By Linda Di. (66.67.193.82) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 07:40 pm:

By Linda Di. (66.67.193.82) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 07:46 pm:

The baddest voices in the biz. These are my beloved Sweeties, circa 1986, doing their solo spot in Patti LaBelle's show at Caesar's Palace. L to R: Evette Benton, Carla Benson, Barbara Ingram.

By Boynextdoor (4.165.165.164) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 10:18 pm:

Very pretty laides. Did they record as a group?

By Boynextdoor (4.165.165.164) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 10:19 pm:

"LADIES"....sorry for the typo in the above message.

By 1Wicked (24.126.64.72) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 10:39 pm:

Good question. For years there has been rumor of an unreleased album by The Sweeties...but it has (to the best of my knowledge)never been denied or confirmed. Eli ???????????????????

By Linda Di. (66.67.193.82) on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 11:42 pm:

There was a 12 inch, "Boy You're Wearing Me Out," on the Streetwise label. But I've not heard anything about an unreleased LP. Bobby?

By Rodmann (12.223.170.105) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 03:22 am:

Thanks for the pic Linda. The Sweeties are very lovely indeed!

I don't know much about The Sweeties but I do know they were very popular session vocalists. I've always thought that the "baddest voices in the biz" belonged to The Sweet Inspirations! LOL. Linda, will you please suggest some of your favorite tunes that The Sweeties were involved in so I can hear what they were all about? Thanks.

By Uptight! (69.161.239.218) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 10:34 am:

Excellent photo, Linda!

By Handsome (170.118.158.14) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 11:40 am:

Rodmann, the Sweeties to Philly Soul were like the Andantes to Motown!

Here are some songs where the Sweeties vocals are quite apparent:

Teddy Pendergrass-The Whole Town's Laughing At Me
Lou Rawls-Groovy People
Patti La Belle-Oh, People
Spinners-Games People Play (one of the Sweeties is sing a line or so of that song), One Of a Kind (Love Affair)
Dionne Warwick's Track of the cat (CD)...
Sharon Paige-I'm Searching For a Love
Jean Carn-Free Love

The are numerous other recordings they appear on.

Handsome

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 05, 2004 - 04:08 pm:

Damn, Linda! You did it again!
Great photo of the Sweeties!
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By Rodmann (12.223.170.105) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 01:12 am:

Thanks Handsome! I didn't know exactly who The Sweeties are but I kind of figured that they were THE top backing girl singers in Philly.

I love most of the tunes that you listed , especially Jean Carne's 'Free Love' and the mellow vocals on The Spinners' 'Games People Play'. I'm hoping that maybe Linda can suggest something where The Sweeties get to REALLY stretch out and strut their stuff vocally.

By Linda Di. (66.67.193.82) on Tuesday, April 06, 2004 - 11:40 pm:

Rodmann -- some of my favorite Sweeties appearances are on Patti LaBelle's "I'm In Love Again" LP. "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" is another goodie, and Carla does a solo on MFSB's "Tell Me Why." Teddy's "Come Go With Me" has a solo bit by Barbara.

By Brother Love (64.169.119.106) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 03:03 am:

Linda, seeing this photo of The Sweeties brings back some good memories. Thanks for sharing it with us.

By sly fan (64.169.106.215) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 04:19 am:

THE most beautiful Voices that I've heard EVER!! Thank you Miss Di!

By STONEWALL (68.237.93.170) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 04:32 am:

A great, happy, lively and soulful pic of THE SWEETIES. They are so super girl group in this photo. They could probably list 100 artists that they have sung with. I believe another group that they collaborated with was THE FOUR TOPS, post-Motown when The Tops were with Dunhill! Are the galz still performing? I would imagine "Yesss".

P.S. Look at Barbara's face. Tell me Janet Jackson doesn't resemble her?!

By Linda Di. (66.67.193.82) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 06:40 am:

Stonewall, only Carla is still performing, having toured with the Funk Brothers most recently. Barbara passed in 1994, and I understand that Evette is no longer performing.

By Rodmann (12.223.170.105) on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 08:10 am:

Thanks Linda Di. Patti's "I'm In Love Again" LP is a classic! Now that I think about it The Sweeties might have been the backup group on a Melba Moore single I like called 'Pick Me Up, I'll Dance' produced by McFadden & Whitehead. The Sweeties may have even been credited on the label! I'll have to do some digging into my collection to make sure because I can't remember off the top of my head.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for the MFSB solo by Carla. Thanks again Linda.

By STONEWALL (68.237.93.170) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 05:01 am:

Thanx from all of us, Linda, for the updates tho, of course, sad to hear about the early loss of Barbara Ingram -- 10 years ago! I have so many albums that have the background credits to these SWEETIES. They could have been called THE STRONG SWEETIES. Their singing made a tremendous difference in the final musical product.

By royaljones (166.68.134.174) on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 07:15 pm:

I was so saddened to learn of Barbara Ingram 's passing several years ago. I regret not going to see Carla Bensen perform in Atlantic City as a solo . I did however see them with Patti at the Gershwin and another theatre nearby in NYC several times I may add. One nite Babs was sick.who knew? I really loved the bell tones they rang out. the most incredible harmony since estelle, myrna, cissy and Sylvia (who needs our prayers)....syreeta minnie and niecy also made quite a trio....as did ullanda,niecy and patti austin....oy vay i could go on....do you care. all my comrades are dead. remember me! yikes
http://www.royaljones.com