The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack

[dave2806]

still got a great voice

[tim60s321]

great vid

[tim60s321]

GREAT SONG GREAT PERFORMANCE..CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS ONLY GOT TO 45 ON THE BILLBOARD HOT 100 and 34 IN ENGLAND...WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH US...I SUPPOSE IT WAS THE HEIGHT OF BEATLEMANIA AND GUITAR GROUPS AND WASNT GIVEN PROPER PROMOTION...BERRY GORDY AT MOTOWN DIDNT WANT THEM TO THREATEN THE SUPREMES POSITION AS HIS TOP GIRL GROUP..THANKS FOR WONDERFUL VID

[omayhew]

Bring back Motown

[jamaicangoodguy]

THIS WAS THE FIRST NORHERN SOUL TRACK I EVER HEARD IN 1977.GREAT MEMORIES.

[tim60s321]

i ve always loved this record-such classic Motown- but only now can i see the ladies perform thanks to you and Youtube.. and now i love them even more!

[papamac630]

We kinda claim the Velvelettes as Kalamazoo's contribution to Motown...they met at Western Michigan...and two of them remained in the area...one of whom taught music for years...an underappreciated part of the Motown era...

[cubanarama]

Great group!

[kickthecat65]

this song original never charted in england ,in the eighties every pub club dj played this classic. unfortunately acid rap trance hip hop and all that souless trash took over.

[darkon4431]

they are doing it so right

[MrFalconford]

I'd like to go to one of their concerts, very polished.

[CharlesBarry]

I'am loving it, Doodle Lang Doodle Lang !!!

[shorelineboy]

i love this song one of my fav motown greats. Used to dance to this at the shoreline club in bognor uk great allnighter and all weekender.

[shorelineboy]

 i love this makes you want to dance for ever

[shorelineboy]

i used to be on the dance floor like a flash of thunder when this was played and like my name i always associate this song with the shoreline club in Bognor UK.

[BobChippewa]

a very underrated, talented group

[daqhibs]

blow me over this takes me back 30+ years..... I keeped the faith did you.... lol

[peacelovelife91]

I just recently discovered this amazing epic song through the great DJ Tom Petty (on his "buried treasure" XM show...)- it is AWESOME! What a great song :) so vivacious, so soulful- and such truthful lyrics too....rockin'

[stew1250]

this is a great track ,I have got the original 45 record put out in the uk on the stateside label first recorded 1964

[SPANDEXDOMS]

Thanks Ian....what you do is INVALUABLE!!!! let know one dispute that!

[art1959lee]

no, the dreamgirls were a thinly disguised take on the supremes. of course, it's denied by all parties involved... too close to the truth for some, i guess...

[dianneclarkson]

luv it :)

[daledays]

You were REALLY saying something....  I heard it , got it , danced in freedom and never looked back!

[daledays]

Hours and I mean HOURS of dancing over the past 35 years and there's nothing to compare with this!  Thank you ladies, you put beat in my bones and passion in my pumps. You taught this milky white Convent girl how to live from the soul.... Like finding a needle in a haystack!

[caraphyllis]

Saw these ladies on July 31, 2010 in NYC, and they were great! So much energy, and their voices still sound very good, especially the lead singer. It was great to hear this oldie again.

[CharlesBarry]

Nice clip thanks, and they really sound good live !

[TheSexysox1]

Love this Brilliant.x

[holgerspeckter]

fantastico!

[MrsH37]

they just dont make them like this anymore do they???!!!! Another great tune..... thanks for sharing!! :-)

[MICKEYSMONKEY]

good job

[ecnalubma696969]

Oh my God, they're even better-looking now!!!!

[mschest]

This is my first time seeing the Velvelettes. Is that Cal leading? She is so pretty.

[KinomiyaMichiru]

I had never heard of The Velvelettes till like 5 minutes ago. I play a game on Facebook called MusicPets, and my pet fetched this song. So,I came to YT to hear the complete song. And,I really like how this sounds. It has that 60s Motown sound! :)

[catweasel28]

So pleased to read your narrative there, Ian. I sometimes feel that this is the greatest, most quintessential Motown single ever. Many thanks for sharing your thoughts and, of course, this sublime video.

[iloveyouhunny]

AS GOOD LIVE AS ON RECORD XX

[kenturner1947]

Ian Levine. Could somebody tell me where i could buy a copy of this fantastic

video, somebody reply please.

awesome

[ducdejoyeuse]

Wonderful memories came flooding back, thanks.....

[maida1982a]

Scheduled to play in NYC, Summer 2010-who are the members these days?

[c130mover]

wow lead singer  hot

[seannoriega1030]

They tore this song up...

