The Dells "I can Sing A Rainbow / Love Is Blue" (1969)

[Destroe1]

I'm guessing the two people who gave it thumbs down hit the wrong button by mistake.

[orquideasbellas]

I can feel the passion, when I hear " I Can Sing A Rainbow". I have the music and I play it at my house in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

[CuteCatFaith]

I love this group and this particular group. It just appeals on all levels. The production is fantastic. This is a great song, anyway, and to hear it done by male voices is just super. This is so soulful it is crazy! I spoke to one of the Harptones once, Mundell was his name. Very sorry the performance and interview never happened. Thank you for this posting! Shared. Greetings from France via the USA!

[ACatal1]

@CuteCatFaith Thanks for sharing it, they are great performers.

[CuteCatFaith]

@ACatal1 Near the end of the song, the guy's vocals are super astonishing. I think this is soul just about at its best.

[mediasire]

Now that's a LEAD! USHER CAN TAKE NOTES!

[euphrates556]

Today's artist can learn by listening and if they can comprehend what is true soul music from the Dells, Chilites, Stylistics, Moments, 4 Tops, Blue Magic, Love Unlimited, Intruders, Blue Notes, Delphonics, the list goes on and on.

[wmbrown6]

Sounds like they would've been perfect to do a medley of the Dean Martin lounge classic "Everybody Loves Somebody" and the soul standard "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love" - with Marvin Junior pouring his heart out on the latter and the other members crooning on the former.

[nvrsat]

My all time favorite song of all time and this song was made before I was thought of. Don't get any better thing this kind of music.

[MAXCADY187]

Smut Peddlers - The Red Light prod by The Alchemist

[jamar22100]

The 4 Tops would have murdered this track.

[Destroe1]

@jamar22100 I love the four tops just as much as the next man but not to the point of blastphamine! The Mighty Dells earned there name and if the four tops could top this it would have been there biggest hit.

[GhostTrain615]

It's time for these so-called "neo-soul" manufactured jerks to learn from the best. The Dells were a class act much like other Ol' School groups I listened to. Unforutnately, I don't like neo-soul because it sucks! Listen to this and know how genuine this sounded in our time!

[CuteCatFaith]

@GhostTrain615 The performance and production on this are just outstanding. I am not a soul music fanatic but this one has always struck me deep. Everything is good about this recording! The new stuff is generally dreadful. They seem to be phoning it in!

[siwooot]

Panacea - Colorful Storms (Damu Remix)

[arthurhainline]

Third good song: I See Colours by Edan

[HalSamuel]

This song just inspired a whole other song in my mind. Walter.. fetch me my MPC, shit's about to get serious..

[emperorles]

Edan - "I See Colours"

[BIGPREZY]

Philadelphia Channel 6's "Captain Noah" Kids show used " I can sing a Rainbow" as their sign off song

This is pretty interesting combining LOve is Blue with it.

[TheLordAI]

this song has been used as a sample by producer The RZA

[marmar378]

This is REAL music !!!

[renascencewoman]

i remember mauriat and this (i prefer this one; mauriat wasn't sloppy either). ty. i've always wanted this.

[HippieGirl54]

I LOVE IT...AND JUST POSTED TO MY FB WALL...I copied the above info...thanks for the wonderful memories...it is a great song!!

[quickmajik1000]

One of the greatest groups ever

[MrJmcgui6]

2 people's worlds are blue

[lnapjr76]

@MrJmcgui6

...and they don't have a clue!

[TheWarRoomInc]

For those who do not know, this is the REAL Five Heartbeats! They did not have the flash of the Temptations or Miracles, but very much potent vocal and spectacular!

[BestMusicExpert]

My veetle dot com station plays a 60’s countdown every weekday. The week of July 4th, I’ll be doing a countdown from July 1969 with this song on it. (This week is 1967) Come join us under the music tab: Current & Classic Radio Shows!

[ntankerable]

I can sing a rainbow...thank you to the mighty mighty Dells for music like this.

[princenelson22]

This is how Real Groups performed. Music is a sad industry today.

[IFailed2011]

Jackson Curtin.

[abdul8096]

i was 11 and recgonizes good music and good talent wht has happened to our po po rich little kids are not all their fauolt but if they ever saw a true musical instrument it is it just is shame shame

[Ozerris]

When I hear this song I think of cruising down the streets of robbins, harvey and markham passing by dixie square mall with my dad, music blasting, in the summer with the top down on his green convertable caddy w/ the white interior...going nowhere just cruising…and dad saying, " THESE GUYS live RIGHT HERE" and then he would try to hold that note. He passed away 30 years ago but this song always bring me back to my day's in chicago.

