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Here it is!! The long awaited unissued FIVE KEYS session recorded in 1954 for
RCA Groove just prior to their signing to Capitol. Four takes issued for the first time,
this session represents the group at the top of their powers - just before they turned
commercial. THE NITECAPS may not have been so famous, but they certainly made a
string of fabulous recordings for Groove. Here are eight of their best singles along with
three great unissued songs.
The two groups featured here are undoubtedly gems of their kind. Originating from
different regions of the USA, they both possess their own sound. As The Five Keys prepared
the way to the pop charts along with their colleagues, The Orioles, The Crows, The Chords,
The Charms and The Penguins, The Nitecaps did not even reach the national R&B hitlist
- but this is certainly not a measure of their talent.
Let us start in Detroit, Motor City, USA, with the almost unknown NITECAPS. In the
pre-Motown years, the town’s favorite R&B performer was John Lee Hooker. Jackie
Wilson, as one of Billy Ward’s Dominoes, was soon one of the main attractions of the city,
before becoming a star himself. With Chicago only two hundred miles away, heavy
influences existed via the Chess and Vee-Jay companies with groups like The Moonglows,
Flamingos, El Dorados and Spaniels. The first Detroit based with important vocal group
output was Fortune Records with The Diablos and The Don Juans in 1954. The Royal
Jokers and later The Falcons were other groups emerging from Detroit.