About The Edsels

About The Edsels

The name of the group was originally The Essos, after the oil company but was changed to match the then-new Ford automobile, the Edsel.

The Edsels recorded more than 25 songs and were one of the few doo-wop groups to sign with a major record label, as most groups of that era found success with small, independent labels. Before their national hit “Rama Lama Ding Dong,” songs such as “What Brought Us Together,” “Bone Shaker Joe” and “Do You Love Me” helped the group land a major recording contract with Capitol Records in 1961.

“Rama Lama Ding Dong” was recorded in Cleveland in 1957 and released, under the errant title “Lama Rama Ding Dong,” in 1959 by Dub Records, a small label in Arkansas. The song did not become popular until 1961, after a disc jockey in New York City began to play it as a segue from The Marcels doo-wop version of “Blue Moon.”

The Edsels broke up in 1963, and George Jones continued to sing, joining the Winston Wall Trio and then New Affair. A cover version of “Rama Lama” was performed on “The Muppet Show” once. “Rama Lama” was covered in 1979 by Rocky Sharpe and The Replays, and again in 1991 by Serbian doo wop band Vampiri.

“Rama Lama Ding Dong” is also heard in the song “We Go Together” from the movie “Grease.”

Source: Answers.com