One of many landmark songs amongst Motown’s nice lady teams arrived in report shops within the US on December 28, 1964. Even when the Velvelettes’ unique of “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’” was nothing like as a giant a success because it deserved to be, it turned a much-loved Hitsville spotlight and impressed a number of covers.
The tune got here from a triumvirate of the label’s best writing skills, with the younger Norman Whitfield becoming a member of forces for its sensible lyric and superior melody with “Mickey” Stevenson and Eddie Holland. Whitfield, 24 years previous and an rising expertise at Motown, produced, and the Velvelettes had been glad to see the corporate launch the one because the follow-up to their reasonable hit “Needle In A Haystack.”
The primary model of the tune, recorded in November 1964, was discarded, however one other move at it a month later supplied the ultimate take. The 45, on Motown’s V.I.P. label, was backed with “Throw A Farewell Kiss,” a tune written by Whitfield and Eddie Holland that had initially been assigned to Freddie Gorman. The monitor was recorded totally two years earlier, earlier than the Velvelettes had been dubbed onto it for his or her single flipside.
Sayin’ somethin’ refined
The Detroit songbirds by no means did fairly fulfilled their promise in business phrases, and “Sayin’ Somethin’” proved maybe a bit of too refined for some tastes, peaking at No.21 R&B and No.64 on the Scorching 100. In direction of the tip of 1965, it was anglicised by The Herd, as “She Was Really Sayin’ Somethin,’” however their model misssed the UK chart, little question to the reduction of Motown purists.
Hearken to the 60s Motown playlist.
Again on that label, the Marvelettes reduce the tune for his or her self-titled 1967 album, nevertheless it didn’t turn out to be a high ten hit till British lady trio Bananarama remade it as “Really Saying Something” in 1982. That includes fellow chart act the Enjoyable Boy Three, their model climbed to No.5 within the UK. However it was the Velvelettes who had been actually sayin’ somethin’ all alongside.
Purchase or stream “He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’” on The Very Better of the Velvelettes.
