The Chantels - He's Gone

[hollidayevery]

I had not remembered this original version until I heard Syreeta Wright covered it, and then heard the original...Get song, vocals, etc...btw, Richard Barrett also discovered The Three Degrees...he must had a thing for finding girl groups!! Both The Chantels and Three Degrees recorded versions of his composition "Maybe"...does Mr. Barrett sound like someone else we can think of (on the subject of Girl Groups??) wink, wink??

[parisfranceish]

CONNIE SANCHEZ FROM PHILA PA SAYS THIS GROUP IS SINGIN WITH AUTHORITY.I LOVE THIS AMAZING SONG

[dadh133]

Come on. If you're going to post something at least stay away from a 50 cent junk store player.

[TJCATLOVER]

Great song!!!!!!

[mijacons]

They were fantastic...they shoud have been inducted into the "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame".

[giano56]

The Chantels weren't exactly the first. I believe the Teen Queens, The Bobettes and The Storey Sisters

[popmaffe]

i was just wondering where all the women were in doo wop.

glad i found them.

[anywayokay]

More power than modern music. Amazing

[eyeseethroughyou]

The vivian girls do a good job of covering this song. This version is actually better though.

[47yesican]

SWEET OLD SCHOOL!

ARLENE, THE BEST!!

VOICE======

[delionvanadis]

OMG... her voice makes me cry everytime I hear this song...

[Nestor123057]

These are hometown girls from the Bronx, They were just kids when they sang this song.

[catamaita]

it transforms me into liquid

[MizMackie]

Whenever I heard a Chantels song growing up I thought this must be how angels sound singing in heaven. Ear candy!

[cecgen]

I remember seeing them at the Howard theater(DC) and riding around town with Richard Barrett in his Caddy.

[LorenzoMagnifico]

My god this is so great, so much emotion, so fantastic, why arent they still recording there must be a huge market for them. Today's music has no appeal, no emotion, just electronic stuff. Chantels, I love you.

[devonrocks6]

Thank you for the old fashioned experience =D

[wjmatos733]

i really love you...

with all my heart and soul..

come back to me....

and I'll never let you go....

what strong lyrics.....

Mariah and Lady GaGa have nothing on these girls...

Chantels you are the best....

Willie...

[wjmatos733]

I really love you....

with all my heart and soul.....

come back to me...

and I'll never let you go....

wow such powerful lyrics...that was the best.....

these girls had it....

Mariah....and Lady Gaga don't have anything on these girls

the Chantels....you rock forever...

Willie....

[upncummer69]

Hi! My name is John "Marty" Trautman, co-founder & member of a New York CIty doo-wop group known as "The Chevrons". Even though "The Shirelles" had more hits than "The Chantels", I always thought that "The Chantels" were the superior group. While "Maybe" is their signature song, I've always favored "He's Gone". That's just my personal opinion, folks. Doo-Wops Forever!

[ElMOnstroDelTri]

If i had a magic wand, oldies would b played on a console record player, ....good times

[Montavanni]

CanNOT stop listening to this . . . what harmony, timbre and class! . . . We'll never hear anything like this again! Classic.

[Montavanni]

One of the BEST! Thank You for generously posting this xo

[carolinelungu]

oh my i had a little record player like that......in the 70s

[MrSidMan]

@carolinelungu Tell us you had one like that jamming a hit like the Chantels!

[ODonnellTommy]

The Chantels are the greatest girl group and they were catholic school kids. The nuns must have loved that!!!

[MrSaspag]

@ODonnellTommy ain't that a hoot!

[rentslave]

That's what they'll be saying about Obama in a few months after the Supreme Court disqualifies him.

Don't get the wrong idea:I like black people,just not that black person.I met Arlene Smith in Jersey City in 1993.She was very nice.

[leonardgoodwin25]

wish todays music resembled tunes like this!!!

[leonardgoodwin25]

luv the scratches & pops!!!tune would sound awesome in reverb!!!great girl group!!!

[SteveH1947]

I saw the Chantels perform in the very early 70s. This song brought tremendous applause from the audience. They were great!

[whiskey6actual]

i also grew up on the LES -- Smith Projects --- went to PS 1 in 1953 ( first grade) --- Chantels were and are WHATS UP YO

[tonadel]

low self esteem !!?? you kids today no nothing about songs with heart and singing with feelings from the heart...this is about love and you girls that call yoursleves viviian girls could never hope to sing with this kind of heart,

[ekolke]

Great song! Check out the new Vivian Girls cover version! IT IS AMAZING!!

-Eric Chicago

[leonardgoodwin25]

got my vote for hof!!!!

[thomashuggins]

i like this song

[beverlyboo]

@whiskey6actual: I agree with your comment about the low self-esteem theme of the song, but most of the girl groups of that era sang that tune as well. One exception is Leslie Gore's "You Don't Own Me." Also,The Marvelette's "Too Many Fish in the Sea." Ladies, chime in about female empowerment songs from the early 60's

[fabionildo]

Nice Lp player!

[4MKEFEX1]

MY MOMS FAV. SONG!

