Unca Marvy's Yesterday's Memories R&B Party

Results of my R&B Prettiest Songs Survey

Just in time for July Fools' Day: the results of the R&B Prettiest Songs Survey.

This time I received 102 responses to the survey (in a radical departure, I actually voted myself). Of course I'm gonna make a program out of this. Watch for the show in the next few months, and thanks to all who voted.

There were, of course, the usual surprises. You voted for 319 different songs, which makes the final scores kinda small for any given song. Many of you yelled at me that I should have asked for your favorite 10 Prettiest R&B Songs instead of 5. However, that probably just would have added more song titles without changing anything meaningful (and then you woulda yelled that it shoulda been 20). The most common comment I received was "these are my choices for today; tomorrow they'll probably change." I can certainly agree with that.

Somehow, though, I've got to get you guys to understand that I don't care a bit about soul music (which is not the same as saying I don't care for it, however). Same goes for Gospel. (No discussions are necessary; I'm the one doing the work here and I'm looking for Classic R&B.) Also, unless the survey itself is restrictive, you don't have to ask about single artists, duets, and instrumentals; if it's Classic R&B, it's welcome. (Some people will never learn that groups made up only one-quarter of R&B by category and probably much less than that by record sales.)

I was gratified that so many of the songs that I consider to be beautiful beyond compare made it to the voting. My feeling has always been that "Off Shore" by the Cardinals is the most beautiful recording ever (and lots of you seem to agree with me). But who could argue with "Golden Teardrops," "My Reverie," "Blue Velvet," almost anything with Nate Nelson leading the Flamingos, and, of course, "Lilacs In The Rain" (which more of you voted for than any other song)?

It would be a wonderful thing if you all sent emails to your local oldies station, pointing out this site to them and requesting that they play at least the top 20 songs in the results. If nothing else, it oughta be good for some laughs.

And now, without too much further delay: THE RESULTS (Ta-Da!)

I assigned a weight to each vote - 5 points for #1; 4 points for #2; etc. As I said, the vast amount of song titles ensured that no song would get all that many votes. That's what happens when the topic is broad. For all songs getting at least 6 points, I made sure that the results were sorted by artist (the sorting wasn't working particularly well in Excel, so I gave up after that).

The results, certified by Katharine Harris (and just to be on the safe side, sent on to the Supreme Court for final approval), appear below. (If you didn't vote, I hope you're honorable enough not to read any further.)

