The Fleetwoods - Runaround

PLEASE NOTE: I divided my uploads between multiple channels, Bookmark this link in your browser for instant access to an index with links to all of John1948's oldies classics. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/Channel-Index

Although the Fleetwoods' sound was smooth, without many of the rougher edges of doo wop groups, they were one of the few white vocal groups of the late '50s and early '60s to enjoy success not only on the pop charts, but also the R&B charts. The Fleetwoods' forte was ballads -- beginning with their 1959 debut single, "Come Softly to Me," the group racked up a number of hits over the next three years, and nearly all of them were ballads. The group broke up in 1963, but their songs -- particularly "Come Softly to Me" -- became pop-rock classics of the pre-British Invasion era.

Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxell formed the Fleetwoods while attending high school in Olympia, WA. Originally, the group consisted only of Christopher and Ellis, but the duo soon asked Troxell to accompany them on trumpet. Shortly after his arrival in the group, Troxell abandoned the trumpet and concentrated on singing once the other two members heard a portion of a song he had written. Following some contributions from Christopher and Ellis, the group had written "Come Softly to Me." They began performing the song at various events around Olympia, eventually gaining the attention of Bob Reisdorff, who ran the Seattle-based label, Dolphin Records.

Dolphin released "Come Softly to Me" early in 1959 and the song became an instant hit, climbing to number one on the pop charts and number five on the R&B charts; it also reached the Top Ten in U.K. The Fleetwoods weren't able to immediately produce a follow-up single as successful as their debut, but their third single, "Mr. Blue," was a number one pop and Top Five R&B hit in the U.S. in late 1959. By the time of its release, Dolphin had changed its name to Dolton. For the next three years, the Fleetwoods had a string of minor pop hits. The group wasn't able to consistently place singles in the upper regions of the charts partially because Troxell was drafted into the navy at the height of the group's popularity at the end of 1959. Troxell was replaced by Vic Dana, who would later have a string of his own hit singles in the early '60s.

The Fleetwoods last Top Ten single arrived in the spring of 1961, when "Tragedy" climbed the U.S. charts. The group disbanded two years later, after releasing their final single, a cover of Jesse Belvin's "Goodnight My Love." Over the next three decades, the Fleetwoods reunited occasionally to perform concerts and oldies revues. In 1973, the group recorded an album with producer Jerry Dennon, but the resulting recordings were unsuccessful. In 1990, the Fleetwoods -- featuring Christopher, Troxell, and instead of Ellis a singer called Cheryl Huggins -- played a tour on the American oldies circuit after Rhino released the compact disc collection, The Best of the Fleetwoods. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Category:

Education

Tags:

• vocal
• doo
• wop
• pop

[Dudley1948]

John...I can't tell you how long I've waited to hear this song. I first heard it when I bought their first album. It was then when I fell in love with this song (I have lost the album since - or my ex-wife took it). Nevertheless, I can hear it all I want now. Thanks so very very much.

[John1948Five]

@Dudley1948 I know just how you feel Dudley. Missing our great oldies is what got me started with youtube.

[sessylu80sboy]

for my daddy who passed on last jan8,2010 oh how iv wished i grew up with my daddy in their era with my mommy-classic & true music they were.they can never equal their nostalgic beauty- i envy u guys who hav gone before us..GOD BLESS U 4 SHARING THIS UNDYING MUSIC!

[John1948Five]

@sessylu80sboy It sounds to me like you grew up with something just as good - great parents and a loving family.

[VealParmigiana]

Fleetwoods were one of the best groups at harmonizing.

[czy373]

Thanks for your reply. (I was an Army doc for 20+ years, and interfaced with many USAF folks.) Our daughters hopefully are typical of their generation, which seems to be discovering that there is life beyond rap! Good music has a way of enduring, and can often transcend generational differences.

[1863year]

@czy373 Medic in the AF 23 years - lived through these times - my daughter now and for some reason loves oldies - go figure...............

[sasquash12]

Aaaaah. So lovely. This is too good. 1960 eh? Cool.

[czy373]

Thanks for sharing this timeless classic. As a teenaged sax player when this came out, I dreamed of backing up the Fleetwoods, especially on this tune. Not to be, of course, but hearing this music again means a great deal to those of us who have lived life passionately. For many of us fortunate enough to find a calling in the healing professions, music is always there in the background to strengthen us. Even my 22-year-old daughter is beginning to understand...and hopefully will pass it on.

[OceansOverSkies]

This is real music,

not like the stuff they play now on the radio with there auto tuning,

and expensive sound boards, this is it. Just pure simple music,

using soft voices to harmonize and real instruments to play.

[flynnkills77]

@VealParmigiana KNow any harmonizin groups? I absolutly love this kind of music



[lesgore54]

This is the alternate version issued by United Artists on the "Very Best of the Fleetwods" lp in the 70s. In this version which is looser and not as tight as the original 45, the drummer does not hit the cymbal going into the middle, instrumental section. Great to have both versions on youtube.

[Dudley1948]

@VealParmigiana

Yes they were. And because I saw your name I now have to go to Luigi's Ristorante tonite.