By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:18 pm:

I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE LITTLE REMEMBERED TODAY SUCH THE[VONTASTICS,YOU CAN WORK IT OUT,THE ETHICS,SAD STORY,FAREWELL,THE OPALS,DOES IT MATTER,THE MIGHTY MARVELOWS,I DO,IN THE MORNING,FRANKY CARL AND THE DREAMS,DON'T BE AFRAID,THE FORTUNES,YOU GOT YOUR TROUBLES,MASKMAN AND THE AGENTS,ROACHES,THE MADLADS,I DON'T HAVE TO SHOP AROUND,THE ARTISTICS,I'M GONNA MISS YOU,GIRL I NEED YOU}LET'S HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THE FORGOTTEN GROUPS.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:24 pm:

THE FALCONS...FROM THE "STANDING ON GUARD" ERA!!!...STU

By Yan (62.30.112.1) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 03:30 pm:

Did everyone get the latest in the great "Where The Girls Are" series from Ace?? (vol 5) It has The Opals- "You Can't Hurt Me Hurt No More". Also The Little Foxes' awesome "Love Made To Order" which I've been wanting to get for ages. (check those strings!) Lots more besides. Go get it!

By Yan (62.30.112.1) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 04:21 pm:

Northern fans might wanna pick up "Where The Girls Are: Vol 5"; not so much for the content, but for the interview with one Kendra Spotswood aka. Sandi Sheldon!! (the flip of her Okeh classic is on the CD) Didja' know that the Vonettes on "Touch My Heart" were just Sandi and Van McCoy pretending to be a girl?? I always thought that second girl sounded a bit dodgy! Just how did Van keep a straight face singing "Make me feel like the girl I used to be"(!!)

Sorry. To get back to the subject; The Artistics "I'm Gonna Miss You" and "Girl I Need You" are two all-time favourites of mine. Great Choices, R&B.

By Eli (151.197.38.124) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 09:15 pm:

The Vibrations. One of the most underrated groups of all time . The Tempts got their temptation from the Vibrations sloop dance and Paul Williams got his schtick from Don Bradley.
Their choreography was second to none and it included summersaults and spins way before the days of breaking!!

By stephanie (207.94.145.111) on Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 10:26 pm:

I want to give props to Sidney Barnes who sang with the Serenaders and did the soul classic of Northern Soul "I Hurt on the Other Side".

I want to give props to Christine Cooper for Heartaches away my Boy another Northern Soul Classic.

I also have to give props to Question Mark and the Mysterians..Im sorry you all this record is one of the classiest one hit wonders I have ever encountered with that farfisa organ and his manic vocals.
Steph

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.107) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 04:25 am:

Right-on Stephanie,
I have Heartaches away my boy by Christine Cooper and I reckon it to be one of the best ever rare/northern soul dancers that I have heard.
Memories dont come much sweeter than this.
mel.

By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 01:33 pm:

Eli-

I would do ANYTHING to be able to have seen The Vibrations live in their heyday; everything I've heard about there act is amazing. Thankfully all the music they left was incredible too.

It's kinda hard to think of many other groups who have so many records considered classics by different "tribes": they're loved by the rock&roll crowd for "Stranded In The Jungle", by the doo-wop boys for the likes of "So Blue" and "I Had A Dream", by the frug-happy for their brilliant dance tracks like "The Watusi", "Sloop Dance" etc. (big in Belgium and Pittsburgh I'm sure!), by the Northern scene for the incredible "Cause Youre Mine", "Gonna Get Along" and "Suprise Party For Baby"- their sixties soul balalds are nearly always fantastic ("Talkin Bout Love", "Expressway To Your Heart"), and if all that weren't enough the very last record they ever did (I think) "Shake It Up" was one of the very biggest tracks on the rare-groove/2-step scene in London in the mid 80s! (it was propably big in Chicago on the steppers scene also)

Long live The Vibrations!

By RD (63.188.32.217) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 01:56 pm:

I always wondered who borrowed from who, did the Vibrations from the Contours or was it the other way around? The Contours did the splits, spins somersaults and comedy bits as well and were the most exciting group, along with the Vibrations, that I have ever seen live. I think both acts came on the scene around the same time.

The Vibrations' recordings were more versatile than the Contours. They also put out an album of standards prior to the Temptations' In a Mellow Mood. The Temptations stage moves were different, smoother with no acrobatics, but I agree that P. Williams got some of his schtick from D. Bradley.

Believe it or not the Whispers were as acrobatic as both groups when they first came out. Even moreso, they did spin, splits and somersaults and the circus stunt where all the members climbed on top of one another and formed a tower with the twins at the top.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.105) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 05:00 pm:

What about these,
The Hesitations everything they ever did,but my first sound I heard by them was and still is the stomper Im not built that way on Kapp.
The Autographs superb I Can do it on Okeh records.
So many to choose from.
The Opals superb Does it matter on Okeh.
Tangeers double header of Let my heart and soul be free/whats the use of me trying on okeh.
The brilliant 'vibratin'vibrations and everything they have done.(ie)apart from the stompers how about end up crying and aint love that way.
The Volumes and I Got love,maintain your cool on Twirl as well as all there Inferno cuts.
The Fabulous Apollos on Valtone.
The list is endless.
Yan,
spot on regards the Kendra Spotswood/Sandi Sheldon thing,I have sounds by them all and did a thread ages ago regards your point.
stephanie,
great track that Sidneys is have you heard Hurt on the other side by Jerry Cook?just edges it for me,but both brilliant tracks.
mel.

By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 05:41 pm:

RD-

...did you ever get to see the Whispers do that tower thing yourself?? That would have been something else- it's hard to me to imagine, 'cos my image of The Whispers is so tied up in all those smooth ballads. (all their Janus AND Soul Clock stuff has been re-issued over the last year on 2 packages from Castle/Sanctuary- and I'd urge anyone reading to buy em if you're into sweet soul) So who were the two on top??

Thinking of sweet soul how about The Courtship for some props?? (by the by; to all you Motown collectors- I knew a guy who swore he had "Love Aint Love" on Tamla, even though it was unreleased. Was he just talking rubbish??)

Mel-

Yeah, apparently Van and Kendra were also Jack And Jill, The Pacettes and The Fantastic Vantastics (great name!!) -Vonettes were supposed to be The Vanettes but the label printed it wrong! Biggest eye-opener for me was that Sandi/Kendra joined The Shirelles for a while; and toured with them for 2 years. But I guess you know all this?? Mel; could you be any help on the Searling cover-up thing I was asking about?? ("Cover-ups That Need Uncovering" thread) You seem to know alot (hell of alot) about Northern. When I posted this I knew it was a long shot; so don't worry if you can't help.

By RD (63.188.33.167) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

Saw it myself Yan. This was the late sixties at a concert with other groups. The Whispers were going strong with "I Only Meant To Wet My Feet." The only other song us Midwesterners had heard by them was "Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong." Both were slowies, so needless to say those attending were shocked. Nobody expected what they dished out. They exited with the pyramid stunt. A helluva way to close a set.

By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:17 pm:

Wow. I have the picture in my head now- please tell me they were wearing matching pink suits in the style of that Live O'Jays LP of their Bell stuff.

So- wait, wait; you mean they were doing backflips, spins and somersaults WHILE performing "I Only Meant To Wet My Feet" and the like?? That really would have been something else!!

By RD (63.188.33.167) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:33 pm:

No Yon not doing the slow songs. The surprising thing (to us anyway) was that they performed mostly uptempo numbers. Songs that were previously released by them that never aired in the Midwest like "The Dip," some song about planets, and others.

Maybe somebody from LA from that era can chime in here about the '60s Whispers. If all you have in your mind is todays' group you'll never understand. Much like the Contour, the act they do today has no resemblance at all to their '60s stage show.

The Whispers were a quintet then, Yan...young and vibrant. They still moved quite well now without the acrobatics, spins and somersaults, which they curtailed in the '70s and soon eliminated altogether.

By RD (63.188.33.167) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:35 pm:

The O'Jays never recorded a live LP for Bell Records. The album you're talking about, which has been reissued by many companies, used can applause, which ruined the album.

By David Meikle (80.5.115.23) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:52 pm:

The Whispers were at Lew Bedell's Dore label between '64 and '67.

The label was based in Hollywood for several decades.

"The Dip" was recorded in 1965.

"Doctor Love" in 1966, the original version.

By Yan (62.30.112.3) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 07:38 pm:

Hey RD- I was joking about the dance routines to ballads; I'm stupid but not THAT stupid (yet). Yeah, I've heard before that the "Live" LP wasn't actually live- here in the U.K it came out on the budget MusicForPleasure label; who should be forgiven any of their sins for being the first to put out unissued Motown material in the early 70s.

