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- Creation : Friday 08 march 2013
- Publish : Monday 14 december 2020
- 41 views - Youtube : 60,946 views
The Originals were formed in 1966 with Freddie Gorman, Walter Gaines, CP Spencer and Hank Dixon. They all were singing in various groups around Detroit, with Spencer being a charter member of The Spinners. Gorman was also co-writer of the Motown classic from the Marvelettes, "Please Mr Postman", a #1 pop hit.
For three years they toiled behind the scenes for the Motown machine providing background vocals for most of the artists, even the girl groups. Gorman relates that this was excellent practice for the group to tighten and improve their harmonies, felt that the Motown family was very strong and had had fun with that learning experience. Lamont Dozier was the one who brought the Originals to Motown.
They were signed to Motown's Soul label in 1966 and released their first LP, "Green Grow The Lilacs" from 1969 that contained their first major hit "Baby, I'm For Real", a #1 R&B hit a #14 Hot 100 hit. The following year they released "The Bells" which peaked at #4 R&B and #14 on the Hot100.
Nothing really happened for them until Marvin Gaye began producing them, and the doo wop vocals on "Baby, I'm For Real" were relegated as an album track until radio dj's picked "Baby" and it took off. After that, they has minor successes until they embraced the disco sound and created a classic "Down To Love Town" a #1 disco hit.
Among the notables on the record are James Jamerson played bass, Jeff Porcaro on drums and Ray Parker Jr on guitar. The song originally appeared on their 1976 LP "Communiqué", and was given the royal treatment once it hit and given star billing in 1977 with a new LP "Down To Love Town" that was filled out with other new songs.
Their next release was "Call Me Your Six Million Dollar Man" which peaked at #6 on the disco chart in February of 1977.
They left Motown and signed with Fantasy Records recording two albums before they were without a label. Their last LP, "Yesterday & Today" from 1981 was released by Phase II records headed by Hamilton Bohannon in 1980.