The Artistics - I'm Gonna Miss You

This is yet another legendary Northern Soul favourite which we re-recorded for our six disc marathon box set on DVD, "The Strange World Of Northern Soul". It was the most beloved of all this group's output, and when I was growing up, as a young Mod in Blackpool, the record was almost sacred. We shot the video in Paris's studio in Chicago in early 1999, and the late Otis Leavill asked Marvin Smith, the lead singer, to find the two other surviving original members to reform especially for this occasion, twenty six years after they disbanded. The Artistics started in 1958 with four freshmen from a Chicago high school. Their success was rather limited until a breakthrough in 1963 when they changed their lead singer from Curt Thomas to Robert Dobney. Major Lance asked them to back one of his tracks, The Monkey Time, which was his first hit (reached number 2 in the Billboard charts). Carl Davis liked their backing and signed them up for OKeh. In October of the same year, The Artistics had their first 45 on OKeh out - I Need Your Love. Internal conflicts forced Dobney to leave the band. He was replaced by Charles Davis who had followed Gene Chandler as the lead singer of The Dukays. His time with The Artistics was of a very short duration and he was very quickly replaced by Marvin Smith. Smith had had some previous experience with another well known 50´s band, the El Dorados. His first song as a lead singer brought their first local success. They covered the Marvin Gaye song Get My Hands on Some Lovin`, which was typical for their motownish style they had on all their OKeh recordings. Another Motown-penned song, this time by Barrett Strong, This Heart of Mine was their only chart success on OKeh (peaked at number 25 in 1965). 1966 was a disastrous year for OKeh. Carl Davis left and took many of the most important actors and writers (e.g. Curtis Mayfield, Billy Butler) with him. Among those were also the Artistics who sign up at Davis´ new employer, Brunswick. This change resulted in more than getting a paycheck from another company. The Artistics not only changed their sound from Detroit to a more typical Chicago sound but also expreienced much more success. In their first year with Brunswick, the band had their most successfull hit - I´m Gonna Miss You, which took them for first and only time into the top-ten. Another change of the lead singer followed, Tommy Greene replaced Smith. Another success followed in 1967 with Girl I Need You, which had a similar, typical Chicago-style sound as their previous hit. Marvin Smith had prepared his departure from the band with the recording of Time Stopped with The Artistics as his backing. More chart successes followed with Just Another Heartache in 1970 and Make My Life Over in 1971. Fred Bettis was their last lead singer before they disbanded in 1973, and reformed for this one time, twenty six years later.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Northern-Soul
• Chicago
• Brunswick
• Motorcity
• Male-Soul-Singers
• Soul-Groups
• Sixties

[oldiesfan52]

Ian! Where do you get all of this fabulous music? (Especially the Motown stuff!) Bless you for posting it.

[IanLevine]

We filmed ALL of them ourselves.

[barrys]

A song like this is the reason I have satellite radio: you NEVER hear this on regular radio today. What a great song. Were the Artistics a one-hit wonder?

[IanLevine]

No. "Hope We Have" was also massive. Plus "The Chase Is On", "Glad I Met You", "This Heart Of Mine", and all of Marvin Smith's solo stuff, especially "Have More Time".

[DaddyClb]

I just did a DJ gig last Saturday night (July 18, 2009) and when I played "I'm Gonna Miss You", the dance-floor filled immediately. The song is timeless! And to hear it remixed, with exciting, new instrumental and vocal tracks on top of the original track...well, it simply sent chills down my spine. Such a clever blend of old & new. Wish I'd had this one last Saturday night. I adore the original, but this one has real balls!!! Thanks IanLevine, for posting this. It really made my day!!!!

[distantlovr]

this song is really from back in the day, many nice memories.........

[nwk50]

For years I thought that this song was by the temptation. How wrong I was. I am so happy to see you guys back together again, looking Fabulous. God Bless the Legenary group, "The Artistic".

[tuzwol]

Excellent

[godzilla7469]

Execlent

[godzilla7469]

This artist just recently retired from his job and like his song says I am gonna miss him or should I say I am gonna miss you

[wcowens1]

Dont forget "The Chase Is On". I saw these guys many times live at the Apollo. One show featured The Unificis, The Artistics, Mad Lads, Jive Five and James Brown...what a show.

[1956safari]

Very underated group....awesome song !!

[ToeIn2194]

Two months later....Loving it even more....Also full of sweet soul vibrant energizing upbeat tenderness!

[jayne2357]

Don't get much better than this

[9876543217303]

This song dates back to the year I graduated from H.S. and my older sister would let us dance at her house, This was one of her favorite tunes. This isn't quite the originaly which was recorded in 1966 but this is awesome. At least the past entertainers will leave us far more than the so-call 'performers' of today. They are pitiful and really believe they're doing something. Today's music will not be remembered and cherished like the past, Peace.