#880 (12/31/16 - 1/13/17)

"Darling I Know"/"Christine"
by The El Rays
on Checker 794
released in 1954

[The above photo is courtesy of Marv Goldberg and Bob Pruter.]

Above: The El Rays 1954 (TOP L-R) Mickey McGill (tenor), Johnny Funches (lead tenor), Marvin Junior (baritone), Lucius McGill (tenor), (BOTTOM L-R) Verne Allison (tenor), Chuck Barksdale (bass). After this one record, they changed their name to The Dells.

Click HERE for an article about The Dells by Marv Goldberg.
(Will open in a separate window)

The Dells 1956 (L-R) Marvin Junior, Verne Allison, Chuck Barksdale, Mickey McGill, and Johnny Funches. [The above photo is courtesy of Paul Ressler.]

The Dells 1958 (TOP L-R) Chuck Barksdale, Mickey McGill, Marvin Junior, (BOTTOM L-R) Verne Allison, and Johnny Funches. [The above photo is courtesy of Paul Ressler.]

EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player):
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

(The clipping above right is from March 1956.)

Listen to "Tell The World" - The Dells - Vee-Jay 134 - 1955. (This song was recorded on 2/19/55 and released in April 1955.) The Cash Box Review (5/7/55): THE DELLS — VEE-JAY 134.... Tell The World (B) The Dells blend on a slow rhythmic blues ballad. Strong lead helps make it a good piece of r&b wax. (NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good.") Listen to "Dreams Of Contentment" - The Dells - Vee-Jay 166 - 1955. (This song was recorded on 9/15/55 and released in December 1955.) The Billboard Review (3/3/56): THE DELLS — VEE-JAY 166.... Dreams Of Contentment (74) A slow, pulsing beat supports a dreamy rendition of a tender ballad. Lead singer, with a wide-ranging tremolo, is effective. (NOTE: A ratings range of 70-79 was considered "good.") The Cash Box Review (3/10/56): THE DELLS — VEE-JAY 166.... Dreams Of Contentment (B) The Dells drift tenderly through a melodic bit of sentiment. Good lead gives the deck sales potential. (NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good.")

EXTRA EXTRA AUDIO (Windows Media Player):

At Left: Clipping from Cash Box Magazine dated 5/22/54. ALTERNATE TAKE OF "DARLING I KNOW" FROM CHESS LP #50030 RELEASED IN 1972: Listen to "Darling I Know" - The El Rays - Chess LP 50030 - 1972.

Above: Label image of Checker 794 recorded on February 17, 1954 and released in May 1954. The El Rays recorded two more songs in the same session, but these were not released.

The Cash Box Review (5/22/54):

EL RAYS — CHECKER 7599 [sic, it is matrix number for "Darling..." side]....
Darling I Know (C+) The El Rays sing a slow blues ballad and give the tune a fair treatment. Sounds like too many other groups.
Christine (B) Group runs through a change of pace as they dish up a quick beat bouncer with a driving vocal. Deck has appeal.

(NOTE: A rating of B was considered "very good" and C+ was "good.")

NOTE: Most discographical information provided at this website is from Ferdie Gonzalez' Disco-File.

Listen to this week's selections featuring The El Rays on Checker 794 from 1954:
[Audio restoration by Dave Saviet.]

A. Stream RealAudio (DO NOT USE...LISTEN USING DOWNLOAD REALAUDIO)...             1. Darling I Know           2. Christine             BOTH played in sequence      B. Download RealAudio...             1. Darling I Know           2. Christine      C. Stream/Download Media Player...             1. Darling I Know           2. Christine             BOTH played in sequence

      [To download audio files, right-click on link and then select "Save (Link) Target As..."]

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