Review: We will freely admit to loving LA's four Echoes, "Brothers in Harmony" Charlie, Harvey, John and Jon at first listen, almost 20 years ago. Many audience-pleasing live performances and three great CDs haven't changed our feelings as we joyously tear the annoying plastic wrap off "Cool" and treat our boombox to the Echoes' 4th collection of 15 Doo-Wop winners. Some of our favorites include an exquisitely meandering "I Only Have Eyes for You," a complex, soaring arrangement of Brian Wilson's "Good Vibrations" (that few groups would even attempt, much less nail), a rock-solid, soulful "Lean On Me," a silly, tough-talking "Daddy Cool," a richly harmonic cover of Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight," a powerful "Duke of Earl," a luscious "In The Still of the Night," an incongruous but marvelous "White Christmas," and the final tune, a foot-stomping "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." The Echoes have the tight arrangements, perfect pitch, soaring leads, deep basslines and love of singing that make "Cool" one of the best Doo Wop recordings of the year!

Songlist: Rome Wasn't Built in a Day, I Only Have Eyes For You, Return To Sender, Good Vibrations, Lean On Me, Daddy Cool, Wonderful Tonight, With This Ring, Duke of Earl, Whispering Bells, In The Still Of The Night, Chapel of Love, Up On The Roof, White Christmas, Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye

Review: These guys have personality plus. Doo-wop and street corner harmonies only give a 'sort of' idea to their music shared on this, their first album which was released at the same time as their second. They start off doo-wop all right but immediately do Bruce Springsteen's 'Factory.' Then, thanking the Coasters, they proceed with a very funny arrangement of 'Youngblood.' Throughout the remainder of the fifteen cuts we are treated to lots of traditional oldies interspersed with Prince's 'Doves Cry,' Paul Simon & Joseph Shablala's 'Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes' and Peter Townsend's 'My Generation.' But that's what you'd expect from a bunch of guys who have been featured on TV's 'Who's The Boss,' 'Frank's Place' and 'Murphy Brown,' not to mention their roles as the singing firemen in the movie 'Wilder Napalm.' Listen to Rama Lama Ding Dong.

Songlist: Wonder Why, Factory, Doves Cry, Youngblood, Looking For An Echo, Duke Of Earl, Rama Lama Ding Dong, The Closer You Are, Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes, Ring Of Fire, Heaven Help Us All, Heatwave, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Who's That Knockin', My Generation

Review: One of our longtime favorite Doo-Wop a cappella male quartets, the Echoes apply their "simple and profound" sound, as "Two a Half Men" writer Eddie Gorodefsky describes it, to 11 Christmas chestnuts: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," "The "Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "White Christmas," the plaintive "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," "Christmas In New Orleans," "Blue Christmas," "O Holy Night," and finishing with John Lennon/ Yoko Ono's "Happy Xmas {War is Over)." It adds up to a yummy, rich, deep-bass, vocal Christmas pudding to enjoy again and again!

Songlist: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, The Christmas Song, Winter Wonderland, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, White Christmas, What Are You Doing New Year's Eve, Christmas In New Orleans, Blue Christmas, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), O Holy Night, Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

Review: The Mighty Echoes have always been among our favorite Doo Woppers (not the kind you get with fries and a Coke, wise guy), so we were very pleased to see their latest release. These guys have been having way too much fun singing street corner 50s and 60s doo-wop on large stages for the last 1 years, and a great deal of seeing them live finds its way onto their CDs! "AC Doo Wop II" is their best yet, beautifully arranged, with harmonies sweet and tight enough to make the Wolfman howl.

Songlist: Fools Fall in Love, Under the Boardwalk, Teenager in Love, Monster Mash, Gloria, Sh-Boom, What Time Is It?, Blue Moon, Teddy Bear, Remember Then, What's Your Name?, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Great Pretender, Do You Love Me?