"Play Those Oldies Mr. D.J."
The Gossert's All Time Favorite Groups
by Ronnie I
Gus never really cared who recorded the record, just the sound that came from it. Gus did not care whether a group had eighty releases or only two. The Students being the number one group is a prime example of this. His primary love was the sound itself that turned him on.
"New York, you are a sincere loyal audience - you are not kids, you are adult warm human beings." - quotes from the late great, beloved Gus Gossert Oct. 1970 - WCBS-FM. How right he was!
On August 22nd of this year, I presented a memorial tribute on my WHBI radio show. I was under no obligation to do so. It was something I wanted to do for what he did for our music. Like so many thousands of others I looked forward to the day of his return to New York radio, but that day never came. It was by far the hardest show I've ever had to prepare. I was afraid of leaving something out.
The results were beyond my wildest expectations. The letters and postcards started pouring In, the phone never stopped ringing the Monday after its Sunday night airing. People were shocked, amazed, but most of all very compassionate - "The Gossert" had not been forgotten. People literally poured their hearts out to me, grown men stood in front of me in the store and actually cried. I'll remember this for as long as I live.
The passing of Gus Gossert has amazingly united his fans, which include serious collectors plus people who just love group harmony. The legend of Gus Gossert will live on as long as we live. As far as we are concerned, his memory will always be be associated with group sounds, which proves. again that Now York, New Jersey and Connecticut, you are a sincere and loyal audience.
THE GOSSERT'S TOP 5 GROUPS
THE STUDENTS
THE HARPTONES
DUBS
CLEFTONES
FASCINATORS
Gus Gossert's Top 40 All Time Favorite DooWoops
by Ronnie 1.
The Gossert is gone but "his" music lives on. The following lists of forty singles and top five groups are derived from conversations with people that were the closest to Gus during his radio years. Wayne Stlerle was my primary consultant.
If there are songs on this list that you feel don't belong, and if you feel there are songs missing from this list, please remember this- all forty of the following titles are records that Gus never got tired of. He and he alone was responsible for playing them repeatedly, because he enjoyed them. It is true that Gus would get on a certain record which he really dug at that time, play it often, get tired of it and then shelve it. The following forty do not fall into that category.
You may be asking yourself, why a top forty when anyone else would have a top ten? Well, It's because "The Gossert" was not just anyone else. It was his personality that was responsible for bringing back the sound. Since he left radio four years ago, many people have tried to fill his shoes but NO ONE succeeded.
Actually, this top forty is only a portion of the Doo-Wopps that Gus popularized, a complete list of them would take up the whole magazine. You'll remember "The Gossert" everytime you hear one of the following songs on this list. Too bad you couldn't tune in to a top forty station today and hear this top forty:
*Although "I'm In The Mood For Love" is not a group record it deserves it's high position on this list. "The Gossert" was a King Pleasure fan, he just happened to "flip" over this particular side. He played it over and over again. The amazing part of it is that thousands of group collectors went out and bought this record and filed it, all due to Gus. He was primarily into group harmony, the New York Sound- Doo Wopps, but he did enjoy certain artists' efforts- Elvis and Little Richard were his favorites,
TITLE - GROUP - ORIGINAL LABEL - YEAR
1. I'm So Young Students Note 1958
2. The Stars Ocapellos General 1966
3. Share Teenagers Gee 1956
4. My Vow to You Students Note 1958
5. There Goes My Love Fantastics RCA 1959
6. Memories Of El Monte Penguins Original Sound 1963
7. Since You've Been Gone Diablos Fortune 1958
8. I'm In The Mood For Love King Pleasure* UA 1959
9. Chapel Bells Fascinators Capitol 1958
10 Please Be My Love Tonight Charades Ava 1963
11. I'll Never Tell Harptones Bruce 1953
12 The Verdict Five Keys Capitol 1955
13. Don't Say Goodnight Valentines Game 1957
14. Deep In My Heart Shells Johnson 1962
15, A Sunday Kind Of Love Harptones Bruce1953
16. Be Sure My Love Dubs Gone 1958
17. Who Do You Think You Are Fascinators Capitol 1959
18. The Be I Is Of Rosa Rita Admirations 'Mercury 1959
19 Bring Back Those Doo-Wopps Bagdads Double Shot 1963
20 . You Told Another Lie Youngsters Lesley 1958
21. The Shrine Of Saint Cecilia Harptones Rama 1957
22. Hello Nutmegs Time. Square 1962
23. Can I Come Over Youngtones X-tra 1960
24. I'm Just A Dancing Partner Platters Mercury 1955
25. pi- Pie Beach Boys Capitol1959
26. Everyday Of The Week Students Note 1958
27. My Memories Of You Harptones Bruce 1954
28. I'd Like To Thank You Mr. D.J. Charms 0.11956
29. My Juanita Crests Joyce 1957
30. Soft Shadows Monotones Argo 1958
31. String Around My Heart Cleftones Gee 1956
32. Down In Mexico NutmegsTimes Square1962
33. Chapel Of Dreams Dubs Gone 1958
34 Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild -Penguins Dootone 1954
35. Close Your Eyes Five Keys Capitol 1955
36. The Wind Diablos Fortune 1954
37 Poor Rock and Roll Nobles Klik 1957
38. Mommy And Daddy Students Red Top 1958
39. Letter To A Schoolgirl Delacardos Elgey 1959
40. My Hero Bluenotes Value 19
