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Doo Wop

Doo Wop was one of the most popular genres of rock & roll and R&B in the late '50s. Doo wop artists were vocal groups, with each singer in the group taking a different part that interweaved with the other singers. Frequently, the backing vocalists sang nonsense words as rhythm, and the genre's name derives from this trait. Most doo wop groups started as a cappella bands, performing without instrumental accompaniment. The hit doo wop singles inspired countless teenagers to form their own a cappella groups, though many of them were never recorded. Despite its a cappella origins, few doo wop records were made without instrumental backing. Doo wop faded away in the early '60s, though its influence was felt throughout popular music in the following decades.

Doo Wop Album Highlights

The Best of the Cadillacs [Rhino]
The Cadillacs The Best of the Cadillacs [Rhino]
Street Corner Serenade: The Greatest Doo Wop of the '50s and '60s
Various Artists Street Corner Serenade: The Greatest Doo Wop of the '50s and '60s
Come Go with Me: The Best of the Del-Vikings -- The Dot/ABC Recordings
The Del Vikings Come Go with Me: The Best of the Del-Vikings -- The Dot/ABC Recordings
Sixty Minute Men: The Best of Billy Ward & His Dominoes
Billy Ward & the Dominoes Sixty Minute Men: The Best of Billy Ward & His Dominoes
The Doo Wop Box
Various Artists The Doo Wop Box
Let the Boogie-Woogie Roll: Greatest Hits 1953-1958
The Drifters Let the Boogie-Woogie Roll: Greatest Hits 1953-1958
Very Best of the Clovers
The Clovers Very Best of the Clovers
The Best of the Flamingos
The Flamingos The Best of the Flamingos
The Very Best of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers The Very Best of Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 5
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 5
Their Greatest Hits [MCA]
The Moonglows Their Greatest Hits [MCA]
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 2
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 2
The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2
Various Artists The Doo Wop Box, Vol. 2
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 4
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 4
The Very Best of the Coasters
The Coasters The Very Best of the Coasters
Anthology
The Dells Anthology
The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3
Various Artists The Golden Age of American Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 3
Blue Velvet: The Ultimate Collection
The Moonglows Blue Velvet: The Ultimate Collection
Enchanted: The Best of the Platters
The Platters Enchanted: The Best of the Platters
Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters / Hank Ballard Sexy Ways: The Best of Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
Dootone Doo Wop, Vol. 3
Various Artists Dootone Doo Wop, Vol. 3
The Very Best of the Drifters [Rhino]
The Drifters The Very Best of the Drifters [Rhino]
Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers
The Clovers Down in the Alley: The Best of the Clovers
The Essential Dion
Dion The Essential Dion
Hardcore Doo-Wop: In the Hallway-Under the Street Lamp
Various Artists Hardcore Doo-Wop: In the Hallway-Under the Street Lamp
The Jubilee Recordings
The Orioles The Jubilee Recordings
The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Lummtone Records
Various Artists The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Lummtone Records
Their Biggest Hits
Lee Andrews & the Hearts Their Biggest Hits
A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 1
Various Artists A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 1
Doo Wop Delights: The Hartford Groups
Various Artists Doo Wop Delights: The Hartford Groups
The Hollywood Flames
The Hollywood Flames The Hollywood Flames
The Doo-Wop Era - Harlem, N.Y.: 40 Hits
Various Artists The Doo-Wop Era - Harlem, N.Y.: 40 Hits
Doo-Wop from Dolphin's of Hollywood, Vol. 1
Various Artists Doo-Wop from Dolphin's of Hollywood, Vol. 1
Who Wrote the Book of Love?
The Monotones Who Wrote the Book of Love?
Laurie Vocal Groups: The Doo Wop Sound
Various Artists Laurie Vocal Groups: The Doo Wop Sound
50 Coastin' Classics: Anthology
The Coasters 50 Coastin' Classics: Anthology
The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Lupine Records
Various Artists The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Lupine Records
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Doo Wop
Various Artists 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Doo Wop
Greatest Hits
The Skyliners Greatest Hits
Best of Doo Wop Uptempo
