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 DooWopDJ's 
R&B and DooWop CD Reviews
 
THE RAVENS

Birds Of A Feather

Proper CD#PVCD126
Barcode: 8 05520 05126 2

Review first published: 21.10.2003

The Ravens!! Wow what a FANTASIC Vocal Group. I am sure all of you are familiar with

This SENSATIONSAL Pioneer Group of Rhythm & Blues.

The Ravens formed in Harlem, New York City in 1945. The idea of two waiters! Jimmy Ricks the SUPER bass and baritone Warren “Birdland” Suttles. Along with second tenor Leonard Puzey and first tenor/lead Ollie Jones (Later with the Cues), the Ravens were born.

1946 and Hub Records give us our first taste of what will be a long recording career by this Group.

From their first recording “Honey” on Hub to their outputs on King, National, Mercury, Rendition, Columbia, Okeh & Argo through 1957, we are treated to Rhythm & Blues great recordings.

What is truly remarkable about the Ravens is their leads. The Strong Bass Leads of Jimmy Ricks. The High Tenor lead of Ollie Jones’ replacement, Maithe Marshall, and the later tenor lead of Joe Van Loan. Each of these gentlemen make the Raven’s recordings Stand Outs.

This brand new 2003 release is a double CD of Ravens. You are treated to fifty (50) recordings that span the early career of the RAVENS, 1946 – 1952. I’m sure another double cd will appear with the recordings into 1957. Meanwhile look what is in store for you now.


Here they are!!

CD 1

1. Lullabye – ’46 Hub (Ollie Jones)

2. Out Of A Dream – ’48 King (Maithe & Jimmy)

3. Bye Bye Baby Blues –’46 Hub (Jimmy Ricks)

4. My Sugar Is So Refined –’46 Hub (Leonard Puzey takes this one)

5. Honey – ’46 Hub (Jimmy)

6. Mahzel (Means Good Luck) – ’47 National (Triple leads on this Leonard, Maithe & Jimmy)

7. Ol’ Man River – ’47 National, Mercury & Rendition (Jimmy) play

8. Summertime – ’47 National (Jimmy)

9. Searching For Love – ’47 National (Maithe)

10. Be I Bumble Bee Or Not – ’48 National (Jimmy & Leonard)

11. Fool That I Am – ’48 National (Maithe & Jimmy)

12. Together – ’48 National (Jimmy & Maithe)

13. Until The Real Thing Comes Along – ’48 National (Jimmy)

14. September Song – ’48 National (Maithe) play

15. It’s Too Soon To Know – ’48 National (Maithe & Jimmy)

16. I Don’t Know Why I Love You Like I Do – ’48 National (Jimmy)

17. White Christmas – ’48 National (Jimmy & Maithe)

18. Always – ’48 National (Jimmy & Maithe)

19. Deep Purple – ’49 National (Jimmy)

20. Leave My Gal Alone – ’49 National (Jimmy)

21. Rickey’s Blues – ’49 National (Jimmy)

22. Someday – ’49 National (Jimmy & Maithe)

23. Careless Love – ’49 National (Jimmy(

24. Marie – ’51 Rendition (Maithe & Jimmy share leads on this Classic)

25. I’m Gonna Take To The Road- ’50 National (Jimmy)

CD 2

1. Oh Babe – Actually A duet with with Nancy Reed & Jimmy Ricks for Columbia Records in ’51 listed as the Benny Goodman Sextet.

2. Walkin’ With The Blues – ’51 Columbia

3. Time Takes Care Of Everything – ’50 Columbia (Jimmy & Louis Heyward )

4. Don’t Look Now – ’50 Columbia (Jimmy & Louis)

5. My Baby’s Gone – ’50 Columbia (Jimmy)

6. I’m So Crazy For Love – ’50 Columbia (Maithe & Jimmy)

7. Midnight Blues – ’50 Columbia (Jimmy)

8. You Don’t Have To Drop A Heart To Break It – ’51 Columbia (Maithe)

9. Your Always In My Dreams – ’51 Columbia (Maithe & Louis)

10. Gotta Find My Baby – ’51 Columbia (Jimmy)

11. You Foolish Thing – ’51 Columbia (Maithe & Jimmy)

12. Honey I Don’t Want You – ’51 Columbia (Jimmy)

13. The Whiffenpoof Song – ’51 Okeh (Maithe)

14. I Get All My Lovin’ On A Saturday Night – ’51 Mercury (Jimmy)

15. That Old Gang Of Mine – ’51 Okeh (Jimmy & Maithe)

16. Everything But You – ’51 Okeh (Jimmy)

17. There’s No Use Pretending – ’51 Mercury (Joe Van Loan & Jimmy) play

18. Wagon Wheels – ’51 Mercury (Jimmy)

19. Mam’selle – ’52 Okeh (Jimmy & Maithe)

20. Calypso Song – ’52 Okeh (Leonard)

21. Begin The Beguinne ’52 Mercury (Jimmy) play

22. Looking For My Baby – ’52 Mercury (Jimmy)

23. Chloe-e (Song Of The Swamp) – ’52 Mercury (Jimmy)

24. Write Me One Sweet Letter – ’52 Mercury (Jimmy)

25. Rock Me All Night Long – ’52 Mercury (Jimmy)

Those are the fifty (50) recordings within THE RAVENS – Birds Of A Feather.

I am sure you will find these CD’s most enjoyable.

Brand new for the fall of 2003. Look for it wherever you purchase your 50’s Vocal Group Gems.

As always, if you run into a snag locating this or any CD that I have reviewed, feel free to drop me an E-mail for assistance.

In Harmony:

Bruce (DooWop DJ)

ellupo@comcast.net