Words & Music by: Side A – Frank Slay, Bob Crewe; Side B – Slay, Crewe
Musicians: Harold Miller (lead vocals), David Jones (tenor), Walter Ford (tenor), Harry James (baritone), others unknown
Recording sessions: New York, NY, 1957
Highest chart positions: (for the original release in 1957) US #3, US R&B #3
The original release of this was the debut single of The Rays.
It was also the first chart success for the songwriters Slay & Crewe, whose later hits included "La Dee Dah" (US #9 for Billy & Lillie in 1958) and several hits for Freddy Cannon, like "Tallahassee Lassie" (US #6 in 1959), "Jump Over" (US #28 in 1960), "Buzz Buzz A-Diddle It" (US #51 in 1961). It seems that the two writers split in 1962 and Crewe started writing songs for The Four Seasons with Bob Gaudio. Crewe & Gaudio wrote many of the group's biggest hits in the 60's, including the US #1 hits "Big Girls Don't Cry" (1962), "Walk Like a Man" (1963) and "Rag Doll" (1964).
"Silhouettes" was covered by Herman's Hermits in 1965 (US #5, UK #3). "Daddy Cool" (as a medley with "The Girl Can't Help It") was covered by The Darts in 1977 (UK #6). It was also covered by a Finnish singer, Tapani Kansa in 1978 ("Rokkivaari Hotanen" ... Finnish lyrics, generic session musicians). :P
List price: This early re-issue is not listed in Goldmine's catalog.
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