Freitag, 30. Mai 2014

The Continentals (1)



The Continentals (1) (Brooklyn, New York)

Buddy Pane, James Gripper, Danny Hicks, Vinnie Cooper, Herman Montgomery (1956)

Group members:

Herman Montgomery (Lead)
Danny Hicks (First tenor)
Neville “Buddy” Payne (Second Tenor) (replaced with John “Peanut” Jones in June 1956)
James Gripper (Baritone) (replaced with Willie Keels in late 1957)
James Vincent Cooper (Bass)

Discography:

1956 - Fine, Fine Frame / Dear Lord (Whirlin' Disc 101)
1957 - Picture Of Love / Soft And Sweet (Whirlin' Disc 105)

Biography:

The original Continentals were formed in the winter of 1955, when Buddy Payne, Herman Montgomery, James Gripper and James Vincent Cooper asked Danny Hicks to become a member of the Condors. Danny was quoted to say some years later: 'the most interesting factor about joining the Condors I found to be was that all of the members of the group were musicians. Buddy, Herman and Gripper were members of Wynn Center’s renowned marching band and Vinny was an accomplished singer. Everybody knew about his abilities. In addition to which, all of the guys sang in the Glee Club, at their respective high schools'. Herman was the only member of the group that did not go to Boy’s High; he was a student at Brooklyn Tech. Soon after Danny joined the group, they decided to change the name because they felt the name 'The Condors' was a little too similar to the names of other local groups, and they did not want to be mistaken for some other group; they wanted to develop and present themselves in a more unique manner. So, one night after practice, they spent some time wrestling with the problem of what the new name of the group would be. They finally settled on ‘The Continentals’, after a very popular show of the time which presented this suave, free-spirited, independent, playboy type who was very much the ladies man. He was well-dressed, accomplished, handsome and smooth-as-silk with the ladies. And the ladies were crazy about ‘The Continental’ TV show. Thus ‘The Continentals’ were born and they went to work immediately.

They formulated a ten song repertoire made up of two original songs (“Dear Lord” and “Fine Fine Frame”) and eight ‘cover songs’ (material originally done and recorded by others) for which they became well known - because of their ability to 'do the songs better than the artists who had originally recorded the tunes. Vinny was the musical director, Gripper was the choreographer (and the best dancer); Buddy, Herman and Danny handled the lead and background vocals.

It wasn’t long before they began entering local talent shows and singing at local functions like parties, picnics and as ‘after the game’ entertainment. At one appearance, formerly Girls High School, in Brooklyn, they were so well received that they literally needed the police to help them get out of the building after the show. It was that show that set the tone for their subsequent popularity in New York. Then they set out to find a record deal. But before they were able to find a record deal, Buddy Payne left the group and joined the U.S. Marines. At that point, John “Peanut” Jones joined and became an important part of the group.

Finding a good record deal has never been easy; and, in 1956 finding a record company that would listen to you was even more hectic than it is now. In those days, an aspiring singer or group/band had to do ‘cold auditions’; which consisted of performing the songs a cappella (without the benefit of musical accompaniment), in an office or a dingy club or perhaps an auditorium. Needless to say, they became good at singing without music. So good in fact, that they were signed to a recording contract after their first audition. The problem was that it turned out to be a very bad deal for the group and they were relegated to second priority with the label and were seldom promoted by the label’s owners. But despite the lack of exposure by the record company, they continued to prepare themselves for future stardom.

The Continentals recorded for the Whirlin’ Disc Record label. The recordings were:

Fine, Fine Frame b/w Dear Lord - Whirlin’ Disc 101 - recorded and released in 1956
Picture of Love b/w Soft and Sweet - Whirlin’' Disc 105 - recorded in 1956 and released in 1957



Their music became ever more advanced as they continued to expand their ever-growing repertoire. They became so accustomed to each other and so well rehearsed that they did not need notes to help them remember the names of the songs in that repertoire - they simply called out a number. They gave each song title a number and remembered their individual roles in each song by its number. For example,”'Dear Lord” was #1 and “Fine Fine Frame” was #2. So when someone said “#25!” they knew that meant they were going to sing “Why Do You Have To Go?” and so on. By the end of 1956 their song list had almost reached 50 well rehearsed songs. When asked why they practice so much, Vinny remarked, “Because practice makes perfect. And that's what we want to be. Perfect.”

Vinny Cooper, bass singer/bassist, was something of a musical genius. While still in high school, he was a member of New York's prestigious All City Chorus and a scholarship student at world famous Julliard School of Music. So, in addition to his classical background, Vinny loved modern jazz, blues and doo-wop music. Vinny was a renaissance man, well ahead of his time. He was most responsible for the group's innovative approach to music; which eventually led them to the world famous Apollo Theater in Harlem.