[BAREBACKER]

a great motown girl group, like other female artists at motown they were a casualty of berry gordys obsession with diana ross and never got the recognition they deserved

[MrNocona]

Thanks so much

[RainbowRunner123]

not heard this for years, brill record

[deltorso]

I could listen to this for ever -- classic track

[nvwho]

Amazing been on the dance floor to this for 30 years now.

[BrightonBeachBabe]

Just great to hear this again - thanks for posting :)

[HelloiMWithStoopiiT]

excellent!!!!

[MsCMcGrath]

Where is that needle? :)) x - 5***** straight to faves :)) x - after many repeats played..... SuRe takes me back...

[Freyja1133]

This is the best advice song ever written!

[mwoodhouse2222]

i love this ! these girls rock !

[kakisra]

now thats why i love motown

another classic one (:

[freddyscot]

superb, thanks for a truely great posting! what a group I could listern all day

[pooliepete]

northen soul great

[celticcatty]

absolute classis, wow i never tire of this KTF

[hanoverkid]

awesome

[c130mover]

well dogs bolllockssss  great

[Freyja1133]

This is one of my favorite Motown girl groups

1) the Velvelettes

&

2) the Marvelettes

[vorsprung1]

i wonder how many teenagers switched to the northern/motown scene after listening to this , yup one one the first motown records i bought , this and this old heart of mine , isley bros . mint post as per ian .

[musicaholicz]

Not only listening to this.. Old soul songs are very good! especially motown!

[c130mover]

true

[crackergurl22]

These Girls are proof FLINT,MI

[BobBerkeley]

I heard the Velvelettes on Top 40 radio in L.A. in the early 1960s, and I haven't forgotten them yet! But I never saw them until now. This was SOUL, this was ROCK, this was MOTOWN!

[victoriaguitar]

Thank you for sharing this video. I had never heard of the Velvelettes before seeing them on YouTube. These women are extraordinary. They make it look easy, but I know thousands of hours of work went into their magical act.

[tummielvr]

Motown did this group really wrong. They were really talented and had some GREAT songs but got NO play at all

[Freyja1133]

tum,blame the disc jockeys& berry gordy

I have a question for you Were the Stepp Sisters( Dream girls)

based on the velvelettes?

[imnotayoungmananymor]

@Freyja1133 No it was based on the Supremes

[TheForsakenFalcon]

lol this song pwns but i have 2 say, this goes both ways ;o finding a women around my area whoms actraul afemanent is hard D= most are more god dam masculine then I am!!!! D=

[Cintheaa]

I had never even heard of the Velvelettes before this YouTube video. Your sharing just made me aware. Thanks so much for posting.

[MrBasilcat]

Superb reminds me everytime of dancing my nights away at Wigan Casino

[tootsie4u67]

Bertha McNeal of the Velvelettes was my music teacher in Middle school in Kalamazoo Michigan, and I always had high reguards and repect for her. Shes a wonderful singer and performer !!

[tummielvr]

that is really cool

[IdaSputum]

GREAT

[tlacf]

Could listen to it over and over........and indeed have over the last few days.......thought I'd check out some visuals.......didn't disappoint. Thanks.

[hurniheath]

class

[toastnotghosts]

great track

[bladenukem]

Great performance sound good.

Maria

[carbonlarge]

Obviously have parents with great taste :o)

[preciousscicche]

CLASSIC!!! =)

[ParanormalChloee]

I wasnt born til the 90s, but my mum and dad are into the 60s mod era and they listen to all the ska/motown music, they played this the other day and I thought it was awesome!

[stoke101]

like your style-classic soul will never die- steve

soul on trent

[Rodion48]

With that said, not only are they lovely, and have that perfect sound, but what is better, every member simply radiates 'personality'. In this they have a way of performing that IMO one isnt just listening to a song or watching a performance , one becomes part of it. Extraordinary, and in short order they have become my favorite Motown group. I'm not 14 :) but its never too late to discover songs one wants to listen to 20 times a day. Thank You for presenting The Velvelettes!!!!!!

[Rodion48]

The Velvelettes? I think I have heard of them somewhere, and looking at the dates on some of the selections offered, it seems they recorded 'before my time". On second thought, and listening to how great all their songs are on a sudden "Youtube Velvelettes tour", it didn't have to be that way. Buying Motown singles starting in the late 60s-early 70s, I would have just picked up their "Greatest Hits Vol I" when buying their "Greatest Hits Vol II" album :) What a group.

[lowflyer284]

superb ! the tops .

[gayboylaca]

A great performance. I wonder what happened to Annette McMillan. Does anybody know?

[muckbluvid]

Motown wonder years (61-68) when about everything they put on 45 was "in there." Even simple little ditties like this just oozed soul and sass.

But Motown albums often were a different story.

[mickbolton1]

I saw the amazing Tamla Motown Revue at Wigan ABC cinema in 1964 - Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, Miracles, Stevie Wonder, (+ Georgie Fame) - an amazing show played to an audience of less than 100. Unfortunately no Velvelettes - this is one of my all time favourite records - perfect in every detail.

