Darts were a nine-piece British doo-wop revival band that achieved chart success in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The popular London-based band had a number of UK Top 20 hits including three successive #2's with revivals of early US rock 'n' roll and R&B songs.

Which, now living here in the US for the past 22 years seems to have been why I listened and loved their sound so much, I guess! In truth though I also loved the music of Showaddywaddy, Racey, Matchbox and Roman Holiday, so that certain swing-beat was always evident throughout my formative music years.

And so for a true blue fan like me, who sadly never managed to get anything from them on vinyl at the time (and yet I have over 10,000 vinyl items!) this first ever collection of every A and B side issued by the Doo Wop Rock 'N' Roll Pop legends known simply as Darts is a frickin' Godsend, trust me!

Compiling their work during their most commercially successful period whilst with Magnet Records between 1977-82 it was not only uber successful in people's homes, but also earned them a place in the Top 500 Most Successful Singles acts in British Chart history!

Of course, it's the first CD that conatins all the goodies, but in 17 songs there is not one bad one - truly! Kicking off with 'Daddy Cool / The Girl Can't Help It,' we bleed seamlessly into 'Medley Excerpts' (a great way to get to know the band if you actually don't!), and the come such classics as 'Come Back My Love,' 'The Boy From New York City,' 'It's Raining' (before Shaky got a hold of it!), and both 'Can't Get Enough Of Your Love' and the MASSIVE chart blockbuster, 'Duke Of Earl.'

DISC ONE:
1. DADDY COOL / THE GIRL CAN’T HELP; 2. MEDLEY EXCERPTS: A: Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart, B: Come Back My Love, C: Stay Away (From Them Girls), D: Sh-Boom (Life Could Be A Dream); 3. SHOTGUN; 4. COME BACK MY LOVE; 5. NAFF OFF; 6. THE BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY; 7. BONES; 8. IT’S RAINING; 9. MESSING SHOE BLUES; 10. DON’T LET IT FADE AWAY; 11. EARLY IN THE MORNING; 12. GET IT; 13. HOW MANY NIGHTS; 14. DUKE OF EARL; 15. I’VE GOT TO HAVE MY WAY; 16. CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE and 17. DON’T SAY YES.

DISC TWO:
1. REET PETITE; 2. HONEY BEE; 3. LET’S HANG ON; 4. CAIROLI; 5. PEACHES 6. D.I.Y. HEARTACHE; 7. WHITE CHRISTMAS; 8. SH-BOOM (LIFE COULD BE A DREAM); 9. DON’T SAY YES (Live); 10. JUMP CHILDREN JUMP; 11. GREEN FOR GO

BONUS DEN HEGARTY SINGLES:
12. VOODOO VOODOO; 13. LOVE WAS A SECRET

BONUS BIG DEN & THE RANDOM BAND SINGLES
14. WORKING IN THE COALMINE; 15. DOWN IN THE SEWER

BONUS BOB FISH SINGLES:
16. NO CHANCE; 17. LIKE LOVERS DO; 18. HOTEL.

In closing, Cherry Pop (as always) have ensured that this newly expanded release has been expertly remastered and comes complete with bonus solo singles by vocalists Den Hegarty and Bob Fish, all appearing on CD for the first time. And the booklet includes pictures of each single sleeve along with informative liner notes. All tracks totally remastered by Tim Turan.

CD Purchase Link

www.cherryred.co.uk