Vinny Cooper, Herman Montgomery, Danny Hicks, Willie Keels, John 'Peanut' Jones (1957)

The Continentals influenced many groups of their generation and beyond, witnessed by comments from several ‘rival’ groups members. Without name dropping, one famous singer/song-writer said upon meeting Danny Hicks, and realizing that Danny was a former member of The Continentals, “Gee I always wondered what ever happened to you guys. I heard y’all at a theater in Brooklyn when I was in New York visiting some relatives. My cousin hipped me to y’all and we went to see the next show. Boy! We were blown away. I had never heard such tight harmony; and your vocals were just great. But then you guys seemed to have disappeared. What happened?” Danny only said “It’s a long and familiar story, man. Too painful to talk about.” Another member of the famous R&B group said “There are a lot of groups out today (in the year of 2000) who owe their successful harmonies to you guys. But they don't know it. Before the Continentals, nobody ran the scales; no group had a baritone who could ad-lib; you guys had a bass singer who could sing lead in three octaves and three main lead singers (Buddy, Herman and Danny - and later Peanut) who had different styles; you guys even used octave harmony and that was unheard of back then. I know things didn't work out, but y'all have nothing to feel bad about. We owe you a debt of gratitude for the work you guys left behind”. And so it goes.

One by one the original members left the group and they finally, sadly disbanded in 1958. James Gripper joined the U.S. Air Force before Willie Keels joined the group. But, in 1958, Vinny Cooper suddenly passed away. The guys were devastated. And although they tried valiantly to hold things together, they called it quits at the end of the year. Herman and Danny joined other groups; Peanut joined the U.S. Army and Willie seemed to vanish from the face of the earth.

Sonntag, 25. Mai 2014

The Ikettes (2) aka The Mirettes



The Ikettes (2) aka The Mirettes (St. Louis, MO)
(Photo update by Jean-Christophe)


Jessie Smith, Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields

Group members:

Venetta Fields (lead)
Robbie Montgomery
Jessie Smith

Discography:

Ike & Tina Turner Revue With The Ikettes (2)

1964 – Here’s Your Heart / [Here’s Your Heart (instrumental)] (Innis 3000)

The Ikettes (2)

1964 - Camel Walk / Nobody Loves Me (Modern 1003)
1965 - Peaches ‘N’ Cream / The Biggest Players (Modern 1005)
1965 - (He’s Gonna Be) Fine, Fine, Fine / How Come (Modern 1008)
1965 – Don’t Feel Sorry For Me / I’m So Thankful (Modern 1011)
1965 - Sally Go Round The Roses / (Never More) Lonely For You (Modern 1015)
1965 - Da Doo Ron Ron / Not That I Recall (Modern 1024)
1965 – What’cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You) / Down Down (Phi Dan 5009)

The Mirettes

Singles:

1966 – He’s Alright With Me / Your Kind Ain’t No Good (Mirwood 5514)
1966 – He’s Alright With Me / Now That I’ve Found You Baby (Mirwood 5531)
1968 - In The Midnight Hour / To Love Somebody (Revue 11004)
1968 - The Real Thing / Take Me For A Little While (Revue 11017)
1968 - First Love / I’m A Whole New Thing (Revue 11029)
1968 - Help Wanted / Play Fair (Minit 32045)
1969 - Stand By Your Man / If Everybody’d Help Somebody (Uni 55110)
1969 - Heart Full Of Gladness / Ain’t You Trying To Cross Over? (Uni 55126)
1969 - Whirlpool / You Ain’t Trying To Cross Over? (Uni 55147)
1970 – Ain’t My Stuff Good Enough / Time And The Season (Zea 50002)

Unreleased:

1966 - I Wanna Do Everything For You Baby (Mirwood)

Albums:

  1968 - Take Me For A Little While / The Real Thing / I’m A Whole New Thing / On The Good Ship Lollipop / Somewhere / Keep On Running / First Love / Tweedle Dee / To Love Somebody / In The Midnight Hour (Revue LP RS 7205)

  1969 - Sister Watch Yourself / Somethin’s Wrong / Whirlpool / So Lonely / At Last (I Found A Love) / Heart Full Of Gladness / Ain’t You Trying To Cross Over? / If Everybody'd Help Somebody / Stand By Your Man / I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You) (Uni LP 73062)

Nate Turner, Venetta Fields & The Mirettes / Nate Turner & The Mirettes

1969 - Rap, Run It On Down / Sweet Soul Sister (Uni 55161) 

Biography:

This female vocal trio of Vanetta Fields, Robbie Montgomery and Jessie Smith first began as The Ikettes (second lineup, from 1964 through 1966), backing the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and also scored two nationally-charted hit singles as The Ikettes at Modern Records in 1965 – “Peaches 'N' Cream,” a # 28 R&B/# 36 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in April b/w “The Biggest Prayers” on Modern 1005, and “I'm So Thankful,” a # 12 R&B/# 74 Hot 100 in October on Modern 1011 b/w “Don't Feel Sorry For Me”.