Artist	Song	1	2	3	4	5	TOT
Off Shore	Cardinals	6	2	2	-	-	44
Golden Teardrops	Flamingos	4	2	3	1	-	39
Lilacs In The Rain	Ravens	2	3	4	2	1	39
My Reverie	Larks	4	2	-	1	2	32
Blue Velvet	Clovers	1	1	3	1	1	21
A Kiss From Your Lips	Flamingos	2	2	-	1	1	21
The Way You Look Tonight	Jaguars	2	2	1	-	-	21
I'll Be Home	Flamingos	2	-	2	1	1	19
For Your Precious Love	Impressions	3	-	-	1	-	17
These Are Things I Want To Share With You	Syncopaters	1	1	-	3	2	17
Shouldn't I Know	Cardinals	1	2	-	-	2	15
Tabarin	Hollywood 4 Flames	2	1	-	-	1	15
The Wind	Diablos	-	2	-	2	2	14
Only The Angels Know	Esquires	2	1	-	-	-	14
In Each Corner Of My Heart	Nitecaps	2	1	-	-	-	14
Dear Lord	Continentals	-	1	2	1	1	13
I'd Rather Be Wrong Than Blue	Shadows	1	1	1	-	1	13
A Kiss And A Rose	Charioteers	1	1	1	-	-	12
Don't Mention My Name	Ravens	1	-	1	1	2	12
My Autumn Love	Danderliers	2	-	-	-	1	11
Over A Cup Of Coffee	Castelles	-	1	1	1	1	10
Be Faithful	Crickets	2	-	-	-	-	10
Dreams Of Contentment	Dells	1	-	1	1	-	10
These Foolish Things	Dominoes	-	2	-	1	-	10
Moonrise	Royals	1	-	-	2	1	10
Embraceable You	Solitaires	2	-	-	-	-	10
C'est La Vie	Wrens	1	-	1	1	-	10
Pledging My Love	Johnny Ace	1	-	1	-	1	9
The Beat Of Our Hearts	5 Bluenotes	-	2	-	-	1	9
I Only Have Eyes For You	Flamingos	-	1	1	1	-	9
I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance	Solitaires	-	2	-	-	1	9
I'm So Young	Students	-	1	1	1	-	9
Dearest	Swallows	-	-	2	1	1	9
Can I Come Over Tonight	Velours	1	1	-	-	-	9
My Girl Awaits Me	Castelles	1	-	1	-	-	8
Just For You	Hollywood Flames	-	2	-	-	-	8
Life Is But A Dream	Harptones	1	-	1	-	-	8
The Angels Sang	Solitaires	1	-	-	1	1	8
Share	Teenagers	1	-	1	-	-	8
Heart's Desire	Avalons	1	-	-	1	-	7
Goodnight My Love	Jesse Belvin	-	1	1	-	-	7
Clown Of The Masquerade	Carnations	1	-	-	1	-	7
Maybe	Chantels	-	1	1	-	-	7
Sweetest One	Crests	1	-	-	1	-	7
C'est La Vie	5 Keys	1	-	-	1	-	7
Red Sails In The Sunset	5 Keys	-	1	1	-	-	7
I'll Never Tell	Harptones	-	1	-	1	1	7
Stolen Love	Larks	-	1	1	-	-	7
Robe Of Calvary	Orioles	-	1	1	-	-	7
Going Home	Ravens	-	1	1	-	-	7
I Had A Dream Last Night	Aladdins	-	-	2	-	-	6
The Door Is Still Open	Cardinals	-	-	2	-	-	6
Night's Curtains	Checkers	1	-	-	-	1	6
For You I Have Eyes	Crickets	-	1	-	1	-	6
Lullaby Of The Bells	Deltairs	-	1	-	1	-	6
Rosemarie	5 Chimes	1	-	-	-	1	6
Can't Help Loving That Girl Of Mine	Hide-A-Ways	1	-	-	-	1	6
Most Of All	Moonglows	-	-	1	1	1	6
A Simple Prayer	Ravens	1	-	-	-	1	6
Easy Street	4 Knights	-	-	1	1	-	5
I Believe	5 Blind Boys Of Mississippi	1	-	-	-	-	5
Glory Of Love	5 Keys	-	1	-	-	1	5
