By Derrick (63.187.160.153) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 06:48 pm:

What ever happened to The Originals and The Marvelettes ( I know Georgeanna Gordon is no longer with us ) . I never heard of the Velvelettes , did they ever have a big hit record with Motown ?

By Eli (151.197.119.98) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 07:27 pm:

Hey J.L., Please explain my friend!!!!!

By Jim Feliciano in Detroit. (205.188.209.109) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 08:12 pm:

Hey Derrick,
Did the 'Velvelettes' "ever had a big hit on Motown"? You betcha!

Let's you and I take a quick look in how the 'Velvelettes' faired here in Detroit, during the (Motown) 1960s, courtesy of Scott Westerman and http://www.keener13.com:

Now here's the complete 'Velvelettes' discography on WKNR--

1964-- peaked at the #6 position on "Keener 13"
http://www.keener13.com/guides/641015W.html

1965-- peaked at the #19 position on "Keener 13"
http://www.keener13.com/guides/650121W.html

1966-- peaked at the #21 position on "Keener 13"
http://www.keener13.com/guides/661010W.html


There 'ya have it, Derrick... take a look, now you do the rest!

By RD (63.188.32.129) on Sunday, April 27, 2003 - 08:41 pm:

I hate to be the wet blanket here but in the general scheme of things the Velvelettes never really had a "big" hit. "Needle In the Haystack" and "He Was Really Saying Something" would have been big hits with the right promotion but neither made the Pop Top 40. They were local hits and in some areas regional hits but they weren't big hits. The casual music fan think both singles were recorded by the Marvelettes until you tell them different.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 01:59 pm:

RD:
"Needle In A Haystack" & "He Was Really Saying Something" were big records here in NYC (according to the gang at WCBS-FM) and in Pittsburgh (WAMO-AM)as well as Philadelphia & Chicago. They just didn't have enough legs in the smaller & medium-sized regions of the USA (where the hits are REALLY made).

The songs were big enough though to have the Blossoms perform "Needle.." on Shindig! (I have the videotape) and "...Saying Someting" was aired on American Bandstand (I saw the videotape when Dick Clark made the tapes available for a brief spell at the Museum of Television & Radio).

Kevin Goins - KevGo

By medusa9e (66.73.15.203) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

Gladys Horton lives some place N Los Angeles,..well, I should say California

By RD (63.188.32.37) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 01:03 am:

KevGo they were big in my neck of the woods too but apparently not all over like the Supremes, Four Tops and Tempts' hits because neither entered the Pop Top 40. They were essentially R&B hits that didn't cross because for some reason no effort was made to get them played anywhere but on soul radio stations, with some exceptions like CKLW. The big push wasn't in the budget for the Velvelettes and many other Motown acts.

"Function at the Junction" did well where it was promoted but never blew up because its promo was limited to soul radio too. Young people who hear it now for the first time think it was a big smash hit because it sounds like one. Shorty's "Devil With the Blue Dress On" got hardly any push and flopped, but became a big hit for Mitch Ryder.

By Derrick (63.187.160.89) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 02:05 pm:

Not everybody knows that " Function In The Junction" was rerecorded by Huey Lweis and The News on their 1994 CD " Four Chords and Several Years Ago " . They did covers of several tunes from the 50's and 60's such as " Mother In Law " , " Blue Monday " , " Some Kind Of Wonderful " , and had a pretty big hit with their rendition of " But It's Allright " .

However , "Function In The Junction" did not sound the same without the Funk Brothers and the echo of the "Snakepit" ! It sounded a little odd to me !

By medua9e (66.73.14.142) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 06:13 pm:

4 some reason, I can't imagine Huey Lewis & The News doing Function at The Junction...wow...
especially without the Right(U know Who) musical back ground.

By Julian (152.163.188.68) on Sunday, May 04, 2003 - 10:55 pm:

>>>I never heard of the Velvelettes<<<

Boy! You are gonna have hell to pay when Mr. Xtown arrives! Where is my Kevlar helmut?!!!!

By Stephanie (66.54.1.38) on Monday, May 05, 2003 - 08:30 am:

Dont worry Julian Xtown likes people like this so he can school them on the Velvelettes...LOL
Stephanie
PS I had a friend of mine tell me he never heard of the Velvelettes until 10 years ago and know he has all of their recordings so Xtown accomplished something.

By nancy (68.41.246.218) on Sunday, May 11, 2003 - 10:43 pm:

what ever became of the original disc jockey mojo from detroit?

