The Orioles
ListenIt’s Too Soon to Know · 1948
The Orioles — “It’s Too Soon to Know,” 1948.
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1948 · It’s a Natural
It’s Too Soon to Know / Barbra Lee
The partnership behind the Orioles’ first record began with an unusual audition: the singers performed over the telephone for Deborah Chessler. She became their manager, and her “It’s Too Soon to Know” carried Sonny Til’s voice to a national audience. [1]
| Accession | OMMA-0129 |
|---|---|
| Artist | The Orioles |
| Release | 1948 · United States |
| Label | It’s a Natural · 5000 |
| Format | 10-inch shellac disc · 78 rpm |
| Issue | U.S. commercial issue |
| Runouts | Not documented |
| Recorded grade | VG+ |
Release history and significance
The Baltimore group was still called the Vibra-Naires when Chessler began finding them work. She took their demos around clubs with help from her family, then brought them to New York. An appearance on Arthur Godfrey’s talent show ended in defeat, but listeners’ enthusiasm won them a return invitation. [1]
Jerry Blaine heard their demos and arranged a record deal. Renamed the Orioles, they recorded in July 1948. Til remembered the nerves of that first session and Chessler reassuring them to sing as they had in rehearsal. “It’s Too Soon to Know” and “Barbra Lee,” both Chessler compositions, appeared on It’s a Natural 5000. [1] [2]
“It’s Too Soon to Know” reached number one on the R&B chart and number thirteen on the pop chart. The single was subsequently reissued on Jubilee; this copy carries the earlier It’s a Natural label. [1] [2]
Market context
Discogs lists a median sale price of US$12 for this It’s a Natural 5000 reference edition, as checked on 13 September 2026. [2]
Physical Description
A ten-inch shellac It’s a Natural 5000 disc. The two songs are “It’s Too Soon to Know” and “Barbra Lee,” both credited to Deborah Chessler. [2]
Condition
Graded VG+. The seller described the grooves as being in good shape, with scattered scuffs and clean labels, and rated the disc 6–7 on a ten-point scale.
Provenance
Acquired on 6 July 2026 through Discogs from seller badfootbrown.
Sources
- Marv Goldberg, The Orioles, R&B Notebooks. History based on interviews with Sonny Til, Deborah Chessler, Johnny Reed and others.
- Discogs, The Orioles, release 4079306. It’s a Natural 5000 reference edition, coupling and sales history.
Catalogue text reviewed 13 September 2026.