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DISCLAIMER: All rights reserved to the production companies and music labels that distributed and produced the music and performance respectively. I've only added the footage as a tribute for historical, entertainment, and creative purposes with no financial gain. Copyright infringement not intended.
The El Dorados \"At My Front Door\" Vee-Jay 147 A 1955
This is a M- copy. Hope you enjoy it!
The El Dorados did it with one song - \"At My Front Door\". What did they do? Something most R&B groups never achieve: they produced a record that was a hit in its day and has become a classic, known to most followers of the \"oldies\" scene.
The El Dorados got together in late 1952, when Pirkle Lee Moses, Jr. (who was currently in the Air Force) began spending some of his spare time harmonizing with some students in the halls of Englewood High School (in Chicago's South Side). With Moses in the lead, the others were: Louis Bradley (tenor), Jewel Jones (second tenor and baritone), James Maddox (baritone and bass) and Robert Glasper (bass). The result was a group that called itself the Five Stars.Since they sang in the halls of the school, it wasn't long before they were heard by John Moore, who was the school's custodian. Moore decided that they were better than the other \"hall groups,\" and became their manager.
Within a year Robert Glasper had left, and not one, but two new members were added: Arthur Basset (tenor) and Richard Nickens (baritone and bass). Since there were now six of them, the \"Five Stars\" didn't quite fit any more. However, to save the trouble of thinking up a new name, they simply became \"Pirkle Lee and the 5 Stars.\"
When Pirkle Lee got out of the Air Force in 1954, they changed their name again. One possibility was \"the Cardinals,\" (although that name was actively in use by Atlantic's wonderful group). However they selected a tribute to the new Cadillac El Dorado. Then it was time to think about recording. Chicago disc jockey Vivian Carter (who hosted the \"Living With Vivian\" show over WWCA), decided she wanted more groups on her Vee-Jay label, which she owned with partner and husband Jimmy Bracken. Another partner was Vivian's brother, Calvin Carter, the label's A&R man, who was in charge of the recording sessions. Ewart Abner (originally of Chance Records) was also involved, mostly in the business end. Finally, in the shadows was Art Sheridan, owner of Chance Records, a secret (and mostly silent) partner. She rented a local skating rink and invited groups to challenge the Spaniels, her star attraction. The El Dorados entered and walked away with a contract.
Vee-Jay waited until February 1955 to issue \"One More Chance,\" backed with \"Little Miss Love.\" They were reviewed on April 2, with \"Chance\" getting a \"good\" rating, and \"Love\" receiving a \"fair.\" Other reviews were for Ella Johnson's \"Alright, Okay, You Win,\" the Orioles' \"That's When The Good Lord Will Smile,\" the 5 Wings' \"Teardrops Are Falling,\" the Robins' \"I Love Paris,\" the Casanovas' \"That's All,\" the Dudads' \"I Heard You Call Me Dear,\" and the Tenderfoots' \"Watussi, Wussi, Woo.\"
Also in April (the 24th), the guys had their next session, recording \"I Began To Realize\" and a little ditty called \"At My Front Door.\" June 8, 1955 saw another session, at which they laid down \"What's Buggin' You Baby\" (led by Louis Bradley) and \"Now That You've Gone.\" \"What's Buggin' You Baby\" had a Navy flavor mixed with jive talk (\"Why don't you raise a storm/And get your brew in a stew\"). Not one of their favorites, the El Dorados rarely performed it, even though it was released as the flip of what was to be their monster hit, \"At My Front Door,\" later in June.
Considering the impact that \"At My Front Door\" was to have, it wasn't sent out for review (a fate of many of the El Dorados' records). However, on August 27, it was listed as a Tip in St. Louis. September 24 found it a Best Buy, showing good sales in St. Louis, Chicago, Cleveland, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Nashville, Detroit, and Boston. By the time \"At My Front Door\" had finished its 18-week run on the national R&B charts, it had made it all the way to #1. Better than that, it crossed over to the Pop charts, lasting for 15 weeks and rising to #17 (not bad for 1955).
On September 23, the El Dorados began a week at the Howard Theater in D.C., along with Al Hibbler, Lavern Baker, Red Prysock, and the Sweethearts.
Turntable used: Audio Technica AT-LP120 USB Direct Drive inputted straight into the sound card using the built-in pre-amp from the turntable.
Cartridge used: SHURE M78S using 78 3 mil needle.
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