 If
you spend a night or two in a grooving night club in
the UK, you’re bound to dance to at least a couple
of northern soul classics by the Velvelettes. Motown’s
fourth major girl group, often suffered a lack of promotion,
but three huge dance hits in the 60s, and a cult status
with soul fans have kept the group alive to this very
day.
Carolyn Gill, Sister Millie, and Bertha and Norma Barbee
founded the Velvelettes at West Michigan State University
in 1961. The gals started to play some small clubs and
the party circuit, before signing to IPG Records to
record, "There He Goes." It wasn’t a
national hit, but picked up some local airplay, and
gathered enough attention to have them picked up by
a Motown talent scout.
In 1963 the group started working for the label, but
with the Marvelettes already being the label’s
consistent hit-makers, Martha and the Vandellas starting
to become big stars, and the Supremes releasing several
sides, the group was not a top priority. The Velvelettes,
along with the Andantes, provided back-up vocals for
other Motown artists before recording some original
material.
1964 brought the single "Needle In A Haystack."
The danceable Norman Whitfield production became a major
release, and the group finally received some well-deserved
recognition. Whitfield produced the equally substantial
hit follow-up, "He Was Really Saying’ Something,"
also an 80s hit for Banarama.
The VIP subsidiary recorded but never released an album
called The Velvelettes in 1965. Tracks includes the
soul stompers "A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two
In The Bush)," and "Lonely, Lonely Girl."
Bootleg cds have unearthed the album, and it is currently
a hot item on the black-market.
The sisters started to disagree on musical direction,
which prompted all but lead singer Carolyn Gill to leave
the group, and the label. Substitutes including Betty
Kelly, Sandra Tilley (both later of the Vandellas) and
Annette McMullen. "These Things Will Keep Me Loving
You," became the group’s last best-seller
in 1966. Interestingly, the group cut a version of "Everybody
Needs Love," previously recorded but unreleased
by Mary Wells, and later a hit for Gladys Knight and
the Pips, but Motown opted not to release this great
cut until 1998.
The new group soon dissolved, and members went out
into the workforce. 1970 saw "These Things Will
Keep Me Loving You," hit the charts in the UK,
but no reunion resulted until 1984. The original sisters
came back to rerecord their hits for the Motorcity label
in addition to new material. An album, One Door Closes,
became a favourite among soul fans, and the group continues
to record and tour. They may not be well known in North
America, but ask
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