Gary Lewis and The Playboys. This Diamond Ring

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This Liberty records album was release in 1965. On this album was Gary Lewis and The Playboys first single, "This Diamond Ring" a song that went straight to number one on the charts. This album has the same name as the single and it includes the following songs: This Diamond Ring; All Day And All Of The Night; Love Potion Number Nine; Needles And Pins; Dream Lover; Forget Him; The Night Has A Thousand Eyes; Sweet Little Rock And Roller; The Birds And The Bees; Keep Searchin'; The Best Man and Go To Him.

This album was produced by "Snuff" Garrett and arranged by Leon Russell.

In the beginning Gary Lewis and his band The Playboys tried out for a job at Disneyland. No one knew that Gary was the son of Jerry Lewis but instead they were hired on their own merits and from there things began to happen for the young Lewis and his excellent band. The band teamed up with Snuff Garrett as a producer and that was when Garrett put Lewis' band in the studio to develop. Garrett saw an opportunity to capitalize on Lewis' name. Garrett pushed Lewis to improve his drumming skins and even managed to get the legendary Buddy Rich to tutor him and he also made Lewis a singer and then of course the focal point of the group. Lewis was Cash Box magazine's 1965 "Male Vocalist of the Year". Beside The Lovin' Spoonful the group was the only artist during the 1960s to have its first seven Hot 100 releases each reach that chart's top 10. 

Lewis' career was put on hold when he entered the US Army as a draftee in January of 1967 and he served during the Vietnam War era and was stationed oversees with the Eighth Army in Seoul, South Korea. Lewis credits his time in the Army as being the time when he "grew up" When he returned to performing and recording, he did not recapture his earlier success and the five releases from his band that year peaked between 13th and 39th. 

This album is good condition with some minor scratches. The cover shows a little shelf wear. Over all a good sounding album.