Main image

The Wanderers were a popular East Coast doo wop group who went through numerous name changes during their decade-long career, and despite various label-related shuffling and stylistic changes, national success eluded them at each turn. They are best known for their cover material, and had minor East Coast hits with For Your Love and Thinking of You. They began their career in 1952 as the Barons. The original group members -- Ray Pollard (lead), Frank Joyner (tenor), Robert Yarbrough (baritone), and Sheppard Shep Grant (bass).
By 1957, the group -- now simply called the Wanderers -- began releasing singles on the Onyx label. They tried broadening their material, even recording a pop single called Thinking of You, which was already familiar to New Yorkers as the Honeydreamers had recorded it as the theme song to Brad Phillips' radio show Battle Royal. The audience response to the Wanderers' version provided them with some hope and began to clearly define the outlines of a smooth pop vocal career. Unfortunately, Onyx was then absorbed by the larger major MGM, and so they moved over to Orbit Records, a label run by Onyx's Jerry Winston. That label changed names a month later (in April of 1958) because of the proliferation of small labels using the name Orbit, becoming Cub Records.

The first release on Cub was Teenaged Quarrel (it had been issued on Orbit, then withdrawn, making it a rare 45 today). Unfortunately, the single failed to connect, as did further efforts from the group throughout the rest of the '50s. By 1961, the group had been performing for nearly a decade without much success outside the East Coast. They went through another stylistic change to keep with the times, focusing on a more commercial R&B sound for their cover of Ed Townsend's 1957 classic ballad For Your Love. The single rose up the national pop charts in the summer of 1961 and was a favorite of East Coast vocal group fans.

ALBUMS


The Wanderers (8) / Ruth Price
Shadrach Meshack and Abednego / Shadrach
2015, 7", RE, Popcorn (4)
Ray Pollard and The Wanderers
Ray Pollard And The Wanderers Vol. 2
2001, CD, Comp, Cat King Cole
The Wanderers
The Best Of
1997, CD, Comp, Mono, Onyx (4)
The Wanderers
Run-Run Senorita / After He Breaks Your Heart
1963
The Wanderers
You Can't Run Away From Me / I'll Know
1963
The Wanderers
There Is No Greater Love
1962, Vinyl, ,
Soul
The Wanderers
Somebody Else's Sweetheart / She Wears My Ring
1961
The Wanderers
A Little Too Long / I'll Never Smile Again
1961
The Wanderers
For Your Love / Sally Goodheart
1961
The Wanderers
I Need You More / I Could Make You Mine
1960
Jimmie Rodgers (2), Vincent Lopez And His Orchestra, Toyland Marching Band And Chorus, The Wanderers
Disc Jockey Sampler Record Of Songs Published By Carl Fischer, Inc. - ASCAP
1959, 7", Promo, Smplr, Carl Fischer, Inc.
The Wanderers
I'm Not Ashamed / Only When You're Lonely
1959
The Wanderers
Please / Shadrach Meshack And Abednego
1959
The Wanderers
I'm Waiting In Green Pastures
1959
The Wanderers
Two Hearts On A Window Pane / Collecting Hearts
1958
The Wanderers
A Teenage Quarrel / My Shining Hour
1958
The Wanderers'*
Thinking Of You / Great Jumpin' Catfish
1957
The Wanderers
We Could Find Happiness / Heh Mae Ethel
1953, Shellac, 10", Single, Mono, Savoy Records
The Wanderers
For Your Love
7", Stardust Records
Kenny & The Impacts* / The Wanderers
Wishing Well / You Can't Run Away From Love
7", Stardust Records, ,
Soul
The Wanderers
The Best Of The Wanderers
LP, Comp, Onyx (4)
The Wanderers
Por Tu Amor = For Your Love / Mucho Tiempo = A Little Too Long
7", Single, MGM Records
The Wanderers
What Do I Do / My First, Last And Only Gal
7", RE, Unofficial, Savoy Records (4)
The Wanderers
How Can I Get Along With You / Don't Do Nothing I Wouldn't Do
7", RE, Unofficial, Savoy Records (4)

