Girl Group Chronicles: Velvelettes

If you spend a night or two in a grooving night club in the UK, you’re bound to dance to at least a couple of northern soul classics by the Velvelettes. Motown’s fourth major girl group, often suffered a lack of promotion, but three huge dance hits in the 60s, and a cult status with soul fans have kept the group alive to this very day.

Carolyn Gill, sister Millie, and Bertha and Norma Barbee founded the Velvelettes at West Michigan State University in 1961. The gals started to play some small clubs and the party circuit, before signing to IPG Records to record, "There He Goes." It wasn’t a national hit, but picked up some local airplay, and gathered enough attention to have them picked up by a Motown talent scout.

In 1963 the group started working for the label, but with the Marvelettes already being the label’s consistent hit-makers, Martha and the Vandellas starting to become big stars, and the Supremes releasing several sides, the group was not a top priority. The Velvelettes, along with the Andantes, provided back-up vocals for other Motown artists before recording some original material.

1964 brought the single "Needle In A Haystack." The danceable Norman Whitfield production became a major release, and the group finally received some well-deserved recognition. Whitfield produced the equally substantial hit follow-up, "He Was Really Sayin’ Something," also an 80s hit for Banarama.

The VIP subsidiary recorded but never released an album called The Velvelettes in 1965. Tracks includes the soul stompers "A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two In The Bush)," and "Lonely, Lonely Girl." Bootleg cds have unearthed the album, and it is currently a hot item on the black-market.

The sisters started to disagree on musical direction, which prompted all but lead singer Carolyn Gill to leave the group, and the label. Substitutes including Betty Kelly, Sandra Tilley (both later of the Vandellas) and Annette McMullen. "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You," became the group’s last best-seller in 1966. Interestingly, the group cut a version of "Everybody Needs Love," previously recorded but unreleased by Mary Wells, and later a hit for Gladys Knight and the Pips, but Motown opted not to release this great cut until 1998.

The new group soon dissolved, and members went out into the workforce. 1970 saw "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You," hit the charts in the UK, but no reunion resulted until 1984. The original sisters came back to rerecord their hits for the Motorcity label in addition to new material. An album, One Door Closes, became a favourite among soul fans, and the group continues to record and tour. They may not be well known in North America, but ask any Northern soul fan who the Velvelettes are, and you’ll certainly get a answer!