No R&B label had more prolific doo-wop talent than Vee-Jay, which turned the fertile Chicago area into a goldmine in the '50s and early '60s. This 25-cut anthology contains a healthy sample and thankfully focuses on acts like the 5 Echoes, Orchids, Magnificents, and Rhythm Aces, fine ensembles that didn't score the huge hits of their contemporaries but made several solid records nonetheless. There are also acts that became bigger on other labels, like Sonny Til and his Orioles, the Pips (later Gladys Knight And The Pips), and a funky unreleased version of "The Twist," by The Midnighters (Hank Ballard and company). ~ Ron Wynn