The Dells

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The Dells
General information
Genre (s) Soul , Doo Wop
founding 1953 as The El-Rays
resolution 2012
Founding members
Marvin Junior
Johnny Funches (until 1960)
Tenor singing
Verne Allison
Tenor singing
Lucius McGill (until 1953)
Baritone singing
Mickey McGill
Chuck Barksdale
Last occupation
Baritone singing
Marvin Junior
Tenor singing
Johnny Carter (from 1960)
Tenor singing
Verne Allison
Baritone singing
Mickey McGill
bass
Chuck Barksdale

The Dells was a black R & B - song tape that had recorded their greatest success in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Band history

The band was formed in 1953 in Harvey , a southern suburb of Chicago . Marvin Junior († 2013), Johnny Funches, Verne Allison, Lucius and Mickey McGill and Chuck Barksdale all went to school together in Harvey and decided together to form a band that was initially called The El-Rays. In the same year they recorded their first single Darling I Know for Checker Records , a sub-label of Chess . It flopped and only a little later Lucius McGill (1935-2014) left the band, which was then renamed The Dells.

In 1955, the Dells signed to Vee Jay Records and released the ballad Dreams of Contentment , which became a mini R&B hit. Oh What a Nite , today a classic, even made it to number 4 on the R&B charts in 1956, but the band was initially unable to repeat the success of the song. In 1958, on the way to a gig in Philadelphia , the band's car crashed. Junior's larynx was injured and his voice changed slightly, and McGill almost lost a leg. The Dells then decided to take a break. Barksdale temporarily became a member of the Moonglows .

In 1960, the Dells began their return as the opening and backing band on a tour of Dinah Washington . Funches decided not to take part anymore and to devote himself to his family. He was replaced by Johnny Carter. The band toured with Washington for two years, working alongside Kirk Stewart . Eventually the Dells signed with Argo Records , another Chess sub-label, where they released four jazz- oriented singles. They all flopped. They then returned to Vee-Jay in 1964 and had a Top 30 R&B hit with Stay in My Corner in 1965 . When Vee-Jay went bankrupt in 1966, the band switched to Cadet Records , also a Chess sub-label. Thinking About You and Run for Cover became local hits after all. Also, the Dells backing band were Ray Charles .

When Cadet hired Bobby Miller as producer and Charles Stepney as arranger in 1967 , the Dells' breakthrough began. The album There Is included four hit singles, including a remake of Stay in My Corner , which made it to the top of the R&B and top 10 of the pop charts. 1968 Always Together brought four more hits and 1969 Love Is Blue included a remake of Oh What a Nite , which had the same success as the Stay-in-My-Corner remake. In early 1970 Miller began to devote himself to other projects, so Stepney was the producer of the 1970 work Freedom Means . The ballad The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind) from the album became a hit. In 1972 the Dells released an LP with interpretations of Dionne Warwick songs. With Don Davis as the new producer, the Dells had their first million- seller in 1973 with Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation . In 1975, after a few more hits, the band left Cadet and moved to Mercury Records .

Since the time at Mercury was hardly successful, there was another label change in 1978, this time to ABC . But even there was no success and the Dells signed with 20th Century Records . I Touched a Dream , produced by Eugen Record in 1980, received excellent reviews and again achieved greater success. The success of the follow-up LP Whatever Turns You On declined noticeably and the Dells withdrew from the studio. In 1988 the album Second Time was released , which flopped. In the early 1990s, Robert Townsend hired the Dells for his film The Five Heartbeats , which is about a fictional vocal band. The Heart Is a House for Love from the soundtrack became a minor R&B hit in 1991. Another album, I Salute You , was released on Zoo Records in 1992 . Despite more contemporary music, it flopped. In the next few years, the Dells were mostly on tour. In 2000 a new album was released with Reminiscing . In 2004 the Dells were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame .

The End

The band was active until 2012. One year later, co-founder Marvin Junior died at the age of 77. In 2009 Johnny Carter died at the age of 75.

Discography

Albums

year Title
music label
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1968 There Is
Cadet 804
US29 (29 weeks)
US
R&B4 (39 weeks)
R&B
First published: May 1968
1969 The Dells Musical Menu / Always Together
Cadet 822
US146 (10 weeks)
US
R&B9 (20 weeks)
R&B
First published: February 1969
Love Is Blue
Cadet 829
US54 (24 weeks)
US
R&B3 (34 weeks)
R&B
First published: August 1969
1970 Like It Is, Like It Was
Cadet 837
US126 (12 weeks)
US
R&B7 (18 weeks)
R&B
First published: February 1970
1971 Freedom Means ...
Cadet 50004
US81 (16 weeks)
US
R&B4 (20 weeks)
R&B
First published: August 1971
1972 Sing Dionne Warwicke's Greatest Hits
Cadet 50017
US162 (5 weeks)
US
R&B32 (4 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1972
Sweet as Funk Can Be
Cadet 50021
- R&B33 (12 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1972
1973 Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation
Cadet 50037
US99 (9 weeks)
US
R&B10 (13 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1973
The Dells
Cadet 50046
- R&B15 (28 weeks)
R&B
First published: October 1973
1974 The Dells vs. The Dramatics
Cadet 60027
US156 (6 weeks)
US
R&B15 (25 weeks)
R&B
First published: March 1974
with The Dramatics
The Mighty Mighty Dells
Cadet 60030
US114 (8 weeks)
US
R&B13 (13 weeks)
R&B
First published: September 1974
1975 We Got to Get Our Thing Together
Cadet 60044
- R&B31 (8 weeks)
R&B
First published: November 1975
1976 No Way Back
Mercury 1084
- R&B47 (5 weeks)
R&B
First published: May 1976
1977 They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
Mercury 1145
- R&B40 (6 weeks)
R&B
First published: April 1977
1978 Love Connection
Mercury 3711
- R&B45 (6 weeks)
R&B
First published: December 1977
New Beginnings
ABC 1100
US169 (3 weeks)
US
R&B55 (3 weeks)
R&B
First published: August 1978
1979 Face to Face
ABC 1113
- R&B71 (6 weeks)
R&B
First published: February 1979
1980 I Touched a Dream
20th Century 618
US137 (12 weeks)
US
R&B23 (25 weeks)
R&B
First published: July 1980
1984 One Step Closer
Private I 39309
- R&B49 (8 weeks)
R&B
First published: April 1984
1989 The Second Time
Veteran 1988
- R&B92 (2 weeks)
R&B
First published: February 1989

More albums

  • 1959: Oh, What a Nite
  • 1965: It's Not Unusual
  • 1974: In Concert
  • 1981: Whatever Turns You On
  • 1992: I Salute You
  • 2000: Reminiscing
  • 2008: Then and Now

Compilations

year Title
music label
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, music label , placements, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks
US US R&B R&B
1969 The Dells Greatest Hits
Cadet 824
US102 (22 weeks)
US
R&B9 (29 weeks)
R&B
First published: June 1969
1975 The Dells Greatest Hits Volume 2
Cadet 60036
- R&B47 (7 weeks)
R&B
First published: February 1975

More compilations

  • 1968: Stay in My Corner
  • 1972: The Best of the Dells
  • 1977: Cornered (2 LPs)
  • 1982: The Dells
  • 1983: Rockin 'on Bandstand
  • 1984: Breezy Ballads & Tender Tunes
  • 1985: From Streetcorner to Soul
  • 1988: Vintage Gold (mini album)
  • 1989: Oh What a Night
  • 1995: Passionate Breezes: The Best of 1975-1991
  • 1997: On Their Corner: The Best of the Dells
  • 1998: The Great Ballads
  • 1999: Anthology (2 CDs)
  • 2000: The Best of the Dells
  • 2000: The Very Best of the Dells
  • 2004: Ultimate Collection
  • 2006: It's Not Unusual: The Very Best of the Vee Jay Years 1955-1965
  • 2007: Standing Ovation: The Very Best of 1966–1981 (2 CDs)
  • 2007: The Best of the Vee-Jay Years
  • 2015: The Complete Early Singles Collection

Singles

year Title
album
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)
Remarks [↑]: treated together with the previous entry;
[←]: placed in both charts
UK UK US US R&B R&B Dance Dance
1956 Oh What a Nite
Oh, What a Nite
- - R&B4 (11 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: September 1956
Authors: Johnny Funches, Marvin Junior
1962 The (Bossa Nova) Bird
- US97 (3 weeks)
US
- -
First published: November 1962
Authors: Billy Davis, Shirley Hall
1965 Stay in My Corner
It's Not Unusual
- - R&B23 (4 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: May 1965
Authors: Barrett Strong , Bobby Miller, Wade Flemons
1967 OO, I Love You
There Is
- US61 (10 weeks)
US
R&B22 (9 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: September 1967
Author: Bobby Miller
1968 There is
there is
- US20 (11 weeks)
US
R&B11 (9 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: December 1967
Authors: Bobby Miller, Raynard Miner
Wear It on Our Face
There Is
- US44 (8 weeks)
US
R&B27 (7 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: March 1968
Author: Bobby Miller
Stay in My Corner (New Version)
There Is
- US10 (13 weeks)
US
R&B1 (18 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: June 1968
Arranger: Charles Stepney
Always Together
The Dells Musical Menu / Always Together
- US18 (8 weeks)
US
R&B3 (13 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: September 1968
Author: Bobby Miller
Does Anybody Know I'm Here
The Dells Musical Menu / Always Together
- US38 (9 weeks)
US
R&B15 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: December 1968
Author: Bobby Miller
1969 I Can't Do Enough
The Dells Musical Menu / Always Together
- US98 (2 weeks)
US
R&B20 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: February 1969
Author: Bobby Miller
Hallways of My Mind
The Dells Musical Menu / Always Together
- US92 (4 weeks)
US
R&B44 (2 weeks)
R&B
-
B-side of I Can't Do Enough
Author: Bobby Miller
I Can Sing a Rainbow / Love Is Blue (Medley)
Love Is Blue
UK15 (9 weeks)
UK
US22 (10 weeks)
US
R&B5 (12 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: May 1969
Authors: Arthur Hamilton /
Pierre Cour, André Popp, Bryan Blackburn
Original: Vicky Leandros - L'amour est bleu , 1967
Oh, What a Night (New Version)
Love Is Blue
- US10 (11 weeks)
US
R&B1 (13 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1969
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
No. 263 on the Rolling Stone 500 (list 2010)
Arranger: Charles Stepney
On the Dock of the Bay
Love Is Blue
- US42 (8 weeks)
US
R&B13 (6 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: October 1969
Authors: Otis Redding , Steve Cropper
Original: Otis Redding, 1968
1970 Oh What a Day
Like It Is Like It Was
- US43 (8 weeks)
US
R&B10 (10 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1970
Author: Michael McGill
Open Up My Heart / Nadine
Like It Is Like It Was
- US51 (8 weeks)
US
R&B5 (19 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: March 1970
Authors: Bobby Miller / Allan Freed
Long Lonely Nights
Like It Is Like It Was
- US74 (7 weeks)
US
R&B27 (7 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1970
Authors: Lee Andrews, Bernice Davis,
Doug Henderson, Mimi Uniman
Original: Lee Andrews & the Hearts, 1957
1971 The Glory of Love
Love Is Blue
- US92 (2 weeks)
US
R&B30 (6 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: November 1970
Author: Billy Hill
Original: Willie Bryant and His Orchestra, 1936
The Love We Had (Stays on My Mind)
Freedom Means ...
- US30 (12 weeks)
US
R&B8 (15 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1971
Authors: Terry Callier , Larry Wade
1972 It's All Up to You
Freedom Means ...
- US94 (3 weeks)
US
R&B23 (6 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1972
Authors: Terry Callier, Larry Wade
Oh, My Dear
Sweet as Funk Can Be
- - R&B36 (6 weeks)
R&B
-
B-side of It's All Up to You
Authors: Terry Callier, Larry Wade
Just as Long as We're in Love
Sweet as Funk Can Be
- - R&B35 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: October 1972
Authors: Terry Callier, Larry Wade
1973 Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation
Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation
- US34
gold
gold

(16 weeks)US
R&B3 (16 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: April 1973
Authors: Henry Williams, Marv Johnson
My Pretending Days Are Over
The Dells
- US51 (8 weeks)
US
R&B10 (16 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: August 1973
Authors: Don Davis, Herbert Ross, James Dean
I Miss You
The Dells
- US60 (7 weeks)
US
R&B8 (16 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: November 1973
Authors: Leon Huff , Kenny Gamble
Original: Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes , 1972
1974 I Wish It Was Me You Loved
The Dells vs. The dramatics
- US94 (2 weeks)
US
R&B11 (13 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: April 1974
Author: Jackie Avery
Learning to Love You Was Easy (It's So Hard Trying to Get over You)
The Mighty Mighty Dells
- - R&B18 (12 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1974
Author: Jimmy Roach
Bring Back the Love of Yesterday
The Mighty Mighty Dells
- US87 (3 weeks)
US
- -
B-side of Learning to Love You Was Easy
Author: Willie Schofield
1975 The Glory of Love (Longer Version)
Give Your Baby a Standing Ovation
- - R&B59 (7 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: April 1975
Love Is Missing from Our Lives
The Dells vs. The dramatics
- - R&B46 (10 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: June 1975
with The Dramatics
Writer: Tony Hester
We Got to Get Our Thing Together
We Got to Get Our Thing Together
- - R&B17 (13 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: October 1975
Authors: Calvin Arlin, James Dean, James Avery
1976 The Power of Love
We Got to Get Our Thing Together
- - R&B58 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1976
Author: Lawton Williams
Slow Motion
No Way Back
- - R&B49 (12 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: June 1976
Authors: Andre Moore, Ivy Jo Hunter, Charles Leverett
No way back,
no way back
- - R&B68 (5 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: September 1976
Authors: Andrew "Mike" Terry,
Robert Emanuel Brooks, Walter Morris
1977 They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
- - - Dance12 (7 weeks)
Dance
Album track
authors: Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ronald Tyson
Our Love
They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
- - R&B20 (12 weeks)
R&B[Dance: ↑]
First published: April 1977
Authors: Allan Felder, Norman Harris, Ronald Tyson
Rich Man, Poor Man (Peace)
They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
- - -[Dance: ↑]
Album track
authors: Allan Felder, TG Conway, Ronald Tyson
Betcha Never Been Loved (Like This Before)
They Said It Couldn't Be Done, but We Did It!
- - R&B29 (17 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1977
Authors: Allan Felder, Norman Harris,
Ron Kersey, Ronald Tyson
1978 Private Property
Love Connection
- - R&B57 (9 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1978
Authors: Edward Moore, Ron Tyson
Super Woman
New Beginnings
- - R&B24 (13 weeks)
R&B
-
First publication: June 1978
Authors: Iran Koster, Teddy Randazzo, Victoria Pike
1979 (You Bring Out) The Best in Me
Face to Face
- - R&B34 (10 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1979
Authors: Darryl Carter, Jonah Ellis
1980 I touched a dream
- - R&B17 (17 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1980
Author: Eugene Record
All About the Paper
I Touched a Dream
- - - Dance72 (8 weeks)
Dance
B-side of I Touched a Dream
Authors: Clarence McDonald, Lowrell Simon
Passionate Breezes
I Touched a Dream
- - R&B76 (5 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: November 1980
Authors: Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancey
1984 You Just Can't Walk Away
One Step Closer
- - R&B23 (14 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1984
Authors: Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancey
One Step Closer
One Step Closer
- - R&B46 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: April 1984
Authors: Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancey
Love On
One Step Closer
- - R&B60 (9 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: July 1984
Authors: Chuck Jackson, Marvin Yancey, Tony Coleman
1989 Thought of You Just a Little Too Much
The Second Time
- - R&B66 (8 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: January 1989
Authors: Andre Miller, Cornell Ward,
Harold Currington, Otis Leavil
1991 A Heart Is a House for Love
The Five Heartbeats (Soundtrack)
- - R&B13 (15 weeks)
R&B
-
First released: March 1991
from the soundtrack of The Five Heartbeats.
Authors: Keenen Ivory Wayans , Robert Townsend
1992 Come and Get It
I Salute You
- - R&B62 (6 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: May 1992
Authors: Terry Stubbs, Derrick "Doc" Pearson
Oh My Love
I Salute You
- - R&B81 (4 weeks)
R&B
-
First published: September 1992
Authors: Kenny Gamble , Leon Huff , Cary Gilbert

gray hatching : no chart data available for this year

More singles

  • 1954: Darling I Know (as The El Rays, released in May)
  • 1955: Tell the World (release: April)
  • 1955: Zing Zing Zing (release: December)
  • 1956: Movin 'On (released December)
  • 1957: Why Do You Have to Go (release: March)
  • 1957: Q-Bop She-Bop (Cubop Chebop) (Release: August)
  • 1957: Pain in My Heart (release: August)
  • 1958: I'm Calling
  • 1958: The Springer (release: April)
  • 1958: Wedding Day (release: December)
  • 1959: Dry Your Eyes (release: September)
  • 1960: Oh What a Nite / I Wanna Go Home (released January)
  • 1961: Swingin 'Teens (released April)
  • 1962: God Bless the Child (released May)
  • 1963: Hi Diddley Dee Dum Dum (It's a Good Good Feelin ') (released June)
  • 1963: Goodbye Mary Ann (release: October)
  • 1963: Baby, Open Up Your Heart (release: October)
  • 1964: I Wanna Go Home (with Al Smith's Orchestra; released January)
  • 1964: Shy Girl (released May)
  • 1964: Oh What a Good Nite / Wait Till Tomorrow (release: August 17th)
  • 1965: Hey Sugar (Don't Get Serious) (released December)
  • 1966: Thinkin 'About You (released June)
  • 1966: Run for Cover (release: December)
  • 1967: Inspiration (release: April)
  • 1972: Walk On By (release: June)
  • 1978: I Wanna Testify (release: October)
  • 1981: Your Song (released January)
  • 1981: Happy Song (release: October)
  • 1991: My Lady, So Perfect for Me
  • 1991: That's How Heartaches Are Made

swell

  1. ^ Obituary for Marvin Junior
  2. a b c Chart sources: UK Billboard Hot 100 Billboard 200
  3. a b c gold / platinum database US
  4. RS500 Songs (List 2010)

Web links