APPEARANCES +


Various
Hi Strung R&B Vol 1 "Rock House"
2024, CD, Comp, Koko Mojo Records, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Black Pearls Vol.3 "Voodoo Moon"
2023, CD, Comp, Koko Mojo Records, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
Sixties Groups Classics & Rarities / Vol 1
2023, 2xCDr, Comp, Classics France, ,
Vocal
Various
Stroll-A-Rama - Jump And Bump
2020, CD, Comp, Atomicat Records, ,
Doo Wop/Country/Rhythm & Blues/Rock & Roll/Rockabilly
Various
Rockin' Movie Soundtracks
2020, 2xCD, Comp, Jasmine Records
Various
Stirring Up Some Gospel - The Original Sound Of Uk Club Land
2019, CD, Comp, Jasmine Records
Various
Shadrach And Boomstix! (Blues & Rhythm, Popcorn, Exotica & Tittyshakers!)
2018, CD, Comp, Stag-O-Lee
Various
Strip-O-Rama Vol 3
2018, LP, Comp + CD, Comp, Jukebox Music Factory, ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Mod (Talkin' 'Bout Our Generation - Volume One)
2018, 10x CD, Box Set, ,
Mod/Soul/Rhythm & Blues/Electric Blues
Billy Dawn Smith
Singer - Writer - Legend
2017, 2xCD, Comp, GoodFellas (8)
Various
Shadrach (Blues & Rhythm, Popcorn, Exotica & Tittyshakers Vol. 9)
2016, 10", Comp, Stag-O-Lee
Various
Doo Wop Soda Shop
2016, CD, Comp, Croydon Municipal, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Jamboree Aka Disc Jockey Jamboree – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
2016
Various
Go, Johnny Go! - Motion Picture Soundtrack
2016
Various
Lost Without You (The Best Of Kent Ballads 2)
2015, CD, Comp, Kent Soul, ,
Soul
Various
Mod-The Early Years Vol.2 (100 Classic & Rare Tracks)
2015, 4xCD, Comp, RM, Real Gone, ,
Rhythm & Blues/Soul
Various
Doo Wop Jukebox Hits
2014, 10xCD, Comp + Box, Documents, ,
Doo Wop/Rhythm & Blues/Ballad/Jump Blues/Rock & Roll
Various
Don't Make Me Over: The Songs Of Burt Bacharach & Hal David
2014, 2xCD, Comp, Mono, Jasmine Records
Various
Doo Wop Revival The R&B Vocal Group Sound - 1961-1962
2014, 3xCD, Comp, Fantastic Voyage
Various
The Songs Of Bacharach & David
2013, 2xCD, Comp, Not Now Music,
Various
Lovesick Blues - Gems From The MGM Vaults
2013, 3xCD, Comp, One Day Music, ,
Country/Doo Wop/Rock & Roll/Vocal
Various
Dance Floor Winners Volume 8 - 20 Jvin', Strollin', Boppin', Swingin', Monster Tracks For Dancers
2013, CD, Comp, Golden Beaver
Various
The Songs Of Burt Bacharach
2013, 3x CD,
Various
The Dawn Of Northern Soul
2012, CD, Comp, Outta Sight
Various
Street Corner Symphonies - The Complete Story Of Doo Wop, Volume 5 : 1953
2012, CD, Comp, RM, Bear Family Records, ,
Doo Wop
Burt Bacharach
Long Ago Last Summer 1959-61
2012, CD, Comp, Él, ,
Vocal/Soul/Ballad
Various
Sin City Jukebox Volume 4
2011, CDr, Comp, Spoonful
Various
Rare Bacharach - The Early Years 1958-1965
2009, CD, Comp, Ltd, Rare Rockin' Records
Bert Berns
The Bert Berns Story (Twist And Shout) (Volume 1 1960-1964)
2008
Various
Money Honey - The Rise Of The Black Vocal Group 1951-1953
2004, 2xCD, Comp, Indigo Recordings
Pearl Woods
Sippin' Sorrow (With A Spoon)
2004, CD, Comp, Night Train International, ,
Rhythm & Blues
Various
United Artists Doo-Wop Volume 1
2002, CD, Comp, UADW
Various
Birth Of Soul (Volume 3)
2001, CD, Comp, Kent Soul, ,
Soul/Gospel/Rhythm & Blues
Various
The Onyx Records Story
2000, CD, Comp, Preserved Recordings
Various
M-G-M Doo Wops Vol. 2
1998, CD, Comp, MGM Records
Various
Groups From The Savoy Ballroom Volume 2
1997, CD, Comp, The Famous Groove Records
Various
Groups From The Savoy Ballroom Vol. 4
1994, CD, Shape, Comp, Famous Groove Records
Various
The Golden Era Of Doowops: The Groups Of Onyx Records
1993, CD, Comp, Relic (2)
Various
The Very Best Of Doowop Rarities Vol. 3
1993, CD, Comp, Regency (2)
Various
Doo Wop Delights The Roots Of Rock
1987
Various
Yakety Wax
1980
Various
Parade Of Hits
1962, Vinyl,
Various
Dynamite Doo Wopps - Volume 5
LP, Comp, Dynamite Doo Wopps
Various
Bump Jump Jive - Volume Twelve
CD, Comp, Lucky Records (2)
Various
Remember The 50's II
DVD, MCP Sound & Media
Various
Doo-Bop-Jivers Vol. III
CD, Comp, Wop Record
Various
Northern Soul (4 CD - The Early Years - Volume Two 100 Classic & Rare Tracks)
4xCD, Comp, RM, Reel To Reel Music Company, ,
Soul/Rhythm & Blues
Various
Ko Ko Mamey
CDr, Comp, Spoonful
Various
The Rare Northern Soul Volume #2
CDr, Comp, Not On Label
Various
Broken-Hearted Melody
7", Comp, Top Hit Tunes
Various
Remember The 50's
2xDVD, Comp + Box, MCP Sound & Media
Various
Lucky Strollers Vol. 17
CDr, Comp, Lucky Records (2)
Various
The Best Of Onyx Records (Volume 2)
Various
Rockin' The Blues
Vinyl, ,
Doo Wop
Various
Rockin' On The North Circular: Don't Stop, Keep Rockin'
LP, Comp, Unofficial, Palais Records (3), ,
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues
The Galahads* / The Wanderers
Once I Had A Love / A Teenage Quarrel
7", Promo, RE, Unofficial, Dis, Beach Wood Records
Various
Legendary Leads Of Rhythm & Blues Volume 1: Crossover Sounds, 1960-1964
CDr, Comp, Unofficial, Popcorn (8), ,
Soul/Vocal/Rhythm & Blues
Various
New York.. ...In The Dark Vol1 (A Selection Of Northern Soul From The Big Apple)