The Playmates
The Playmates -- best known for "Beep Beep," one of several Top 40 hits -- were one of the first rock & roll groups signed to the New York-based Roulette Records, formed and co-owned by music industry leaders Morris Levy, Joe Kolsky, and George Goldner. Originally known as the Nitwits (probably a better name for them in the long run), the Playmates had been performing in the area around Waterbury, CT, for five years before signing to Roulette in 1958. The label had already scored a few rock & roll hits by the time they signed the group; unfortunately, the Playmates' specialty was not rock & roll, but novelty music.
Despite the oft-corny lyrical content of their upbeat pop fare, they earned two hits right away with "Jo Ann" and "Beep Beep," the latter with a chorus that featured the group repeating a phrase of car beeps ("beep beep, beep beep, this car goes beep, beep beep"). Despite its silliness, "Beep Beep" -- written by group members Carl Cicchetti and Donald Claps -- climbed to number four in the nation in December 1958 and earned the Playmates the right to record an album, At Play With the Playmates, which followed soon after.
In 1959, they scored again with "What Is Love?" (number 15) and followed suit the next year with "Wait for Me" (number 37). The group subsequently recorded three additional albums for the label: Cuttin' Capers, Wait for Me, and Broadway Showstoppers. Another album, The Playmates Visit West of the Indies, was issued on an early- to mid-'60s budget reissue label called Forum Records, which was a division of Roulette Records. The group disbanded in 1964.
© Bryan Thomas /TiVo
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Having a Funtime with the Playmates
Pop - Released by Jasmine Records on 15 Jun 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Titanium Hits
Pop - Released by Black & Partner Licenses LLC on 30 Mar 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
What Is Love? (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1960
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Beep Beep! The Playmates Collection 1957-62
Rock - Released by ACROBAT on 3 Sep 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Broadway Show Stoppers
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At Play withThe Playmates
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Visit the West Indies
World - Released by TP4 Music on 6 Jan 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Very Best Of
Pop - Released by Master Classics Records on 1 Oct 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Golden Selection (Remastered)
Pop - Released by Master Tape Records on 28 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Beep Beep (Billboard Hot 100 - No. 04)
World - Released by Music Manager on 19 Dec 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Playmates - Gold Collection
Pop - Released by Retro Music Box on 25 Jan 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wait for Me / Eyes of an Angel (Mono Version)
Pop - Released by BNF Collection on 1 Jan 1961
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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The Best of The Playmates
Pop - Released by Vintage Jukebox on 11 Mar 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
At Play With The Playmates
Pop - Released by Leverage on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -