Although the commercial and creative supremacy of doo-wop's black acts is impossible to dispute, with a handful of exceptions (Dion & the Belmonts, the Elegants, etc.) the contributions made by white harmony groups have been sadly neglected over the years. The wonderful A Lighter Shade of Doo-Wop goes far in rectifying the situation, compiling 25 obscure singles from the music's late-'50s golden era which at their best rival even the most familiar classic hits. The Belmonts' stirring debut "I Wonder Why" serves as the clear blueprint for most of these songs, not only aesthetically but in the groups' Italian-American origins and East Coast launching pads; only the Three Friends' "Blanche" was even a local hit on its original release, but each entry encapsulates doo-wop's enduring magic -- its innocence, simplicity, and sheer emotional release. Neophytes should look elsewhere, but for doo-wop fanatics who've yet to look beyond the brilliance of the Flamingos, the Orioles, or the Moonglows, A Lighter Shade of Doo-Wop may well prove revelatory. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide