This album is a musical journey, a compilation of songs recorded by young men in love with singing, from early Doo-Wop to the familiar style of Philadelphia International, as they evolved over a period of 17 years to become The Lost Souls.

One half of the story began on the Lower East Side of New York City when five young men, ranging in age from 13 to 15 and attending Junior High School 22, first harmonized on street corners, in hallways and subway stations, perfecting their own unique style. This perfection earned the group invitations to perform at block parties, school functions and house parties. In this first incarnation, the group was named The Financials and consisted of Reuben Mangual, George West, Orvin Baptiste, Rick Pettignano and Gene Serina.

They later changed their name to The Styles and, with Gene Serina away in the U.S. Army, replacement Tony Duran was added. This group was signed to the Josie label and recorded a 2-sided hit, still heard on New York’s CBS 101 oldies station, “Sentimental Reasons” with “School Bells To Chapel Bells” on the B side. Gene Serina returned from military service and rejoined the group, which subsequently lost members Mangual, West and Duran. Now a quartet including Baptiste, Pettignano, Serina and new member Eddie Lebron, they changed their name to The Vels. Just one year later, Orvin Baptiste tragically passed away and the group disbanded.

In roughly the same time frame, the other half of the story was unfolding in the small community of Copiague on the South Shore of Long Island where five other high school boys, following in the footsteps of two older and already-recorded local groups, The Universals (“Love Bound” on Festival) and The Casualeers (“Dance, Dance, Dance” on Roulette), began singing Doo-Wop as The Gems. While their inclination was toward the R&B style of their predecessors, they stumbled into an opportunity that temporarily led them in a very different direction.

A local producer, hoping to capitalize on the popularity of Little Eva's "The Locomotion”, was looking for a young vocal group to record a novelty tribute song, “Little Eva,” as The Locomotions. At 16, Paul Petruccelli, Butch Poveromo, Jack Kunz, Mike Phillips and Fred Wessel found themselves in O.D.O. Studios in Manhattan recording the tune, and it was quickly released on George Goldner’s Gone label, a subsidiary of Roulette.

While “Little Eva” gained some regional popularity, winning "Record Of The Week" on the legendary Murray The K’s “Swingin’ Soiree” on WINS in New York City, it went the way of most passing novelties and was soon history. The group dispersed, but Paul, Butch and Jack turned back to their R&B roots and joined up with two original members of The Universals, Fred Miller and Tony Brooks. While this union produced no releases, it further deepened the vocal skills of the younger men.

Very soon after, they came to the attention of producer Joe Webb who saw great potential in a white group that could travel comfortably in the rarified upper atmosphere of full-bore R&B, rather than coasting in the more welcoming category known as Blue-Eyed Soul. In short order, Webb had them in the studio laying down the tracks for “It Won’t Work Out, Baby,” a strong, straight-four ballad penned by Donald Height.

Then, just as with their city counterparts, fate stepped in when Jack Kunz was drafted into the military. Webb moved fast, arranging a meeting of the two remaining Long Islanders with city boys Eddie Lebron and Gene Serina in, of all places, the rehearsal basement of the world-famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.

The four hit it off immediately. Like a butterfly from its cocoon, The Lost Souls had emerged in final form. With a fourth voice now enriching the harmonies, Webb rushed the group back into the studio to re-track more sophisticated background vocals.

Released on the independent Glasco label, “It Won’t Work Out Baby” (b/w "Give Me Your Love") made its way to every major R&B chart and made the group a favorite of New York R&B radio superstar, the late Frankie Crocker. The group toured actively, doing shows with The Shirelles, Billy Stewart (at Palisades Park in New Jersey and the famed Cheetah in New York City), and appearing on television’s nationally-syndicated UpBeat show, dazzling audiences with tight harmonies and smooth choreography.

A second Glasco release, “I’m Your Love Man,” (b/w "If A Change Don't Come Soon") never quite caught a wave and was the last single credited to the Lost Souls.

Along the way, the group also provided studio background vocals for Doris Willingham, a powerful, Gospel-derived R&B vocalist who would go on to achieve recording note as Doris Duke.

As the tracks on this compilation play through their historical timeline, the nuances shift, the blend changes, the style varies, but there is an immutable constant: at every juncture, this album is the embodiment of young singers deeply devoted to their craft and pursuing their dreams.

I dedicate this album to my friends and fellow travelers Rick Pettignano, Orvin Baptiste, Reuben Mangual, George West, Tony Duran, Eddie Lebron, Jack Kunz, Butch Poveromo and Paul Petruccelli. The music remains...

— Gene Serina