Album Review

Otis Williams & the Charms were purveyors of fine, primitive R&B-influenced doo wop in the '50s. Their biggest pop hit was 1954's "Hearts of Stone" (later given the dubious honor of being covered by Pat Boone), but they also struck gold with "Ivory Tower" and the super cool and not very P.C. "Ling, Ting Tong." The 25 tracks on Collectables' The Very Best of Otis Williams and His Charms are all solid gold doo wop, some of the best being the rollicking Leiber & Stoller-penned "Bazoom (I Need Your Lovin')," a bopping cover of Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," the peppy "Dynamite Darling," and the achingly sweet "Could This Be Magic." Anyone who digs the Coasters should be sure to investigate these guys, because they share the same lighthearted charm (if not the same overall quality). This is also the best collection on the market for the group, gathering up all their best songs in a well-sequenced presentation with fine sound quality to boot. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi