Northern Soul: Key to my happiness

The powerful driving intro of the Charades .. The brilliant counterpoint chorus of the Love-tones .. No central bontempi refrain. Key to my happiness.

The MGM CHARADES were formed with a different line-up when the original 1950/60's Doo-wop group, who had planned a comeback, were reluctant to sign a new contract. This prompted the record label to work with a mysterious new act based in New York. However, when soul singer Dean Courtney moved from RCA records to MGM, he mentioned that John T Mac Junior had been running The Charades. The same group may be linked with the Charades that recorded 'You're With Me All The Way'/'Power Of Love' on the Mercury label in 1965 -both sides written by J. Mack. Robert Pruter's 'Chicago Soul' book, explains that only a few Chicago acts in the 60's appeared on Mercury. The producer credited on the label is Tom Wilson -best known for his work in the 1960s with Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, Simon and Garfunkel and The Velvet Underground. Arranged and conducted by Horace Ott. The Charades recorded two 45's for MGM Records; 'Key To My Happiness/'Weeping Cup' (66) written by Robert Gerald Maxwell 'I Don't Want To Lose You'/'Never Set Me Free' (66) written by Maxwell flip Rhodes-Casey 'Can't Make It Without You'/'Love Of My Life' also recorded by the Charades (Okeh Records) 1964 -arranged and conducted by Horace Ott. 'You Better Believe It'/'Darling Believe Him' also by the Charades (Harlem Hitparade) Woodbury, New York 1973. Distributed by Pickwick Records, this is a much earlier recording -again, written by Horace Ott. "From the very first bars of the piano and drums this is Northern Soul at its finest.

Everybody has heard the Love-Tones doing their soul/pop backing blends behind Mary Wells. They helped make Wells' "The One Who Really Loves You," "You Beat Me to the Punch," "Operator," "Laughing Boy," and other unforgettable classics that get better with time. Unlike other backing groups at Motown (i.e. the Originals and the Andantes), the Love-Tones usually received credit on the label.

Their exact lineup on various recordings remains a well-kept secret, and it's apparent that members changed frequently. In her tell-all book -Berry, Me, and Motown, Raynoma Singleton-Gordy described them as a "group of three boys." However, at one time or another the members included: Carl Jones (lead), William "Mickey" Stevenson (tenor), Joe Miles (baritone), and Stan Bracely (bass); Bracely and Jones (deceased) sang with the Teardrops on "Come Back to Me" b/w "Sweet Lovin' Daddy-O" on Sampson Records in 1952; they were hardly young boys in 1962.

As the Love-Tones they recorded "Talk to an Angel" written by Joe E. Hunter b/w "Take It Easy, Baby," a Sax Kari composition for Plus Records in 1956, and "When I Asked My Love" b/w "You Can Tell That This Is Christmas" on Love-Tone Records early in 1962. They accompanied Henry Lumpkin on his December 1961 Motown release "What Is a Man" b/w "Don't Leave Me," which started their ball rolling at Hitsville U.S.A.

Signed as artists, Motown recorded them but never issued any Love-Tones' singles; they already were bombing out with the Satintones and were looking for a fresher sound then the doo wop and modern harmony schooled singers. Label credits were given for their work on Marvin Gaye's "Soldier Plea" (5/62), Lumpkin's original rendition of "Mo Jo Hanna" (7/62), Marv Johnson's "Let Yourself Go" b/w "That's When I Lost My Baby" on United Artists Records (7/62), Geno Park's "For This I Thank You" (8/62), a credit on Gaye's "Hitchhike" and "Pride and Joy" but no credits for contributions to Gaye's "Hello There Angel" and "One of These Days."

After 1962, the Love-Tones dropped off the face of the earth and were never heard from again until Ian Levine resurrected the name with Bracely, Burford Glanton, (Will Harvey and Robert Walker and recorded them for his Motor City Records project. Levine released a ten-song CD on them entitled Turn This Heart Around that contain eight original songs (including "Fire Alarm" written by Levine, Sylvia Moy, and Steven Wagner) and two remakes: Billy Stewart's "Sitting in the Park" and The Charades' "Key to My Happiness." Only Mickey Stevenson became a success in music, he became the head of Motown's Artist & Repertoire Department, married Agatha "Kim" Weston, and wrote some quintessential songs for a variety of Motown artists, including the Four Tops, the Spinners, Martha & the Vandellas, and the Marvelettes. He continued his music career after leaving Motown.

~ Andrew Hamilton, Rovi

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Key to my happiness
• Charades
• Lovetones
• Wigan Casino
• Twisted wheel
• Soul
• Nortern Soul
• Tamla
• Motown
• Dance soul r&b

[Bobinsherwood]

love it mmmmm  just up my street

[SuperRiker1]

Nice 1 Doc ♫♪♪c !!!!!!!!! ♫♪♪♫ !

[SnipTwister]

Bliss.