Venetta Fields, Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith

A disagreement in late 1965 resulted in Fields, Montgomery and Smith leaving the Revue but, due to legal problems, they were forced to change their name. Since they had contracted to record for Randy Wood’s new Mirwood label they became The Mirettes and in 1966 they released “He's Alright With Me” b/w “Your Kind Ain't No Good” on Mirwood 5514. It went nowhere, nor did the 1967 single re-issuing “He's Alright With Me” b/w “Now That I've Found You Baby” on Mirwood 5531, likely because what promotional funds were at Wood’s disposal went towards things like The Olympics’ “Mine Exclusively”, and. Bob & Earl’s “Baby It's Over,” both of which became minor hits.

Robbie Montgomery (top), Venetta Fields, Jessie Smith

When they next re-located to the MCA subsidiary Revue in Hollywood in 1968, you might think they may have been better served coming up with a new name, but they stuck with Mirettes when recording a cover of the 1965 Wilson Pickett hit “In The Midnight Hour,” and their sexy delivery got them back on the charts in February/March at # 18 R&B and just missed the Hot 100 Top 40 at # 45 on Revue 11004 b/w “To Love Somebody”. That was good enough to earn them their first LP - the one covered here (Revue LP RS-7205 “In The Midnight Hour”.

Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith, Venetta Fields

From that album Revue also issued these two 1968 singles, but while they did alright regionally, neither could get them back on the national charts: “Take Me For A Little While” b/w “The Real Thing” (Revue 11017) and “I'm A Whole New Thing” b/w “First Love” (Revue 11029). A short stop at the Liberty subsidiary Minit in 1968 where, still calling themselves The Mirettes, they released “Help Wanted” b/w “Play Fair” on Minit 32045 also proved to be unsuccessful.

Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith, Venetta Fields

In 1969 they moved on to UNI Records (Universal City Records), yet another MCA-owned operation, where they recorded the album “Whirlpool” (UNI 73062). These three singles culled from the album all failed to chart in 1969: “Stand By Your Man” b/w “If Everybody'd Help Somebody” (UNI 55110); “Heart Full Of Gladness” b/w “Ain’t You Trying To Cross Over?” (UNI 55126); and “Whirlpool” b/w “Ain't You Trying To Cross Over?” (UNI 55147). A fourth single – “Rap Run It On Down” (Nate Turner & The Mirettes) b/w “Sweet Soul Sister” (Vanetta Fields & The Mirettes) on UNI 55161 also bombed.

Robbie Montgomery, Jessie Smith, Venetta Fields

Zea Records dropped the raunchy "Ain't My Stuff Good Enough” b/w "Time And The Season” in 1970.

Jessie Smith, Robbie Montgomery, Venetta Fields

After Fields departed, replaced by Pat Powdrill who had also spent some time as an Ikette, the trio disbanded in 1971.

Pat Powdrill

Sources:



Movie:

Peaches ‘N’ Cream

Songs:

Ikettes:

Here’s Your Heart

Camel Walk

Nobody Loves Me

Peaches ‘N’ Cream

The Biggest Players

(He’s Gonna Be) Fine, Fine, Fine

How Come

Don’t Feel Sorry For Me

I’m So Thankful

Sally Go Round The Roses

(Never More) Lonely For You

Da Doo Ron Ron

Not That I Recall

What’cha Gonna Do (When I Leave You)

Down Down

Mirettes:

He’s Alright With Me

Your Kind Ain’t No Good

Now That I’ve Found You Baby

In The Midnight Hour

To Love Somebody

The Real Thing

Take Me For A Little While

First Love

I’m A Whole New Thing

Help Wanted

Play Fair

Stand By Your Man

If Everybody’d Help Somebody

Heart Full Of Gladness

Ain’t You Trying To Cross Over?

Whirlpool

Ain’t My Stuff Good Enough
 

Time And The Season

Tweedle Dee

On The Good Ship Lollipop

Sweet Soul Sister

Rap, Run It On Down

I Wanna Do Everything For You Baby

Keep On Running

Sister Watch Yourself

Something’s Wrong

So Lonely

At Last (I Found A Love)

I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You)