The 5 Royales
The "5" Royales were a relatively unheralded, but significant, link between early R&B and early soul in their combination of doo wop, jump blues, and gospel styles. Their commercial success was relatively modest -- they had seven Top Ten R&B hits in the 1950s, most recorded in the span of little over a year between late 1952 and late 1953. A few of their singles would prove extremely popular in cover versions by other artists, though -- James Brown and Aretha Franklin tore it up with "Think," Ray Charles covered "Tell the Truth," and the Shirelles (and later the Mamas & the Papas) had pop success with "Dedicated to the One I Love." Almost all of their material was written by guitarist Lowman Pauling, who influenced Steve Cropper with his biting and bluesy guitar lines, which at their most ferocious almost sound like a precursor to blues-rock.
Pauling's guitar is pretty muted on their early sides, though, which sometimes walk the line between gospel and R&B. The gospel elements aren't surprising, given that the Royales were originally known as the Royal Sons Quintet when they formed in Winston-Salem, N.C. In fact, they were still known as the Royal Sons Quintet when they began recording for Apollo in the early '50s, although they had six members. They would change their name to the "5" Royales in 1952, although they would, confusingly, remain a six-man outfit for a while; the quotes around the 5 in their billing were designed to alleviate some of the confusion. The Apollo singles "Baby Don't Do It" and "Help Me Somebody" made number one on the R&B charts in 1953, and they had a few other hits for Apollo before being lured away to King Records in 1954.
Although the group would remain on King for the rest of the 1950s, they would only enter the R&B Top Ten two more times, with "Think" and "Tears of Joy" (both in 1957). Their later sides, however, are their best, as Pauling became much more assertive on the guitar, dashing off some piercing and fluid solos. Some of these solos are among the heaviest and wildest in '50s rock, on both relatively well-known cuts like "Think," and virtually unknown numbers like "The Slummer the Slum." Greil Marcus once wrote something to the effect that a young Eric Clapton would have once paid to hold Pauling's coat. They remained primarily a harmony vocal group, though, and if their late-'50s sides are considerably more modernized than their early Apollo hits, they're still a lot closer to doo wop than soul.
Even when their records weren't selling, the "5" Royales were a popular touring band. Their constant activity at King Records, in all likelihood, had some influence on the young James Brown, then starting his career on the same label; one of Brown's first big R&B hits was a frenetic cover of "Think." They couldn't sustain themselves without more hits, though. After leaving King and recording some more sides in the early '60s, they finally broke up by 1965.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
Discografia
21 álbum(ns) • Ordenado por Mais vendidos
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Think
R&B - Lançado por Wind & Broomfield Records em 24 de jul. de 2015
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The Essential 5 Royales Vol 3
Soul - Lançado por Acetate em 1 de jan. de 2000
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Double or Nothing
R&B - Lançado por Music All Records em 27 de mar. de 2015
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Right Round the Corner
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 14 de dez. de 2012
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The 5 Royales' Baby Don't Do It
R&B - Lançado por Charly Records em 24 de jun. de 2006
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The Diamond Collection (Original Recordings)
R&B - Lançado por X Select Records em 27 de mar. de 2015
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The Essential 5 Royales Vol 2
Soul - Lançado por Acetate em 1 de jan. de 2000
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The Essential 5 Royales Vol 4
Soul - Lançado por Acetate em 1 de jan. de 2000
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Crazy
Soul - Lançado por Excess Music em 9 de out. de 2020
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The Essential 5 Royales Vol 1
Soul - Lançado por Acetate em 1 de jan. de 2000
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It's Hard but It's Fair
Jazz - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 6 de dez. de 2013
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Think / Don't Be Ashamed (Remastered)
Soul - Lançado por Stacks em 12 de jan. de 1958
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Baby Don't Do It
Pop - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 12 de ago. de 2013
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Help Me Somebody
Pop - Lançado por Black Sheep Music em 12 de ago. de 2013
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I'm With You
Soul - Lançado por Diamond Days em 5 de mai. de 2008
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One Mistake
Soul - Lançado por Diamond Days em 5 de mai. de 2008
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Catch That Teardrop 1961-62
R&B - Lançado por Marmot Music em 27 de fev. de 2014
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I Like It Like That 1952-1960
R&B - Lançado por Marmot Music em 16 de fev. de 2014
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The "5" Royales
R&B - Lançado por Milestones Records em 19 de fev. de 2020
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Precious (Original Recordings)
R&B - Lançado por Silan Records em 27 de mar. de 2015
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I Love Music - Only Original Recondings
R&B - Lançado por Itube em 9 de abr. de 2015
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