Tears Of Joy	5 Royales	1	-	-	-	-	5
Just In Case You Change Your Mind	Antlers Of Miami	1	-	-	-	-	5
Eternally Yours	Barons	1	-	-	-	-	5
Each Time	Cabineers	1	-	-	-	-	5
Under A Blanket Of Blue	Cardinals	1	-	-	-	-	5
My Prayer Tonight	Checkers	1	-	-	-	-	5
Forever I Vow	Chestnuts	1	-	-	-	-	5
Nobody Knows	Delta Rhythm Boys	1	-	-	-	-	5
I'll Live Again	Diamonds	1	-	-	-	-	5
Star Dust	Dominoes	1	-	-	-	-	5
Pretty Eyes	Dozier Boys	1	-	-	-	-	5
Could This Be Magic	Dubs	1	-	-	-	-	5
At Night	Flamingos	1	-	-	-	-	5
I'm Yours	Flamingos	1	-	-	-	-	5
I'm Not That Way Anymore	Grooveneers	1	-	-	-	-	5
The Shrine Of St. Cecilia	Harptones	-	-	1	1	-	5
Chapel Of Love	Hitmakers	-	1	-	-	1	5
I Cover The Waterfront	Billie Holiday	1	-	-	-	-	5
Since I Met You Baby	Ivory Joe Hunter	1	-	-	-	-	5
Flowers Mr. Florist Please	Ink Spots	-	-	1	1	-	5
Thinking Of You	Jaguars	-	-	1	1	-	5
Wrong Again	James Quintet	1	-	-	-	-	5
Don't Say You're Sorry	Kingsmen	-	-	1	1	-	5
Feeling The Need	Annie Laurie	1	-	-	-	-	5
Forgotten Spring	Martels	1	-	-	-	-	5
I'm A Sentimental Fool	Marylanders	1	-	-	-	-	5
Make Me Thrill Again	Marylanders	-	1	-	-	1	5
Treasure Of Love	Clyde McPhatter	1	-	-	-	-	5
Magic Mountain	Medallions	1	-	-	-	-	5
Starlite	Moonglows	1	-	-	-	-	5
A Kiss And A Rose	Orioles	1	-	-	-	-	5
Crying In The Chapel	Orioles	-	-	1	1	-	5
It's Too Soon To Know	Orioles	1	-	-	-	-	5
So Much	Orioles	1	-	-	-	-	5
Tree In The Meadow	Pearls	-	1	-	-	1	5
Earth Angel	Penguins	-	-	-	2	1	5
Count Every Star	Ravens	1	-	-	-	-	5
Mam'selle	Ravens	-	-	1	1	-	5
A Thousand Stars	Rivileers	1	-	-	-	-	5
How Would You Know	Robins	1	-	-	-	-	5
His Eye Is On The Sparrow	Coleman Brothers	1	-	-	-	-	5
Starting From Tonight	Royals	1	-	-	-	-	5
Love Doll	Scarlets	-	-	1	1	-	5
It's Funny	Serenaders	1	-	-	-	-	5
The Glitter In Your Eyes	Sheppards	1	-	-	-	-	5
Missing You	Starlights	-	-	1	1	-	5
I Love You So Dearly	Startones	1	-	-	-	-	5
Blue Flowers	Strangers	-	1	-	-	1	5
I'll Be Waiting	Swallows	1	-	-	-	-	5
My Baby	Swallows	1	-	-	-	-	5
I'm Not A Know-It-All	Teenagers	1	-	-	-	-	5
Moonglow You Know	Videos	-	-	1	1	-	5
Rita	4 Dots	-	-	1	1	-	5
Walking Alone	4 Kings	1	-	-	-	-	5
To Be Loved	Jackie Wilson	1	-	-	-	-	5
God Gave Me You	Wonders	1	-	-	-	-	5
Just In Case You Change Your Mind	4 Deep Tones	-	1	-	-	-	4
Darling You	4 Fellows	-	1	-	-	-	4
I Will Wait	5 Dollars	-	1	-	-	-	4
You Are So Beautiful	5 Notes	-	1	-	-	-	4
In The Still Of The Night	5 Satins	-	1	-	-	-	4
Stormy Weather	5 Sharps	-	1	-	-	-	4
What Can I Tell Her Now	Bells	-	1	-	-	-	4
I Love You Yes I Do	James Brown	-	1	-	-	-	4
Whirlpool	Cabineers	-	1	-	-	-	4