[msmocha11]

@Ozerris I feel youb i,m from the WESTSIDE and my best friend still lives there , and one of my friends was from Robbins

[msmocha11]

@Ozerris I feel you i,m from the WESTSIDE and my best friend still lives there , and one of my friends was from Robbins this was a hell o a group Chicago put out a lot of good groups and actors b WESTSIDE and SOUTHSIDE

[emmettk]

Marvin Junior- That guy has pipes touched by God. The guy is singing so high that most guys have to sing falsetto to sing along. Yet at the same time he sounds totally manly. That's hard to do.

[MrBigpapi01]

@emmettk Actually Marvin Junior sang baritone,but you're right when you noone can touch him.

[fiestatechla18]

now, tell me where in the hell you can find ANY modern day group that even comes within a million miles compared to the vocals and harmony AND delivery that this group lays on you? Not in this lifetime.......and i´ve heard just about all that have come through.

[fiestatechla18]

now, tell me where in the hell you can find ANY modern day group that even comes within a million miles compared to the vocals and harmony AND delivery that this group lays on you? Not in this lifetime.......

[sttroy]

now this is SOUL music

you can smell it taste it feel it

fantastic

[luvmebabynow]

1 BADDDD AZZZZZZZ GROUP

[luvmebabynow]

2 PPL CANT SING A RAINBOW OR KNOW THAT LOVE IS BLUE

[ntankerable]

This is one of best song every made... and thats real.

[art1716]

WHO IN THE H3LL!! this is spectacular/ the delivery the soul the irony the lyrics. Daammnn. it is a shame what is being passed of aas music. and this is never played on the radio. this is criminal.. yall drones dancing to brittany spears and lil wayne and rip off artists like kanye.and satanic drugdealers and their hos. jz and be. and this gets no play. shamme. damn this is the bomb. ok forgive me lord maybe she ain't his ho only his wife. but still!! she sad. great body though

[art1716]

WHO IN THE H3LL!! this is spectacular/ the delivery the soul the irony the lyrics. Daammnn. it is a shame what is being passed of aas music. and this is never played on the radio. this is criminal.. yall drones dancing to brittany spears and lil wayne and rip off artists like kanye.and satanic drugdealers and their hos. jz and be. and this gets no play. shamme. damn this is the bomb.

[Hensonme]

Sing, Dells, Sing!!!! Wonderful -- true music!!!! True Talent!!!! Thanks for posting!!!

[colenbrak]

dope sample by alchemist

[escalade780]

this is the baddest song of all time singing a rainbow? beautiful loved the song as a child did not know who this song was featured by untill a month ago thanks youtube so much ........ and rovingeye2

[loveball6]

They could make music out of anything, I'll bet. You don't hear music like this, anymore. True, right? and why is SO MUCH of children's music watered down PAP??? They deserve better. They're short but they're not dense! This is great!

[loveball6]

seriously! These guys are real men, the way I see it - - -real artists - - they can make superior music out of ANYthing.

[jirehhinton]

neck is broken. wow.

[prettebrownskin4432]

MARVIN JUNIOR...GOOD LAAAWWWD...GOTTA LUV THAT SOUL N HIS VOICE!!!!!

[art1716]

damn damn damn this is funky.. dells you did it again.. wwhat lyrics! what delivery!

[706738784]

I was i the NAM(69-70) when first herd this song. I found out who sang it only a

few weeks ago. What a great song

[vm24seven365]

Thank you rovingeye2 for posting this song...haven't heard it in a looooooong time. Made me smile...

[SoulzIntact]

Listen to my world is blu by blu & exile. He sampled this song an its a truly good song

[TheAudivisioner]

"Love Is Blue" was originally a elevator muzak song.

The Dells really souled up that song.

Solid soul

[grickard319582010]

A timeless classic! Long live The Mighty Dells!

[TRamez]

this is sick but it is for 3 or 4 years old.

the dells shout allot

[freddyv100]

now that's a song , 1960 evrytime beautifull ,

thanks ,

love from belgium

[SPQR8024]

i love this song and im 25 and nas said it best nothings original in translation new school is recyclign the old and the others....well they dont understand music so theyre still tryna find themselves

[MagcialWorldOfMusic]

This song was based on a popular children's song "I Can Sing a Rainbow" and it was originally a #1 instrumental hit by Paul Mauriat in 1968. Wow! A kids song and a R&B version of an instrumental #1 hit, put them together and make it a kids/soul classic. the "I Can Sing A Rainbow" was used at the end of a Philly local based children's show "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark" which was used as a closing theme.

[fumetti]

Only the Dells can turn a lame instrumental by Paul Mauriat into an emotional soul tour de force. They are a deserved member of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame.

[Sangria3]

This is my Opera!!!! When he sings I feel it in the depths of my soul!!!!!

[plol]

Blu&Exile - My World is Blu

Ghostface Killah - ShakeyDog

2 good songs using this GREAT song

[pizza916]

@plol don't forget I See Colours by Edan

[ewalton2477]

@pizza916 also Pit Bull Fights - Raekwon; The Bodega - Skyzoo

[not2shy2say]

@plol You mean sampling this great song.

[hou3g]

@plol don't forget Lupe Fiasco - Gangsta Gangsta. This song is the shit.

[jbachman01]

@plol Beef by Mos Def

[moxey25]

mom used to play this wen we were kids live in england so good music travels the world

[trammix]

I'm in soul heaven when I hear this. Pure soul passion.

[onamemmet]

3 words for you: cash-money millionaires

[centralparocker]

Good song....what memories!

[hensonrb]

I remember the 1st time I saw the Dells in person was at a movie house called 'Lowe's Theater' in Richmond, Virginia. We all thought it was a fake promotion because it was at a movie house and the stage was small with a big blank movie screen behind it. But the guys SHOWED up and WOWED us and WOOED us with their talent! From that moment, they were forever SEALED in HEART, as one of the GREATEST SOUL GROUPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss the old days & these talented performers!!!!!!

[lionwalldees]

ghostface..................sha­key dog

[merry1234567]

Im taking singing lessions now, and now Im learning this song :)

[bama40nhc]

Twirling my girl around in a funky, sexy groove at Schofield skating rink in Indy back in '68....Oh, what a night...

[fixedupdice]

first time i heard this sample was when smut peddlers did "the red light." then i heard prince paul when he did "Open Your Month (Hypohalamus)". then i heard everybody else with the sample. now i understand why people come back to this song. its fucking amazing!

[RichyCologne]

great

[1obsidianrising]

i swear...i wish i could sing like that......i know we all blessed with different talents.....but day-----uuum

[TheSoulmusiclover]

Holy shit, what an amazing rendition of love is blue. Ive always liked this song, but dam The dells really took it into to a completely different level. Wow.

[paulibeva]

Hello rovingeye2, thank you so very much for this information. The Dells have been a favorite of mine for as long as I can remember, but could not find such detailed info. on them. Congrats on a job well done!

[TheMarcelius]

This was my song,,loved this group,,Like i said,All 4 or 5 man groups were killin it back then,,, Jus have the best of the basics,,Lead tenor,Falsetto,A little Baritone and a Bass,,

Unlike many of their contemporaries, the group's lineup did not change much from 1960 and consisted, until 2009, of falsetto leader Johnny Carter (died August 21, 2009), baritone lead singer Marvin Junior and background singers Mickey McGill, Verne Allison and Chuck Barksdale.[1]

[eurolove06]

favorite song

[taquanrocks]

Love this song!

[raul9797]

Nothing like the classic R&B sound

[NoOdLeS0820]

amazing track!

[THIZZAVELI]

Ghostface killah sampled this. This song was ahead of it's time.

[TheLastLaffer]

@THIZZAVELI yup shakey dog

[TheLastLaffer]

@THIZZAVELI to be more specific though the beat was made by lewis parker a uk producer thats tight with ghost

[sparkdiligent]

This is a classic...Blu and Exile used this too....

[Legendary12008]

this is da SHIIIIIIIIIIT

[nunusoosexi]

.My Grandad Wrote This Song

[chimwemwe23]

good for you (no sarcasm intended.)

Nar im just joking sarcasm was intended

[9tiin]

i believe you

[CreationArtist]

really?

[deloisfromil]

@nunusoosexi tell him thanks

[fumetti]

@nunusoosexi which one? Love is Blue or I can sing a rainbow?

Anyway, the Dells took a lame instrumental by Paul Mauriat and made it a soulful tour de force in 1969.

[fumetti]

@fumetti Love is Blue...which was a number one pop hit in the US in 1968.

[CharlieAceHawk]

@nunusoosexi........ Thats awsome who is your grandad

[bama40nhc]

@nunusoosexi If your Granpaw wrote this song, he is responsible for many moments spent engaging in young love and experimentation...(smile)

[janiah0104]

@bama40nhc I haven't heard Schofield skating rink mentioned in years. It definitely brings back memories

[bama40nhc]

@janiah0104 Yeah, well I also remember when "fun mobiles" were the rage, Lockefield Gardens belonged to some of the craziest black folk on earth, and even when there was no FM radio only WIFE. The Lord was merciful to us when WTLC came along( keep smiling)

[poppad48]

@bama40nhc you have to be from Indy. and ona clear night and I mean real clear we could get WOWO out of Chicago. Spiderman, Roger Holloway, live on!!!

