The Penguins – “Earth Angel” from the album “Doo Wop – The R&B Vocal Group Sound – 1950 to 1960”

They named themselves after Willie The Penguin, the cartoon logo of Kool cigarettes, one of the early mentholated brands. The lead vocalist on Earth Angel, Cleveland “Cleve” Duncan, said “We wanted to be cool and what was cooler than an Arctic bird?”

It was actually the b-side to “Hey Señorita”, but after a DJ played both sides listeners started phoning in to request “Earth Angel”. It shot to number 1 on the national R&B charts and stayed there for three weeks. It’s estimated to have sold 5 million copies world-wide.

“Doo Wop – The R&B Vocal Group Sound – 1950 to 1960”

Disc 1

1) Double Crossing Blues – Johnny Otis Quintette With The Robins & Little Esther; 2) I Will Wait – The Four Buddies; 3) Sixty-Minute Man – The Dominoes; 4) Don’t You Know I Love You – The Clovers; 5) The Glory Of Love – The Five Keys; 6) Fool Fool Fool – The Clovers; 7) Have Mercy Baby – The Dominoes; 8) One Mint Julep – The Clovers; 9) Baby Don’t Do It – The 5 Royales; 10) Ting-A-Ling – The Clovers; 11) I Wanna Know – The Du Droppers; 12) Help Me Somebody – The 5 Royales; 13) Good Lovin’ – The Clovers; 14) Crying In The Chapel – The Orioles; 15) Nadine – The Coronets; 16) Money Honey – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 17) Rags To Riches – Billy Ward & The Dominoes; 18) I Didn’t Want To Do It – The Spiders; 19) Such A Night – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 20) Lovey Dovey – The Clovers; 21) Gee – The Crows; 22) Work With Me Annie – The Royals; 23) Middle Of The Night – The Clovers; 24) Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite – The Spaniels; 25) Honey Love – Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters; 26) Sh-Boom – The Chords; 27) Sexy Ways – Hank Ballard & The Midnighters; 28) Hearts Of Stone – The Charms; 29) Sincerely – The Moonglows

Disc 2

1) Earth Angel – The Penguins; 2) Ling Ting Tong – The Five Keys; 3) The Door Is Still Open – The Cardinals; 4) Story Untold – The Nutmegs; 5) Soldier Boy – The Four Fellows; 6) Only You (And You Alone) – The Platters; 7) Why Don’t You Write Me – The Jacks; 8) At My Front Door – The El Dorados; 9) Adorable – The Drifters; 10) When You Dance – The Turbans; 11) The Great Pretender – The Platters; 12) Speedoo – The Cadillacs; 13) Devil Or Angel – The Clovers; 14) Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; 15) Eddie My Love – The Teen Queens; 16) (You’ve Got) The Magic Touch – The Platters; 17) Ivory Tower – Otis Williams & His Charms; 18) Please, Please, Please – James Brown & The Famous Flames; 19) I Want You To Be My Girl – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers; 20) My Prayer – The Platters; 21) Stranded In The Jungle – The Cadets; 22) In The Still Of The Nite – The Five Satins; 23) Heaven On Earth – The Platters; 24) Oh What A Nite – The Dells; 25) A Thousand Miles Away – The Heartbeats; 26) Come Go With Me – The Del-Vikings; 27) I’m Sorry – The Platters; 28) Over The Mountain, Across The Sea – Johnnie & Joe; 29) Searchin’ – The Coasters

Disc 3

1) Young Blood – The Coasters; 2) Star Dust – Billy Ward & The Dominoes; 3) Mr Lee – The Bobbettes; 4) Happy Happy Birthday Baby – The Tune Weavers; 5) Silhouettes – The Rays; 6) Little Bitty Pretty One – Thurston Harris; 7) Buzz Buzz Buzz – Hollywood Flames; 8) Get A Job – The Silhouettes; 9) Maybe – The Chantels; 10) Don’t You Just Know It – Huey “Piano” Smith & The Clowns; 11) Book Of Love – The Monotones; 12) Twilight Time – The Platters; 13) Yakety Yak – The Coasters; 14) For Your Precious Love – Jerry Butler & The Impressions; 15) One Summer Night – The Danleers; 16) Western Movies – The Olympics; 17) Rock-In Robin – Bobby Day; 18) Tears On My Pillow – Little Anthony & The Imperials; 19) Try Me – James Brown & The Famous Flames; 20) Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – The Platters; 21) Charlie Brown – The Coasters; 22) So Fine – The Fiestas; 23) You’re So Fine – The Falcons; 24) There Goes My Baby – The Drifters; 25) I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos; 26) Sea Of Love – Phil Phillips With The Twilights; 27) Poison Ivy – The Coasters; 28) Dance With Me – The Drifters; 29) Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs; 30) Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters; 31) Shop Around – The Miracles