Hands Across The Table	Cadets	-	1	-	-	-	4
Heavenly Father	Castelles	-	1	-	-	-	4
Flamingo	Charades	-	-	-	2	-	4
Harbor Lights	Dominoes	-	1	-	-	-	4
Gone	Drifters	-	1	-	-	-	4
Three O'Clock In The Morning	Ebonaires	-	1	-	-	-	4
My Heart's Desire	Fabulous Pearls	-	1	-	-	-	4
My Faith	Fi-Tones	-	1	-	-	-	4
It Wasn't A Lie	Fi-Tones	-	1	-	-	-	4
Out Of Sight Out Of Mind	5 Keys	-	-	-	2	-	4
You Should Care For Me	Flairs	-	1	-	-	-	4
Dream Of A Lifetime	Flamingos	-	-	1	-	1	4
Mio Amore	Flamingos	-	1	-	-	-	4
Garden Of Memories	Johnny Fuller	-	1	-	-	-	4
Talk About The Weather	Gems	-	-	1	-	1	4
A Sunday Kind Of Love	Harptones	-	1	-	-	-	4
A Thousand Miles Away	Heartbeats	-	1	-	-	-	4
Your Way	Heartbeats	-	1	-	-	-	4
Maybe It's All For The Best	Hurricanes	-	1	-	-	-	4
In My Lonely Room	Larks	-	1	-	-	-	4
My Lost Love	Larks	-	1	-	-	-	4
Walking The Streets Alone	Love Letters	-	1	-	-	-	4
Tell Me	Mastertones	-	-	1	-	1	4
How Sentimental Can I Be	Mellows	-	1	-	-	-	4
The Stars	Ocapellos	-	1	-	-	-	4
For All We Know	Orioles	-	1	-	-	-	4
Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me	Orioles	-	1	-	-	-	4
Every Beat Of My Heart	Pips	-	1	-	-	-	4
Deep Purple	Ravens	-	1	-	-	-	4
I'm So Crazy For Love	Ravens	-	1	-	-	-	4
Count Every Star	Rivieras	-	1	-	-	-	4
Dream Girl	Rob Roys	-	1	-	-	-	4
A Love In My Heart	Royals	-	1	-	-	-	4
Love	Sheppards	-	1	-	-	-	4
Blue Valentine	Solitaires	-	1	-	-	-	4
Peace Of Mind	Spaniels	-	-	-	2	-	4
Hands Across The Table	Velours	-	1	-	-	-	4
Jessie Mae	Spaniels	-	1	-	-	-	4
Since You've Been Away	Swallows	-	1	-	-	-	4
Tell Me Why	Swallows	-	1	-	-	-	4
Moon Shining Bright	Tremaines	-	1	-	-	-	4
I	Velvets	-	1	-	-	-	4
Doll Face	Vibranaires	-	1	-	-	-	4
What A Difference A Day Makes	Dinah Washington	-	1	-	-	-	4
Night	Jackie Wilson	-	1	-	-	-	4
House Of Cards	Wrens	-	1	-	-	-	4
My Heart's Got The Blues	5 C's	-	-	1	-	-	3
Ebb Tide	Avalons	-	-	1	-	-	3
I'm So Crazy For Love	Blenders	-	-	1	-	-	3
I Will Wait	4 Buddies	-	-	1	-	-	3
Lawful Wedding	Cufflinks	-	-	1	-	-	3
The Girl I Love	Cadillacs	-	-	-	1	1	3
Lonely Me	Carpets	-	-	1	-	-	3
Give Me Your Love	Columbus Pharaohs	-	-	1	-	-	3
When The Lights Go On Again	Comets (Herb Kenny &)	-	-	1	-	-	3
You Are An Angel	Continentals	-	-	1	-	-	3
If I Knew	Cruisers	-	-	1	-	-	3
Wrapped Up In A Dream	Do, Ray And Me	-	-	1	-	-	3
Is There A Love For Me	Dubs	-	-	1	-	-	3
This To Me Is Love	Dubs	-	-	1	-	-	3
Festival Of Love	Dukays	-	-	1	-	-	3
If I Had Another Chance	Fabuleers	-	-	1	-	-	3
My Beauty My Own	Fascinators	-	-	1	-	-	3
Teardrop Eyes	Fascinators	-	-	1	-	-	3
