Little Anthony & The Imperials - " I'm On The Outside (Looking In)" (1964)

Little Anthony and the Imperials is a rhythm and blues/soul/doo-wop vocal group from New York, first active in the 1950s. Lead singer Jerome Anthony "Little Anthony" Gourdine was noted for his high-pitched falsetto voice influenced by Jimmy Scott. The group was announced as inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 14, 2009 and were inducted on April 4.

In 1957, a doo-wop group known as the Chesters existed with members Clarence Collins, Tracy Lord, Nathaniel Rodgers, and Ronald Ross. Anthony Gourdine, a former member of the Duponts, joined as lead vocalist. Ernest Wright took over from Ross, and the group recorded briefly for Apollo Records.

Little Anthony and the Imperials in 2005, New York CityChanging their name to the Imperials, they signed with End Records in 1958. Their first single was "Tears on My Pillow", which was an instant hit. (While playing this song, D.J. Alan Freed came up with the name "Little Anthony".) The B-side, "Two Kinds of People", was also a hit. The group followed up with "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop" in 1960. When their success dwindled in 1961, Little Anthony left to attempt a solo career. Some members left, and the line-up then became Collins, Wright, Sammy Strain, and George Kerr. Kerr was replaced by Kenny Seymour after a short time. This line-up had little success.

Little Anthony returned in 1963, replacing Seymour. The group's classic line-up -- Gourdine, Ernest Wright, Clarence Collins, and Sammy Strain -- was now complete. With the help of record producer/songwriter Teddy Randazzo (a childhood friend of the group), the Imperials found success on the new DCP (Don Costa Productions) label with the dramatic pop-soul records "I'm On The Outside (Looking In)" (1964), "Goin' Out Of My Head" (1964), "Hurt So Bad" (1965), "I Miss You So" (1965), "Take Me Back" (1965), "Hurt" (1966), and "Out of Sight, Out Of Mind" (1969). In 1965, the Imperials appeared on the CBS-TV special Murray The K - It's What's Happening, Baby, where they performed "I'm Alright" before a live audience in New York. The Imperials then joined United Artists Records and were assigned to its Veep Records subsidiary, and then to the parent label itself, where they recorded "World Of Darkness", "Better Use Your Head", "If I Remember To Forget", "Yesterday Has Gone" and the Thom Bell-produced "Help Me Find A Way (To Say I Love You").

Little Anthony and the Imperials were inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 15, 2006, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, and received the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1993. On January 14, 2009, it was announced that Little Anthony and the Imperials had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In addition to Anthony, Ernest, Clarence, and Sammy, Original Imperials member Nathaniel "Nate" Rogers was also present to be honored. The group was inducted by longtime friend, Miracles member Smokey Robinson. Imperials member Sammy Strain is one of the few artists in popular music history that is a double RRHOF inductee, having been inducted with the O'Jays in 2005, and the Imperials in 2009.

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[TheAssasin2525]

I was only five yrs old when I heard this song.. but even at that young age, I somehow recognized the magnificence of such a wonderful piece of outstanding music. I really consider myself quite fortunate to have lived my youth listening to this and other wonderful romantic medleys of the sixties and seventies. I wouldn't trade my time growing up as a kid (then) with today's contemporary crap. Today's kids have nothing on us older folks!

[09bnunez]

thier best song one of my favorite he sounds great today on the oldie shows

[1951590]

Great group, sounds as good today as they did then..oh! the memories of my teen years

[JayAdlerComment]

When I was growing up in uptown Manhattan, Little Anthony was our top choice for vocalist of the years.. He had such a charming and precise voice he mirrored Smokey, Frankie Valli, Lou Christi. Very difficult to sing high like Eddie Kendricks did and be effective. Sometimes I think of some of our pedantic leaders when I evaluate the title of this song.

[nebur59]

I was about 15 when this song came out and I've got it on my ipod. Great ballad. Grew up in L.A.

[karenblueford8]

I love little Anthony and the imperials so so much. I miss these groups they are one of a kind always.

[williamg2552]

@ahstc1973 SAMMY STRAIN certainly benefited....he sang with THE IMPERIALS and THE O'JAYS.....and got inducted with BOTH !!! If you REALLY wanna hear about the RRHOF's STUPIDITY.... talk to fans of THE MIRACLES. Their favorite group STILL isn't in !! They inducted SMOKEY...ALONE... and THREW AWAY BOBBY,RONNIE, PETE, CLAUDETTE, and MARV !!!

[lowalevo13]

I know alot of oldies been listening to them since I was a young kid and I have alot of favorites but this one ranks in the top 3 for me ...just love this song and its sad melody .

[emmettk]

@ahstc1973 I have no problem with your taste or your opinion, but if you didn't know, the O'Jays were relevant and had chart hits for more than three decades. The acts you named are all deserving, but none of them spent as many years consistently making new music that lots of people (other than you) enjoyed greatly.

[ssbbw00]

I want this music back so bad!!! I was born in 1962 but I grew up knowing this good music.

[47yesican]

@ahstc1973 RRHOF is a Business Now. A Big Joke!!!

I agree with all the poeple you named being left out!

Lets hope they don't "DIE" before they get the dues!!!!!

[ahstc1973]

Really - not knocking theO'jays but it goes to show you how frickin lame the RRHOF is ! O'jays inducted before Imperials or in there and no Brooklyn Bridge or Neil Sadaka or Johnny Rivers ... they can kiss my arse ... bunch of phonies is the RRHOF