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The Andantes

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Also known as
  
The Darnells

Active until
  
1992

Years active
  
1958-1973; 1989-1992

Members
  
Louvain Demps

The Andantes wwwoldiesmusicblogcomwpcontentuploads201502

Labels
  
Motown, Motorcity Records

Associated acts
  
Martha and the Vandellas, Four Tops, the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, the Supremes

Past members
  
Jackie Hicks (1958-1973; 1989-1992)Marlene Barrow (1958-1973; 1989-1992)Louvain Demps (1961-1973; 1989-1992)Emily Phillips (1958-1961)Pat Lewis (1989-1992)

Origin
  
Detroit, Michigan, United States (1958)

Albums
  
If You Really Love Me - The Best of the Andantes

Genres
  
Pop music, Rhythm and blues, Soul music, Psychedelic soul, Doo-wop, Disco

Similar
  
Marvin Gaye, The Funk Brothers, Mary Wells, Earl Van Dyke, The Velvelettes

The andantes story on the chancellor of soul s soul facts show


The Andantes were an American female session group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops, Jimmy Ruffin, Edwin Starr, the Supremes, the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, among others. Barrow also substituted for Florence Ballard of the Supremes in concert on several occasions.

Contents

The Andantes The Andantes doowop

The Andantes provided back-up singing on Motown singles starting in 1962. The group was most prominently used on all of the Four Tops' Holland–Dozier–Holland-produced hits, including "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "Reach Out I'll Be There", and more. The Andantes were used as vocal substitutes for Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong on many of the Supremes' recordings done in 1968 and 1969. They were also called upon to overdub and smooth out the Marvelettes' background vocals records beginning in 1965.

The Andantes ANDANTES doowop

In 1963, the Andantes, with the Marvelettes released the single "Too Hurt to Cry, Too Much in Love to Say Goodbye" b/w "Come on Home" as credited to the Darnells. In 1964 they released a single of their own called "(Like A) Nightmare" b/w "If You Were Mine", though none of the actual Andantes sang lead on either track (future Marvelette Ann Bogan performed the lead vocals).

The Andantes are also featured on some records that were not produced by Motown Records, the most prominent example being Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" (Pat Lewis substitutes for Louvain Demps on this track).

The Andantes The Andantes Discography at Discogs

Marlene Barrow-Tate died on February 23, 2015 at the age of 73.

Billy kent the andantes take all of me your love mahs 000 2 1961


Motown

The Andantes The Andantes Original Members Jackie Hicks Marlene Barrow

Throughout the 1960s and early 1970s, the Andantes appeared as backing vocalists on many of Motown's recorded singles, as the Funk Brothers also had when providing instrumentation. Five of these singles that they provided background vocals for would go on to chart at the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 popular music chart.

Chart-topping hits

The Andantes Behind the Scenes The Andantes Motown Forever A Tribute To The

  • "My Guy" - Mary Wells
  • "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" - Four Tops
  • "Reach Out I'll Be There" - Four Tops
  • "Love Child" - Diana Ross & the Supremes
  • "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye

    • Brenda Holloway

    The Andantes appeared on many singles for Brenda Holloway. These include:

  • "When I'm Gone"
  • "Operator"
  • "You Can Cry on My Shoulder"
  • "Together 'Til the End of Time"

    • The Four Tops

    The Andantes appeared as backing vocalists on 14 singles for the Four Tops. These releases include:

  • "Baby I Need Your Loving"
  • "Without the One You Love (Life's Not Worth While)"
  • "Ask the Lonely"
  • "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)"
  • "It's the Same Old Song"
  • "Something About You"
  • "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)"
  • "Reach Out I'll Be There"
  • "Standing in the Shadows of Love"
  • "Bernadette"
  • "7-Rooms of Gloom"
  • "You Keep Running Away"
  • "I'm in a Different World"
  • "Still Water (Love)"

    • The Supremes

    They appeared as backing vocalists on seven singles for The Supremes. These releases include:

  • "Children's Christmas Song"
  • "In and Out of Love"
  • "Forever Came Today"
  • "Love Child"
  • "I'm Livin' in Shame"
  • "The Composer"
  • "No Matter What Sign You Are"

    • Martha & the Vandellas

    They appeared as backing vocalists on twelve singles for Martha & the Vandellas. These releases include:

  • "You've Been in Love Too Long"
  • "Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)" (B-Side of "You've Been in Love Too Long")
  • "My Baby Loves Me" (with the Four Tops)
  • "I'm Ready for Love"
  • "Jimmy Mack"
  • "I Promise to Wait My Love"
  • "Forget Me Not" (B-Side of "I Promise to Wait My Love")
  • "I Can't Dance to That Music You're Playing" (with Syreeta Wright)
  • "(We've Got) Honey Love"
  • "Taking My Love (And Leaving Me)"
  • "I Should Be Proud"
  • "Bless You"

