“Tonight’s The Night” by The Shirelles - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1960Album Chart of the Decade: 1960s

TJR says

Arriving at the very tail end of the year was the debut LP from the completely fabulous Shirelles. With nearly 3 years of excellent hit singles behind them, a fine debut album was a sure thing. What a great success story they were; Shirley Owens, Beverly Lee, Doris Coley and Addie Harris were 4 schoolmates from New Jersey whose sweet harmonies and street tuff outlook propelled them to shine as one of brightest pop groups as the late 50s crossed into the early 60s. Although Shirley Owens was the group's main lead singer, the album also features lead vocals by Doris Coley and Beverly Lee. Brilliantly, all four members rotate lead vocal duties for their own composition “Doin' the Ronde”. That song and “Dedicated To The One I Love” were the only two pieces to date from 1959, the rest was the fresh new sound of 1960. They really were a stupendous vocal quartet, and at this time they often attained utter perfection in their craft. They made some of the most stunning pop singles in history – and three of them were right here on Scepter 501. Album opener “Tonight’s The Night” surely stands forever as the ultimate paean to losing your virginity – so much excitement and angst perfectly pitched. Not for the first time on the album, there’s a slightly Brazilian sway to the music. The theme continues on the superb original from the pen of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” The song is notable for being the first song by an all-girl group to reach No. 1 in the United States – despite the fact that some radio stations had banned the record because they had felt the lyrics were too sexually charged. Whilst Shirley was in the spotlight for these two, it was Doris who was centre stage on the album’s other “perfect 10” – the stunning cover of the 5 Royales ballad, “Dedicated To The One I Love”. In the hands of the Shirelles it was packed with so much character and feeling – the perfect end to any prom dance. These girls were real real gone.

The Jukebox Rebel
25–Oct–2008

Tracklist
A1 [01:59] 10.0.png The Shirelles - Tonight’s The Night (Luther Dixon, Shirley Owens) Pop
A2 [02:10] 6.9.png The Shirelles - Johnny On My Mind (Edward Lyons) Pop
A3 [02:17] 6.7.png The Shirelles - Lower The Flame (Barney Williams, Eddie Snyder, Stanley Kahan) Pop
A4 [02:43] 10.0.png The Shirelles - Will You Love Me Tomorrow (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) Pop
A5 [02:12] 8.2.png The Shirelles - Doin’ The Ronde (Doris Coley, Shirley Owens, Addie Harris, Beverly Lee) Rock n Roll / Rockabilly
A6 [02:20] 6.6.png The Shirelles - You Don’t Want My Love (Luther Dixon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B1 [02:04] 10.0.png The Shirelles - Dedicated To The One I Love (Lowman Pauling, Ralph Bass) Rock n Roll Ballad
B2 [02:12] 6.8.png The Shirelles - Boys (Luther Dixon, Wes Farrell) Blues / Rhythm n Blues
B3 [02:27] 6.6.png The Shirelles - The Dance Is Over (Luther Dixon) Rock n Roll Ballad
B4 [01:57] 6.3.png The Shirelles - Oh, What A Waste Of Love (Luther Dixon, Allyson R. Khent) Pop
B5 [02:28] 5.7.png The Shirelles - Unlucky (Lillian Shockley, Bobby Banks) Pop
B6 [02:33] 5.5.png The Shirelles - Tonight At The Prom (Barney Williams, Eddie Snyder, Stanley Kahan) Pop Ballad

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