[bama40nhc]

@poppad48 Don't forget Cas u al Cal from the TLC line-up...And my formal schooling line-up was PS 27(old), PS 45, PS 26 and ATHS...Nap all the way, baby!

[abysmalatrocious]

@nunusoosexi Neat! Do you have his musical talents? This song is a lot to live up to! [laughing]

[funkateerkitty]

@nunusoosexi God Bless this man!

[art1716]

@nunusoosexi your granddad did one heck of a job. he put his foot on it and kept walking!!!!damn!!!i hate to cuss but this song is so funky so ironic so superior, so llyrical so so so damn!!! i said it again!! your grandpa was a baaaaad man, may he be blessed and you. i pray somebody got paid!! if not take veengence!! inherit the gift he left and put these weak mf's out of bussiness!!! who call themselves song writers!! this is a song!long live the mighty dells!!!

[stephenpaulbeckett]

@art1716 Certainly a great tune. Knew it even as a 14 year old kid... Took some flak from my mates though... Philistines!!!!!!!!!!!!

[chrismzac]

@nunusoos my uncle sang this sone

[nellybee562]

@nunusoosexi he is a genius! smh love this song. it reminds me of my grandad rip papa

[gj1441]

@nunusoosexi thats so coollllllll!!!!! i love this song to death

[onamemmet]

timeless soul perfection.

can you imagine kids are listening to this empty, fake-ass computer crap today thinking it's music?

[onionbob]

@onamemmet There's a lot of prejudiced, narrow-minded people who would suggest that soul music isn't "real" music either, what with it being not part of the classical western tradition. I love all kinds of music. Insulting a whole genre or methodology of music-making just reveals you as an intolerant person who doesn't care about what music is or what it does. There is passion and art in all kinds of music. Just because you don't get it doesn't mean it's not there. I feel sorry for you.

[T3HARS3N1C]

@onamemmet dont gotta imagine it, its already here... :/

[VideoVixen24]

@onamemmet

No need to imagine it, because that's what's happening.

[T3HARS3N1C]

@onamemmet hmmmmmm...music is just an expression so it can't really be put into bin saying bad and good...keep opinions in your mind, as only controversy arises...

[art1716]

@onamemmet forgive me lord for calling be a ho! i apologize to jz. not for the fact that they both lack talent and are leading generation astray. or that the fact he is a lost satanic slave to materialism and she is a drone schizo who ussed your looks instead of her talent and will pay the price when the wallls fall, but for now she is someones daughter and still a christrian regardless of her problems aat the moment, amen

[art1716]

@onamemmet forgive me lord for calling be a ho! i apologize to jz. not for the fact that they both lack talent and are leading generation astray. or that the fact he is a lost satanic slave to materialism and she is a drone schizo who ussed your looks instead of her talent and will pay the price when the wallls fall, but for now she is someones daughter and still a christrian regardless of her problems aat the moment, amen jesus deliver her.

[art1716]

@onamemmet forgive me lord for calling be a ho! i apologize to jz. not for the fact that they both lack talent and are leading generation astray. or that the fact he is a lost satanic slave to materialism and she is a drone schizo who ussed your looks instead of her talent and will pay the price when the wallls fall, but for now she is someones daughter and still a christrian regardless of her problems aat the moment, amen jesus deliver her. oh yeah and him.

[JonasClark]

@onamemmet Hey, watch those generalizations! I was born in '79, and I adore loads of modern music, including the computerized stuff; it has a different aesthetic, but it has merits. Doesn't make stuff like this any less great, though; anyone who claims that is full of bull. Just about every form of music from every era has merit - it all depends on the performer and the listener. But this, one of many great covers of "L'Amour Est Bleu", is wonderful.

[claraquick]

Ahh! This is incredible! So much soul and depth...thank you for the share!

[ehb20906]

The Music Industry doesn't make songs like this no more

[TheLastLaffer]

i listen to this song everyday its such a good fuckin song i cant describe

[paulibeva]

These guys put their EVERYTHING in their songs. Thanks for the great post!!!

[xkejjer]

ghostface killllllah!!

[pussypitcher]

BLU

[wattstaxnchips]

also...

dialated peoples (alchemist)

9th wonder & skyzoo

gravediggaz

[TheLastLaffer]

thanx for posting

[TheLastLaffer]

im only 17 and i love this song

[scandra47]

They singin this song like they mean this thang.!!!!!

[jazzidiva]

I'm only 25 and I love this song!

[gravelpit00]

That's right man !!!!!!!

[jsain360]

This is my shit