MFP's straight compilations of various Motown artists were often really well thought out, also: while every official Motown comp would be just all the same hits, over and over again, forever- MFP LPs clearly had actual fans behind them. B-sides and LP tracks galore. Does anyone from Europe/U.K (or anywhere) know who it was who was behind choosing the material for MusicForPleasure/Starline/Sounds Superb's Motown issues??

David- Yeah I have the CD of their Dore stuff too; great stuff. I still think their forte (even then) were their ballads. Bobby Sheen gets my vote for "Doctor Love", I'm afraid.

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.16) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 08:33 pm:

Hey David,
how good Doctor Love sounds these days by the Whispers.
Being brought up with the Bobby Sheen version I never realised until years later about the Whispers original.
Dore Label.
Around 64/65 the Whispers signed to Dore,
a tiny Los Angelas independant record Label.
This highly talented vocal quintet from Americas west coast have recorded ballads as well as pounding,uptempo dancers.
They possess a unique vocal sound with joint lead singers of
Walter and Wallace 'Scotty'Scott,who are identical twins and who possess identical voices too(making it near impossible to determine which twin is featured on any one particular track.)
Backed up by
Nicholas Caldwell,Marcus Hutson and Leavill'Bill'Degree.
Despite there west coast base,Caldwell is from Laurinda,California.The Scott Brothers are from Texas,Hutson from Kansas City,Missouri and Degree from New Orleans,Louisiana.
Degree replaced original Member Gordy 'snake'Harmon in 1973.
The original quintet first met at a talent contest at high school.In the watts district of L.A.
The Scott brothers were one act,
Hutson and Caldwell another and Harmon was singing in duet with a girl.
Before and after the guys were singing in the dressing room and decided to form a group.

Back to Dore records,
apparantly Gordy Harmon was already under contract.
None of the singles were more than local hits,possibly due to Dores limited distribution.But it did convince the Whispers that they should have a go at a full time career.

They cut about 6 singles for the labelranging from doo-wop to frantic dancers.

My fave on this label by them is the thumping,hand clapper and uptempo 'you got a man on your hands'(arranged by the talented Gene Page).
They did a doo-wop track titled 'As I sit here',
amongst others.

But there brilliant track on Dore called 'Doctor Love' written by Nicholas Caldwell became a huge rare/northern soul classic dancer when recorded by Bobby Sheen(ex Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans)for and on Capitol records.Although as with the original was an american non-hit.

There other northern soul hits were 'you got a man on your hands/you cant fight whats right on Dore792 cut around 1967.

The flipside to Dore735 of 'it hurts so much' called 'The Dip'.Cut around 1965.

And of course,the hardly ever heard original version of 'Dr.Love/Lonely Avenue on Dore751.

They also had a big rare/northern soul dancer on the Soul Clock label after Dore.
This was owned by Ron Carson,they cut around 3 tracks with the 1968/69 single called 'Remember'being the flip side to What will I do on Soul Clock109 getting spins on the uk dance scene.

They also may of done an album on soul clock.
After Soul Clock they went on to record for
Janus Records.
Soul Train Records.
Solar Records.
There is a nice Philly Connection regards there time at Janus,where I know our friend Bobby Eli was involved with as well as Earl Young,bunny sigler,norman harris,don renaldo,art freeman,H.B.Barnum and also some written material from none other than Aikens/Bellmon,Drayton and Turner(better known as The Formations)whilst with Soul Train.
Was Weldon A McDougal involved?

Anyway as you can see from all the people involved with The Whispers,
a truly great act.
mel.

Footnote.
Dore-Los Angeles.
Soul Clock-Hollywood.
Roker/Janus-Hollywood/(sigma sound studios)Philadelphia./New Jersey.
Soul Train-L.A./(sigma sound studios)Philadelphia.
also Hollywood.
Solar-L.A.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 08:40 pm:

MEL: YOU'LL ALSO FIND BRUCE MILLER ARRANGEMENTS ON SOME OF THE "WISPERS" SOLAR RECORDS STUFF...PRETTY GOOD ARRANGER (AT LEAST IN MY OPINION)!!!...STU

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.40) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 09:46 pm:

Nice one Stu,
apologies to you and your brother.Im afraid I am rather blind after the 60s.
But with everything your kid and your fine self have been involved with,they are all 100%(and then some).
while your on Stu,
my e.mail isnt recieving any mail for some reason,did you get those Strides scans I sent?
MEL.