By John Lester (213.123.125.161) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 03:34 am:

Derrick

Well well well. First of all, I am quite a nice guy really....although I have my moments and I think I can feel one coming along. Bobby, Jules and Steph know I don't bite - don't you guys!! hehehe

It's all about education, my friend. None of us know everything and that is one of the fun things about life - we can live, learn and enjoy it at the same time. Yes, the Velvelettes did not reach the same dizzy heights that female groups like the Marvelettes, the Vandellas or the Supremes reached but they did fare better than many others. However, there is enough room in music history for everyone and the Velvelettes edged their way into some people's lives and made their impact felt. Their biggest hit was in the UK - they hit the top 40 with their final US 45 "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" in 1971, some 5 years after its original release. However, their first 2 songs on Motown's VIP label "Needle In A Haystack" and "He Was Really Saying Something" also made an impact on the public via the radio even though it was not totally matched by record sales.

The gals' "Bird In The Hand" 45 was pulled by Motown from the release schedules and it is generally felt that the reason for that was because available resources had to be focused on the Supremes. Most people consider that song should have been a monster and judging by the work that was put into getting the right mix, my sympathies also lie with the engineers and producer. It is perhaps relevant to mention that lead singer Cal was quite young at the time (she still is in my book!) and her parents would not allow her to work except at the weekend - clearly with so much at stake, Motown had to take that into account.

It is true that the Velvelettes made a much bigger mark in England than their native USA. From only four 45 UK releases, the gals managed to produce two HUGE and I mean HUGE hits with the Northern Soul Scene in "Lonely Lonely Girl Am I" and "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You". For that, they are head and shoulders above ANY Motown group either male or female and by a long shot (as it happens, only Frank Wilson beats them).

Further, the Velvelettes were the FIRST act to have their product re-issued (meaning because of demand from the public who missed it first time round) and TMG 595 resulted in "Needle In A haystack"/"He Was Really Saying Something"

The girls never had a vinyl album release even though their material was clearly up to the standard of others. Maybe the songs were not as simple as others and instead, more challenging vocallly but they just as good. In March 1999, they were finally acknowledged with a CD album release and it contained some previously unissued tracks - "Let Love Live" and "Twilite Time" surprised most that these songs were never issued at the time. In the UK, that album was put out with a further 4 previously unissued tracks which were greeted with similar enthusiasm. There are still more unissued tracks, although not as many as on the Supremes but there are more and I have set myself a personal objective to campaign for their future release. There is still a lot to be told on the Velvelettes and it is my aim to get that out in the open.

Whilst the girls themselves are well aware of their place in music history particularly in the USA - to some, their placing does not reflect the enjoyment that they gave and still do.

For your information, the girls leave tomorrow (Tuesday) to come to the UK to perform a concert alongside the Contours and Ali Woodson. They are in demand for personal appearances and I have a number of people who want to talk to them about future concerts in the England - in fact, I am having to line them up!

I hope this thread has given you more of an insight into the Velvelettes. Do try and listen to their CD album release, the very fact that you are posting on this thread is reason enough for you to hear it. Go on, treat yourself - you deserve it once in a while...and tell me your thoughts.

By MotownForever (152.163.252.68) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 05:36 am:

John:

I'd love to see some more of their previously unissued tracks see the light of day. I enjoyed both the US/UK 'Best Of' sets released a few years ago and was thrilled with "Let Love Live", "Stop Beating Around The Bush", etc. (along with my favs of corse, "Lonely, Lonely Girl Am I" & "He Was Really Sayin' Something" which I never get enough of).

I understand they recorded "Come See About Me", "We've Got Honey Love" and countless others. I think it would be great if Motown honored the Velvelettes with another CD with unreleased tracks. In the meantime, I hope they include some more unreleased goodies by them on the upcoming "Cellarful of Motown, II."

Motown Forever!!

By TonyRusi (68.210.2.246) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 07:39 am:

"Needle in A Haystack" reached#45 on the Hot 100.I know it got alot of "Pop" airplay in Miami & reached #12 on WQAM....in Orlando, it did not get any "Pop" airplay.

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 08:25 am:

It seems that the Velvelettes version of "Come See About Me" was not kept......likewise with their version of "When The Lovelight Starts Shining Thru His Eyes". Isn't that sad...

However, there are other songs and if you get to speak to Cal this week (when she is in the UK) I am sure she will tell you what they are....she might even sing them.

Tony...the good people of Orlando sure knew a good record when they heard one!!

By Vandelron (24.44.20.172) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 08:26 am:

I just had the shock of my life listening all the way through to Velvelettes cd. I thought I had heard A Bird in the Hand but I hadnt. Blew me away-and that never charted???????My God what a phenomenal song.

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Monday, May 12, 2003 - 09:01 am:

Vandelron

Cal talks about that record with much fondness and describes how it was James Jamerson on that bass intro.

