Betty and Rose Collins were the Teen Queens, and at 16 and 14 respectively, they were very young to be in the music industry. But they came from a musical family. Brother Aaron Collins was a founding member of the Jacks and Cadets, and he arranged for them to record for the same label family he was on, Modern and RPM. Collins (wrote) their first hit which was originally titled, "Johnny My Love". He was thinking about all the Johnny Ace tribute records, but they were fading fast. It was re-titled "Eddy My Love", and was the Teen Queens biggest selling record in their career. Betty sang the harmonies, and the more talented Rose would harmonize a third above her. Lots of records and a couple of albums followed. Unfortunately, drugs took their toll on the sisters, and they both died over 30 years ago.
This is the 78 of the Teen Queens first recording, "Eddie My Love" backed with a decent flip "Just Goofed". Writing credits include Aaron Collins, and Maxwell Davis who played sax. The Teen Queens recorded the disc in December of 1955, and it was released in early 1956.
The 45 RPM issue. The flat black label started with this issue. RPM was a major label in Los Angeles (Culver City), and had some of the great west coast artists associated with them. Although the duo was from Los Angeles, the record first broke in New York.
RPM records were also pressed on a blue label, as well as the flat black shown above. The blue label had been pressed on numbers 363-460. Also of note, "Eddie My Love" was covered very successfully by the Chordettes, Fontane Sisters, Lillian Briggs and others.
Although a bit faded, here is a red RPM label example of "Eddie My Love". Sometimes with big sellers, many different colors of paper is used. It would be especially true if a color change is done during the middle of a huge hit, that continues to sell for many months.
The 78 of "So All Alone" was the follow up to the wildly popular "Eddie My Love".A nice effort by the girls, but it didn't sell as well. In fact, the Teen Queens were on the road at the time promoting their hit. "Baby Mine" was the flip.
The flat black 45 of the record, it was released in april of 1956. Collins and Davis once again have their names under the writing credits. Although a duo, they are listed as a vocal group on the label. Because of the success of "Stranded In The Jungle", Aaron Collins would now go on to promoting his record with the Cadets, and had little involvement with the Teen Queens from here on out.
Their next record was a remake of a song from Johnny Otis's Dig label group called the Tears. Released in June 1956, "Until The Day I Die" failed to spark much action, though it is a respectable version. "Billy Boy" was an average recording, and appeared on the flip. Pictured is the 78 RPM record.
Here is the black label 45. "Until The Day I Die" has the reference to Dig Music, which was Johnny Otis's label. The flip side shows the writing team of Collins, Davis and Ling, who show up on a few records by the Teen Queens as writers.
Possibly my favorite Teen Queens record, "Red Top", was the next 1956 issue. It was a remake of the King Pleasure and Betty Carter record from 1953. And that record was taken from the 1947 instrumental by Gene Ammons. In the words that Betty and Rose sing, "Eddie My Love" is mentioned referencing their hit. This record had it's biggest sales in Kansas City. "Love Sweet Love" is the flip. Another nice up tempo.
The usual and most often seen black label 45 RPM issue of "Rock Everybody" and "My Heart's Desire". This was possibly their next to last release for RPM.
The Teen Queens switched to the powerhouse RCA records for another shot at getting back in the sales column. The first issue was from 1958 and "Dear Tommy" was backed with "You Good Boy, You Get Cookie". Dear Tommy was another try at the Eddie My Love formula, at least in the type of lyrics and theme.
The second and last release for RCA was "First Crush" and "Movie Star". Again, the cash registers remained silent, and they were dropped from RCA.
Before their trip to Buck Ram's Antler records, it appears they stopped at MJC. This label was owned by Aaron Collins with Will Jones and Lloyd McCraw, and the owners had just a few releases. I believe this is the Teen Queens recording under a different name. "Hum Dinger" and "Wiggly Feeling" make me think of Rose and Betty. This was issued on red vinyl. I have not confirmed a black vinyl issue yet. Click here for a larger view of the record. 1960
Antler records actually released four records by the Teen Queens. The first was an answer to the Big Jay McNeely song, and they called it "There's Nothing On Your Mind part one ",and "part two". 1960
The next Antler 45 for the Teen Queens was called "I'm A Fool". It is an up tempo rock and roll number the the girls. The flip side is a mid tempo novelty song called "Politician" complete was a few official sounding political riffs. The previous owner spelled "vote" on the label - who knows, maybe it was used tongue in cheek during a political season. Probably the toughest Teen Queens Antler 45 to find.
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The last Antler label release was "I Heard Violins" and "Magoo Can See". A ballad flipped with a novelty jump tune. Another bomb, and that was the end of the Antler recordings. This is the DJ copy. 1961
But wait! There's more! Press records gave it a try, and issued "Doodle Doo Doo" and "That Twistin Feeling". Instead of the Teen Queens, it was just Betty And Rose. A fun two sider, it didn't make much noise either. Since brother Aaron Collins was now with the Flares on Press (1962), he must have had some influence to give his sisters a shot on the label. Looks like it was just once shot and out.
This appears to be the first of the Kent label releases for the Teen Queens, on the all black label. Kent had many reissues of Modern and RPM label material, but also had some original recordings too. This was issued in late 1960, a reissue of the RPM recording.
Kent records was part of the Crown label family, and they re-released "Eddie My Love" on the standard gray and black colors on this record. #359 was the second issue of the record on Kent, pressed up in 1961.
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Kent also had a black issue on Kent 359. |
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One of many records issued on the Lana label. These records were often alternate takes of the big hit, but no text alerted the buyer to that small detail. All the information is the same This issue included both sides that came out on the original RPM record, and was issued in 1964.
Here is the classic 1957 LP that Crown records issued, with a great cover. This had cuts from the RPM singles and included "Zig Zag" and "Teenage Idol" that were LP only songs.
Here is an odd pressing of the same LP as above. The label on the record is Best, and the markings on the jacket are American International. American International is shown out of Philadelphia, so i doubt if it is related to the Los Angeles based movie and or record firms. The track listings and photographs are identical. And, there is reference to Crown records on the cover. You can see the ATI sticker in the upper right corner of the LP cover. It is also on the back of the cover, at the bottom. My guess is that Crown released it first, and American International either had an agreement with crown to distribute it on the east coast.....or did it anyway!
The LP from 1963 had a picture of the sisters on it, and had 10 songs. Again, these were mostly from the RPM sessions. This time, "Let's Kiss" and "Riding" show up as non 45RPM cuts. This is the Mono version.
The stereo issue completes the LP's on Crown for the Teen Queens. It has the same track listing and cover art as the mono release.This LP and the Mono copy of Crown 5373 were pressed in 1963. The word stereo on the label and the cover is the only difference from the mono copy.
SUMMARY: The Teen Queens recorded some very good records, and some that were not. Their biggest hit, "Eddie My Love" was what carried their career. It seems their biggest popularity was on the east coast, which made it hard to get work on the west coast, especially when the hits stopped coming. Was "Eddie" just an anomaly? Maybe. But the Teen Queens had every opportunity to follow up and could not. Fortunately, we were left with a bunch of great music, despite the lack of success and the personal tragedy of the sisters.
Gone Missing: Possibly a release on RPM 480 called "My First Love", but I have never seen a copy, One Kent label record of "Eddie My Love", #14, which was a further reissue. If you have any of these for sale, please email me the details.
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