[whiskey6actual]

i love this song and i love arlene and the girls but this is classic co dependent low self esteem attitude

[lovedogz1]

barbra streisand?

[piraton26]

@whiskey6actual

music interprets emotion we all have felt sadness over relatioships that doesnt mean we are co dependent or have low self esteem. The whole point is to continue to be positive and move foward. However Im thankful for these songs because sometimes music can speak for emotions I cant vocalize.

[leecool1956]

I Grew up on this song my sister would sing this song with her friends looking for the best spot for tha hallowed echo in the hallways of the lower east side of manhattan. I love the chantels.

[mkl62]

10-5-2009. Ain't it great? Arlene Smith is 68. Happy Birthday, Arlene.

[leecool1956]

Is today Arlene Smith's Birthday?

[mkl62]

Yes, it is.

[leecool1956]

That's great October 5th is my birtday also. I turned 53

[mkl62]

It was also my cousin's son's birthday. He turned 20.

[tonadel]

@mkl62 Thanks for posting that ! ..... I think what many writing here are missing is that Arlene Smith was 16 yrs old when she sang this song...yet she sings it with so much feeling and understanding of love and hurt and to add to this, the kid could sing ! How many 16 ys olds today can put a song down like this, with the heart and soul and feeling of love and hurt .......

[thewindrunner]

Michael Jackson blew and has no reference to music such as this.

[1LoFi45]

??? uhm... what's this got to do with MJ?

[posterbag]

orly? fak joo 2!

[WHITTIERCATGIRL]

well i have always loved this song but the men i have thought this song was for were gone for a reason but only the strong survive, homegirls let them go and stay gone there are to many good ones still out there,...

[gregoryagogo]

Eeeeeeeeeeeek! That wonderful tinny sound that can only come from a mono children's record player!! :)

[ProudKansan08]

Never heard this song before-geez the stuff one stumbles upon!! LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its beautiful with all those perfect harmonies.

[STARBARDD]

BRING EM BACK!

[Yaya0Hikari0forever]

hey this song sounds cool and makes me feel weird! it's fun to spin ur head around to! makes u feel drunk!

[litacarola29]

he's gone...Michael Jackson.... so sad :'(

[EdgardosGirl81204]

The Chantels are the forerunners and the first girl group.This record" He's Gone" was released in Aug.1957.The Shirelles 1st" I Met Him On a Sunday" was not released till 1958.Both great groups Elly but Richard Barrett recorded this group 6-9 months before Flo Greenberg recorded the Shirelles.The Demensions recorded Again in 60-61

[elly009]

i thought i would let you know that the chantels are not the forerunners for the first female group it is actually the shirelles but hay they are all good!!!

[Carameldevine]

elly009 the Chantels were first "girl" group to have nationwide success. They set the standard for all girl groups from then on, including the Shirelles. Plus the talented lead singer, Arlene Smith wrote most of their songs.

[amartysdj]

this song taught me about the inner soul how

to lock our being and no matter what we were

always back together thats true love. not even

prison, black magic nothing can tear it apart. they tried they sent him to job corp

me to the convent of the good shep, to the

halls central los padrenls,sylmar lythrop, good ol Ventura School for girls, Las Palmas in back of choppers park. I waited

more than 3/4 of my life faithfully for a man

that did not make me or break me I wont let go now

[474TFW]

I think this hit the airwaves in 1958.....I know it did...TF

[mausoleumkid]

either they ripped off The Demensions melody from the song Again, or the Demensions ripped them off lol does anyone know what year this song came out? Again came out 1960..hmmmmm

[ProudKansan08]

For some reason, mausoleumkid, a lot of songs sounded alike back then.Patsy Cline did at least 2 songs that sounded at the beginning JUST alike. Don't know why, but if you listen to this type of music for a long time (savoring it like a fine wine), you will hear a lot of songs sound almost the same. Same notes, but then they change to a different melody, just ever so slightly.I've always wondered if the songs that sound so much alike were written by the same songwriter.

[linkinchick311]

I absolutely love hearing this even though im 16 i love it, best music ever. =]

[SOURMARTINI0214]

These songs remind me of my momma! She blasts them at every family function. My parents are true Doo Wop junkies, which to their credit I am a life long fan. This is REAL music!!

[clareons]

very impressed thanks x

[onewubbs]

oh man i love that song and that record player too!

[1LoFi45]

Thanks.

[pailintia]

Do you think we are missing the singers or the songwriters?

[MrExchangeLots]

We are missing both my dear. The studios run things and they are caught up in the image, marketing and the packaging. Unfortunately those who have not been exposed to the great older music don't know better and lap up the modern day empty music. Glad to see that there are people out here who can separate the goat from the sheep.

[rdf1947]

One of my all time favorites. I loved Arlene Smith.

[alanvking]

Nice song and great record player. Dansette ?

[1LoFi45]

Thanks. The player is by Arvin.

[BytteBob]

Richard Barret. Not the lawyer/racist dickhead right? How awkward to have the same name :S

[zashafo]

This song is awesome. Why did we lose singers and how can we get them back??????????