Lovers Never Say Goodbye	Flamingos	-	-	1	-	-	3
Will I Find My Love Today	Golden Gate Quartet	-	-	1	-	-	3
The Meaning Of Love	Goldentones	-	-	1	-	-	3
That's The Way It Goes	Harptones	-	-	1	-	-	3
Human	Tommy Hunt	-	-	1	-	-	3
Yours Alone	Laurels	-	-	1	-	-	3
Our Love Is A Vow	Mello-Harps	-	-	1	-	-	3
And You Just Can't Go Through Life Alone	Mello-Moods	-	-	1	-	-	3
Where Are You	Mello-Moods	-	-	-	1	1	3
I Cover The Waterfront	Orioles	-	-	1	-	-	3
Moonlight	Orioles	-	-	1	-	-	3
Close Your Eyes	Pretenders	-	-	1	-	-	3
Just Walking In The Rain	Prisonaires	-	-	1	-	-	3
You Foolish Thing	Ravens	-	-	-	1	1	3
When You Come Back To Me	Re-Vels	-	-	1	-	-	3
I Wonder Why	Rhythm Aces	-	-	1	-	-	3
My Heart's The Biggest Fool	Robins	-	-	1	-	-	3
A Part Of Me	Sensations	-	-	1	-	-	3
All Of A Sudden My Heart Sings	Joya Sherill	-	-	1	-	-	3
A Lovers' Quarrel	Shytones	-	-	1	-	-	3
Fountain Of Love	Skylarks	-	-	1	-	-	3
I Know, I Know	Spaniels	-	-	1	-	-	3
You Painted Pictures	Spaniels	-	-	1	-	-	3
Lost	Spartans	-	-	1	-	-	3
That's What Girls Are Made For	Spinners	-	-	1	-	-	3
Cool Saturday Night	Striders	-	-	1	-	-	3
Beside You	Swallows	-	-	1	-	-	3
I Only Have Eyes For You	Swallows	-	-	1	-	-	3
Fools Rush In	Tunedrops	-	-	1	-	-	3
Another Soldier Gone	Violinaires	-	-	1	-	-	3
Reckless	Wrens	-	-	1	-	-	3
You Won't Let Me Go	4 Dots	-	-	1	-	-	3
Love Is A River	Moonglows	-	-	1	-	-	3
Angels Say	4 Fellows	-	-	-	1	-	2
I Pray	Whirlers	-	-	-	1	-	2
Soldier Boy	4 Fellows	-	-	-	1	-	2
Wrapped Up In A Dream	4 Knights	-	-	-	1	-	2
Close Your Eyes	5 Keys	-	-	-	1	-	2
Every Night About This Time	Sophomores	-	-	-	1	-	2
I Took Your Love For A Toy	5 Keys	-	-	-	1	-	2
Please Let Me Know	5 Pearls	-	-	-	1	-	2
Then	Aladdins	-	-	-	1	-	2
I Cried A Tearl	Lavern Baker	-	-	-	1	-	2
Love Needs A Helping Hand	Sadie Birch	-	-	-	1	-	2
Lorraine	Bonnevilles	-	-	-	1	-	2
Warm Your Heart	Drifters	-	-	-	1	-	2
Gloria	Cadillacs	-	-	-	1	-	2
This Silver Ring	Castelles	-	-	-	1	-	2
Take My Hand	Centurys	-	-	-	1	-	2
Georgia	Ray Charles	-	-	-	1	-	2
Adorable	Colts	-	-	-	1	-	2
You Send Me	Sam Cooke	-	-	-	1	-	2
One Summer Night	Danleers	-	-	-	1	-	2
An Angel Up In Heaven	Del Vikings	-	-	-	1	-	2
Don't Be A Fool	Del Vikings	-	-	-	1	-	2
A Beggar For Your Kisses	Diamonds	-	-	-	1	-	2
Your Promise To Be Mine	Drifters	-	-	-	-	2	2
Be Sure My Love	Dubs	-	-	-	1	-	2
A Rose For My Darling	El Dorados	-	-	-	1	-	2
But Not For Me	Flamingos	-	-	-	1	-	2
Whispering Stars	Flamingos	-	-	-	1	-	2
I Need You So	Ivory Joe Hunter	-	-	-	1	-	2
Priceless	Hurricanes	-	-	-	1	-	2
Pray For Me	Intruders	-	-	-	1	-	2
