Earth Angel

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Written by: Jesse Belvin, Curtis Williams
Produced by: Dootsie Williams
Released: Dec. '54 on Dootone
Charts: 15 weeks
Top spot: No. 8

Crudely recorded in a garage and released on a small label, "Earth Angel" turned out to be a pivotal record in rock & roll's early development. The artless, unaffected vocals of the Penguins, four black high schoolers from L.A., defined the street-corner elegance of doo-wop. The Penguins' version also outsold a sanitized, big-label cover by schmaltzy white group the Crew-Cuts.

Appears on: Earth Angel (Ace)

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