06/09/2026
THE SHELLS – “DO YOU LOVE ME” (BOARDWALK)
Long before rare soul collecting became a worldwide movement, New Jersey collector Ronnie Italiano (“Ronnie I”) godfather of the sweet soul. Genre was preserving vocal harmony music through his private television broadcasts and recording studio. Through his Boardwalk Recording Service, he brought legendary doo-wop group The Shells into the studio during the early 1970s to record what would become one of the most sought-after sweet soul harmony 45s ever issued.
Known for their 1961 doo-wop classic “Baby Oh Baby,” The Shells delivered something completely different here, a breathtaking sweet soul ballad loaded with haunting harmonies and raw emotion. Pressed on stunning translucent gold vinyl, this is the original official Boardwalk release, not a repress or bootleg. Only a very small number were produced, making it one of the toughest sweet soul 45s to track down today.
Decades later, George Miller Jr introduced this masterpiece to a new generation of collectors by selecting it as the opening track on Gangster Soul Harmony Vol. 4 (2007). For many collectors, this was their first exposure to this incredible recording.
A legendary doo-wop group. A mysterious private studio session. An original gold wax pressing. Pure sweet soul magic.
The Shells – “Do You Love Me.
🚨 FOR SALE!