The Continentals - Dear Lord - 1956

This is a classic Doo Wop record. The song was originally released on Bobby Robinson's Whirlin Disc label, but was reissued in 1957 under Port, which was co-owned by Robinson with Jerry Blaine. These guys also inspired Earl Lewis & The Channels, who recorded their classic song "The Closer You Are" on the same exact day, with Lewis being inspired by the group's falsetto. Peep it.

[@OutlawTheKid2310]

I just turned 20 years old and im like the only kid my age stuck in the 1950s.I love this song so much

[@paulburek7530]

Steve, keep these great songs alive...Paulie from Pgh

[@senoragreenrouzier2619]

I fell in “LOVE” with this song when I was 10 years old in 1956. My Father would play this record on the Stereo and my Father and Mother would dance to this music. All I could think about is being in love and dancing to this music with my husband.

[@miltonkanfer4229]

First time I heard this I wanted to kneel and pray. Just beautiful.

[@amysheneman3277]

I have loved this song from the first time I heard it as a kid in Brooklyn - and now as an "oldie" myself, I still love it and close my eyes and just remember those good days ♥

[@vonwitzyschannel7083]

The Best !

[@dzdiesel]

Hey Kid I was you 26 yrs ago,,I used to blast Doowop on my 1560 watt car stereo..I even tried to start a nieghborhood doowop group,,we were awful,,I was the only one with the real; passion,,they pnly wanted to sing in the still of th night and earth angel,lol,,keep listening there is soooo much music to discover,,bless you dz from the bean

[@BobbyDelRiv]

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND TRUEST WORDS EVER WROTE AND SANG ON A GROUP HARMONY RECORD!

[@stripemister]

There's nothing like the original. To have sit in on the recording in 1957, and listen to these young pups, "The Continentals," record this great song would of been an ultimate high. Those of us who were in our early teens know that feeling we had day after day listening on the radio to Doo-Wop, the greatest sounding music to one's ear. Heaven should be a grand time, for we know the "Dear Lord" is listening 24/7

[@nickpiombino1]

Every Saturday in the year 1956 i went to practice sessions for the All City High Chorus, Leaving I often heard the most incredibly beautiful doo wop singing I've ever heard. Just now I tracked it down to a member of the Continentals, the bass singer on this single.

[@benperez7297]

Ahhh Bushwick Ave

[@TONADELable]

CLASSIC !! YES ! ! .... THIS & "I'M SO YOUNG" STUDENTS MAKES DOO WOP WHAT IT IS....THE SOUND OF THE STREETS BACK, IN THE DAYZ

[@rjmirra]

TO DANNY, BILL, AND RICHARD, IM UP LATE AND JUST LISTENING TO YOUR GREAT SOUND. THE CONTINENTALS ARE EVERYTHING YOU WOULD EXPECT DOO WOP TO BE. A GROUP THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME. ROBERT MIRRA

[@georgevelez1406]

always brings a tear.....reminds me of brothers and sisters

[@nancygreen8186]

you know it was a different era when a song with the title is Dear Lord.. We have sunk down in the pits with the music of today.

[@RC-ml3ne]

Man, I been listening to this for more than 50 years. One of the all-time best!!

[@hedaman1000]

Another song all street corner Doo Wop groups harmonized to! Released in 56 by The Continentals from Brooklyn with Herman Montgomery on lead and a great Bassman James Cooper! This is a Classic.

[@lindamiller1002]

City Street Harmony oh yes the guys used to sing this on the streets of Brooklyn in the 60's..great memories!

[@jimgag2]

A classic New York group sound. Everything about it is perfect. The lead, the falsetto, the bass, the harmony. I had the record , and as a teen, played it a thousand times if I played it once. Thanks for posting.

[@roxanngee3463]

We heard these beautiful harmonies on many street corners and danced to this great music. We heard local groups perform on stage at various dances. We have wonderful memories to share and, in my opinion, the only thing today's generation has over us is youth. We had it all!!!

[@stripemister]

WOW!!!! Each time I click on a video all I hear is the greatest sounding music to one's ear.

[@prgcgolf2628]

One of the great songs and group of all time. I have the record on Port, and paid 10 cents at Time Squares Store in Levittown, LI. Rumor has it they eventually became the Quinns of Oh Starlite fame.

[@BrownsvilleBklyn-]

The flip side was a song called Hong Kong . Grew up with them in the Brownsville Bklyn housing

[@blueleodoowop7122]

Finally found this one 2 years ago! What a wonderful slow dance.

[@harptone55]

a beautiful song always loved it.

[@fjjtigh]

If there’s a better sound than good old Doo-Wop, I’ve never heard it!!!!

[@amysheneman3277]

I was very young when this was on the radio in NYC but I have always loved this song - true pure Doo Wop foreve r ♥

[@BrownsvilleBklyn-]

Terrific group and song

[@BobbyDelRiv]

Some of the most spiritual and moving words ever in DooWop AKA Group Sounds

[@scottsanders6549]

I love when music sends chills up my back. Its just so soothing

[@78merlot]

One of my all time favorites. This defines the music of that era. A class act.

[@davidweiner5468]

Yes Port was a partnership between Robinson & Blaine, but Blaine's son Steve run the operation. Port re-released Dear Lord B/W Fine, Fine Frame in 1960. They also re-released Picture of Love B/W Soft and Sweet on Port 70024 in 1961. The original release of Dear Lord was as you indicate 1956. Thank you for the upload.

[@nancygreen8186]

I remember every word, every note. Now I can't remember a damn thing but remember this from 60 years ago.

[@pinolozano516]

Nancy Green ...it's called oldtimers..we all can't escape the fate...at least you remembered the tune....🕺🏻

[@softenmydreamswys]

Lol...same here. The thing is I hear this song even when I'm sleeping because of replaying it so many times. 😍

[@hilltopviewer8204]

@@softenmydreamswys It's funny though,I'm 40 and started listening to this music in the late 1990's.It's even older music now but the harmonies are top notch.Thanks to Mike Dunne's Doo-Wop Show from Dublin,Ireland. The show was a great inspiration, what music he played, all them great and rare tunes from the different labels of the time. Hell, these tunes are 30 years before I was born, but they packed some punch.Long live the United States Rock n Roll! God Bless those radio presenters and more importantly the artists who never got much royalties at the time with the Payola scandal. Great to see KZbin as a big outlet for most of the long lost artists who got a shot at fame. What a legacy they left behind.Thank You for the upload.

[@taratova]

I had this record and played it to death till it was worn down with skips and scratches and static all through it but I still played it..This is clear as a bell, I can still hear the static in my memory from playing it so much.....

[@harptone55]

one of the greatest doo-wop songs.

[@marvins3900]

great to hear this again. love this music so much

[@fjjtigh]

I’m there too Nancy…but so damn glad I was back there to enjoy this music

[@leemiller1076]

Great great music at least i can understand the words .thanks so much for the good days and music

[@rosemariesanchez9041]

I just played this Dear lord am parying K.C 4 Times WOW what do need a map !!!!

[@lindamiller1002]

Oh such memories of the guys singing harmony in the streets of Brooklyn way back then!

[@ellenreed8861]

Awesome, beautiful harmonizing. Ole sounds are best . Love making music, thanks for posting . remembering the street corner singing in Bklyn.

[@jeffreyhall5785]

" to send me down a love to cherish." Jeff Hall

[@williamrejtmar1384]

this is great to hear ,,,such good memories

[@louissilvani1389]

This is the record that started me collecting back in the day

[@timgough4416]

great stuff!

[@josephskurla8763]

can't get much better!!!

[@alg7787]

Great , one of my favorites

[@nicktravis347]

Best music ever !!

[@TheZeevik]

dear lord its amazing

[@j.conroy2011]

The group had only those two releases on Whirlin' Disc, but what a freakin' legacy!!!!

[@USMarineNamVet]

O lord...love this oldie. Brilliant Harmony...as was in those lovely days a a kid.

[@ricktonymaida3740]

Songs such as this will never die!

[@dzdiesel]

One of the greatst Raw doowop songs sang..It is the epitome of the sound,Doowop is a compilation of love letters,unlike other genre's that tell stories,,and this is quite a love letter

[@beefoneeto]

They're playing this weekend on Long Island.

[@jimgag2]

I haven't heard this is for a long time. I used to have it as part of my record collection as a teen. Thanks for posting.

[@13loomisst]

Thanks very much.

[@yvonnegraham117]

Boys High school was attended by one of the group, Brooklyn, NY, Bed-Stuy

[@geraldneils9594]

Love this song. Think I'll play it again

[@bzar1286]

AWESOME

[@vodkamarie]

Probably one of the original sounds which in-turn created such groups as The Channels, Nutmegs, Moonglows and many more. This song can be considered on of the 25 VERY BEST IN THE TRUE DO-WOP CATAGORY.

