ROCK SHELF: John Javna, the man behind...

ROCK SHELF: John Javna, the man behind the recent “TV Theme Song Sing-Along Songbook,” has just put together a new pop compilation, “The Doo-Wop Sing-Along Songbook.” The paperback collection (available from St. Martin’s Press) offers all the words, music (and melodious background syllables) to such doo-wop classics as “16 Candles,” “In the Still of the Night,” “Speedoo” and (of course) “Duke of Earl.” In addition to delightfully obscure biographical information about all the classic groups (the Elegants--who did “Little Star”--got their name from the word elegance in a Schenley’s liquor ad), the book supplies a Doo-Wop Glossary (which describes “Ooo-Ooo-Ooo as the basic Doo-Wop building block”), Doo-Wop Duds (with pointed-toe Shoe-Bop shoes for “self-defense and killing bugs in hard-to-reach corners”) and legendary Doo-Wop phrases (such as “Oop-shoop, shang-a-lack-a-cheek-a-bock” from the Earls’ 1961 “Remember Then”). The book also comes equipped with photos of great Doo-Wop pompadours, lists of Doo-Wop monikers (there were 11 groups alone named after birds, including the Orioles, the Wrens, the Robins and the Penguins) and a challenging Doo-Wop quiz. Sample question: What Doo-Wop hit was originally written by Rodgers and Hart for a 1934 movie starring Jean Harlow? (See answer below.)

ROCK SHELF TRIVIA ANSWER: “Blue Moon” by the Marcels.