| Author |
Message |
 
Jimmy Mack (luke)
4-Laureate
Username: luke
Post Number: 89
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.198.48.201
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 12:35 pm: �� |     ���  |
Hodges James and Smith made me think of Formerly of the Harlettes. I saw this group--Sharon Redd, Ula Hediwg and Charolotte Crossley open for Bette Midler and they were terrific tho I seem to remember I didnt like their album. Sharon had dance hits later,Charlotte I believe backed up Whoopi in Sister Act with Jennifer Lewis in the lounge act(Delrons?) and Ula and car company I think got sued by Bette for Ula's uncanny imitation of her voice in a commercial. |
Brother Love (brother_love)
2-Debutant
Username: brother_love
Post Number: 14
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 64.174.209.107
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 1:05 pm: �� | ��� |
Hey Jimmy what great memoires these three ladies bring back for me. Charolotte is currently with the road show tour of Hairspary playing the part of Motormouth Mabel that Ruth Brown did in the movie. I'm so very proud of her, I was the one who send her out to audition knowing in my heart that she had been born to play this part.
Ula still lives in New York and does a lot of session work. She will be singing behind Darlene Love in her up coming show at The Sands in Las Vegas at the end of June.
On a sad note we lost Sharon many years ago, but she lives on in her music. She did some great solo recordings after the group went separate ways. |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 451
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 1:24 pm: �� | ��� |
Well, I see that I'm not the only one who remembers these girls. I've been championing their version of Does Your Momma Know About Me for some time now.
Yes, they used to work with Bette Midler & on her website, she acknowledges all of her Former Harlettes, with a lot of nice words for Ms Sharon Redd, who we lost in 1992.
I loved Sharon Redd's solo cuts on Prelude. Dance cuts like: Can You Handle It, You Got My Love, Love Is Gonna Get Ya, Never ive You Up, Send Your Love, You're The One, Beat The Street & Try My Love On For Size, kept us moving from 1980-82.
She also made some nice ballads: You Stayed On My Mind, Leaving You Is Easier Said Than Done & Taking A Chance On Love.
Ms Redds greatest vocal performance was on that Formerly Of The Harlettes LP: Does Your Mama Know About Me Was simply sublime. Most people think of Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers. If you've never heard this version, you're missing something great. With all due respect to Mr Taylor, their performance blows his version to smithereens! I wish that we were able to post songs, as it appears that few of our members have heard this version. Unfortunately, their version never charted & that's a shame.
Overall, I didn't care for the LP. It came out during the height of the Disco era, in 1978. It's pretty much a mixed bag, they also have a version of Roll Me Through The Rushes on the LP.
Thank you Jimmy for mentioning these ladies. Whenever I mentioned these girls in posts, few people knew who I was talking about!
BTW: Sharon Redd was the sister of Pennye Ford of Snap!- I Got The Power fame, as well as a solo Dance hit named Dangerous back in '84 or '85.
Juice
(Message edited by Juicefree20 on May 02, 2004) |
Jimmy Mack (luke)
4-Laureate
Username: luke
Post Number: 90
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.198.48.201
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 1:32 pm: �� | ��� |
Wow--more memories comin back--I do believe they sang Does Your Mama...at the Copa and knocked us out. Sorry to hear about Sharon-I do remember that now. Good for Charlottes touring--u go Brother. Did I read that Bette and Ula reconciled? Carlotte was vg in Sister Act-kind of a Loretta Devine quality. |
Jimmy Mack (luke)
4-Laureate
Username: luke
Post Number: 91
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.198.48.201
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 1:40 pm: �� | ��� |
PS Brother--Is Darlene going to tour with this show??East coast? |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 454
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 1:43 pm: �� | ��� |
I'm not sure about that. I'll try to find some info about this! |
dvdmike (dvdmike)
3-Pundit
Username: dvdmike
Post Number: 46
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.253.211.199
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 2:55 pm: �� | ��� |
Actress Jenifer Lewis was also a Harlette |
Jimmy Mack (luke)
4-Laureate
Username: luke
Post Number: 92
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.198.48.201
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 3:35 pm: �� | ��� |
wow-I didnt know that--and of course Melissa Manchester-and Katy Sagal! |
Brother Love (brother_love)
2-Debutant
Username: brother_love
Post Number: 16
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 66.120.58.8
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 6:31 pm: �� | ��� |
Formerly of The Harlettes
Pictured left to right: Sharon Redd, Ula Hedwig and Charlotte Crossley, 1978.
