(Just Like) Romeo And Juliet - The Reflections (vocal tribute cover)

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"(Just Like) Romeo and Juliet" by The Reflections, a 1964 doo-wop/pop hit from Detroit’s Golden World Records, was written by Freddie Gorman and Bob Hamilton.

Performed by Tony Micale (whose vocals I am "reflecting" - pun intended), Phil Castrodale, Ray Steinberg, Danny Bennie, and John Dean, the song features a falsetto "doo-doo-doot" hook and a story of a young man desperate to find a job to sustain his romance, fearing a tragic end like Shakespeare’s lovers.

Initially mocked by the group during rehearsals, it transformed with a polished instrumental from United Sound Systems (possibly featuring Motown’s Funk Brothers) and vocals added at RCA Studios in Chicago, becoming a surprise success.

Released in early 1964, the song topped Detroit and Windsor charts before hitting #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the Cash Box R&B chart, selling over a million copies. It earned The Reflections gigs on Dick Clark’s Caravan of Stars and at the Apollo Theater, though they never matched its success again. With its playful yet dramatic lyrics, the track cemented its legacy in oldies and Northern soul scenes as a standout from doo-wop’s waning days.

As always, a special thanks to my subscribers and thanks for listening!