Little Anthony & the Imperials
Little Anthony & the Imperials is a Los Angeles , California , singing group that has been active since the late 1950s. Her style contains a mixture of rhythm and blues , soul and doo-wop .
Little Anthony
Her singer Little Anthony (actually Anthony Gourdine ) was known for his soaring falsetto voice, which was influenced by Jimmy Scott . He made his first recordings in 1955 as a member of the formation The Duponts , before joining The Chesters , who then renamed themselves The Imperials after signing a record deal . Anthony Gourdine took on religious songs in the 1980s, 1989, he sang backing vocals on a record of Nancy Wilson .
Band history
From 1958 to 1977 the band had some chart successes, mainly in America.
The band's first success was the doo-wop song Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop from 1958, which became a popular cover version during the time of the British Invasion . In the same year, Tears on My Pillow was released , which would later also be covered by various artists. Australian pop star Kylie Minogue had a number one hit in Britain in 1990 with this title.
In contrast to many other vocal groups of this time, which soon disappeared again into oblivion, “Little Anthony and the Imperials” were able to build on their first successes. The band reached their greatest popularity in the mid-1960s with songs like Goin 'out of My Head and Hurts So Bad , both of which were also interpreted by many artists. I'm on the Outside (Looking In) (1964) also dates from this period .
Since the band was unable to adapt to the changes within soul , the band's success waned in the mid-1970s. Afterwards they could often only play in casinos and lounges in Las Vegas or in nightclubs in front of the Mexican-American population in the southwest of the USA. Nevertheless, Little Anthony and his Imperials are still active after more than 55 years (as of 2016), although some of the original band members no longer participate due to age reasons and have been replaced.
In 1999 the group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame . In 2009, Little Anthony and the Imperials were also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .
Members
- Clarence Collins (born March 17, 1939, bass, sang with the Imperials after the group broke up )
- Anthony Gourdine (born January 8, 1940, lead vocals)
- Tracy Lord (first tenor, replaced by 1964)
- Sammy Strain (born December 9, 1940. He left the band in 1975 and went to The O'Jays )
- Glouster Rogers (* 1940, baritone)
- Ernest Jnr. Wright (born August 24, 1939, second tenor)
Discography
Albums
| year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 US
|
R&B
|
|||
| 1965 | I'm on the Outside (Looking In) |
US135 (4 weeks) US |
- | |
| Goin 'out of my head |
US74 (13 weeks) US |
R&B5 (9 weeks) R&B |
||
| 1966 | The Best of Little Anthony & the Imperials |
US97 (23 weeks) US |
R&B9 (3 weeks) R&B |
Best of album
|
| 1969 | Out of sight, out of mind |
US172 (5 weeks) US |
- | |
More albums
- We Are the Imperials, featuring Little Anthony (1959)
- Shades of the 40s (1960)
- Payin 'Our Dues (1966)
- Reflections (1967)
- Movie Grabbers (1967)
- The Best of Anthony & the Imperials, Volume 2 (1968)
- On a New Street (1973)
- Hold On (1975)
Singles
| year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 UK
|
US
|
R&B
|
|||
| 1958 | Tears on My Pillow We Are the Imperials, featuring Little Anthony |
- |
US4 (19 weeks) US |
R&B2 (12 weeks) R&B |
|
| So Much We Are the Imperials, featuring Little Anthony |
- |
US87 (2 weeks) US |
R&B24 (1 week) R&B |
Author: Richard Barrett
|
|
| 1959 | Wishful Thinking We Are the Imperials, featuring Little Anthony |
- |
US79 (2 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Sylvester Bradford, Al Lewis
|
| A prayer and a juke box | - |
US81 (4 weeks) US |
- |
Author: Gary Shelton
|
|
| Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop The Best of Little Anthony & the Imperials |
- |
US24 (16 weeks) US |
R&B14 (10 weeks) R&B |
Author: Bob Smith
|
|
| 1960 | My Empty Room | - |
US86 (2 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Patrick Welch, Michael Merlo
|
| 1964 | I'm on the Outside (Looking In) I'm on the Outside (Looking In) |
- |
US15 (10 weeks) US |
R&B8 (14 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein
|
| Goin 'Out of My Head Goin' Out of My Head |
- |
US6 (14 weeks) US |
R&B6 (13 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein
|
|
| 1965 | Hurt So Bad Goin 'Out of My Head |
- |
US10 (9 weeks) US |
