When you think of the classic group harmony love-song recordings, certain ones come to mind.  You know - those great songs you hoped would come on the radio when you were dancing with your honey "at the hop" or in the backseat of your car watching the "submarine races!"  Some people call 'em "backseat burners." Others call 'em "sock-knockers."  We like to call 'em "grinders."  And two such songs are at the top of everyone's favorite list of grinders - You and Crazy For You by the Aquatones.  These were more than just beautiful love songs - they sent a chill up your spine every time you heard them.  I am sure when you hear these songs even today they bring back a memory or two of certain place, a certain person, a certain love or heartbreak.

The Aquatones had such a special sound - four part harmony with a sweet female lead vocal.  That angelic voice was Lynne Nixon.  The group began as three guys from Valley Stream, New York - out on the island.  They formed in 1956 as the Rhythm Kings with Dave Goddard, Larry Vannata, and Gene McCarthy as members.  As Dave Goddard recalls, they came together to record a song written by Dave for their junior class play at Valley Stream Central High School.  All of the guys played instruments as well as sang - Gene the clarinet and tenor sax, Larry the alto and tenor sax, and Dave the piano.  Their friend Bob Boden would play drums when they performed live.  Dave makes it clear that they were never a dance band.  A classmates father, a record distributor, heard the group and suggested that they add a high falsetto voice.  Shortly thereafter, Larry met Lynne Nixon at a dance and asked Gene and Dave to give her an audition.  Upon hearing Lynne's incredible voice
they agreed to add her to the group.  At first, Lynne only sang backgrounds, until Larry wrote the song "You" for her to sing.
 
 

The group later changed its name to the Aquatones (as Dave describes it "so the guys could wear a 'cool' shirt from the 1950s - aqua with a black velvet 'V' down the front).  In 1957 the three original members - Larry Vannata, David Goddard and Eugene McCarthy, decided to add Lynne as a fourth member to give the group some versatility.  It wasn't long after the group became a foursome that they found themselves performing at a talent contest at Malverne High School.  The contest entitled Stairway to the Stars was just that for the group as local real estate mogul turned music promoter Lou Fargo heard the group and liked what he saw and heard.  In December 1957, he signed the group and off to the studio they went to record on Fargo's own label.
 
 

Their first effort was quite possibly their finest - the incredible You (Fargo 1001 b/w She's the One For Me).  Its one of those incredible group harmony recordings that everyone recognizes.  And its a memory jogger for those who were lucky enough to be around in early '58 when it hit.  One can either remember firsthand or at least envision being 15 or 16 with your arm around your honey listening to that tune.  I am sure there were many teenagers who can credit the success of their love lives that year to this amazing record.  Lynne's incredible lead is indescribable.  Perhaps the best word would be "haunting."  The record hit on the Billboard charts in April 1958 and did reasonably well but unfortunately there were just so many big records by big name artists being pushed at the time that it was a bit overshadowed.  Such classics as I Met Him on a Sunday by the Shirelles, Zoom Zoom Zoom by the Collegians, and Sweet Little Sixteen by Chuck Berry were out at the same time.  While it did very well in the East, it only managed to hit #21 nationally.  But it was clearly one of the most popular records among love-minded teens who were crazy for it.  The Aquatones had hit on something and found their "sound."
 

Their follow up record Say You'll Be Mine b/w So Fine (Fargo 1002) again came out at a time when there were more big records being pushed by big name artists.  Their third record - Our First Kiss b/w Drive In (Fargo 1003) was also lost in the rush.  Their next release in October 1958 was My Treasure b/w My One Desire (Fargo 1005) and while a terrific group harmony recording, it received little interest.  My Darling b/w For You, For You (Fargo 1111) followed as did another hauntingly beautiful record Crazy For You b/w Wanted (Fargo 1016) in 1961.  Crazy For You was a cover of the original Heartbeats' tune.  To be completely honest - ask anyone - no one remembers the Heartbeats' version except the hardcore group harmony fan/collector.  The Aquatones' version is so sweet and beautiful with Lynne's amazing voice capturing the era of teenage innocence and beauty.  It met with some success at a time when group harmony was going through its renaissance.  But the lack of radio airplay kept it from going anywhere.

Fargo would later release an album of the group's material in 1964 but the group's time had come and gone, not unlike the era of doo-wop itself.  The Aquatones went their separate ways.  Lynne stayed on Long Island, Larry moved to New Hampshire, Gene moved to the midwest and then to Atlanta, and Dave moved to California, Ohio, and finally Kentucky.  Though the group members remained friends and stayed in touch, it was difficult to get together to perform and without Lynne (who had stopped singing) they were missing the key element of their "sound."
 
 
 
 

Fast forward to 1998.  That's when Dave Goddard heard a young lady sing who sounded amazingly similar to Lynne.  A year later, Dave approached Colette Delaney about singing in a new Aquatones group.  Colette had had a career in musical comedy, and was interested in singing with the group.  Colette and Dave started making "demo" recordings of some of the Aquatones' old music.  These recordings received warm reactions from the world of doo-wop fans.  Dave knew he had to get the Aquatones started again.  Meanwhile, the world of group harmony was very sadden to hear of the death of Lynne Nixon in January 2001.  We lost a very special person and beautiful voice that day.

The result of the group's tireless efforts is their new CD - released late last year on Debra Records.  The CD includes performances from original Aquatones - Dave Goddard, Gene McCarthy and Larry Vannata.  Newcomers Bill Hofmann and of course new lead singer Colette Delaney are also featured.  Its an incredible work!  The new versions of You and Crazy For You are every bit as wonderful and hauntingly beautiful as the originals.  The group's  talent shines through on these recordings, especially that of Ms. Delaney who can clearly sing.  Her renditions of Lynne's great songs are haunting for a whole new reason - if you close your eyes and listen, you'd swear it was Lynne singing again.  How very special to have these recordings today.  And there are some great new tunes also.  The selection Born in Brooklyn (Raised in the USA) is a really fun song about growing up in that famous borough of "New Yawk."  Complete with Brooklynese and local references, its sure to be a hit with Brooklynites as well as the rest of the world.  This is a solidly recorded, well produced CD without a single dud.  A must-have for the fans of the original Aquatones as well as lovers of great contemporary group harmony and doo-wop.  The Aquatones have dedicated their new CD to Lynne who was clearly one of the special voices of group harmony.  By keeping the sound alive today, the Aquatones are also keepin the memory of Lynne Nixon and her incredible voice alive too.

CURRENT INFO

Click here for the Aquatones Web page:    Aquatones

CURRENT GROUP PRACTICING AT DAVE'S HOUSE 1/17/02: