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Kev-Lo (7273747576) 5-Doyen Username: 7273747576
Post Number: 198 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.236.213.45
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 6:43 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi this is Kev-Lo the soul era was pretty much dominated by so many male acts that gave us great music,but there was also some female acts that sang their hearts out and belted out some of the best classic soul songs ever. THE FASCINATIONS was a great female act that took us by storm.A product of the immortal Curtis Mayfield this girl group was four young ladies BERNADINE SMITH,JOANNE LEVELL,FERN BLEDSOE,AND SHIRLEY WALKER.The groups first Mayfield release was SAY IT ISN'T SO and their smooth version of I CAN'T STAY AWAY FROM YOU,and their late 1966 hit GIRLS ARE OUT TO GET YOU.That was the song that had you jumping out of your seats and dancing.Yes this female group should be rated right up there with all of the other great female acts |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 524 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.250.3.25
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 8:18 pm: �� | ��� |
Funny you should mention Bernadine, she's a member of my Church, and she still has a beautiful voice...you talkin' about somebody that can sing? The Lady still has it goin' on like that. In fact, she sounds even better. |
Kev-Lo (7273747576) 5-Doyen Username: 7273747576
Post Number: 199 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.231.246.137
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 8:44 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi this is Kev-Lo hey Medusa it's nice to know that one of ladies is still around.do you know the whereabouts of the others,if you do please let me know |
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 4-Laureate Username: ron_murphy
Post Number: 124 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 8:48 pm: �� | ��� |
OOH WEE I have always loved that voice of Bernadine's...I'm so glad to hear she's still singing ,she is in my top 3 soul singers, man I'd like to cut her on some club music right now...she can blow!!!! and I don't doubt for a second that she still can. |
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 4-Laureate Username: ron_murphy
Post Number: 125 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 8:51 pm: �� | ��� |
oh yeah medusa ...you might make me join your church. |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 530 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.250.3.25
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:01 pm: �� | ��� |
KevLo & Ron Murphy, GUESS WHAT ??? I just got finished talking to Bernadine. She's surprised anyone remembered them. SHe couldn't believe it. They are all very much alive...and they're still looking good. I only talked with her about 1/2hour. I didn't really know your last name Kev, but I did mention Ron Murphy. She was so sweet as usual, she even asked me to re~join the choir, (I have to think about that one) smile For more info, E mail me. medusa9e2003@yahoo.com (Message edited by ~medusa on August 16, 2004) |
Ron Murphy (ron_murphy) 4-Laureate Username: ron_murphy
Post Number: 126 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.42.90.140
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:16 pm: �� | ��� |
medusa: check your e-mail..I still worry the first time I send one to anybody...guess I don't trust the system yet. |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 531 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.250.3.25
| Posted on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 10:35 pm: �� | ��� |
Mr. Murphy, I checked my E mail, and at this time, I haven't received anything. Try again. |
David Meikle (david_meikle) 5-Doyen Username: david_meikle
Post Number: 324 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 81.130.211.124
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 3:59 am: �� | ��� |
"I'm so lucky" was another nice song. Maxine Woods of De-To records was also in the group prior to the above mentioned recordings. |
Carl Dixon (carl_dixon) 4-Laureate Username: carl_dixon
Post Number: 82 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 82.44.203.80
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 4:07 am: �� | ��� |
Medusa - I have a wall mounted single(Girls are out to get you) and photograph in a presentation of The Fascinations. It was a present from my wife, who knows this is the number one single in my life. It hangs there to remind me how songs should be written and produced. Please tell her from me, she and the girls are never far away from the CD player. I see them everyday when I walk into the room. In fact, for an 'autograph' I would be even tempted to take a photo of the presentation and sent it to you! Well done Kev-Lo for bringing up these lovely ladies. Have you got the CD of all their recordings? One track features production talk back onto the studio floor where the singers are asked to try the harmonies again, as one of them is a little flat! |
David Meikle (david_meikle) 5-Doyen Username: david_meikle
Post Number: 325 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 81.130.211.124
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 4:10 am: �� | ��� |
Medusa I think Bernadine would be interested in this discography from Dave Rimmer's site. She could possibly clear up the questions thereon too. Is Shirley Walker really Shirley Lawson? OMG. http://www.soulfulkindamusic.n et/fascinations.htm (Message edited by david meikle on August 17, 2004) |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 535 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.249.245.54
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 11:30 am: �� | ��� |
Hi Carl, Bernadine was so surprised that anyone remembered them after so long. She mentioned that Curtis Mayfield was their Manager at one time. I will be speaking to her again this evening. I did tell her about Soufuldetroit.com. She will be getting in touch with the other members. |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 538 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.249.245.54
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 11:37 am: �� | ��� |
I forgot to mention that I did tell her this wasn't the first time they were mentioned here on SDForum. |
