The Cruisers

The Cruisers from Philadelphia, PA never had a significant record. Patterning themselves after the Harptones, group leader Gene Williams, Randy Hamilton, Paul Long, and McKinley Anthony began recording on V-Tone Records. The deal resulted in two single releases in 1960: "Miss Fine" b/w "If I Knew," and "Don't Tease Me" b/w "Crying Over You;" the latter got pegged for mass distribution two years later by Guyden Records only to die a second time. Five years passed before their next deal in 1967 with Gamble Records, who were charting with the Intruders' records. "I Need You So" b/w "Take A Chance," reeked with sentiment but despite its charm didn't sell, and the Cruisers languished for nearly three years before their final release. Bunny Sigler brought the Cruisers' doo-wop skills out the closet with "Picture Us" b/w "Mink and Sable Mable," but Gamble Records only seem able to get hits on Sonny & the Intruders; while others including Ruth McFadden, the Jaggerz, the Futures, the Butlers, and the Epsilons always came up empty. Sigler later cut a solo version of "Picture Us" on Philadelphia International Records, and the Cruisers went on with their lives. ~ Andrew Hamilton