[@USMarineNamVet]

Beautiful Harmony.. nothing like that today.

[@ildibildi53]

_One of the Greatest Beauty_

[@Vonwitzy]

ildibildi53 ,TY.

[@jacksiebel4835]

this love has left a broken heart

[@leonardroberts7157]

I sang with the lead singer before he passed singing is Gods gift not a something we take for granted, can you do it ?

[@vodkamarie]

Thanks for your response.

[@rosemariesanchez9041]

K.C PLEASE HEAR PLEASE !!!!!!

[@dianaguerrasp]

my very favorite song of all time

[@peterleinhos9660]

I agree Kiddo

[@gregoryrufolo4742]

Great sound on any label.

[@michaeldurkin7279]

classic doo wop touches my soul

[@my58chevy]

timeless captured prayer

[@TheGymnast98]

BEAUTIFUL

[@glkcwdjoy6125]

what a song...even in 2015...

[@scatoni]

The best version

[@joannamassara8655]

Doo Wop - the best music genre ever.

[@RodFitzpatrick]

Agreed ! :)

[@vonwitzyschannel7083]

Joanna Massara ,Yep

[@garybrown57]

Awesome simply Wonderful 10* cheers gazza uk

[@vodkamarie]

In either case, whether Earl was movitated by the sound of the falsetto or the entire group, (Continentials) without the initial song Dear Lord, the Channels may never have gone to the style of the Continentials. Yes, the Channels did have many more hits but in my opinion, Dear Lord by the Continentials was the forerunner of falsetto sounds. Both GREAT groups.

[@glkcwdjoy6125]

again in 2016...love this song...

[@harptone55]

Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@doowoptm]

One of the great groups of the fifties. I heard a rumour that they went on to later become the Quinns who sant Oh Starlite.

[@rennerbd]

There is a great cover of this by The Legends of Doowop also on KZbin.

[@BrownsvilleBklyn-]

I have the 5 disc DVD

[@prgcgolf2628]

One of the great groups of the 50's. I have this 45 on Port myself. I have heard that all or part of them became the Quinns with Oh Starlight. Not sure if true.

[@BrownsvilleBklyn-]

I grew up with the Quinn's in the Brownsville bklyn housing projects. Lead was Freddie Brown and the falsetto was a guy named Donnie

[@SuperCharlie41]

ONE GREAT SONG, SUNG BY A GREAT GROUP, NEVER WILL BE DONE AGAIN

[@MRDOOWOP1]

The Raw sound of doo wop love it..

[@sharonluongo3192]

isn't this awesome? i'm trying to get a few people together to get justin bieber and fix it so he can't make any sound come out of his mouth, and i'd like to do the same with miley cirus. are you with me?

[@cruisercliff100]

TRUELY THE BEST EVER JUST HEAVENLY.

[@harptone55]

LOVE IT!!!!!!

[@claramacrez9354]

beautiful ♡

[@garyhill3701]

love this.

[@vonwitzysjams5761]

Still Spinning it

[@frankrossi7640]

This is the best!!!

[@LorraineNYYcfl]

Love it

[@lorrainedimaio62]

slow dancing. love it

[@ElaineFellippello]

Now this is the real thing baby

[@Vonwitzy]

Witzy's pullin in.,Great one

[@2Jeezuzisreal]

Why so these guys look so different in each video. ? I just saw them on The Ted mack Amiture hour show.

[@MrLonelysoul55]

The same story all over again 😢💔

[@yvonnegraham117]

Still love it

[@lynnhildebrandt9408]

great song

[@helenroth]

¡Espectacular!

[@kdm71291]

I wish I could find enough info to straighten out the different groups called the "Continentals"; There's these guys (1957), the kids on the Johnny Mack Ameture Hour in 1961 and then there's the group that ended up calling themselves "Rick's Continentals" from the mid to late 60s.....it's a little confusing.

[@grh1257]

@stripemister That is exactly the way that I feel. There isn't much ore to say after that. I wish we had music today that was as pleasing to the ear and emotions.

[@stevedigangi2146]

One of nyc greatest

[@Vonwitzy]

send me down a love to cherish.

[@ntp8]

The falcetto sounds like Frank Mancuso from the Imaginations!

[@martinshaw5661]

did the Robinson Bros own this label?

[@alg7787]

Fine, Fine, Frame is great also