With the third volume in the
Old Town Doo Wop series, the focus shifts away from the chart hits that highlighted previous editions in favor of little-known singles known almost exclusively to die-hard collectors, if at all. That being said, the quality dips not at all, thanks no doubt to label owner
Sam Weiss' penchant for all-night sessions that over the years yielded an obscene amount of material. The sessions also created the signature Old Town sound, a striking fusion of street-smart energy and otherworldly beauty galvanized by an unsung house band led by saxophonist
Buddy Lucas. The end result is a hit parade that never was, a timeless string of should-have-been blockbusters made even more timeless by their virtual obscurity. Highlights include
the Royaltones' "Crazy Love,"
the Solitaires' "The Wedding" and
the Earls' "Life Is But a Dream."