Top 100 Doo-Wop Singles (As Rated by RYM Users)

Categories: RYM

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Everyone knows that rock broke in 1954-1955, but that was not the only new music to appear on the American scene at that point. At exactly the same time, doo-wop evolved out of the older vocal group sound. Today doo-wop has its own small, devoted body of fans, and most rock fans stay clear. That is a shame, because The Beatles, Beach Boys and the 60s girl groups all borrowed a lot from doo-wop harmonies. The Top 100 list is based on the ratings of all users and not my own preferences. I have not included vocal group songs from before 1953, as these are usually not regarded as doo-wop so much as traditional vocal group music, lacking the rhythm element of doo-wop. They are the subject of another, related list. [ The rankings have now been thoroughly updated as of January 2, 2019. The list has now gone past 500,000 views.]

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100		100.The Rivingtons Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow / Deep Water (1962) [Single] The Rivington's first hit was "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". Like many such songs, it began with the bass vocalist chanting nonsense syllables (in this case the title), followed by the tenor singing over repetitions of it. It peaked at #48 on the Billboard pop chart and #35 on Cashbox.
The Rivington's first hit was "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow". Like many such songs, it began with the bass vocalist chanting nonsense syllables (in this case the title), followed by the tenor singing over repetitions of it. It peaked at #48 on the Billboard pop chart and #35 on Cashbox.
99		99.The Duprees You Belong to Me / Take Me as I Am (1962) [Single] This group harmony take on the old standard "You Belong to Me" was one of the biggest doo-wop singles of 1962, going to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Duprees were one of few doo-wop acts whose records sold considerable numbers during the 1962-1963 period, entering six singles into the Top 100 during those years.
This group harmony take on the old standard "You Belong to Me" was one of the biggest doo-wop singles of 1962, going to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Duprees were one of few doo-wop acts whose records sold considerable numbers during the 1962-1963 period, entering six singles into the Top 100 during those years.
98		98.The Shields You Cheated / Nature Boy (1958) [Single] "You Cheated" is a teen pop melodrama which is best enjoyed as self-aware camp. The song was a sizable hit, reaching #13 on the pop charts nationally and #12 on the R&B charts. It had a second lease of life during the 1960s when girl group The Shangri-Las covered it.
"You Cheated" is a teen pop melodrama which is best enjoyed as self-aware camp. The song was a sizable hit, reaching #13 on the pop charts nationally and #12 on the R&B charts. It had a second lease of life during the 1960s when girl group The Shangri-Las covered it.
97		97.The Pastels Been So Long / My One and Only Dream (1957) [Single] The Pastels formed on a military base in Greenland. They were still part of the armed forces when this single was released. "Been So Long" eventually reached #4 on the R&B charts and #24 on Pop.
The Pastels formed on a military base in Greenland. They were still part of the armed forces when this single was released. "Been So Long" eventually reached #4 on the R&B charts and #24 on Pop.
96		96.Little Anthony & the Imperials Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop / I'm Still in Love With You (1959) [Single] The seventh of this band's fourteen singles on End Records, "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" was their second big pop hit, reaching #24 on the Billboard pop chart, as well as reaching #14 on the R&B chart. It is a doo-wop record which presages the rise of the dance craze hits of the early 1960s.
The seventh of this band's fourteen singles on End Records, "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" was their second big pop hit, reaching #24 on the Billboard pop chart, as well as reaching #14 on the R&B chart. It is a doo-wop record which presages the rise of the dance craze hits of the early 1960s.
95		95.The Five Satins To the Aisle / Wish I Had My Baby (1957) [Single] Even though "To the Aisle" is nowhere near as famous as its label-mate, "In the Still of the Night", by the same group, but it was a just as big a hit at the time. It went to #5 on the R&B charts and top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is another elegant ballad by this doo-wop outfit from New Haven, Connecticut.
Even though "To the Aisle" is nowhere near as famous as its label-mate, "In the Still of the Night", by the same group, but it was a just as big a hit at the time. It went to #5 on the R&B charts and top 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It is another elegant ballad by this doo-wop outfit from New Haven, Connecticut.
94		94.The Four Deuces W-P-L-J / Here Lies My Love (1955) [Single] The initials stand for "white port and lemon juice". The song is an innocent and carefree sounding record about the joys of underage drinking. In retrospect, it was one of the most enjoyable doo-wop tracks of 1955, complete with the obligatory 'hot' sax solo.
The initials stand for "white port and lemon juice". The song is an innocent and carefree sounding record about the joys of underage drinking. In retrospect, it was one of the most enjoyable doo-wop tracks of 1955, complete with the obligatory 'hot' sax solo.
93		93.Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers I Promise to Remember / Who Can Explain? (1956) [Single] "I Promise To Remember" features the memorable bass part, "Hoolie bop a cow bop a cow bop a cow cow." It peaked at #10 on the R&B charts (#33 on the pop charts) and "Who Can Explain?" went to #7 on the R&B charts. The Teenagers were possibly the most influential R&B teen group before The Jackson Five.
"I Promise To Remember" features the memorable bass part, "Hoolie bop a cow bop a cow bop a cow cow." It peaked at #10 on the R&B charts (#33 on the pop charts) and "Who Can Explain?" went to #7 on the R&B charts. The Teenagers were possibly the most influential R&B teen group before The Jackson Five.
92		92.The Harptones My Memories of You / Just for Laughs (1954) [Single] The Harptones were one of most musically sophisticated of the doo-wop groups. Though they failed to achieve a single Top 40 hit nationally, they are now one of the most highly regarded groups of the genre and their singles are highly prized by collectors. The beautiful "My Memories of You", an inductee into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, was probably denied national success because of distribution problems at Bruce Record Company.
The Harptones were one of most musically sophisticated of the doo-wop groups. Though they failed to achieve a single Top 40 hit nationally, they are now one of the most highly regarded groups of the genre and their singles are highly prized by collectors. The beautiful "My Memories of You", an inductee into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, was probably denied national success because of distribution problems at Bruce Record Company.
91		91.The Olympics Western Movies / Well! (1958) [Single] The Olympics are an American doo-wop group, formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward, Eddie Lewis (tenor, Ward's cousin), Charles Fizer (tenor), Walter Hammond (baritone) and Melvin King (bass). "Western Movies", their best known song, went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Olympics are an American doo-wop group, formed in 1957 by lead singer Walter Ward, Eddie Lewis (tenor, Ward's cousin), Charles Fizer (tenor), Walter Hammond (baritone) and Melvin King (bass). "Western Movies", their best known song, went to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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