Kev-Lo (7273747576) 5-Doyen Username: 7273747576
Post Number: 201 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.236.243.254
| Posted on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 10:09 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi this is Kev-Lo hey medusa my full name is Kevin Logan.If you can would you please give Bernadine my e-mail address kevinlogan@peoplepc.com I would like to ask her some questions in reguards to her music |
mike s (mike_s) 4-Laureate Username: mike_s
Post Number: 132 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 195.93.33.10
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 6:42 am: �� | ��� |
Be interesting to see if Shirley Lawson was in the group. I loved her One More Chance. It appeared some years ago on a Kent UK compilation album. Although it was originally released on Backbeat/Duke, it sounds very Detroit/Revilot. Anyone know more? |
Carl Dixon (carl_dixon) 4-Laureate Username: carl_dixon
Post Number: 85 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 82.44.203.80
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 8:15 am: �� | ��� |
Medusa - as long as we are around, she will not be forgotten. I hope she is as thrilled as I am, knowing that she is admired from afar and respected for her efforts all those years ago. You must tell her, that 'Girls are out to get you' was the only time I pardoned myself on the dance floor, left a girl dancing on her own and to ask the DJ what the record was. Then the quest began to find it - and it was hard, as it was deleted. What a city you have there. A gold mine of talent under every rock and stone. You do realise I would love to speak to her and better still meet her. Maybe next time I am in Detroit. Please give her London hug, as 'Girls...' and 'At the top of the stairs' by The Formations are side by side in their presentations on the wall in my home. These two records are milestones in my life and she is part of it!! |
SDF (handsome) 6-Zenith Username: handsome
Post Number: 447 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 11:22 am: �� | ��� |
Hi All. I really didn't know anything about the Fasicinations until SDF first brought them up. I have bought the Curtom Story, which features 2 songs by them: I'm So Lucky & Girls Are Out To Get You. I had actually bought it for the Donny Hathaway & June Conquest, & Leroy Hutson. At any rate, these girls can sing and I wasn't disappointed. I understand in the early days Martha Reeves was a part of this group, according to the small bio in the 2 cd Curtom Story set. Handsome |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 554 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 155.139.68.10
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 1:33 pm: �� | ��� |
Hey,I haven't forgotten about you,it was a bit too late last night tocall, butI will talk to her tonight. |
caliluv (caliluv) 2-Debutant Username: caliluv
Post Number: 22 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.251.57.2
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 2:08 pm: �� | ��� |
I'm glad that people still remember this group. "I Can't Stay Away" has always been one of my favorite songs by the Fascinations. A few years ago I was trying to think of a email/screenname and happened to glance at the cd "Out to Getcha" and that has been my screename since. Two things I was suprised to read in the inlet of this cd, was Martha Reeves was once a member of this group and that "Hold On" was recorded first by this group before Gladys Knight on the "Claudine" soundtrack. |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1350 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.163.61.188
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 4:02 pm: �� | ��� |
FYI, The entire background singing group at the GREAT PBS taping last night were from Detroit, including the lead singer of the Debonaires and Ralph of the Floaters. |
~medusa~ (~medusa) 6-Zenith Username: ~medusa
Post Number: 555 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 68.249.245.164
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 5:54 pm: �� | ��� |
KevLo & Graham, Please check your E Mails now. |
Kev-Lo (7273747576) 5-Doyen Username: 7273747576
Post Number: 204 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.236.36.199
| Posted on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 9:31 pm: �� | ��� |
Hi this is Kev-Lo hey medusa once again thanks |
SDF (handsome) 6-Zenith Username: handsome
Post Number: 456 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 170.118.158.14
| Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 11:07 am: �� | ��� |
Here are some other songs the Fascinations recorded: I'm in Love Hold On (as caliluv mentioned) Just Another Reason I've Been Trying Handsome |
Eli (phillysoulman) 6-Zenith Username: phillysoulman
Post Number: 1356 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.236.51.40
| Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 2:36 pm: �� | ��� |
The lady from the Debonaires is Diane Mathis |
Boynextdoor (boynextdoor) 4-Laureate Username: boynextdoor
Post Number: 74 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.165.87.16
| Posted on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 10:20 pm: �� | ��� |
Out to GetCha is a great CD. I got mine at amazon.com. It's about $15.95 and well worth it! |
Don (don) 6-Zenith Username: don
Post Number: 645 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 68.75.168.193
| Posted on Saturday, August 21, 2004 - 8:38 am: �� | ��� |
Hello SD'ers, sorry I got to this thread kinda late. It's all coming back to me Fern Bledsoe, was with The Fascinatoins after all that's what I remember her who she originally started with. I know about her being lead with The Aprils (and/or)Fern & The Aprils on Ran-dee Records. Last night I didn't have anything to do. So I went into the archieves and came across the Hodges, James, Smith & originally Crawford? I missed out on that thread. Basicaly, I'm reading over threads and this thread included and other threads like; Rare Chicago Soul Acts Kable Records Ran-Dee label (Chicago) Markee label (Chicago) Krystal Generation (girl group from Chicago) We Forgot About These Rare Soul Groups Hodges, James, Smith (& originally Crawford) I've always said there has always been a Deroit/Chicago/Motown connection, and others in between. It'll make me feel better that you all have the infomation and can make the connections better now unlike before. Don |