So to the question did the Velvelettes work with the Funk Brothers? In the words immortified in "Bird in the Hand"

YEAH, Yeah-Yeah, YEAH

By John Lester (62.49.61.57) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:49 pm:

The Velvelettes are in the UK as I write this note.

Thank you for loaning them to us you lovely US people, we PROMISE to look after them

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.24) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 04:56 pm:

John,
great stuff,
I have listed 15 Hitsville Acetates by The Velvelettes,
do you know if all there unreleased acetate material was finally put out in any form.(i.e.cd)
If not can anyone else please let me know.
many thanks
mel.

By John Lester (213.123.142.149) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 05:48 pm:

Mel -

Let me know the acetate titles and I shall tell you. Some of hte unissued material has still to be issued on CD

By MEL&THEN SOME9 (217.14.178.75) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 06:07 pm:

Okeh John
and thanks.

All Hitsville Acetates by Velvelettes.

Come on home.
Gonna let love live.
Hokey Pokey.
Honey Love.
Love is good.
Mama please.
My foolish heart.
Save me(my ship of love is sinking).
Selfish Lover.
Somethings happening.
Stop beating around the bush.
Thats the reason why.
Think of the times.
Twilight time.
We must go.
Thats the lot John,
apologies if any errors here.
As you know Motown
although I love with a passion is not my
no.1 passion,but I am always willing to learn from you guys and gals.

Many thanks John and anyone else.
mel(the motown noviceer)just made that up.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 06:18 pm:

Mel:
Please tell me just how you get your hands on these acetates which usually are kept by producers, music publishers and A&R folks. Just curious.
Kevin Goins - KevGo

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.36) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 06:27 pm:

Hey Kev,
I aint no stool pigeon.
besides I dont have them all.
but I know a man or 2 that has.
Mel(aka el-zippo)

By MotownForever (152.163.252.68) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 08:04 pm:

Mel:

The following were released on the "Best Of The Velvelettes" U.K. CD:

That's The Reason Why
Let Love Live (A Little Bit Longer)
I'm So Glad It's Twilight Time
Think Of The Times
Stop Beating Around The Bush
Love Is Good
Save Me (My Ship Of Love Is Sinking)

By MEL&THEN SOME (217.14.178.69) on Wednesday, May 14, 2003 - 08:59 pm:

MotownForever,
many thanks for that.
mel.

By John Lester (213.123.118.31) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 01:43 am:

Mel
Come On Home = Gonna Let Love Live = Let Love Live (A Little Bit Longer)
We Must Go = Why Must You Go (same song as was done by the Marvelettes)
The remaining titles all exist and it is my goal in life to campaign ernestly for their official release.
I am off to Liverpool in a few hours to see them - the concert has sold well so hopefully I shall meet a few Soulful Detroiters. I shall be the old bloke acting like a silly young fan - Yeah, I know that I should know better!!

Kevin
Most of the acetates were simply discarded in a dumpster when Motown moved from Detroit to the West Coast. Some people decided to raid those dumpsters for photo shoots, music sheets, acetates, tape reels, internal notes and memo's, album project files!! Even up to a few years ago, the Woodward building still had a few things left inside - blank writing paper, decaying photographs, tape reels etc...

Additionally, some former Motown staff still have stuff in their garage - as was the case on one of the threads about a year back when contact was made with Betty Ochra. I dare say when our dear Ralph decides to move,he will find a few things he had forgotten about......tucked away with the MANY wedding pics!! (Go on Ralph - you can shoot me down for that one!)

By MEL&THEN SOME (212.159.53.96) on Thursday, May 15, 2003 - 07:48 am:

John,
we should of arranged a meeting.
you could of come over to my gaffe and had a quick look at some of my mates acetates.It would of been interesting to hear your opinions.
Never mind.
By the way John,
please sit on the Blue half of Liverpool
or were falling out.
Have a good time,
unfortunatley I am pre-booked for 2 all nighters this weekend.
And as for the old bloke acting silly,
come to an all-nighter and I will show you a lot of 50+year olds acting just the same.
Mel.

By Lonnie Cook (198.81.26.231) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 04:26 am:

Originals got left out of the replies. They can be seen on PBS as one of the groups on the last fundraising musical called "Rock Rhythm & Doo Wop". The show is being repeated over and over and over and......................check your local listings.

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, June 06, 2003 - 09:47 am:

Just caught that show again last night and saw them back-up Edwin Starr. I said it before and I still maintain that the audio mix on that show is bad. I have a hard time watching it because of that. In fact, I end up NOT watching the show. Too bad.