be Magic? The Story Of Doo-Wop. It is a thoroughly stimulating read with an enormous coverage, detailing the heritage of Doo-Wop, the fabulous groups and hit records at its peak and its impact on pop and rock music which was to come. The book is referenced with quotes from Spencer’s interviews, taken from his BBC Radio Merseyside programme On The Beat and lists of Fundamental CDs, books and films on Doo-Wop are also included. The Foreword is written by Garry Christian of Liverpool group, The Christians.

Reviewed by - Anne Pritchard