[raresoullover]

great stuff

[ashstar220687]

my sisters nan was a velvellette :) past away now. R.I.P

[IanLevine]

All the original Velvelettes are still alive, so it could only have been a later substitution. Sandra Tilley maybe ????

[behdoc]

@IanLevine

Annette McMillan is deceased also.

[PhilK22]

@ashstar220687 Something to be proud of, mate.

[chrisdavid4026]

@ashstar220687  god rest her soul...love the music

[MotownMaster]

@ashstar220687 was your sister Sandra or Anette?

[jamesclarke1994]

@ashstar220687 if it was your sisters nan then it would of been yours as well :/

[Freyja1133]

it's a shame that the supremes eclipsed the Velvelettes.. The velevelettes always will be my favortie girl group

[kelvin98]

I remember this from my youth. Fantastic days and nights at the Wigan Casino and the Highland room in Blackpool.

[MrBasilcat]

Ever go to Dixiland in Morecambe ?

[Freyja1133]

Athis is`the best`advice song ever written!

[bev750]

There are a few good Men left. It all depends on what he is looking for.....in a woman.

[littlemanten]

northen soul icons

[clivetemple]

Still great girls. Classic tune.

[Ispeaktruth09]

Truer words were never spoken.

I like this tune.

[jenny5466]

Fantastic!! : )

[CandyinYuma]

smooooooth, nice on the eyes

[matts1874]

my wee girl loves this song, does the clap perfect

[plungerharris]

superb tune , and fantastic performance. Just brilliant :)

[nadun86]

awesome song

[rmbb10]

Nice.

[BeccaJade90]

classic! i can listern to this over and over!

[xkeexkeex]

i love northern soul my mum use to alway be at wigan casino

[BeccaJade90]

i love this song! the best northern soul song ever!! x x i can listern to it over and over! x x

[jelboysvw]

The Girls look great!! well done Ian.

[acerwin50]

one of the best in Northern soul beat i spent hours kickin it to this awsome thanks for sharing...

[jokester2009]

excellent. I listen to this every day.

[giacchinyc]

just great! i have always adored this sound... too bad they got overlooked (but not by me!) thanks for sharing this amazing video!

[bdubad]

Wow. *This* was their era... sometimes you have to let sleeping dogs lie. I saw them last week and ... giiiiiiiiiiiiirl, it was rough.

[matts1874]

you better look before you leap, fantastic,

[paultinsel]

they sound amazing

[catheyeluvsmusic]

Can you believe how good they look and sound?!?! This is off the hook!!

[kellnergram]

IanLevine, wonderful release. Never heard of these girls before, but they are good!

[HenryFussy]

Ian: if you have any videos of Eddie Holland performing I'd sure like to see them....I understand he had BAD stage fright. Thanks. p.s. also thanks for the info you shared with me about "24 Hours a Day" and Barbra Pennington

[stubulman]

You go girls!! What a great performance.

[venoose1]

Great performance! Makes me want to sing and dance!

[sapper786]

Fantastic, love Motown, but have never heard of these girls! What else have I been missing out on?

[dlk008]

luv the velvelettes, thanx for postin it

[redrock1965]

TOP SOUND ,,THIS IS GREAT ,,LEGEND

[allwayssoul]

here here!!!

[StewartBloor]

One of my favourite Motown tracks, and that's saying something.

[DetroitD60]

I was at this particular show at the Ponchitrain Hotel Rooftop in Detroit.

[jamie0090]

great old song ..

[runamoke4fun]

still makes me want to get up and dance

[jfroggett]

Oh....casino classics. Fantastic!

[switlips2]

this song is so true finding a good man is like finding a needle in a haystack.

[maida1982a]

I had never heard of this song or this group until last night when a band called Parallax Project covered it. (They were the openers for Magic Christian which features Cyril Jordan, Clem Burke and Eddie Munoz, so glad I went early.)Thanks for posting this super gem.

[hebneh]

This is SUCH a good song. I probably heard it when it was originally released, but it wasn't a big hit at the time. I re-encountered it in the "Girl Groups" video in the '80s, as sung by the Blossoms on "Shindig", and since then I have continued to love it.

[blackbirdtwigg]

Superb,what class.Thanks for posting this Ian.

P.s.whats happened to Sorens newsletters?ive emailed him but had no response !Cheers mate,Steve.

[IanLevine]

Soren seems to be busy with his own stuff.

[gorgon53]

I've always been quite appalled how Darlene Love, a singer I adore, has always been so snooty about this lovely song. Shindig made her sing "bubblegum", etc.

Witness these stunning and talented lovelies, who originated this hit for the ages.

Maybe "bubblegum" in Darlene's books, but for me, beyond fine gal funk.

