The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You

       This Pittsburgh vocal group made a magnificent heartache ballad in 1959, "Since I Don't Have You." It remains among R&B's ultimate agonizing triumphs, and Chuck Jackson later did an equally gripping version. Jimmy Beaumont was the lead vocalist, with Janet Vogel, Wally Lester, Joe VerScharen, and Jackie Taylor. Beaumont, Taylor, and Lester had been in the Crescents, while Vogel and VerScharen were alumni of the El Rios. Their follow-up, "This I Swear," was a creditable effort that peaked at number 20 on the R&B charts, but few remember it. Oddly, "Since I Don't Have You" only reached number three on the R&B side and number 12 on the pop charts. But it's certainly one song for whom the numbers really don't come close to telling the story. The Skyliners had two chart singles on Callico and then had one other song reach the R&B Top 40 in 1965, "The Loser," for Jubilee. 

 01. The Skyliners - Since I Don't Have You

02. The Skyliners - This I Swear

03. The Skyliners - I'll Be Seeing You

04. The Skyliners - Stardust

05. The Skyliners - If I Loved You

06. The Skyliners - Warm

07. The Skyliners - (From The) Blossom To The Snow

08. The Skyliners - Believe Me

09. The Skyliners - Lonely Way

10. The Skyliners - How Much

11. The Skyliners - It Happened Today

12. The Skyliners - Pennies From Heaven

13. The Skyliners - Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart

14. The Skyliners - Happy Time

15. The Skyliners - One Night, One Night

16. The Skyliners - Tomorrow

17. The Skyliners - Lorraine From Spain

18. The Skyliners - I Can Dream, Can't I

19. The Skyliners - Tried Of Me

20. The Skyliners - When I Fall In Love

21. The Skyliners - Footsteps

The Skyliners were among the more dramatic, theatrical white doo wop groups. Their hit "Since I Don't Have You" has been covered by numerous performers, and it's among the 21 singles featured on this Ace anthology covering numbers recorded for Calico and Laurie. Jimmy Beaumont's tremendous leads distinguished "I Swear," "It Happened Today," and the title track, among others. It's no surprise that such flamboyant performers as Patti LaBelle and Chuck Jackson are big Skyliners fans. 

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