By STUBASS (206.135.204.2) on Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 09:51 pm:

MEL: JUST READY TO BE GETTING OUT OF HERE AND HEADED HOME!!!...NO APOLOGY NECESSARY...THE "KID" IS DOING PRETTY WELL!!!...I DID RECIEVE THE SCANS...ACTUALLY, I THINK THE A SIDE IS POSTED SOMEWHERE ELSE ON THIS FORUM!!!...INTERESTING THING ABOUT THAT RECORD, AS I BELIEVE THAT I MENTIONED TO YOU BEFORE, IS THAT WHILE IT WAS MY GROUP...I DID NOT PLAY ON THOSE PARTICULAR CUTS!!!...THE TRACKS WERE PRE-RECORDED, AND IT'S EVEN POSSIBLE THAT THE GREAT BOB BABBITT PLAYED ON THEM...TO WHICH I GLADLY DEFER!!!...LET ME KNOW WHEN YOUR E-MAIL IS BACK UP AND RUNNING...YOUR BUDDY...STU

By stephanie (207.94.148.88) on Monday, February 10, 2003 - 05:33 pm:

Right-on Stephanie,
I have Heartaches away my boy by Christine Cooper and I reckon it to be one of the best ever rare/northern soul dancers that I have heard.
Memories dont come much sweeter than this.
mel.

By Yan (80.194.105.141) on Sunday,

My Mom used to play that record to DEATH!!! I got a lot of play here in Washington DC but I heard the record flopped as did SOS Heart in Distress. She was a great singer. I have looked all over the Internet and asked questions no one seems to know what has happened to her..does anyone know?
Steph

By R&B (138.238.41.118) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 11:43 am:

SOMEONE MENTIONED THE VIBRATIONS,WELL REMEMBER THAT THEIR RICKY OWENS WAS THE FIRST TO REPLACE EDDIE KENDRICKS IN THE TEMPS AND LASTED ABOUT A MINUTE,HARD TO FIGURE BECAUSE THE GUY HAD SUNG AND DANCED FOR YEARS WITH THE VIBRATIONS.I GUESS HE WASN'T READY FOR THE STEP UP.

By TonyRussi (68.18.227.123) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 12:10 pm:

Al "TNT" Braggs & the Al-Tones were a great underrated group.Loved Al Braggs song that he wrote "Share Your Love With Me" which is one of my fave Aretha Franklin 45's...I think Bobby Bland recorded it first.Al Braggs & his group were on a great pkg show I was a part of in 1966 with Wilson Pickett & Billy Stewart.They had great dancing routines.They were from Texas and on the Peacock label.

By 1wicked (64.32.154.94) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 12:31 pm:

Al "TNT" Braggs was actually a recording artist ? Wow ! I grew up in Texas hearing that name & actually saw him a few times...and it was a great show, but I thought he was just a "local" and had not done anything outside of the area. He just seemed to be "that guy" who played all of the National Guard Armory dances & juke joints from Dallas/Ft. Worth east. Only on Soulful Detroit.........
Thanks...

By Eli (151.197.39.187) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 01:29 pm:

R&B..What hapent to Rickey Owens was sad because he was the obvious choice but according to Otis he was "not Temptation material".
Apparantly he had issues that were not music related and although he stepped with his former group he did not pick up on the Temps steps as well.
He came back to the Vibreations with open arms.
Sadly, Ricky passed away about four years ago.

Carl Fisher (Del Sharh) of the of the Vibrations was an accomplished songwrier having written Storm Warning, Aint Nothin But a Party and some good ones with yours truly (over here)

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.40) on Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 02:14 pm:

Al 'TNT' Braggs cut a few tracks on the Peacock logo and I still have on a uk Vocalion 45 his great cut called 'Earthquake'.
This was a big fave on the scene many years ago.That had the all-nighter crowds shuffling away.
Mel,

By R&B (138.238.41.131) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:05 am:

YERY SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT RICKY OWENS,HE WAS A GREAT TALENT,HIS RENDITION OF {MISTY}IS CLASSIC.THANKS FOR THE INFO ELI.

By David Meikle (81.135.50.243) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:11 am:

Mel

I was listening to that the other night.

Fantastic.

David

By TonyRussi (68.18.227.123) on Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:46 am:

Hey Mel,thanks for jogging my memory at Al "TNT"Braggs & the Al-Tones did a dance called the Earthquake on the pkg show I was talking about that starred Wilson Pickett. A female member of the group (I think was Als' sister) really did the Earthquake in a fringe pant suit.I did not know they had a record for the dance.