Liner notes for our CD “The whole wide world”
Written by Joe Conroy
aka DJ Brad on The Doowop Cafe (www.doowopcafe.net)
March, 2009

The first record I bought was “Get A Job” by the Silhouettes.  I didn’t know it at the time, but I was becoming hooked on the vocal group sound.  Oh, I liked Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Elvis, but the songs by them did not stay in my head like the songs done by a group. The blending of all those voices struck a chord deep within me. That was the beginning of my love affair with doo-wop, which continues to grow more than fifty years later.

In the 70’s I began to develop a large collection of 45s and LPs.  I spent countless hours in record stores, looking for all the reissued classics. As I played flip sides and album tracks, I heard many great songs that I had did not know.  There was previously unreleased material by well-known groups, as well as recordings by groups whose names I had never heard before.

In the 80’s there was a resurgence of new doo-wop recordings.  Maybe the best of the bunch came in 1982 when the Ambient Sound label released albums by the Capris, Blue Emotions, Harptones, Jive Five, Johnnie and Joe, Mystics, and Randy and the Rainbows.  They used modern technology, but stayed true to the old style of recording. These LPs sounded great.  Other old groups came back to perform and record.  Some younger groups appeared. Things were looking up for doo-wop fans.

Sadly, as the years went by, most of the younger groups faded away and very few new ones emerged.  New doo-wop releases slowed to a trickle. Fortunately, cds came along and changed everything. Old material came out again and where LPs may have had twelve or fourteen songs, the labels went back into the vaults and issued cds with twenty, or even thirty tracks.  Some of the so-called “one-hit-wonder” groups had recorded a number of great tracks.  I would hear songs that never made it to vinyl and wonder “Who made the decision not to release this?” In addition, I found that compilation cds were a great way to get songs that were either too expensive, or impossible to find, individually. There was so much to discover and collect.

By the turn of the century, however, the future of doo-wop did not seem promising. Some of the original lead singers were not performing any longer, and others were passing away.  There were few young people recording doo-wop or listening to it. Radio stations across the U.S. changed formats and stopped playing music from the 50’s and early 60’s.   It struck me that the music I Iove so much might fade away. Was doo-wop doomed to die with those of us who were teenagers in the 60’s? Were there younger people anywhere who loved this music?  Would there be no new recordings?

Then, one day early in 2002, I had a revelation in Clifton, New Jersey.  It took place at Clifton Music--THE store to buy doo-wop.  The store’s owner, the late Ronnie Italiano (known to one and all as Ronnie I), did more to preserve vocal group harmony music than anyone, and his store has it all. After going through the group section, I started flipping through the compilation cds.  I pulled one out and looked at it in amazement. The title of the cd was Doo Wop + Acappella in Germany.

Doo-wop in Germany?? What is this?

In collecting music, I had learned that if you find something unusual--you buy it. You may never see it again.  Among all the cds I bought that day, Doo-Wop + Acappella in Germany was the one I put into my car cd player when I left the store.  The first track on the cd was “Lovers Hall of Fame” by the Crystalairs.  The song began and I heard “I zick I zick I, chickie I ling ling, wee papa wee papa, ooh ahh ooh ahh”.  Oh, man! I had gotten my money’s worth already! This was something new and different, but still maintained the spirit of the sound I love.

On my next trip to Clifton Music, I found Hot ‘N’ Hip Harmony, another cd that had more young German doo-wop groups, as well as groups from the U.K. and Spain. I saw that the lead track was another one by the Crystalairs: “Brand New Girl in School.” So, I bought the cd and loved it. Wow! How much more of this great stuff was out there?

The Internet has made it much easier to find information.

I learned that the Crystalairs were formed in 1988 when the guys were in their late teens and early twenties.  By the time I discovered them in 2002, they had already released three cds.  The Crystalairs released three more cds between 2004 and 2007.  In 2008 they signed with the prestigious Bear Family Records label and released Die Ganze Welt, a cd done completely in German.  This was the first newly-recorded cd that Bear Family had ever released--a real tribute to the Crystalairs. The Whole Wide World is the groups’ eighth cd.  So, if you are just discovering this great group, you have a lot of catching up to do!

