Previous Vocal Group Record of the Week
(Week of 4/21/01 - 4/27/01)


"Don't Cry Darling"
by The Mystery Quartette
on Essex 706
released in 1950

Photo Of The Mystery Quartette
(Thanks to Paul Ressler for the above photo!)

Above: Photo of The Mystery Quartette. Ricky Wells is playing the guitar.

Essex Label-Don't Cry Darling-The Mystery Quartette-1950 Jubilee Label-Don't Cry Darling-The Four Tunes-1954
Above Left: The first of two records that The Mystery Quartette had released on Philadelphia's Essex label. Matrix numbers on this record are MQ-1 and MQ-2. Note that writer's credit is given to 'Best-Berman'. This is Pat Best of The Brown Dots/Four Tunes and Irving Berman, head of Manor Records, for which the Dots/Tunes recorded from 1945 to 1949.

Per George Moonoogian, The Mystery Quartette's second record was Essex 713 "Pretty Baby"/"Go Tell Your Troubles To Somebody Else".

Above Right: The Four Tunes release of this great song wasn't until 1954 (although they backed up Savannah Churchill on this song in 1950). Interestingly, writer's credit is now shown as 'Pat Best' and publisher is Jubilee. There was another 1950 release of this song by The Masterkeys on Abbey 3017.

Click on an option below to listen to "Don't Cry Darling" by The Mystery Quartette using Windows Media Player.

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(file size=503KB)

Click on an option below to listen to "Don't Cry Darling" by The Four Tunes using Windows Media Player.

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(file size=357KB)



1993 Photo Of Pat Best
At left is a 1993 photo of Pat Best who was the baritone in The Brown Dots and Four Tunes. In addition to "Don't Cry Darling", he wrote many songs including "Sentimental Reasons", "You're Heaven Sent", "Is It Right", "Where Is My Love", "Is It Too Late", "Wrapped Up In A Dream", "All My Dreams", and "I Understand (Just How You Feel)", etc. Berman had no involvement in writing any of these.

Here are Pat's memories of The Mystery Quartette:
He watched them perform at The Little Rathskeller, a club in South Philadelphia. They were an excellent group with nice harmony. Billy Wells' brother, Ricky, was in the group (in above photo with guitar) and somone named "Bobby". (Note: Billy Wells would join The Four Tunes later) When they came on stage, it would be dark except for the guitar which was fluorescent!




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