More than Yesterday, Less than Tomorrow
I have been indulging a recently realized passion for 1950s R & B the past couple days. While listening to a doo wop CD mix given to me by a Scottish bloke, I discovered a song that has since become an obsession.
Checkers Records single release No. 858 was a 1957 release by East Chicago, Ind. doo wop group The Dream Kings.
The enigmatically titled "M.T.Y.L.T.T." only managed to become a local hit in the Chicagoland area. Now it shows up occasionally on doo wop or Checkers Records compilations, but for all practical purposes it has slipped into dark obscurity.
Sad... because "M.T.Y.L.T.T." is a masterpiece.
A beautiful lead tenor pours a helluva lotta soul into this song, augmented by subtle backing vocals and a solitary electric guitar. Simple but effective.
And forgotten.
Try finding information about the Dream Kings on the Internet, and the scant returns hint at the group's obscurity.
On a Web site devoted to the United Records label, I read that a doo wop group called The Drakes failed to make much of a mark when first recording material in May 1955.
Tom Daniel was the group's tenor lead, and the composer of the songs they recorded for United. The other members were Lincoln Mabins (baritone) and three brothers, William Anderson (baritone), Robert Anderson (tenor), and Ira Anderson (bass). The group's work languished in the United vaults.
Perhaps that is the reason William Anderson bolted from the group. We can only speculate the reason, but his replacement by Larry Crues coincided with the Drakes changing their name to the Dream Kings.
They released "M.T.Y.L.T.T." and it became a local hit. The singer proclaims his current love for his lover as "more than yesterday" but "less than tomorrow." Does this mean the love has flowered but will fade? Perhaps the Dream Kings wished for the exact meaning to remain open to interpretation.
I have tried in vain to learn anything more about the Dream Kings or their lost-classic of a song.
A fine Web site devoted to R & B vocal groups, located here, mentions the Dream Kings in passing while detailing the careers of groups such as the Midnighters, the Dells, the Magnificents, the Five Chances and the Five Echoes.
Does this small reference make the Dream Kings more obscure than those groups? I think so.
Does this small reference diminish the power of "M.T.Y.L.T.T.?" Not a chance.
Checkers Records single release No. 858 was a 1957 release by East Chicago, Ind. doo wop group The Dream Kings.
The enigmatically titled "M.T.Y.L.T.T." only managed to become a local hit in the Chicagoland area. Now it shows up occasionally on doo wop or Checkers Records compilations, but for all practical purposes it has slipped into dark obscurity.
Sad... because "M.T.Y.L.T.T." is a masterpiece.
A beautiful lead tenor pours a helluva lotta soul into this song, augmented by subtle backing vocals and a solitary electric guitar. Simple but effective.
And forgotten.
Try finding information about the Dream Kings on the Internet, and the scant returns hint at the group's obscurity.
On a Web site devoted to the United Records label, I read that a doo wop group called The Drakes failed to make much of a mark when first recording material in May 1955.
Tom Daniel was the group's tenor lead, and the composer of the songs they recorded for United. The other members were Lincoln Mabins (baritone) and three brothers, William Anderson (baritone), Robert Anderson (tenor), and Ira Anderson (bass). The group's work languished in the United vaults.
Perhaps that is the reason William Anderson bolted from the group. We can only speculate the reason, but his replacement by Larry Crues coincided with the Drakes changing their name to the Dream Kings.
They released "M.T.Y.L.T.T." and it became a local hit. The singer proclaims his current love for his lover as "more than yesterday" but "less than tomorrow." Does this mean the love has flowered but will fade? Perhaps the Dream Kings wished for the exact meaning to remain open to interpretation.
I have tried in vain to learn anything more about the Dream Kings or their lost-classic of a song.
A fine Web site devoted to R & B vocal groups, located here, mentions the Dream Kings in passing while detailing the careers of groups such as the Midnighters, the Dells, the Magnificents, the Five Chances and the Five Echoes.
Does this small reference make the Dream Kings more obscure than those groups? I think so.
Does this small reference diminish the power of "M.T.Y.L.T.T.?" Not a chance.
posted by erik hogstrom at 3:11 PM
5 Comments:
would still like to talk.
Tom Daniel III (son of Dream King)
(219)939-7010
(219)810-3085
ps. William (Dollar Bill) Anderson had joined the Airforce. That's why Floyd came in. Robert, his brother, drown in Lake Michigan right after the Chess material was recorded.
WOW, I've been looking for the Dream Kings for 30 years [in anc around Chicago] and what a find. I would love to speak with Mr. Daniel about his father and the group. thanks so much for this posting. m. del costello blackwanmusic@verizon.net
Hello, I´m Jesús Martínez, Digital Rockabilly Dictionary author (http://diccionariorocker.blogspot.com), and I wrote about Dream Kings / Drakes in my web. We hope you like the article (wrire in spanish). My email is jesusrocker47@hotmail.com for corrections or omisions.
Thanx a lot.
Jesus,
I'd love to make the corrections for the Drakes/Dream Kings.
Tom Daniel, III
Gary, IN
219-318-6053
219/209/2550
Tom Daniel, III
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