The Crystalairs are very well-known throughout Europe, and perform in France, Italy, Scandinavia, the U.K. Spain (especially in their Finca Mallorca in Arta) and Scotland, in addition to their native Germany. They have also performed twice at U.G.H.A. (Ronnie I’s United In Group Harmony Association) shows in New Jersey.  The last one they did there was in July 2006. I attended that concert and, like the rest of the audience, was very impressed by their sound. Like most groups at live performances, the Crystalairs did songs that had been recorded by other groups.  For me, the highlights of the show were a beautiful version of “Teardrops” (originally done by Lee Andrews and the Hearts) and a fantastic doo-wop version of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (a big hit for Elvis). Even when doing songs made famous by others, the Crystalairs bring their own style to them.

Ralf zur Linde (lead), Jens Franke (tenor), and Claus-Peter Niem (baritone) have been with the group since it began over 20 years ago. The original bass, Jens’ brother, Daniel Franke, left the group at the end of 2005.  David Escribano filled that role until the spring of 2007.  Shortly after that Frank Buttgereit, who had previously been with the Fabulous Flops and the Belangels, became the bass for the Crystalairs. Frank has known Ralf, Jens, and Claus for over 20 years, so he fit right in.

The Crystalairs have a great website which you will find at: www.crystalairs.com.  There you can find more detail on the group’s history, a discography of all their recordings, audio clips from all the cds, numerous video clips, photos, and much more. They also have a guestbook where you can make comments and say hello to the guys.

Though they have been influenced by many groups, the Crystalairs have a very distinctive sound. With Ralf’s strong and beautiful lead opposite Frank’s great bass, and the smooth harmonies provided by Jens and Claus (and Frank) the focus is definitely on the vocals.  Unlike a number of their German doo-wop counterparts, however, the Crystalairs do not record songs acappella.  The instrumental backing is there, but is not prominent. It does not interfere with the vocals, but supplements them and helps create the mood of the songs. Even the type and sound of the instruments is different from the norm in doo-wop. In many ways, the Crystalairs do not sound like a classic doo-wop group.  They have taken the music to another level.

Something else that sets the Crystalairs apart from nearly all other doo-wop groups, is that they write almost all the songs they record. This cd features 16 tracks: all of which are new! Ralf is the primary songwriter for the group.  He wrote 12 of the 16 tracks on The Whole Wide World, while Frank and Claus wrote 3 and 1, respectively. Over the years, they have written well over 200 songs. I don’t know about you, but I don’t need to hear another version of “Sunday Kind of Love” or “Gloria.”   It’s really great to pick up a cd and be treated to completely new songs done by a group that is so talented. These guys are very knowledgeable about the genre, and they are accomplished musicians and songwriters.  Those qualities translate into great new doo-wop.

The Whole Wide World shows off the many creative talents of the Crystalairs. There are a great variety of sounds and arrangements: ballads, uptempo, a country-flavored track, and even one in Spanish!  Listen to the great interplay between the lead and backing vocals on “Fortune Cookie,” and the many changes throughout the song “Like Peter Pan.”  Hear how Ralf has adapted a wonderful poem by David L. Weatherford (www.davidlweatherford.com) entitled “Slow Dance” and turned it into “Slow Down,” a hauntingly beautiful song with an important message for all of us. I could go on and on about all the songs I love on this cd, but I shall let you discover them on your own and find your personal favorites.

During their 2006 performance at U.G.H.A., Ralf told the audience that he wanted them to know that the Crystalairs have a deep love for this music. He added, “This music means so much to us. This is our life.” I think you will feel their passion when you listen to this cd.

The Crystalairs and the other great young European groups are not only keeping doo-wop alive, but are significantly adding to its legacy.  They are attracting a whole new audience of younger people throughout Europe.  It is my hope that they become better known in the U.S. and elsewhere, and get the recognition they deserve.

So, no matter where you are in this whole wide world, sit back and enjoy these great songs by Germany’s Crystalairs!