Johnny Maestro & The Crests – Sixteen Candles: The Definitive Collection 1957-62 – 2CD

The Crests were a ground-breaking multiracial pop/doowop group formed in the mid-1950s when singer Johnny Mastrangelo joined forces with a doowop quartet comprising three African-Americans and one Puerto Rican – as time went on Johnny Mastrangelo became Johnny Masters, Johnny Mastro and then Johnny Maestro as he turned to solo recording as well. Having had a minor hit on the Joyce label, they signed to Coed Records, and in 1958 had a major success when “Sixteen Candles” was a US No. 2, kicking off a career which brought several more chart successes through into the ‘60s as Tony Middleton and James Ancrum took over lead vocal duties from Johnny Maestro. This great-value 51-track 2-CD set comprises the A & B sides of their singles on the Coed, Trans Atlas, Selma and Times Square labels from these years as The Crests, Johnny Masters, Johnny Maestro and Johnny Maestro & The Original Crests, plus the tracks from their album “The Crests Sing All Biggies” not otherwise released on singles. It features all their ten pop and R&B chart entries from this era, including the pop No. 2 and R&B No. 4 “Sixteen Candles”. It’s about as comprehensive a selection of their work from this era that could be assembled and captures a highly distinctive style of music that ranges through doowop, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll and pure teen pop.

Track Listing:

CD1:
The Crests: 1. Sweetest One -   2. My Juanita -   3. No One To Love -   4. Wish She Was Mine -   The Crests with Johnny Mastro: 5. Pretty Little Angel -   6. I Thank The Moon -   The Crests: 7. Sixteen Candles -   8. Beside You -   9. Six Nights A Week -   10. I Do -   11. Flower Of Love -   12. Molly Mae -   13. The Angels Listened In -   14. A Year Ago Tonight -   15. Paper Crown -   16. Step By Step -   17. Gee (But I'd Give The World) -   Johnny Masters: 18. Say It Isn’t So -   19. The Great Physician -   The Crests: 20. Trouble In Paradise -   21. Always You -   The Crests featuring Johnny Mastro: 22. Journey Of Love -   23. If My Heart Could Write A Letter -   24. Isn't It Amazing -   25. I'll Remember (In The Still Of The Night) -   26. Good Golly Miss Molly -

CD2:
The Crests featuring Johnny Mastro: 1. Model Girl -   2. We've Got To Tell Them -   Johnny Maestro: 3. What A Surprise -   4. The Warning Voice -   5. Mr. Happiness -   6. Test Of Love -   7. I.O.U. -   8. The Way You Look Tonight -   The Crests: 9. Little Miracles -   10. Baby I Gotta Know -   Johnny Maestro: 11. It Must Be Love -   12. Besame Baby -   The Crests: 13. The Actor -   14. Three Tears In A Bucket -   15. Guilty -   16. Number One With Me -   The Original Crests with Johnny Maestro: 17. Baby -   18. I Love You So -   The Crests: 19. Earth Angel -   20. My Special Angel -   21. Butterfly -   22. A Rose And A Baby Ruth -   23. Party Doll -   24. Silhouettes -   25. Tweedlee Dee -