Album Notes "LITTLE   DARLIN'   —   one   of   the   all-time   classics   of   the   rock   &   roll   era   and   a   song   synonymous   with   THE   DIAMONDS. A record   which   established   sales   of   almost   four   million   and   today   ranks   in   popularity   with   "IN   THE   STILL   OF   THE   NIGHT" and   "EARTH   ANGEL"   whenever   group   records   of   the   50's   are   discussed.   It   established   this   Canadian   group   as   hit makers not only in America but in every country around the world where rock & roll was played. But   what   of   THE   DIAMONDS   before   and   alter   "LITTLE   DARLIN'”?   The   statistics   tell   the   story;   From   1956   to   1961,   THE DIAMONDS placed an incredible 14 records on the American Billboard charts. This   figure   does   not   include   some   B   sides   which   also   made   the   charts.   Strange   to   say,   there   has   never   been   an   LP issued   which   included   all   their   biggest   successes.   This   record   fills   that   void.   Only   three   of   their   chart   makers,   -SOFT SUMMER   BREEZE"   (56),   -WORDS   OF   LOVE"   (57)   and   'ONE   SUMMER   NIGHT"   (61)   have   been   left   off   this   LP   as   it would   have   meant   deleting   some   of   their   better   non-hit   records   such   as   "SNEAKY   ALLIGATOR"   and   “STRAIGHT SKIRTS". NOW   THEIR   STORY.   In   the   fall   of   1954,   Ted   Kowalski,   Phil   Levitt.   Stan   Fisher   and   Bill   Reed   formed   a   pop   group   to audition   for   a   TV   show   called   "NOW   IS   YOUR   CHANCE”.   The   boys   had   all   met   whilst   studying   at   the   University   of Toronto.   Their   audition   however,   never   got   off   the   ground   and   things   looked   bleak   until   they   met   another   young   singer, Dave   Somerville.   They   began   rehearsing   and   practicing   harmonies   and   eventually   did   their   first   show   in   the   basement   of St   Thomas   Aquinas   Church   In   Toronto   (minus   Stan   Fisher   who   was   involved   with   exams).   Dave   Somerville   sang   lead that night, a position he was to hold throughout the group's career of hits. It   was   Ted   Kowalski   who   came   up   with   the   idea   of   calling   the   group   "THE   DIAMONDS.   In   actual   fact,   there   was   already another   group   with   the   same   name   at   the   time   recording   for Atlantic   records,   however   this   latter   group   were   then   on   the decline.   By   now,   THE   DIAMONDS   had   their   own   manager,   Nat   Goodman,   and   in   1955   Goodman   succeeded   in   winning them   a   contract   with   Coral   Records   where   they   recorded   their   first   disc,   a   cover   version   of   the   Cheers—BLACK   DENIM TROUSERS AND MOTOR CYCLE BOOTS". Both this and the follow-up flopped dismally. However,   in   late   '55   Bill   Randall,   a   Cleveland   D.   J.,   introduced   them   to   Mercury   Records,   the   label   they   remained   with throughout   their   successful   career.   The   change   brought   immediate   success.   By   January   1956,   they   had   recorded   and released   their   first   cut   for   the   label,   a   cover   of   Frankie   Lymons'   "WHY   DO   FOOLS   FALL   IN   LOVE". The   record   peaked   at No 16 on Billboard's Top 100 and although outsold by the original. THE DIAMONDS were on their way. It   would   be   pointless   at   this   stage   to   speak   at   length   on   all   their   successes   —   the   accompanying   discography   with Billboard   chart   positions   tells   that   story,   however,   before   concluding   these   notes,   it   is   interesting   to   reflect   on   and   indeed analyses their contribution to rock & roll. It   would   be   very   easy   to   write   a   put-down   story   on   their   achievements.   It   is   true   that   nearly   all   their   major   successes, including   "LITTLE   DARLIN'   "   were   cover   versions.   However,   one   cannot   ignore   the   fact   that   their   versions   in   most   cases were   as   good   as,   if   not   better   than   the   originals.   It   is   doubtful   in   fact   that   "LITTLE   DARLIN'   "   by   the   Gladiolas   would   ever have   gone   beyond   the   R   and   B   charts,   where   it   had   been   before   THE   DIAMONDS   cover.   THE   DIAMONDS   were   to   the group   scene,   what   Bill   Haley   and   Pat   Boone   were   to   single   black   artists,   catalysts   for   bringing   rhythm   and   blues   songs   to the   white   masses.   The   facts   themselves   are   inescapable   —   From   1956   until   their   demise   in   the   early   sixties.   THE DIAMONDS   sold   millions   of   records   which   reached   both   young   and   old,   and   to   coin   a   phrase   —   "They   can't   ALL   be wrong''. Researched by Tony "Columbo" Circles