Clifton Records brings us a Ronnie I Production, 22 songs by the 5-man Original Infernos, featuring a number of originals new to our ears. In the 1970s five young men from the Italian section of Newark, NJ formed a vocal group with band called "Sidewalk Symphony." By the mid 70s the group had become a hot act in the nightclubs of Newark and the Jersey shore. The rise of Disco forced them to add more banal dance material, and a number of group members left. But in 1980 Tommy Vitale, Michael Schiavo, Sal Fede and Bobby Stefanelli hooked up with Bobby "L" Leszczak (who sang with "Retrospect") to sing more challenging and obscure a cappella tunes, recording with Ronnie I on the Clifton label. Of these 22 songs, several are accompanied (and very good), but we of course prefer the a cappella tunes: "I Beg For Your Love," "Chapel of Dreams," "In My Diary," "Here Is Why I Love You," "Shrine of St. Cecilia," "Give Me Your Love," "False Alarm," "I'll Be True," "That's What Girls Are Made For," "Six Nights A Week," "That's The Way It Goes," and a couple of live cuts recorded at UGHA, "Count Every Star/My Heart's Desire," and "Looking/Don't Say Goodnight." The new material here is very good, and affirms that Doo-Wop isn't resting on its classic material but is alive ans!growing, through excellent, authentic a cappella groups like the Infernos! |
