The Bosstones
The Bosstones were an African American musical group in the 1950s who performed in the instrumentally-sparse, a cappella-based harmonic style known as Philadelphia doo-wop.
The best-known song by The Bosstones is "Mope-Itty Mope" which was released as a 45 rpm single in 1959. In describing one of the many compilation CDs on which this song appears, Allmusic writes:
"It's a treat to have access to songs by...the Bosstones [and other groups] that received regional attention but never achieved the national success initially hoped for."[1]
The B-side of "Mope-ity" was a song called "Wings of an Angel". In 1962 The Dovells remade "Mope-itty Mope" as "The Mope-itty Mope Stomp".
After their existence was called to the attention of the Boston-based ska-core band formed in 1983 and also called The Bosstones, the latter group changed its name to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. As this earlier use of the name is not well known, contemporary references to "The Bosstones" generally refer to The Mighty Mighty Bosstones rather than The Bosstones discussed in this article.
Notes
The Bosstones were a black vocal group from Philadelphia. Not much has been written about them. They are known for "Mope-Itty Mope"/"Wings Of An Angel" which was released on a local Philadelphia record label, Boss. The original pressing was Boss #401. It was reissued as Boss #501. It was never anything more than an obscure regional record and not even considered a hit record in Philadelphia. The original pressing is a very rare record now if you can find it. It has become more popular over the decades as more people have discovered it. It was later copied by The Dovells almost note for note as the B side of "Bristol Stomp." It has the same appeal and rarity as another Philadelphia record "Bila" by The Versatones.
References
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