Hopefully Yours	Larks	-	-	-	1	-	2
Surrender Your Heart	Lovenotes	-	-	-	1	-	2
I'm Just Another One In Love With You	Mello-Tones	-	-	-	1	-	2
So Far Away	Pastels	-	-	-	1	-	2
My Troubles Are Not At An End	Penguins	-	-	-	1	-	2
I'm Afraid Of You	Ravens	-	-	-	1	-	2
You're Heavenly	Saigons	-	-	-	1	-	2
Island Of Love	Sheppards	-	-	-	1	-	2
You May Forgive Yourself	Swans	-	-	-	1	-	2
Little Did I Dream	Twilighters	-	-	-	1	-	2
Again	Universals	-	-	-	1	-	2
Love Or Infatuation	Videos	-	-	-	1	-	2
Now That I Have You	Willows	-	-	-	1	-	2
Serenade Of The Bells	Wrens	-	-	-	1	-	2
I Can Hardly Wait	4 Sharps	-	-	-	-	1	1
Wisdom Of A Fool	5 Keys	-	-	-	-	1	1
Candlelight	5 Satins	-	-	-	-	1	1
Baby	Avons	-	-	-	-	1	1
Can't Help Loving You	Bachelors	-	-	-	-	1	1
Moments Like This	Baltineers	-	-	-	-	1	1
So Many Ways	Brook Benton	-	-	-	-	1	1
Don't Take Your Love From Me	Calvanes	-	-	-	-	1	1
Don't Let It Happen Again	Cashmeres	-	-	-	-	1	1
That's My Desire	Channels	-	-	-	-	1	1
One Kind Word From You	Charms	-	-	-	-	1	1
Devil Or Angel	Clovers	-	-	-	-	1	1
You Have No Heart	Crescents	-	-	-	-	1	1
Pretty Little Angel	Crests	-	-	-	-	1	1
Come To Me Darling	Crystals	-	-	-	-	1	1
Let It Please Be You	Desires	-	-	-	-	1	1
A Teardrop From Heaven	Diablos	-	-	-	-	1	1
Cherry	Diamonds	-	-	-	-	1	1
All I Need Is You	Dozier Boys	-	-	-	-	1	1
Underneath The Willow	Dreams	-	-	-	-	1	1
Loving A Girl Like You	Harptones	-	-	-	-	1	1
My Memories Of You	Harptones	-	-	-	-	1	1
Crazy For You	Heartbeats	-	-	-	-	1	1
Maybe You'll Be There	Lee Andrews & Hearts	-	-	-	-	1	1
Home, Home, Home	Jubalaires	-	-	-	-	1	1
Rain Is The Teardrops Of Angels	King Odom Quartet	-	-	-	-	1	1
Smoke From Your Cigarette	Mellows	-	-	-	-	1	1
Baby Be Mine	Melo Gents	-	-	-	-	1	1
I'll Try Something New	Miracles	-	-	-	-	1	1
Traveling Stranger	Kool Tones	-	-	-	-	1	1
When I'm With You	Moonglows	-	-	-	-	1	1
You're The Dream Of A Lifetime	Musical Notes	-	-	-	-	1	1
The Bells	Originals	-	-	-	-	1	1
I Need You So	Orioles	-	-	-	-	1	1
Take My Heart	Paramounts	-	-	-	-	1	1
My Prayer	Platters	-	-	-	-	1	1
September Song	Flamingos	-	-	-	-	1	1
Here In My Lonely Room	Ink Spots	-	-	-	-	1	1
Green Eyes	Ravens	-	-	-	-	1	1
Moonlight Serenade	Rivieras	-	-	-	-	1	1
If I Didn't Love You So	Robins	-	-	-	-	1	1
A Love For Only You	Stereos	-	-	-	-	1	1
My Friends	Strangers	-	-	-	-	1	1
My Vow To You	Students	-	-	-	-	1	1
Tabarin	Tangiers	-	-	-	-	1	1
This Heart Of Mine	Turks	-	-	-	-	1	1
We Knew	Valiants	-	-	-	-	1	1
Forever	Vidaltones	-	-	-	-	1	1
Heartache, Here I Come	Mel Walker	-	-	-	-	1	1
Heart's Desire	Wheels	-	-	-	-	1	1