The 1950’s Fabulous Foursome!
This
is
a
fan
site
of
the
original
Diamonds
of
the
1950s.
All
hailing
from
Canada,
they
made
their
way
to
the
U.
S.,
and
with
their
songs
and
energy,
endeared
themselves
to
their fans forever.
Cuts
Songs From the Old West - The Diamonds
Released 1958
This
is
a
very
interesting
album
because
it
was
a
sharp
turn
from
what
they
had
been
doing.
The
Diamonds
decided
to
depart
from
the
ever-changing
Rock
&
Roll
scene
and
find
a
niche
that
was
more
suited
to
their
style
of
singing. Good harmony is obvious on every cut.
Personnel: Lead-David Somerville. Tenor-Evan Fisher / Ted Kowalski.
Baritone-Mike Douglas. Bass-John Felten / Bill Reed.
(MERCURY MG20480)
Orchestra: Pete Rugolo.
Update:
For
the
first
time
ever,
the
complete
recording
of
this
album
is
now
available
on
the
CD,
The
Diamonds
-
The
Stroll
-
2
CD
Set,
through
Amazon.
Sample tracks from this album can be heard below.
1. COOL WATER
2. BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES
3. WAGON WHEELS
4 MY LITTLE BUCKAROO
5. CATTLE CALL
6. STREETS OF LAREDO
7. SAN ANTONIO ROSE
8. HIGH NOON
9. GOLD MINE IN THE SKY
10. EMPTY SADDLES
11. TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE
12. HOME ON THE RANGE
Album Notes
If the Diamonds had a set of costumes to display every mood they project in song, the thread for them would stretch to the moons of
Saturn and maybe halfway back.
In this long-playing feast of lilting ballads, they don chaps and vests, loose-hanging holster and ten gallon hats. They saddle Old Paint,
light up a pale and lazy moon, and they ride with an easy trot through the nostalgia of the Old West. With a respect and an affection for
the authentic Americana of the true cowboy song, the Diamonds lope a rhythmic gait to the spare, satisfying accompaniment of
arranger-conductor Pete Rugolo.
It's hard to imagine, as they lilt through the slow git-along of these old favorites, that these are the same Diamonds who vibrated to
hitdom with "Little Darlin" and who rocked-and-easy-rolled to rhythmic fame with The Stroll".
But perhaps that is why they have so richly earned the right to call themselves Diamonds. They spangle and sparkle in a rainbow of
reflected colors, always taking on the dominant color of the setting they are in as though it were their own. And here they are Old
Westerners, reflection the right hues of the western sky as though they were born under them.
Two of the Diamonds, in fact, were. John Felten and Evan Fisher are Californians, of contrasting geographical backgrounds from Dave
Somerville and Mike Douglas, who are eastern Canadians.
Together, they produce a musical treat for lovers of Western song, wherever they are.
Play
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