The historical past of soul vocal stylists the Dells began in 1952, once they had been shaped in highschool in Harvey, Illinois. A 12 months later, they made their document debut on Checker, the Chess subsidiary, however it wasn’t till 1956 that they hit paydirt with the wonderful “Oh What A Nite.” Right here we bear in mind a monitor from their heyday of the late Nineteen Sixties. It was a decade that introduced them a dozen extra R&B chart entries, two of them No.1s, and appreciable pop crossover success.
The primary hit model of “Oh What A Nite,” and the charming follow-up “Stay In My Corner,” had been on Vee-Jay. However the group returned to Chess in 1966 below the auspices of its Cadet label, which might be their house for eight years. And what years they had been, together with the outstanding achievement of touchdown soul chart-toppers with remakes of each of these Vee-Jay hits.
Simply earlier than the revival of “Oh, What A Night,” because it was now spelt, the Dells entered Billboard’s Bestselling Rhythm & Blues Singles chart on Could 31, 1969 with one thing relatively uncommon. It was a medley of “I Can Sing A Rainbow” – popularized by Peggy Lee within the 1955 movie Pete Kelly’s Blues and coated thereafter by Andy Williams, Cilla Black and others – and “Love Is Blue.”
The historical past of the latter music included its choice as Luxembourg’s 1967 Eurovision Track Contest entry, sung by Vicky Leandros as “L’Amour Est Bleu.” For the document, it completed fourth, within the 12 months that the UK’s Sandie Shaw was triumphant with “Puppet On A String.” The music was coated as an instrumental by French orchestra chief Paul Mauriat, who took all of it the best way to No.1 within the US.
Prime 5 soul and transatlantic success
“L’Amour Est Bleu” was Anglicised by lyricist Brian Blackburn, and the Dells gave it their impassioned and deeply soulful therapy as a part of their Cadet medley. “I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue” entered the R&B chart at No.28, peaking at No.5 and giving them a No.22 pop hit. It additionally gave the group what was, lamentably, their solely UK singles chart entry, reaching No.15 that summer time.
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The Dells’ Cadet years went on to comprise a number of extra main hits, after which they recorded for Mercury, ABC and different labels, logging their ultimate chart entry in 1992. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame and the Vocal Group Corridor of Fame, the mighty Dells lastly hung up their microphones in 2012, on the finish of an unforgettable 60 years of performing.
Purchase or stream “I Can Sing A Rainbow/Love Is Blue” on the assorted artists compilation True Soul.
