Hey, Miss Fannie - The Clovers

Hey, Miss Fannie - The Clovers

2:26

single, 1952

Written by Ahmet Ertegün

This is an uptempo boogie, the titular Miss Fannie's charms chanted with enthusiasm and verve: "You'll become my heart's disease / Listen to me, baby, please / You got me just mad for you." At the center is Buddy Bailey's lead vocal, balancing pleading and swagger in equal measure as the rest of the group answers with tight harmonies.  They're backed by a rolling piano and bursts of honking saxophone, creating a sound that's fairly fast rock and roll for 1952.

Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash - The Clovers

Your Cash Ain't Nothin' But Trash - The Clovers

2:57

single, 1954

Written by Charles Calhoun

High-spirited R&B with a sax break.  Not quite doo-wop, but with a lot of "ooh-ooh" background vocals.  The narrator of this song is the ultimate sad sack for whom life reserves all of its heaviest blows.  He flashes a wad of dough at a fine chick, but she's not impressed.  He tries to buy a Cadillac, but can't haggle with the dealer.  He gets robbed and goes to jail for public intoxication.  At the end all he has is "a buffalo" (as in the nickel).  He can't catch a break!  But does he conclude from this that money is the root of all evil?  No.  "Your cash ain't nothin' but trash / But I'm sure gonna get me some more."

One Mint Julep - The Clovers

One Mint Julep - The Clovers

2:30
single, 1952
Written by Rudy Toombs

This is doo-wop, but a more toned-down, cool jazzy doo-wop.  It's a story song about a man who gets drunk off mint juleps (or, as the narrator claims, just one julep) and ends up in a shotgun wedding with a lady he just met, and later wonders that he has six children.  According to Wikipedia, some of the humor in this song comes in part from the idea of a young black man getting drunk on mint juleps, traditionally thought of as an aristocratic southern white woman's drink.  Maybe, but it's also playing on the "men be hating marriage" comedy trope.  

Devil Or Angel - The Clovers

Devil Or Angel - The Clovers

2:26

The Clovers, 1956

Written by Blanche Carter

A gentle doo-wop ballad.  The narrator is infatuated with a lady, but can't figure her out.  "You look like an angel / Your smile is divine / But you keep me guessing / Will you ever be mine?"  Not sure what makes the lady a possible devil, other than not being interested in him?  This encapsulates the teenage, puppy love mindset of pop music of this era.  The group's signature vocal blend is on full display here: smooth, rich harmonies framing the tender, questioning lead. There's a gospel-rooted emotionality here, with the call-and-response style lending intimacy to the push-pull theme.  The sparse arrangement, led by soft piano and brushed drums, keeps the focus squarely on the vocals.