[danndriff]

VEYR COOL

[sophiemorris41]

I'm sixteen and i work in Republic and tis song comes on and i love it. its so catchy!

[Individuell83]

One of my velvelettes favourites

[immadeofplastic]

i'm 14 and heard this on radio 2 on a random saturday morning and fell in love. it is so damn catchy.

[c130mover]

its a classic  and jivin to it is heaven lol

[c130mover]

u listen to a radio? wow

[crackergurl22]

One of my all time faves. The Velvelettes. If your from Flint,MI do you remember WAMM radio.

[Islwynpaul]

One of the greatest pop songs ever recorded, full stop, no argument.

[1961FloridaBoy]

THE BEST AND ONE OF THE KIND.

[waynebrasler]

When the Velvelettes beat the Supremes in a Detroit competition that spelled big trouble for them at Motown. They never got the material, production or promotion they deserved. Berry Gordy gave all sorts of excuses as to why they didn't get an album, including change of personnel (only the Four Tops didn't have such changes). Diana Ross and Carolyn (Cal) Gill would room together on tours but seems there was no room for them together at Motown..

[amanda516xp]

Nice song! I like this song because we were dancing to this song in dance at our school. Thanks for posting ths song on youtube. When was this scene shot? THANKS!

[sexysassyandlovely69]

Great performance and they look great...thanks for the informative paragraph; it's always good to know details about performances, songs, etc. Loved it...thanks IanLevine for uploading such good music.

[IanLevine]

You are more than welcome.

Thankyou for your support.

[heyroz27]

What happen to them? Weren't they on Motown like the other girl groups? Did they come out before the Marvlettes, Martha and the Vandellas or the Supremes? You dont hear about them when they talk about motown. Im glad you posted their music, thanks again.

[crackergurl22]

I remember Wamm Radio in Flint (the only black radio station then in the city) playing this song and one of the girls from this group pulled her car over to a phone booth and called the radio station they had her live on the air. It was so cool.

[samjtwinn]

I was a collector of this group in the mid 60's and still have their 45's. It's nice to see others appreciated them also, good job Ian.

[c130mover]

who was the lead singer on the vid? all were great

[IanLevine]

Cal Gill also known as Cal Street also known as Carolyn Gill also known as Cal Gill-Street.

[HWKUK]

Dont laugh but ive just discovered this great group (along with the Soul Stirrers) today bit late l know lol, but hell what a sound what a groove!

Steve London UK

[IanLevine]

Check through the 311 videos I have posted up here so far, and you might discover a few more too.

[theboyfromxtown]

Thank you Ian....thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[Margandy]

Timeless classic ....

[c130mover]

fantastic

[guitarskin]

My favorite girl group of Motown and my FAVORITE SONG!!!

Thanks for posting. Tempo slightly different my my old record but I still love it. Thank you.

They were on a PBS special a couple of years ago.

[Discoboy1974]

For those who'd like to receive the free e-mail NEWSLETTER "Reaching for the Best" I'm doing on Ian's productions, please sign up by sending me your e-mail address!

[maxicov]

Judging by the backdrop, this seems to be the same gig as the one in which the Valadiers are featured singing "What's wrong with me baby". Am I right? If so, where was it held and when?

[IanLevine]

The roof of the Pontchartrain Hotel in Detroit, over two nights, August 3rd and 4th 1990, which was seventeen and a half years ago now.

[boortz47]

Thanks, Ian. Were it not for you I don't think we'd have any older video images of this great underappreciated group. Thanks for all that you've done to help keep so many of the Motown legends documented on video and albums.

[pinkync]

I loved the beat and the energy and the beauty.

[Discoboy1974]

Superb from start to finish. Absolutely lovely! And as LetsBeModern said, yes, Motorcity was the one label who made The Velvelettes' first album happen - "One Door Closes" - five classic songs + five new classics, including the very Motown-esque "Running Out of Luck", the northern soul-ish title track, and the stomping "Pull My Heartstrings" ... love it!

[motown250]

great to see them still going

[IanLevine]

They are indeed, although this footage was shot nearly eighteen years ago.

[roanoke3]

I thought they looked a little young, BUT, that had to be Cal. Who else sounds like that? Cool!

[Soulanddisco]

I always wanted to see a decent video of the girls performing this.

[ianhow2478]

I also own the "wonderful" album on Motorcity Records both on vinyl and cd, and, as with "all" my Motorcity collection it is played and "loved". This is a "treat" to watch and listen to!

[LetsBeModern]

Love it! I was a little upset to see on the Motown compilation released on them that they were calling it "their very first album" which isn't the case since they cut one on Motorcity Records well before. And a great album that TRUE first album is, too.

[theboyfromxtown]

I think on the Motown compliation to which you refer...I am sure that the reference was "their first Motown album" or somethign like that. You are right though -Motorcity came first. I am sorry you were upset. Blame me!