[aromazla]

good question. the only way is bringing the style back using today´s megatrends i am 23 but i like this music a lot

[ioxxd90]

I have this on a reissue, but the sound is just the same. I love this so much. I'm looking for an original copy. I understood also that they recorded some songs in a cathedral for the effect of the sound. Plus that young lady could sing her behind off. That harmony floors me every time I hear this.

[rougeboi]

check ebay

[PJDooWop]

I'm guessing the reissue you're talking about would be the silver Collectables label. Those sound great (surprising for Collectables). The hardest Chantels 45 is Maybe on silver and black End. Otherwise they're not insanely expensive. Of interesting note, if you're going for sound quality rather than "pressing" the multi color Ends play much better than the solid grey Ends. It's weird because I think they came from the same master.

[ioxxd90]

I was rather surprised at the sound of my reissue.  I have a copy of "maybe" on the end label, but it's the black label. I also have "I Love You So" on the silver label. I have "So Much" by Littl Anthony & The Impreials on the multi color label. Thanks for that tid bit man.

[CrisVangel]

I agree but when the multicolor get worn it's usually a straight hiss.. styrene plastic of course.. but when unplayed they sound great! Funny I tried to post my 78 of this but copywrite control shut me down.. but at least someone has it here!

[PJDooWop]

It all depends. Yes, most multicolor Ends were styrene, but some of the earlier ones were very thick vinyl. As a matter of fact I have this on a vinyl multicolor press.

[PJDooWop]

I just posted a rare vinyl multicolor End - I Cried by The Starlighters

[lurdanhelhart]

Jesus, listen to that vocal lighting. If only mainstream music today expressed emotions half as intense.

[vincero2006]

Arlene Smith and the Chantels are the finest girl group ever

[vaman77788]

Amazing range! She keeps belting through the whole song..not just a few notes here and there...I think I read she was only 16 when she recorded this....at any rate, l6 or 26, she was fantastic!

[57Will]

Featuring the beautiful lead of Arlene Smith, this was their very first national chart record from 1957.

[yhtaksnobbig]

still have all my original 45s, went to an oldie show a few years ago and had the chantells sign the original record, still have originals by the paragons, the channels, the jive five , the flamingos, the cadillacs, jerry lee lewis on sun records, those were the days

[efunkadelic]

i love the paragons!

[doowoplvr]

Jackie Landry is now deceased.

[efunkadelic]

Chantels line up:

Arlene Smith (Lead Vocals) Sonia Goring, Rene Minus, Jackie Landry, Lois Harris.

[peteykkk]

I think Darlene Love was lead singer! She was very talented!

[thefamilycat]

The info is not quite right-the first girl group was the BOBETTES who had their first hit in 1957 with Mr Lee.

Though I suppose if anyone wanted to split hairs over it the COOKIES were the first when they were known as the RAELETS

[57Will]

In 1954, Shirley Gunter & the Queens, a black girl group from LA, became the very first "black girl group" to make Billboard's R&B charts, hitting with "Oop Shoop". This, by the way, happened two years before the Cookies hit the charts in 1956 with "In Paradise", on the Atlantic label. Ray Charles, who was also on Atlantic, rechristened them as The Raelets.

[sammygoody37]

Can someone put up The Chantels singing "Look at my eyes and tell me you love me. It will be much apreciated. Thanks

[joesatana]

mmmm

thnak you, thank you so

[Nancytuanh]

Thank you for recording this. Hearing this has made my night.

[1LoFi45]

My pleasure. Thank YOU for marking this a favorite.

[aldiboronti]

The Chantels were the first of the girl groups, forerunners of the Crystals, Ronettes, Supremes, etc. They were discovered by Richard Barrett, who also discovered Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. (The girls were singing harmony outside a Lymon concert waiting to get in when Barrett heard them).

[1LoFi45]

Good info. I'll paste that to the description. Thanks!

[doowoplvr]

Arlene and the girls were at the Broadway Theater hanging around, and saw Richard Barrett and the Valentines, and remembered them from the Alan Freed show, they wanted the Valentines autographs, during the chat, the girls said they were a singing group, Richard put them on the spot and asked them to sing, blown away, he put them in touch with George Goldner, owner of Gee Records.

He's Gone......recorded Aug. 1957

[whiskey6actual]

and dont forget those bronx favorites : the CLAREMONTS

[zombiemunkey]

totally dig them

[SHTRICE]

Sweet sound, do you have the original albums, with all the girls on them?

[efunkadelic]

20 years ago... that LP was worth $500.00!

[1LoFi45]

LP 301 (M) We Are The Chantels -- Group photo on the cover; grey label with "11-17-58" in trail off wax. VG+ $1000

[1LoFi45]

No just the single.

[efunkadelic]

that record on the End Records black label is worth a lot of money.

[1LoFi45]

Hmmm. Goldmine says this one's worth $20 in NM condition. Didn't think to look it up thank you.

[efunkadelic]

Not very many pressings on the Black End Label ... but I'm still jealous, hehe

[rebel2rebel]

this is what doo wop is all about, if U don't like ie get the fuck out...