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Local
doo-woppers land
deal with oldies label |
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By Bob Kostanczuk
* Post-Tribune * Staff Writer
I was blown
away by them. They had that authentic street corner, New York
City sound. The harmonies were rich and full. Their range - from
the bottom of the bass up to the tenors - was excellent."
-Dennis Pettet,artist-and-repertoire guy for Collectables Records
As artist-and-repertoire
guy for Collectables Records, Dennis Pettet has an ear for the
vintage street-corner sound known as doo-wop. But his oldies
label didn't expect a group like Harbor Lights to deliver the
goods. Here, after all, was a group from the Midwest that was
true to a genre which seemed more at home in the Bronx. "I
couldn't imagine anything coming out of Indiana, of all places,"
Pettet recently said. Doo-wop, said the sages, was the purview
of the urban East Coast. "I guess I just had the concept
that the north Jersey-New York-Philadelphia hub is, like, the
golden slipper, if you would, for doo-wop," Pettet said.
Harbor Lights happens to be a vocal quintet comprised entirely
of Lake County residents. Known for retro-laced a capella, the
group has just landed a five-year record deal with Collectables
Records - a large East Coast-based reissue label. The contract
means national distribution for Harbor Lights.
"Almost
Acapella," is an album offering cover versions of classic
doo-wop, along with teen-idol pop and old-school rhythm and blues.
"To be recognized by a real label is a very nice trophy,
if you will," said George Carl, a group member and its chief
spokesman. "That really is significant in the music business
to get national distribution. "Set for release Nov. 29,
"Almost Acappella" will be available nationally at
major record chains like Borders Books and Tower Records. Formed
five years ago, Harbor Lights hopes the CD's retail-distribution
deal opens doors on the East Coast. "This will sort of introduce
the group to that audience," Carl said.
Harbor Lights
caught Pettet's attention after he obtained a CD that radiated
what he wanted to hear. The group's demo had impact. "I
was blown away by them," Pettet said. "They had that
authentic street-corner, New York City sound. The harmonies were
rich and full. Their range - from the bottom of the bass up to
the tenors -was excellent. "Pettet was also impressed by
the multiple-leads approach to vocals.
The talents of
Harbor Lights have previously been mined by minor league baseball
teams. Finding a unique niche, Harbor Lights fashioned all-American
theme songs for the Gary SouthShore RailCats and the Joliet (Ill.)
Jack Hammers.
"Almost
Acapella" serves up interpretations of innocent rock'n'roll
nuggets from the '50s and '60s. Carl said that after "Almost
Acappella" debuts, Harbor Lights plans future releases on
the Collectables label.
Whether warbling
the Token "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or some other street-corner
gem, Harbor Lights has an audience in 2005 for its throwback
tunes."I think the music back then had more heart, more
feeling. It came from their soul." Harbor Lights' DeRosier,
48, said. "There's a lot of smoke and mirrors these days,
instead of coming from the heart."Disc Data" Harbor
Lights' debut album on Collectables Records offers an intriguing
smattering of retro rock'n'roll. Due Nov. 29, "Almost Acappella"
serves up Ricky Nelson's 1958 lament, "Poor Little Fool".
Jumping to 1971, our Northwest Indiana doowoppers tackle Motown,
as a Hoosier spin is put on the Temptations' chart-topping "Just
My Imagination". "Out-and-out doo-wop classics are
also given Harbor Lights' sheen. We're talkin' Curtis Lee's "Pretty
Little Angel Eyes" (1961), the Dell-Vikings' "Come
Go with Me" (1957) and the Elegants' "Little Star"
(1958). Dipping into old-school rhythm and blues, Harbor Lights
dishes Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" (1961).
"Almost
Acappella" gets its title from the fact that a little acoustic
guitar -played by group member Ron Hanchar - flavors the disc.
Still, the album remains basically true to Harbor Lights' no-instuments
roots."More than half of the album is totally a cappella,"
group member George Carl noted. "Almost Acappella"
was recorded at Thunderclap Studios in Hammond. Visit www.harborlightsdoowop.com
for more details.
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