Harlem Holiday: New York Rhythm & Blues is a seven-volume series from Collectables that documents New York's thriving doo wop and R&B scene of the late '50s and early '60s. This is a fine series of CDs for those who want to dig deeper -- perhaps after devouring Rhino's Doo Wop Box sets -- but it's definitely too specialist for beginners, since it focuses on groups that were primarily local or regional sensations. On the fifth volume, the featured groups include
the Five Satins ("In the Still of the Night," possibly the most significant inclusion in the series),
the Thrillers ("Lizabeth"), the Rocketeers ("Foolish One"), the Turbans ("When You Dance"), the Smoothtones ("Dear Diary"), and the Sunbeams ("Tell Me Why"). ~ Andy Kellman