 |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 464
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Sunday, May 02, 2004 - 6:57 pm: �� | ��� |
That's the cover Brother Love, that's the cover! Now, if only I could play everyone a snippet of Does Your Mama Know!!! What a song!! Sharon was my girl, I miss her singing!!
RIP |
LaBrenda (dotchain)
2-Debutant
Username: dotchain
Post Number: 13
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 166.68.134.174
| | Posted on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 11:34 am: �� | ��� |
I had an lp by FULL SWING (Charlotte was a part of the trio or was it a quartet)it's buried under a heap somewhere. Ula H is usually in attendance at DARLENE LOVE's concerts in NYC. Also on most of her TV appearances.Poor Sharon succumbed years ago to aids. God bless her soul!...Does anyone remember Bette's longest Harlette Helena Spriggs?Bob Dylan's gal pal ....also Dolph Lundgren's as well.She's got several gold records on her wall and Lisa Stansfield usurped her fledgling career unfortunately.
I didn't like their debut lp (the former harlettes)either. I did like 'Now,My Sweet Lover Man'....Helena was not on the ROSEANNE show when Barry Manilow planned the reunion which Bette was so pissed at Barry for. Surprise surprise.
I remember Bette from the HASTY PUDDING awards in Cambridge Mass. |
SDF (handsome)
3-Pundit
Username: handsome
Post Number: 55
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| | Posted on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 11:51 am: �� | ��� |
Hi.
Charlotte Crossley also has done back-up work on one of Luther Vandross albums...can't recall which one.
Handsome |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 263
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.47.122
| | Posted on Friday, May 07, 2004 - 12:20 pm: �� | ��� |
La Brenda,
I produced a great album on Helena Springs for Arista U.K.
According to Arista U.S., it was "not suitable for a U.S. audience", whatever that meant.
In fact, Arista U.K. told me that certain other acts and songs were not suitable for a british audience.
BOLLOCKS
I met Helena in '86 and we hit it off immediately and was subsequently given the production task.
We had a great budget, recorded on two continents, great songs and great musicians.
Kudos from the label.
Helena sang her butt off.
We had a showcase/listening party at Ronnie Scotts in London, the whole nine yards.
Everything was great.
And then they "released "it and then.....and then...... |
LaBrenda (dotchain)
2-Debutant
Username: dotchain
Post Number: 20
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 166.68.134.174
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 9:02 am: �� | ��� |
Wow she never even played that for me...that little bugger...I love her! she has a contagious laugh.She really makes you feel appreciated. I have lost touch with Helshka since she moved from near the WTC shortly before 9/11.....I really would love to hear that recording. She was really supportive of me in my career. Flattering and complimentary,egging me on....but careers need more than a few boosts....oy....not to compare...apples and watermelons...I hope this puts a bug in her ear to call me. thanks for that info...she is very creative in many areas. peace..do hope that recording sees the light of day. |
Eli (phillysoulman)
5-Doyen
Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 269
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.236.20.93
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 9:08 am: �� | ��� |
The record was made in the summer of 1986!
her daughter Nina was just four years old.
I heard that Nina got into acting.
Is that true?
She was quite a cute brat.
My late wife used to look after her when Helena and I were working in the studio, both here and in London.
I also heard that Helena was into making and distributing custom made dolls. |
LaBrenda (dotchain)
2-Debutant
Username: dotchain
Post Number: 26
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 166.68.134.174
| | Posted on Saturday, May 08, 2004 - 9:47 am: �� | ��� |
CANDI couture dolls....you're very informed sir!
Nina is a knockout! va va va voom!...Bob Dylan gave her the loan to start her creative company!...them dolls be saxxy! |