The Dells
The Dells have been around so long they make The Rolling Stones
look like young whippersnappers (they've been together since 1953
and their line up hasn't changed since
1960).
Starting out as a Doo Wop group, they
had their first hit Oh What A Nite in 1956
and were one of the few acts from that era to make the transition
to soul music in the 60s and be even more
successful.
After putting out some
moderately successful records on the Argos and Vee-Jay labels in
the mid-60s they signed with the Chess subsidiary Cadet in 1966
which is where they became one of the greatest soul harmony groups
ever. Their second single for the label, Run For
Cover, was only a regional hit but has long been a big
floor-filler on the Northern Soul
scene.
Their second career really took off
though when Cadet teamed them up with producer Bobby Millar and
arranger Charles Stepney (of Rotary Connection/Minnie Riperton/Terry
Callier fame) who created a string of lush smooth harmony soul
hits for them loaded up with strings and brass and elaborate
arrangements.
The incredible I Can
Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue takes the simple old
chestnut about rainbows and sunny skies and turns it into an
emotional epic of lost love with big, sweeping production and
Marvin Junior's deep, masculine baritone alongside Johnny Carter's heavenly falsetto.
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