tight people of the day: the chords

MAN. The Chords. They are having so much fun in that picture. I don't want to tell them that they are going only to have one hit. However, the good news is: THE ONE HIT IS REALLY GOOD. The Chords recorded one of the very first doo-wop songs "Sh-Boom." I first listened to this song in my rock and roll history class at UT that I talk about constantly on this blog. Life changing, I'm telling you.

The Chords were five doodz who just wanted to make music. They formed a band and started peforming in a subway station in New York. They were discovered there and signed to Atlantic Records in the fifties. Can you imagine waiting for the train to work and these guys are totes singing in your face? My ear holes would start rejoicing. That would be the best. Fortch, someone else thought so, too.

Jerry Wexler (RIP) had the band record a single and threw on "Sh-Boom" as the B-Side. Good call, Wex. This song shot up both the R&B and pop charts. Super tight move for the time. Can you imagine how many white folks were exposed to this music? The Chords knew what was up BIG TIME. They might have been one-hit wonders, but not many one-hit wonders can claim the song importance they can.

One of the things I like about doo-wop music is the reaction kids have to it. I'm thinking about how kids would react to this song right now and I just know they would start jumping around and getting cray. Anything that can inspire that kind of happiness deserves to be out in the world. So I hope you enjoy this song and maybe it will strike a CHORD with you.

The Chords - Sh-Boom