The Ames Brothers - Essential Classics, Vol. 644 (2024)

Tracklist

CD1
01. Rag Mop
02. Undecided
03. Hawaiian War Chant
04. Stardust
05. Cruising Down the River
06. Music, Music, Music
07. A Tree in the Meadow
08. Sentimental Me
09. Put Another Nickel in Music! Music! Music!
10. Sentimental Journey

CD2
01. Can Anyone Explain? No, No, No
02. String Along
03. Thirsty for Your Kisses
04. I Wanna Love You
05. I'll Still Love You
06. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
07. The Wang Blues
08. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
09. You are My Sunshine
10. My Favorite Song

A close-harmony vocal quartet with few equals during the '50s, the Ames Brothers hit number one in 1950 with "Sentimental Me," and found their biggest hit three years later with "You, You, You." Though they were indeed a family group, the Ames Brothers' surname was actually Urick. Joe, Gene, Vic and Ed were all born within four short years of each other in Malden, Massachusetts. After winning a few talent contests in their hometown, the group moved to Boston and began performing in nightclubs. They soon made the leap to New York and even Los Angeles, and signed to the Coral label in late 1958. After a few moderate hits, the Ames Brothers hit big in early 1950 with a double-sided number one hit, "Rag Mop"/"Sentimental Me." The B-side eventually triumphed over its flip, and the group hit again later in 1951 with "Undecided." The biggest hit of the Ames Brothers' career was 1953's "You You You," and their continued success during 1954 with "The Naughty Lady of Shady Land" bore fruit in the form of their own television program.
Though the quartet continued to record throughout the '50s, the dawn of the rock era definitely damaged their career; the group managed two Top Ten hits in 1957 ("Tammy," "Melodie d'Amour"), but then folded in 1959. Ed, the youngest Ames brother, continued a performing career and appeared as an Indian named Mingo on the Daniel Boone TV series before hitting the Top Ten as a solo act with 1967's "My Cup Runneth Over." He also appeared on Broadway.

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