Lee Andrews And The Hearts - I've Had It

"I've Had It" was a piece of classic Sixties Northern Soul by a group who were generally more well known for being one of the biggest doo-wop groups of the 1950s. The Philadelphia-based Lee Andrews & the Hearts specialized in smooth ballads and were influenced by similar vocal acts like the Moonglows. The group scored three charting hits in the span of a single year (1957-1958). Their "Long Lonely Nights" (recorded for the tiny Mainline label) managed to barely beat the former Drifter Clyde McPhatter's version by a few chart points (number 45 to Clyde's number 49). It scored even higher on the R&B charts (number 11). At its peak, the group's next single for Mainline, "Teardrops," was picked up for wider distribution by Chess. It was their biggest hit, making it to at number 20 on the pop charts (on November 25, 1957), and by January 1958, it had jumped over to the R&B charts, where it ended up listing at number four. A third hit, "Try the Impossible" for the United Artists label, charted at number 33 on the pop charts (June 22, 1958). By 1963, the Hearts had stopped ticking and their recordings became very collectable, so Grand Records struck a deal with Gotham and issued some of the group's old sides. Collectors' demand for more recordings prompted Lee to form a new Hearts group in the summer of 1966 with a few familiar names paired up with a few new ones: Booker, Mason, alongside new Hearts Robert Howard and Victoria McCalister. They recorded "You're Taking a Long Time Coming Back" which was issued on single by RCA. The group signed the dotted line with Crimson Records, and eventually wound up two singles later on Crimson's parent company, Lost Night, recording three original singles (an unusual move for this all-oldies reissue company) which were issued in 1968. By the time they did a live LP for Lost Night -- recorded at a club in Fairless Hills, PA -- the Hearts were Lee Andrews, Richard Howard, Richard Booker, and Tommy White. Eventually, Andrews went into semi-retirement and opened a successful dress shop. Roy Calhoun died in an apartment fire in 1979, Butch Curry became ill with multiple sclerosis, Wendell Calhoun still lives in Philadelphia, and Ted Weems joined the Pheasants ("Out of the Mist," Throne) in 1963 and later had a group called Tribute, but had no other hits.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Philly
• Motorcity
• Male-Soul-Singers
• Soul-Groups
• Sixties
• Doo-Wop

[R42464]

Not only is Amir"?uestlove" Thompson a real student of R&B/Soul Music He is a student of Gospel Quartet. His Grandfather is the the late great Beachy Thompson (tenor) of the Legendary Dixie Hummingbirds.

[jmoorebrown]

Very cool !

[Streamline09]

Lee Andrews is the father of Amir "?uestlove" Thompson of the Hip Hop group, The Roots. Thompson is a real student of R&B/Soul music history.

[stripemister]

Lee Andrews, one of the greatest.

[stripemister]

The modern day Lee Andrews, at his best. The Lord gave us this talent, and hopefully, he will be around for years to come.

[arejay222]

I hace the clock, but don't know how to upload to myspace

[penrhoos]

this song is GREAT!!!!! WE ALL LOVE IT

[magiq1]

Enjoyed, doo wop- doo wop

[sexysassyandlovely69]

Thanks for the upload IanLevine. I enjoyed reading the information you've provided about the group. Great song!

[Discoboy1974]

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