| Author | Message | ||
  Jimmy Mack (luke) 5-Doyen Username: luke Post Number: 234 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
Long article on the Chantels in today's NYDaily News. The writer, David Hinckley who has often championed R and B states that many feel MAYBE is the best vocal group recording ever, and certainly the best girl group recording ever. PS Ive seen Arlene on TV as well as the other Chantels alone and with her and I must say they hold their own with or without Arlene--they are classy and have senational harmonies to this day. | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 4-Laureate Username: dvdmike Post Number: 135 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.253.211.120 |
I wonder why Unca Marv Goldberg didn't write an article on them. They recorded "Maybe" in an ex-church in midtown Manhattan. Does anyone know the name of that studio? | ||
Cool Ju (cool_ju) 3-Pundit Username: cool_ju Post Number: 33 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.138 |
The guy responsible for them Richard Barrett(?) was in hear a year ago but he was kicking azzz and taking names! Too bad it couldn't have been a friendly visit, he probably won't be back now. He could've told us all about the Chantels. I agree that "Maybe" is a contender for that top spot. That Chantels stuff was good, darn near all of it. Hey can you post a link to that article, if possible? | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 6-Zenith Username: soul_sister Post Number: 638 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.21.244.254 |
ARLENE SMITH is The Chantels, her voice made the beautiful lead they became known for since the 50's! There can only be one Arlene! as 'WonderB' would say, "If you mess with the fro you gotta go"! LOL! LOL!  | ||
Soul Sister (soul_sister) 6-Zenith Username: soul_sister Post Number: 639 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.21.244.254 |
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Nikki (45rpmgal) 3-Pundit Username: 45rpmgal Post Number: 44 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 65.206.46.218 |
I have David Hinckley's article in my files which was sent to me by someone, but I cannot find it in the Daily News to link to (and I don't think I'm allowed to do a copy/edit/paste and post it here). The Chantels today consist of Sonia Goring Wilson, Lois Harris Powell, and Renee Minus White (three of the original Chantels), and current lead Ami Ortiz. (Until Jackie Landry (also an original Chantel) passed in 1997, she was also singing with the current group.) THIS group of Chantels has the copyright name! When Arlene Smith appears, she is booked as "Arlene Smith former lead of the Chantels", or something similar. Although Ami is not Arlene, her voice is equal to hers in quality and sound of the original songs. There is a Chantels thread on the old forum where I posted several pictures of the group, and where there is a discussion about Ami vrs Arlene! Nonetheless, today's CHANTELS are by far (IMHO) one of the finest, most professional legendary groups on the scene today. And they are all extremely humble and warm people. If you have a chance to catch a performance by them, you won't be disappointed! I met Richard Barrett at the Great Day in DC events in 2000, and found him to be pleasant, professional, and appreciative of his fans. I don't recall him being on this forum, and if so, him being unpleasant in any way. The Chantels, as well as Richard Barrett, will be honored at this month's Tribute to the Pioneers events in DC. In harmony, Nikki http://www.harmonytrain.com (Message edited by 45rpmgal on June 02, 2004) (Message edited by 45rpmgal on June 02, 2004) | ||
Cool Ju (cool_ju) 3-Pundit Username: cool_ju Post Number: 34 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 64.12.116.138 |
Nikki, Richard Barrett posted on the Three Degrees thread on the old forum. He was pissed because some folks were talking about him (not in a good way) and he came on to defend himself. It's too bad that he had to visit under those circumstances, because I'm sure a few of us would have liked to talk to him about his music. I'm a fan of his sound and would haved loved to hear the stories he could have told Ju | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 512 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.133.139 |
Mike, Some time ago I was told " by a connected source' that Maybe, as well as most of the NYC End recordings were done at Regent Sound, which was noted for their unique live echo chamber. Bob Lifton was the engineer. | ||
roger (roger) 4-Laureate Username: roger Post Number: 88 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17 |
Hello Everyone. I'm a little too young to have heard THE CHANTELS the first time around, although I have a couple of their recordings, including "Maybe". There is also a tremendous version of "Maybe" by THE THREE DEGREES on the Swan label from 1964/65. IMO it is much better than their subsequent re-make of the song on Roulette around 1971, it is very light and rhythmic and has quite an ethereal quality. Very different from THE CHANTELS original and the two versions can't really be compared. Both acts were, in their time, managed by RICHIE BARRETT, hence his appearance on the Three Degree thread that Cool Ju mentioned. Getting back to the subject of this thread, I remember that in one of his early columns in "Blues & Soul" DAVE GODIN quoted SMOKEY ROBINSON as saying that THE CHANTELS were one of the greatest influences on his music in the early years. Roger | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 513 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 70.16.133.139 |
I played guitar on the 3 Degrees Roulette version of Maybe which was recorded in 1970 at A&R Studios, 48th street in NYC. | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 4-Laureate Username: dvdmike Post Number: 136 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.253.214.124 |
I figured they recorded their End material either at Bell Sound or Regent Sound, but "Maybe" was recorded in a reconditioned church. The only studio in NYC that I know of that fit that description was Columbia's 30th Street Studio, but I don't know if that was where "Maybe" was cut. | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 5-Doyen Username: luke Post Number: 237 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.198.48.201 |
U go Nikki--The original Chantels are tremendous--I got chills when I heard them do Look In My Eyes recently. They all live in and around my area so I hope to hear them someday! (I saw a billing for Arlene recently as I believe Arlene Smith's Chantels!") | ||
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman Post Number: 514 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.1.181 |
Mike, 30th street was not built then. Media was in a reconditioned church but it wasnt built then. Where did you hear that it was cut in a church. Mr Barrett told me that it was cut at Regent. | ||
dvdmike (dvdmike) 4-Laureate Username: dvdmike Post Number: 137 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.253.214.124 |
Books and articles that I read told the story of a former church. And as for Columbia on 30th Street, I was under the impression that it opened in the late '40s or early '50s. Johnny Mathis' first LP (the jazz album) was cut there in early '56. | ||
Tony Russi (tony_russi) 4-Laureate Username: tony_russi Post Number: 140 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.210.44.216 |
Does anyone remember when Yvonne Fair was a member of the Chantels?I remember being at Yvonnes house & seeing a pix of her in the group...I think before she joined James Brown in '62. | ||
Spookey (spookey) 1-Arriviste Username: spookey Post Number: 10 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 198.81.26.46 |
Tony, Yvonne was a friend of mine; she later went on the road working with Dionne Warwick. One time I got Dionne all pisted off and Yvonne and I had a good laugh!! |
