The Blossoms: Shockwave (1972)

The Blossoms were probably the most successful unknown group of the '60s. They made a career of singing backup for scores of artists from Paul Anka to Elvis Presley with a versatility that allowed them to be a choral group one minute and a surf sound doo-wop group for Jan and Dean's hits the next minute. They were formed in Los Angeles in 1954 as the Dreamers, consisting of Fanita James, Gloria Jones, and the twin sisters Nanette and Annette Williams. By 1957, Nanette Williams had been replaced by Darlene Wright, who later took the name Darlene Love. They did extensive session work, and Love and James were members of producer Phil Spector's studio group Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. Love also recorded with Spector under her own name and as part of The Crystals. The Blossoms had one pop chart entry in 1961 with ‘Son-In-Law,’ an answer record to Ernie K-Doe's hit ‘Mother-In-Law.’ In 1964, the group, now a trio consisting of Darlene, Fanita, and newcomer Jean King, were a featured part of the weekly Rock & Roll television program Shindig! They also scored an R&B singles chart entry with 'Good, Good Lovin' in 1967. The Blossoms resumed recording under their own name later in the 1960s for labels such as Reprise, Ode and MGM. They released their first and only album Shockwave, which I am posting today, in 1972 on Lion.

The Blossoms singing 'Tell Him'(1964):