Tony Allen - Here Comes The Nite Owl! '2020

Tracks list

R&B singer Tony Allen recorded for numerous labels in the 1950s and early 60s
without making a significant commercial impact. This 26-track compilation has
sides he did for Specialty, Ebb, Modern, and Dig, either as a soloist or as a
frontman for various groups (and on one track, a duet partner with a female
vocalist). For the sake of early rock & roll collectors, Ace does a great
service by putting so much material by singers like this in a well-annotated
package, even including five previously unissued tracks. For the non-specialist,
however, it must be said that this is pretty run-of-the-mill stuff. Its similar
in some respects to, but not in the same league as, the output of other Los
Angeles R&B stalwarts like Richard Berry. Though this isnt classic doo wop in
the vocal group sense since Allen had his own billing, both slow and fast doo
wop are the predominant styles. His vocals are competent and cheerful, but not
especially distinctive, which is also true of the material, most of which Allen
penned himself. At times he does get into songs that rock harder, with the
previously unissued Dont You Know, for instance, not far afield from singers
like Larry Williams; another previously unreleased selection, the demo Come-a
Come-a Baby, is obviously derivative of Jimmy Jones hit Handy Man.

Tracklisting:
01. Tony Allen - Lovers Mountain (2:17)
02. Tony Allen & the Wanderers - If Love Was Money (2:04)
03. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Dreamin aka Im Dreaming (Version 2) (2:27)
04. Tony Allen & the Wonders - Be My Love, Be My Love (2:21)
05. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Cute Thing (2:32)
06. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Have Faith In Me (2:26)
07. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - If I Had Aladdins Lamp (2:18)
08. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Why In The World (Version 2) (3:04)
09. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Home Wrecker (2:36)
10. Tony Allen & the Night Owls - Give Me A Chance (2:48)
11. Tony Allen & the Wanderers - Everybodys Somebodys Fool (3:10)
12. Tony Allen - Dont You Know I Love You (2:46)
13. Tony Allen - You Wont Let Me Go (3:30)

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