The Velvelettes: The Best Of The Velvelettes

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The Velvelettes (produced by Norman Whitfield) were not around for as long as the sound-alikes and name-alikes The Marvelettes. However, they had several fine 45 rpm releases between 1963 and 1966 and they had a sexy sass about them. It's all good stuff on here, nothing more, nothing less. They never actually released an album, The one scheduled to be released in 1966 was canned, never to re-appear.

Anyway - "Bop bop sookie doo-wah". Indeed.

Those great 45s, 'a' side and 'b' sides were  -

There He Goes 

This was the song The Velvelettes sang as their Motown audition (on a snowy afternoon, apparently). It is a harmonious ballad that shows their voices off perfectly, although it lacks the oopmh of their other recordings. 

That's The Reason Why

That's The Reason Why is livelier, but still had a bit of a retro sound to it. 

Lonely, Lonely Girl Am I

All the original Velvelettes had left by 1965, but the new line up gave us a really good one in Norman Whitfield, Eddie Holland and Eddie Kendricks' uptempo, typically Motown-sounding pounder Lonely Lonely Girl Am I. The song became a bit Northern Soul floor-filler in the seventies. It was originally intended for Kim Weston and Jimmy Ruffin did a male version of it, but it suits the girl group, call-and response thing perfectly. It is one of The Velvelettes' best ones. 

I'm The Exception To The Rule

I'm The Exception To The Rule is a smokey, late-night ballad also recorded by Kim Weston, The Supremes and Brenda Holloway.

A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two In The Bush) 

A Bird In The Hand (Is Worth Two In The Bush) is a really good, vibrant Norman Whitfield-Eddie Holland song that Cal Gill and the girls make their own, like a gutsy Supremes. The Velvelettes had a gritty, earthy sexiness to their delivery. Don't you just love that big, deep rumbling bass intro? Ditto when the brass kicks in and then get a load of those bits where the vocals and bass trade punches as the drums briefly let up. Make no mistake, this is a pounding pearl of a song. Cal Gill's vocal is just top notch - one of those great underrated Motown vocals. 

Since You've Been Loving Me 

This is a slower number but also very sensual. Its backing is once again lovely and warm. Check it out on this CD The Best Of The Velvelettes for the best stereo sound. Wonderful. 

These Things Will Keep Me Loving You 

A proper Motown lesser-known gem. I love its vibrancy. It was re-released in the UK in 1971. where it was a big hit. I love the joyous la-la-la-la vocal refrain that dominates the song. Now, I just need to remember that it was The Velvelettes and not The Marvelettes!

Needle In A Haystack

The Velvelettes liked their "popular sayings" song titles, didn't they (A Bird In The Hand....). Confusingly, the Marvelettes had one too in Too Many Fish In The Sea! Anyway, Needle In The Haystack is a marvellously catchy, singalong rock 'n' roll-influenced stomper. I love it and its killer saxophone break. The girls admitted "stealing" The Chiffons' "doo lang doo lang" backing vocals from their iconic He's So Fine single. No matter. The song still stands tall in its own right. The rest of it is quite different. 

Should I Tell Them

Should I Tell Them is a poorly-produced and dated-sounding ballad. Not the girls' best at all, for me. There's much better stuff out there from them - lots of it. 

He Was Really Sayin' Something

Ironically, both The Velvelettes and The Marvelettes recorded He Was Really Sayin' Something. It appeared on The Marvelettes' 1967 "pink" album. The song is just so good, whoever does it, I like both versions, but The Velvelettes' Cal Gill sexes it up with her groany "alright" response to the other girls' "bop-bop-sookie-doo-wah-wah" bit. Check out that big saxophone solo too. It is pure, unadulterated girl group Heaven. It became a huge hit in the eighties for deadpan-voiced UK group Bananarama. A travesty, The Velvelettes should have had a bigger hit with it than they did. 

Throw A Farewell Kiss 

This is a lovely slow and sensual number. Cal showed that she could sing in different styles with ease. 

Let Love (Live A little Longer)

This was an absolute stomper of a number with a huge thumping drum sound and soaring vocals from the girls, along with some great sax. It is pretty much archetypal Velvelettes. When they were good, they were just so good. 

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