THE FOUR COINS
(CB, de The Hague, Holanda)
The Four Coins foi um quarteto vocal fundado em 1952 na Pennsylvania, USA, por quatro rapazes de origem grega. Antes de cantar eles eram obscuros instrumentistas na não menos obscura orquestra de Bobby Vinton. Decidiram cantar, inspirados nos FOUR ACES, e fundaram o conjunto, inicialmente com o nome de "Four Keys". Chegaram a ter algumas músicas nas paradas de sucesso dos USA, até encerrarem a carreira do grupo em 1970.
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THE FOUR COINS
Formed in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, in 1952, the vocal harmony group the Four Coins consisted of George Mantalis, James Gregorakis and brothers George and Michael Mahramas. Originally the quartet were horn players in an orchestra with Bobby Vinton, who was an unknown at the time. At the end of 1952 the foursome began harmonizing together, and in January 1953 appeared on an ‘amateur hour’ radio programme, which they won. They left Vinton in 1953 and began a residency at a Pittsburgh club called the Blue Ridge Inn, naming themselves the Four Keys. They recorded their first singles in November 1953 for Corona Records, which led to a
contract with Epic Records, a branch of the larger Columbia Records. Taking their cue from another quartet, the Four Aces, the group changed its name to the Four Coins. The group’s first Epic single, ‘We’ll Be Married (In The Church In The Wildwood)’, sold well but it was not until 1957 that they recorded their biggest hit, ‘Shangri-La’, which reached number 11 in the US charts and earned a gold
record. The group had charted seven times by 1959. In 1960 they changed labels to MGM Records and continued to record for Jubilee Records, Vee Jay Records and Roulette Records, undergoing personnel changes along the way. They disbanded in 1970.
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ALBUM REVIEW
Prior to acquiring this CD, my only exposure to the music of the Four Coins was "Shangri-La". As one who appreciates great harmony, I have always enjoyed the offerings of such artists as the Vogues, the Lettermen and the Fifth Dimension among others. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this CD. Almost every cut is enjoyable. Among my favorites are "My One Sin" and "We'll Be Married in the Church in the Wildwood". Highly recommended.
(By Paul Tognetti - Cranston, RI USA)
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MINHA OPINIÃO - tal como seus inspiradores, os "Four Aces", os "4Coins" jogam na segunda divisão dos conjuntos vocais americanos, ao lado de tantos outros (Ames Brothers, Four Lads, etc) que não chegaram ao nível de qualidade dos "Freshmen" e dos "Hi-los" - os verdadeiros parâmetros de excelência na matéria. Arranjos simples como os dos "Four Aces", de quem os "Coins" copiaram até mesmo a sonoridade. Felizmente, incluiram no repertório uma pérola, uma canção maravilhosa do repertório de Jo Stafford, que merece figurar entre as grandes canções de amor à "big Aplle": MANHATTAN SERENADE.
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THE FOUR COINS: In Shangri-la
THE FOUR COINS
George Mantalis
James Gregorakis
George Mahramas
Michael Mahramas.
TRACKS/FAIXAS:
Shangri-La
Memories of You
Heartache Street
Manhattan Serenade
Curly-Headed Kid in the Third Row
You're Breaking My Heart
Ting-a-Ling Telephone