R&B3 (11 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Bob Weinstein, Bobby Hart
|
| Take Me Back Goin 'Out of My Head |
- |
US16 (11 weeks) US |
R&B15 (10 weeks) R&B |
Author: Teddy Randazzo
|
|
| I Miss You So Goin 'Out of My Head |
- |
US34 (7 weeks) US |
R&B23 (5 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Jimmy Henderson, Sid Robin, Bertha Scott
1940 a hit for The Cats and the Fiddle |
|
| 1966 | Hurt goin 'out of my head |
- |
US51 (6 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Al Jacobs, Jimmie Crane
1955 an R&B hit for Roy Hamilton |
| Better Use Your Head Payin 'Our Dues |
UK42 (4 weeks) UK |
US54 (7 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Victoria Pike
|
|
| It's Not the Same Payin 'Our Dues |
- |
US92 (2 weeks) US |
- |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Larry Kusik, Ritchie Adams, Victoria Pike
|
|
| 1968 | I'm hypnotized | - |
US98 (1 week) US |
- |
Authors: Teddy Randazzo, Victoria Pike
|
| 1969 | Out of sight, out of mind, out of sight, out of mind |
- |
US52 (9 weeks) US |
R&B38 (4 weeks) R&B |
|
| The Ten Commandments of Love Out of Sight, out of Mind |
- |
US82 (4 weeks) US |
- | ||
| 1970 | Help Me Find a Way (To Say I Love You) | - |
US92 (4 weeks) US |
R&B32 (10 weeks) R&B |
Authors: Thom Bell , Linda Creed
|
| 1974 | I'm Falling in Love with You On a New Street |
- |
US86 (4 weeks) US |
R&B25 (13 weeks) R&B |
Author: Jeanne Davis
|
| 1975 | Hold On (Just a Little Bit Longer) Hold On! |
- | - |
R&B79 (5 weeks) R&B |
as Anthony and the Imperials
Authors: William Barry, Phil Hurtt, Tony Bell, James E. Hill, Rufus Brown |
| 1978 | Who's gonna love me | - | - |
R&B73 (6 weeks) R&B |
as The Imperials
Author: Alfie Davison |
More singles
- The Diary (1958)
- I'm Alright (1959)
- I'm Taking a Vacation from Love (1960)
- Limbo Part I & II (1960)
- Formula of Love (1961)
- Please Say You Want Me (1961)
- Traveling Stranger (1961)
- A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening (1961)
- That Lil 'Ole Lovemaker Me (1961)
- You Better Take It Easy, Baby (1966)
- Don't Tie Me Down (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1967)
- Hold On to Someone (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1967)
- You Only Live Twice (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1967)
- If I Remember to Forget (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1967)
- What Greater Love (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1968)
- Yesterday Has Gone (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1968)
- The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In) (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1968)
- Anthem (Grow, Grow, Grow) (as Anthony and the Imperials , 1969)
- Don't Get Close (1970)
- World of Darkness (1970)
- Father, Father (1971)
- La La La at the End (1973)
- I Don't Have to Worry (1974)
- I'll Be Loving You Sooner or Later (1975)
- Nothing from Nothing (1976)
- Where You Gonna Find Somebody Like Me (1978)
- Living Without Your Love (as The Imperials , 1980)
literature
- Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia Of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 407f - ISBN 0-312-02573-4
- Warner, Jay: The Billboard Book Of American Singing Groups. A History 1940-1990 . New York City / New York: Billboard Books, 1992, pp. 238-242
Web links
- Little Anthony & the Imperials on Allmusic (English)
- Little Anthony & The Imperials discography
- Little Anthony & the Imperials on Music VF
Individual evidence
- ↑ https://rockhall.com/inductees/little-anthony-and-the-imperials/bio/
- ↑ http://www.ticketfly.com/event/728029-little-anthony-new-york/
- ↑ http://littleanthonyandtheimperials.org/Upcoming_Performances.html
- ↑ a b US singles: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-2006 . Billboard Books, New York 2007, ISBN 0-89820-172-1 . / US albums: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn presents the Billboard Albums . 6th edition. Billboard Books, New York 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
- ↑ a b US R&B singles: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn presents Hot R&B Songs 1942-2010 . Billboard Books, New York 2011, ISBN 0-89820-186-1 . / US R&B albums: Joel Whitburn : Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Albums 1965–1998 . Billboard Books, New York 1999, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
- ↑ Little Anthony and the Imperials in the UK charts
- ↑ Before the gold record was introduced in 1958, there were only estimated, unofficial sales from the music labels