Various Artists Best of Doo Wop Uptempo
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite
The Spaniels Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite
A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 2
Various Artists A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 2
Stranded in the Jungle [P-Vine]
The Cadets Stranded in the Jungle [P-Vine]
Bim Bam Boom
The El Dorados Bim Bam Boom
The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Fury Records
Various Artists The Golden Era of Doo-Wops: Fury Records
Best of Doo Wop Ballads
Various Artists Best of Doo Wop Ballads
The Best of the Cleftones
The Cleftones The Best of the Cleftones
In the Still of the Night [Relic]
The Five Satins In the Still of the Night [Relic]
The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 1
Various Artists The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 1
The Best of the Marcels [Rhino]
The Marcels The Best of the Marcels [Rhino]
A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 3
Various Artists A Taste of Doo Wop, Vol. 3
The Aladdin Years
The Five Keys The Aladdin Years
Stranded in the Jungle [Ace]
The Cadets / The Jacks Stranded in the Jungle [Ace]
At My Front Door...Crazy Little Mama: The Very Best of the El Dorados
The El Dorados At My Front Door...Crazy Little Mama: The Very Best of the El Dorados
The Five Satins Sing Their Greatest Hits
The Five Satins The Five Satins Sing Their Greatest Hits
Golden Groups
Various Artists Golden Groups
The Best of the Chantels [Rhino]
The Chantels The Best of the Chantels [Rhino]
The Best of the Duprees [Rhino]
The Duprees The Best of the Duprees [Rhino]
The Best of the Heartbeats [Rhino]
The Heartbeats The Best of the Heartbeats [Rhino]
The Best of the Wrens
The Wrens The Best of the Wrens
Eddie My Love
The Teen Queens Eddie My Love
We Belong Together
Robert & Johnny We Belong Together
Complete Package
The Silhouettes Complete Package
The Best of the Crests Featuring Johnny Maestro [Rhino]
Johnny Maestro & the Crests The Best of the Crests Featuring Johnny Maestro [Rhino]
Rang Tang Ding Dong
The Cellos Rang Tang Ding Dong
I Always Remember
Various Artists I Always Remember
Doo Wop Shop [Ace]
Various Artists Doo Wop Shop [Ace]
Come Softly to Me: The Very Best of the Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods Come Softly to Me: The Very Best of the Fleetwoods
Tonight, Tonight
The Mello-Kings Tonight, Tonight
Barbara-Ann
The Regents Barbara-Ann
Our True Story
The Jive Five Our True Story
Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters
The Drifters / Clyde McPhatter Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters
The Nutmegs' Greatest Hits
The Nutmegs The Nutmegs' Greatest Hits
Toga! Toga! Toga!
Little Caesar & the Romans Toga! Toga! Toga!
The Best of the Chordettes
The Chordettes The Best of the Chordettes
The Olympics Meet the Marathons
The Marathons The Olympics Meet the Marathons
What's Your Name
Don & Juan What's Your Name
Greatest Hits
The Channels / Earl Lewis & the Channels Greatest Hits
The Very Best of the Spaniels, Vol. 1
The Spaniels The Very Best of the Spaniels, Vol. 1
History of Rock: The 50s, Pt. 1 [1992]
Various Artists History of Rock: The 50s, Pt. 1 [1992]
Daddy's Home to Stay
Shep & the Limelites Daddy's Home to Stay
Golden Classics
The Pentagons Golden Classics
The Crows & the Harptones
The Crows The Crows & the Harptones
The Best of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs The Best of Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 2
Various Artists The Best of Chess Vocal Groups, Vol. 2
Very Best of the Harptones: Life Is But a Dream
The Harptones Very Best of the Harptones: Life Is But a Dream
The Greatest Group of Them All
The Ravens The Greatest Group of Them All
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Platters
The Platters 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of The Platters
Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
The Mothers of Invention / Frank Zappa Cruising with Ruben & the Jets
Barbara Ann [Great Groups Series]
The Regents Barbara Ann [Great Groups Series]
All-Time Greatest Hits
The Platters All-Time Greatest Hits
The Definitive Pop Collection
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons / Frankie Valli / The Four Seasons The Definitive Pop Collection
There's a Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco
The Coasters There's a Riot Goin' On: The Coasters on Atco
King of the New York Streets
Dion King of the New York Streets
The Magic Touch: An Anthology
The Platters The Magic Touch: An Anthology
The Ballads of the Platters
The Platters The Ballads of the Platters