5 Willows 78 All Night Long 1953 Doo-Wop VG+ Early Pre- Willows Allen 1002

$

40

-Artist: 5 Willows

-Doo-wop group formed in Harlem, New York in 1953. Group originally comprised of twin brothers Ralph and Joe Martin, Scooter Steele, Rich Davis and Bobby Robinson. Bobby Robinson would soon leave the group to open a record store in the heart of Harlem and would be the driving force behind the creation of record labels Robin (later Red Robin), Whirling Disc and Fury Records. Robinsons' spot in the newly formed group was taken by neighborhood singer, Tony Middleton.

-The quintets first record was titled Love Bells and released on on Peter Doraine's own record label Pee Wee (Pee Wee 290). 

-Doraine soon after, teamed up with Victor Allen and the 5 Willows were now ready to record for the newly formed Allen Record Label.

-The 5 Willows released just three singles for Allen Records, the first was Rockin' Little Francis (Willow 1000 from 1953) followed by Dolores (Willow 1002 from 1953) and finally White Cliffs Of Dover (Willow 1003) also from 1953. Shortly after these three releases, the Allen Record Label ceased to exist.

-The group would have another opportunity to make it big when they signed with Al Silver of Herald Records in June of 1954 where they released just two singles, the first was titled Baby, Come A Little Closer (Herald 433) and and Look Me In The Eyes (Herald 442), both from 1954. 

-After the two Herald singles failed to make any impact, the group drifted for a while before crossing paths with Morty Croft who is launching a new record label to be called Melba Records. They decide to record a song penned by group member Tony Middleton called Church Bells Are Ringing. 

-The group decides to drop "5" from their name and become simply The Willows. The record is released on Melba 102 in mid-January of 1956 and the rest is history, the record breaks everywhere reaching Billboard # 62 on Billboards Top 100 Singles charts in late March of 1956 and reaches # 11 on Billboards Hot R&B Charts also in late March of 1956. 

-Joseph Martin died on Feb. 19, 2005, age 70. 

-Side A: Delores

-Dolores written by the goup is a melodic slow tempo doo-wop love ballad with nice lead vocals from Tony Middleton, tinkling piano, sax, strummed guitar, light bass and drums.

-Side B: All Night Long

-All Night Long also written by the group is a fast-tempo doo-wop rocker with great lead vocals from Tony Middleton accompanied by the other Five Willows who really put their heart & soul into this recording with driving bass, drums, sax with a hot sax solo! 

-Label: Allen 1002

-Canadian Label: No Canadian release

-Pressed in: United States

-Year released: 1953

-Billboard number: Non charted

-Billboard debut: 

-Visual grade:  Strong VG+

-Although visually a strong VG+ due to light surface scratches, both sides of the record play with excellent fidelity, no distortion, and while there is a bit of background noise at the lead-in, once the needle hits the grooves and the music starts, the background noise pretty much disappears.  

-Labels: Strong VG+

-Dolores is VG+ due to a previous owners name written on a piece of tape stuck to the label and All Night Long has a price stamped in yellow ink, see scans.

-We stock a constantly changing inventory of over 20,000 45's, 78's and LP's in every genre of music. The release dates range from the early 1900's through to the 2000's. Hundreds of titles are unplayed, new old stock. Buy with confidence, we grade records accurately and have been selling records through Ebay since 2000.

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-Buyer pays shipping charges:

Canada- $4.00 for the first two 45's plus .50 for each additional 45 up to seven 45's

LP's and 78's- $12.50 for the first one plus $4.00 for each additional LP or 78 up to three records

U.S.A.- $4.00 for the first two 45's plus .75 for each additional 45 up to seven 45's

LP's and 78's- $12.50 for the first one plus $4.00 for each additional LP or 78 up to three records

International- $9.00 for the first two 45's plus $1.00 for each additional 45 up to seven 45's. Eight 45's to twelve is $30.00

LP's and 78's- $20.00 for the first one. Two to three is $30.00

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Record grading:

(M) Mint: A mint record should appear to have just left the manufacturers without any handling; that is, it should appear perfect! No light scuffs or scratches, blotches or stains on labels or writing, tears or splits; nothing. Perfect. And age has nothing to do with it; the same standards for Mint apply to a rare rockabilly single from 1955 as they do to a Top 40 record from 1988! There are no sliding values for Mint. A Mint record cover should appear to have never had a record in it; no ring-wear, dog-eared corners, writing, seam-splits; nothing! Perfect! Even a new, unplayed old stock record can have factory flaws. Mint should be used sparingly and will usually attract a premium value to serious collectors. Mint means perfect and nothing else!

(SS) Still sealed: Still sealed in the factory shrink wrap.

(M-) Mint minus: A nearly perfect record. The record will show no obvious signs of wear, very light surface scuffs from normal handling are permitted but no light scratches. Original finish intact. Picture sleeves should have no more than the most minor defects, such as almost invisible ring wear or other signs of slight handling.

(VG+) Very good plus: The record will show some signs that it was played or otherwise handled by a previous owner who took good care of it. Record surfaces may show some slight signs of wear and may have slight scuffs or light scratches. Picture sleeves may have some slight ring wear, lightly turned up corners, or a small seam split.

(VG) Very good: Many of the defects found in a VG+ record or sleeve will be more pronounced in a VG record or picture sleeve. Groove wear may be noticeable, the record may have light scratches (deep enough to feel with a fingernail) that will affect the sound, but the foreign noises will be less prominent than the music. Picture sleeves may have quite prominent ring wear. Creases, folds, seam splits and tears will be more obvious and may appear on all three sides, and there may be writing as well.

(VG-) Very good minus: Foreign noises may be about as prominent as the music. The record still plays through without skipping. The picture sleeve will have more significant seam splits, perhaps to the point where they were taped closed, and highly obvious ring wear and heavier writing. Can serve as a filler until a better one comes along.

(G) Good: We seldom offer a good record for sale unless it is particularily rare for the following reasons: Foreign noises are louder than the recorded music and listening can be distracted by the noise. May or may not play through without skipping, but should be so noted. Picture sleeves are so badly seam split that they may not be able to contain the record within.Tears, folds, writing and ring wear may be overwheming.