    • The Marvelettes

    They appeared as backing vocalists on 14 singles for the Marvelettes. These releases include:

  • "Tie a String Around Your Finger" (b-side of "As Long as I Know He's Mine")
  • "I'll Keep Holding On"
  • "Don't Mess with Bill"
  • "You're The One"
  • "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"
  • "When You're Young and in Love"
  • "My Baby Must Be a Magician"
  • "Here I Am Baby"
  • "Destination: Anywhere"
  • "What's Easy for Two Is So Hard for One"
  • "I'm Gonna Hold On As Long As I Can"
  • "That's How Heartaches Are Made"
  • "Marionette"
  • "A Breath-Taking Guy"

    • The Temptations

    They appeared as backing vocalists on five recordings for the Temptations.

  • "It's Growing"
  • "Last One Out is Broken Hearted"
  • "Just Another Lonely Night"
  • "That'll Be the Day"
  • "Love Woke Me Up This Morning"

    • Marvin Gaye

    They appeared as backing vocalists on (at least) 15 singles for Marvin Gaye. These releases include:

  • "Baby Don't You Do It"
  • "What Good Am I Without You"
  • "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)"
  • "I'll Be Doggone"
  • "Pretty Little Baby"
  • "Ain't That Peculiar"
  • "One More Heartache"
  • "Take This Heart of Mine"
  • "Little Darling (I Need You)"
  • "Your Unchanging Love"
  • "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
  • "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
  • "That's the Way Love Is"
  • "The End of Our Road"
  • "Save the Children"

    • Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

    They also appeared as backing vocalists on these following recordings and singles for Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell:

  • "This Poor Heart Of Mine"
  • "Give In, You Just Can't Win"
  • "When Love Comes Knocking At My Heart"
  • "Two Can Have A Party"
  • "Come On And See Me"
  • "Oh How I'd Miss You"
  • "Love Woke Me Up This Morning"

    • Motorcity Records

    As part of the Ian Levine's Motorcity Records project in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Andantes were signed to the label and once again provided a service in recording backing vocals to former Motown artists. By this time, Pat Lewis had joined Jackie Hicks, Barrow and Demps (from 1989–1992).

    Levine also recorded several songs with the Andantes, issuing a new single "Lightning Never Strikes Twice", which featured Demps on lead vocals. Most other songs recorded by the group at Motorcity had Lewis on lead vocals.

    Motorcity recordings

    Original Recordings

  • "Lightning Never Strikes Twice"
  • "Hurricane"
  • "Throw Love Away"
  • "Step Into My Shoes" - also recorded by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas
  • "Two Sides Of Love"
  • "One Drop Of Rain"
  • "Will You Always Be There"
  • "Love Is A Bumpy Road"
  • "All Around the Motorcity"

    • Cover Versions

  • "Girls Are Out To Get You"
  • "Superstition"
  • "Mercy, Mercy Me"
  • "I Wish" - cover of the Stevie Wonder classic
  • "My World Is Empty Without You"
  • "The Boss"
  • "Last Dance"
  • "Little Darlin'"
  • "Why Am I Loving You"

    • Unreleased Tracks

  • "Back In My Arms Again"
  • "In And Out Of Love"
  • "I Wish It Would Rain"
  • "Waste of Time" (Instrumental only)

    • Louvain Demps - Better Times

    Whilst under contract to Motorcity Records, Louvain was given the opportunity to step up to the microphone and record a full album, which was released in 1992 under the title 'Better Times', which includes original tunes and one cover of the Diana Ross hit "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)".

  • "On the Front Page"
  • "Better times"
  • "One Shot At Happiness"
  • "Lost & Found"
  • "Good Intentions"
  • "Blind Love"
  • "On the Beach"
  • "My Heart Won't Say No"
  • "No Time For Tears"
  • "Reach Out & Touch Somebody's Hand"

    • Louvain recorded two further tracks with Motorcity which did not appear on the above album:

  • "On Top Of the Mountain"
  • "Sight And Sound"

    • Pat Lewis

    Ian Levine has cited that he has recorded more songs with Pat Lewis than with any other artist. Several songs recorded by Pat whilst with Motorcity Records are:

    Cover Versions

  • "I Want You Back"
  • "Don't Leave Me This Way"
  • "I'll Be There"
  • "Selfish One"
  • "Rescue Me"

    • Original Recordings

  • "No Right Turn"
  • "Hungry For You"
  • "Something's Telling Me"

    • Songs

    Nightmare1997
    If You Were Mine2006
    Will You Always Be There2006

    References

    The Andantes Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA