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Both songs became seminal soul music recordings, and both songs have since been covered: 1990s R&B group [[After 7]] re-recorded "Baby, I'm for Real" and made it a hit again in 1992, while another 1990s R&B group [[Color Me Badd]] re-recorded "The Bells" for one of their albums. While the group went on to have more modest success in both the soul and [[disco]] fields near the end of the decade, including "Down To Love Town", a #1 [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play|dance chart]] hit, the songs they made with Marvin Gaye are their most memorable and notable. Spencer returned briefly in the late 70s but after the death of Ty Hunter, on February 24, 1981, the group ceased recording and broke up about a year later.
Both songs became seminal soul music recordings, and both songs have since been covered: 1990s R&B group [[After 7]] re-recorded "Baby, I'm for Real" and made it a hit again in 1992, while another 1990s R&B group [[Color Me Badd]] re-recorded "The Bells" for one of their albums. While the group went on to have more modest success in both the soul and [[disco]] fields near the end of the decade, including "Down To Love Town", a #1 [[Hot Dance Music/Club Play|dance chart]] hit, the songs they made with Marvin Gaye are their most memorable and notable. Spencer returned briefly in the late 70s but after the death of Ty Hunter, on February 24, 1981, the group ceased recording and broke up about a year later.


Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops' lead, [[Levi Stubbs]], died on February 5, 1998. He had been with the group for about six months in the mid 1960s, as well as been a member of [[The Falcons]], [[The Contours]] and [[100 Proof (Aged In Soul)]]. C.P. Spencer died on October 20, 2004, and Freddie Gorman followed on June 13, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Originals|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-originals-p5076/biography|publisher=www.allmusic.com|accessdate=26 January 2012}}</ref> Walter Gaines died January 17, 2012, after a long illness.
Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops' lead, [[Levi Stubbs]], died on February 5, 1998. He had been with the group for about six months in the mid 1960s, as well as been a member of [[The Falcons]], [[The Contours]] and [[100 Proof (Aged In Soul)]]. C.P. Spencer died on October 20, 2004, and Freddie Gorman followed on June 13, 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Originals|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-originals-p5076/biography|publisher=www.allmusic.com|accessdate=26 January 2012}}</ref> Walter Gaines died January 17, 2012, after a long illness.<ref name="Dead">[http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2012b.html Thedeadrockstarsclub.com] - accessed January 27, 2012</ref>


==Reformation==
==Reformation==

Revision as of 00:25, 28 January 2012

The Originals
OriginDetroit, Michigan, United States
GenresR&B, soul, disco
Years active1966–1982, 2006–present
LabelsSoul (Motown)
MembersHank Dixon, Dillon Gorman, Terrie Dixon, Defrantz Forrest
Past membersFreddie Gorman (deceased)
Walter Gaines (deceased)
Ty Hunter (deceased)
C.P. Spencer (deceased)
Joe Stubbs (deceased)

The Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town". Formed in 1966, the group originally consisted of bass singer Freddie Gorman, Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier as the Holland–Dozier–Gorman writing team (before Holland–Dozier–Holland). Gorman (one of the writers of Motown's very first #1 pop hit Marvelettes, Beatles and Carpenters hit "Please Mr. Postman"), baritone (and the group's founder) Walter Gaines, and tenors C.P. Spencer and Hank Dixon. Ty Hunter replaced Spencer when he left to go solo in the early 1970s. They had all previously sung in other Detroit groups, C.P. having been an original member of the (Detroit) Spinners and Ty having sung with Scherrie Payne in the group Glass House.

History

The group found modest success in the latter half of the 60s, often working as backup singers for recordings by artists such as Jimmy Ruffin (What Becomes of the Brokenhearted), Stevie Wonder (For Once In My Life; Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday) , David Ruffin (My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)), Marvin Gaye (Just to Keep You Satisfied), Edwin Starr (War, 25 Miles), and many more. The Originals found their biggest success under the guidance of Motown legend Marvin Gaye, who co-wrote and produced two of the group's biggest singles, "Baby, I'm for Real", and "The Bells". This latter disc sold over one million copies and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A.Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 284. ISBN 0-214-20512-6. Both songs became seminal soul music recordings, and both songs have since been covered: 1990s R&B group After 7 re-recorded "Baby, I'm for Real" and made it a hit again in 1992, while another 1990s R&B group Color Me Badd re-recorded "The Bells" for one of their albums. While the group went on to have more modest success in both the soul and disco fields near the end of the decade, including "Down To Love Town", a #1 dance chart hit, the songs they made with Marvin Gaye are their most memorable and notable. Spencer returned briefly in the late 70s but after the death of Ty Hunter, on February 24, 1981, the group ceased recording and broke up about a year later.

Joe Stubbs, brother of Four Tops' lead, Levi Stubbs, died on February 5, 1998. He had been with the group for about six months in the mid 1960s, as well as been a member of The Falcons, The Contours and 100 Proof (Aged In Soul). C.P. Spencer died on October 20, 2004, and Freddie Gorman followed on June 13, 2006.[1] Walter Gaines died January 17, 2012, after a long illness.[2]

Reformation

Following the death of Freddie Gorman in 2006, longtime member Hank Dixon and Hank's daughter Terrie Dixon reformed the Originals as a live touring act with Freddie's son Dillon F. Gorman and Defrantz Forrest, son of Gene Chandler ("The Duke of Earl").[citation needed]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Chart positions"The Originals US albums chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05. Record label
US USR&B
1969 Green Grow the Lilacs 1 174 18 Soul
1970 Portrait of the Originals 198 47
Naturally Together 44
1972 Def·i·ni·tions
1974 Game Called Love
1975 California Sunset 51 Motown
1976 Communiqué Soul
1977 Down to Love Town
1978 Another Time, Another Place Fantasy
1979 Come Away with Me
1981 Yesterday and Today Phase II
"—" denotes the album failed to chart
  • 1 later reissued as Baby, I'm for Real

Compilation albums

Year Album Chart positions Record label
US USR&B
1990 Baby, I'm for Real Motown
1999 The Very Best of the Originals
2002 The Essential Collection Spectrum
"—" denotes the album failed to chart

Singles

Year Single Chart positions"The Originals US singles chart history". allmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-04-05.
US USR&B USDance
1967 "Good Night Irene"
1969 "We've Got a Way Out of Love"
"Green Grow the Lilacs"
"Baby, I'm for Real" 14 1
1970 "The Bells" 12 4
"We Can Make It Baby" (A-side) 74 20
"I Like Your Style" (B-side) 20
"God Bless Whoever Sent You" 53 14
1971 "Keep Me"
1972 "I'm Someone Who Cares" 113
1973 "Be My Love"
"There's a Chance When You Love You'll Lose"
1974 "Supernatural Voodoo Woman (Part 1)"
"Game Called Love"
"You're My Only World"
1975 "Good Lovin' Is Just a Dime Away" 53
"Fifty Years"
"Everybody's Got to Do Something"
1976 "Touch"
"Down to Love Town" 47 93 1
1977 "Call on Your Six-Million Dollar Man" 6
1978 "Temporarily Out of Order"
1979 "Blue Moon"
"J-E-A-L-O-U-S (Means I Love You)"
1981 "Waitin' on a Letter"/"Mr. Postman" (medley) 74
1982 "Baby, I'm for Real - '82" (feat. Hank Dixon)
"—" denotes the single failed to chart

As backing vocalists

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Originals". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  2. ^ Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed January 27, 2012