THE DREAM KINGS * 78 *CHECKER Label #858 E+

$

252

What a mega rare doo-wop 78 from THE DREAM KINGS. Basically LIGHTLY PLAYED OLD STORE STOCK! On the CHECKER record label and the record # is: 858. The song "M.T.Y.L.T.T." is on Side A. and on Side B. is: "Oh What A Baby". This is a very hard record to find in any condition... this is stunning. This record is in E to E+ condition! There are no edge chips. The labels are in E condition, with no writing or heavy wear... the a.) side has a bit of light age spotting at the very top... probably not even worth mentioning. What a great, well cared for record. Doo-wop collectors... if you were looking for a rare, top notch DREAM KINGS 78 on the CHECKER label... here it is! I have just made a major purchase of ultra rare rock, jazz & blues albums! They were from Radio Station Promotion Manager Lester "Len" Miller and are from his personal collection.

More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow

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.

GRADING: STANDARD 78 RPM GRADING IS USED.

N- NEW MINUS: Full Original Luster. Appears Unplayed With No Signs Of Use. Highest Grade Used. Possible Slight Sleeve Or Storage Marks.

E+ EXCELLENT PLUS: Full Luster, Very Few Careful Plays. Slightest Indication Of Use Or Handling. Condition Is Just Slightly Below New Minus.

E EXCELLENT: Almost Full Luster. Mild Signs Of Careful Play But No Serious Scratches Or Scuffs. Highly Desirable Condition.

E- EXCELLENT MINUS: Some Luster Remains. Surface Shows Some Light Groove Wear, Light Scuffs And/Or Light Scratches. Still Pretty Clean. Acceptable To Most Collectors.

V+ VERY GOOD PLUS: Groove Wear, Scuffs And Scratches Are More Pronounced. Moderate Gray. Still A Decent Used Record With Moderate Surface Noise.

V VERY GOOD: Grooves Are Mostly Or Fully Gray Showing Deeper Wear. Obvious Surface Noise. Getting Rough Looking And Playing. An “Average Used 78” Is In The V To V+ Range.

V- VERY GOOD MINUS: Further Deterioration. Fully Gray With Deeper Groove Wear Causing Heavier Surface Noise.

G GOOD: Very Rough. Heavy Use. Deeply Gray. Surface Noise About Equals Music Level.

F FAIR: Really Beat. May Skip. Surface Noise Probably Exceeds Music Level.

P POOR: Barely Playable To Unplayable. Mostly Useful For The Label Or As A Filler Until A Better Copy Comes Along. Depending On The Rarity Of The Record, This Can Be An Acceptable Grade To A Serious Collector.

WHAT A RARE AND HARD TO FIND RECORD FROM THE DREAM KINGS! BELIEVE ME... YOU WILL WANT THIS FOR YOUR COLLECTION!