Billboard Magazine ran mini-biographies from 1959 into the early 1960’s sometimes providing us with interesting tidbits – Each biography was generally tied to a current release on behalf of the artist

The Knockouts Spotlight Feature: (“Darling Lorraine”)

Charted Number 46 Hot 100 – Released December 1959

The Knockouts’ story follows a familiar line for groups emerging from the nation’s east coast: – a glimmer of hope with a nationally charting single – another brief flicker with a follow up single – several more recordings that fail to chart – a strong local following – a few personnel changes – the group more or less calls it quits – a member or two try their hand with another act – if they can manage it – an oldies tour later down the road – an occasional reunion – time marches on…

The Knockouts’ strength was that of an instrumental group but they took their best shot at delivering a vocal with “Darling Lorraine”.  Here is a fascinating description of the song provided by the “Doo Wop Blog”:

“The Knockouts hedged their bets by placing “Darling Lorraine”, which sounded like a bunch of leathery-faced cowboys breaking into an impromptu doo-wop session around the camp fire.”

If nothing else – that description demands a listen to “Darling Lorraine”. – The vocal play on the word “Lorraine” does tilt a bit towards a camp fire sound I suppose…

The Knockouts Come to Shad Records

The group formed in the late 1950’s and became very popular within the New Jersey club circuit.  Their manager landed them a recording contract with Shad Records which had been launched by Bob Shad from the West Coast.

Bob had some income to invest in a new group, having hit the national charts with “I’ve Had It” by the Bell Notes, on Shad’s Time label and “It Was I”  on his Brent label by “Skip and Flip” – the duo of Clyde Batton who would later become a member of the Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, etc., and Gary Paxton of “Alley Oop” fame along with many other composing/recording credits.

Shad would later found Mainstream Records putting out some very interesting recordings ranging from jazz to the psychedelic genre and one of his recordings would feature the sensational Janis Joplin with her band Big Brother & The Holding Company.

“Darling Lorraine” would rise to number 45 on the national charts,  Drummer Henry would depart to be replaced by Bob Calucci, who went by the moniker Pierre La Salle, in 1960.  By the mid 1960’s, after recording nearly a dozen singles on five different labels the group was finished.

The founder of the Knockouts, Bob D’Andrea, would carry on as an all-around entertainer forming a duo with Gary Chris. Along the way, Bob would appear in the motion picture “A Bronx Tale” from 1993 which featured Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro among others.  D’Andrea portrayed the character “Tony Toupee”

D’Andrea and Chriss had a musical history, both having been members of a Jersey band called “Gary Chriss and the Crystals” back in 1958 (according to their web site) – An LP by the group was issued on a nameless label in 1965 titled simply “Live!”.  On that LP Bob D’Andrea is listed on the liner notes as “Bobby Ray”.  Other members of the Crystals included Johnny Vail and Eddie Bishop.

Chrisss (going by Gary “Criss” – first recorded for Strand Records in 1961 and then released a handful of singles on the Diamond label along with an LP.  In 1970 Gary would form the group “The Glass Bottle” who recorded on the AVCO Embassy record label.  “Ain’t Got Time Anymore” has that classic early 1970’s slick group sound.

Criss placed one Diamond single on the Bubbling Under charts and as lead for the Glass Bottle two singles on the Hot 100.  Crisses’ 1978 disco cut “Rio De Janeiro” apparently was a huge international hit.

In 1966, D’Andrea would front a group with Bob Collada called “The Questions” and release on single on RCA Victor – both tracks being produced by Four Season Nick Massi – a fellow Jerseyite!

Chriss would also sing several songs for the 1970 motion picture, “The People Next Door” both leading the Glass Bottle and going single for the main theme song.

D’Andrea and Chriss carry on today with their song and dance and comedy routine performing still as the “Knockouts” and referring to their act as “The Good Times Rock N Roll Oldies Doo Wop Duo”.

The Knockouts Selected Discography

The Knockouts – Shad 5013 – Darling Lorraine – Number 46 Hot 100 b/w Riot In Room C – November, 1959

The Knockouts – Shad 5018 – Rich Boy, Poor Boy – Number 104 Bubbling Under b/w Please Be Mine – May, 1960

The Knockouts – MGM 13010 – Fever b/w You Can Take My Girl – May, 1961

Gary Criss – Strand 25044 – Good Golly Miss Molly b/w I’ll Love Only You – June, 1961

Gary Criss – Diamond 114 – Welcome To My Heart b/w Our Favorite Melodies – Number 134 Bubbling Under – May, 1962

Gary Criss – Diamond 122 – The Girl I Told You About b/w My Little Heavenly Angel – August, 1962

Gary Criss – Diamond 127 – Long Lonely Nights b/w I Still Miss You So – December, 1962

Gary Griss – Diamond 145 – Sweet, Warm and Soft b/w Little Joe – August, 1963

The Knockouts – Tribute 199 – Mo Jo Part 1 and Part 2 (Got My Mojo Working) – February, 1964

The Knockouts – Scepter 1269 – Mojo Part 1 b/w Every Day of the Week – March, 1964

The Knockouts – Tribute 200 – I Got A Woman Parts 1 and 2 – April, 1964

The Knockouts – Tribute 201 – What’s On Your Mind b/w Tweet-Tweet – June, 1964

The Knockouts – Tribute 203 – Don’t Say Goodbye b/w Ecuador – July, 1964

Gary Criss – Diamond 182 – Hands Off Buddy b/w If This Is Goodbye – May, 1965

Gary Criss – Diamond 190 – This Love Of Mine b/w My Baby Left Me – October, 1965

The Knockouts – Tribute 216 – Falling From Paradise b/w Ecuador – 1965

The Knockouts – Tribute 222 – Bony Maronie b/w Going Back To Louisiana – 1965

The Questions – RCA Victor 8894 – If I Had My Way b/w Can I Believe? – July, 1966

Gary Criss – Diamond 228 – Welcome Home To My Heart b/w Hands Off Buddy – August, 1967

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4527 – Love For Living – Number 109 Bubbling Under b/w The First Time – April, 1970

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4526 – Sorry Suzanne b/w Velvet – June, 1970

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4540 – Mama, Don’t You Wait Up For Me b/w The First Time – September, 1970

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4575 – Things b/w I Ain’t Got Time Anymore – June, 1971

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4575 – Ain’t Got Time Anymore – Number 36 Hot 100 b/w Things – June, 1971

(Reissued switching the A/B sides)

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4584 – The Girl Who Loved Me When – Number 87 Hot 100 b/w Because She’s Mine Again – November, 1971

The Glass Bottle – Avco 4592 – Don’t It Make You Feel So Good b/w I Love You More (Than You Love Me) – May, 1972

Gary Criss – Avco 4597 – Pretty Thing b/w Because She’s Mine Again – June, 1972

Gary Criss – Salsoul 2082 – Brazilian Nights b/w Amazon Queen – 1978

Gary Criss – Salsoul 2059 – Rio De Janeiro b/w Rio Lady – September, 1978

The Glass Bottle – Avco 33012 – The Glass Bottle – 1970

The Glass Bottle – Avco 33024 – I Ain’t Got the Time Anymore – 1971

Gary Criss LP – Salsoul 8504 – Rio De Janeiro – 1978