“Lost on Belmont Avenue”, is the Roomates fifth CD and their second for Ace. The title is a tribute to their idol, Dion DiMucci. Last year, the guys not only got to meet Dion, but they also sang back-up for him when he performed in London.
The Roomates have been singing doo wop together for over 20 years. They perfectly capture the white group sound of the late 1950s and early 1960s, and also the FEEL of the music. They have studied the music in depth for years and understand all the nuances of it. Listen to their tight harmonies and you will hear what we mean.
What is really impressive about the Roomates is that they are not simply remaking the same old songs: nineteen of the tracks on this CD are new compositions. There is no other group anywhere that is writing and recording new doo wop like this.
The CD kicks off with ‘Echoes Of The Past’, a song that pays tribute to some of the groups that have influenced and inspired the Roomates - groups like Dion and the Belmonts, the Elegants and the Mystics.
‘I’m Not Your Baby Anymore’ is reminiscent of the Belmonts. ‘Internet Baby’ brings doo wop into the 21st. Century. Then, when you hear ‘The Girl That I Love’ you will swear this song was done in the early 60s. ‘You’re Some Kind Of Fool’ is the kind of song that will stay in your head after only one or two plays. The CD also includes remakes of ‘Two Shadows’, originally done by the Safaris, ‘Remember’ (Del Satins), ‘If You Got A Girl’ (Bob Knight Four) and ‘Human Angel’ (a demo by the Elegants).
Longtime Roomates fans will hear the guys do a few songs a little bit out of the norm for them and they do a fantastic job. Give a listen to songs like ‘Wow Wow Baby’ (originally done by the Searchers) and ‘Come On’ (Otis and the Distants). The Roomates also show their versatility by doing doo wop versions of songs like ‘Wonderin’’ by Neil Young, and ‘It’s Cold Outside’ by the Choir. Great stuff you won’t hear anywhere else.
There are a great variety of songs among the thirty tracks, but they all have one thing in common: the distinctive sound of the Roomates.
By Joe Conroy
