Also known as The Emeralds Active until 1972 | Labels Stax, Volt Genres Rhythm and blues, Doo-wop | |
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Years active 1964–1972
occasionally after 1984 Past members John Gary Williams
Julius Green
William Brown
Robert Phillips
Sam Nelson
Quincy Billups Jr.
Daryl Grandberry Origin Memphis, Tennessee, United States (1964) Albums The Best of the Mad Lads Members John Gary Williams, Daryl Grandberry Similar The Temprees, The Mar‑Keys, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Mable John | ||
The mad lads so nice hy lit show
The Mad Lads were an American rhythm and blues vocal group, who recorded on the Stax subsidiary label Volt in the 1960s. Their biggest hits were "Don't Have To Shop Around" (1965) and "I Want Someone" (1966).
Contents
- The mad lads so nice hy lit show
- 075 the mad lads don t have to shop around live at stax to the max
- Career
- Songs
- References
075 the mad lads don t have to shop around live at stax to the max
Career
The group was formed at Booker T. Washington High School in Memphis, Tennessee. The original line-up comprised John Gary Williams, Julius E. Green, William Brown and Robert Phillips. They were originally called The Emeralds, but changed their name because there was another group of that name; the name "Mad Lads" was suggested by Stax employee Deanie Parker in response to the group's behavior and also in recognition of local disc jockey Reuben "Mad Lad" Washington. They first recorded for Stax in 1964, releasing "The Sidewalk Surf", co-written by Isaac Hayes under the name Ed Lee, which was not a hit. However, their second record, "Don't Have To Shop Around", rose to no. 11 on the Billboard R&B chart, and no. 93 on the pop chart. Featuring organ by Hayes and piano by Booker T. Jones, it has nonetheless been described as "curiously anachronistic, owing more to doo-wop than southern soul," and featured "the high, innocent tenor of John Gary Williams."
They followed up with "I Want Someone", "I Want A Girl" and "Patch My Heart", which were all R&B hits in 1966. However, towards the end of the year Williams and Brown were drafted. The group continued to make live appearances with the pair being replaced by Sam Nelson and Quincy Billups Jr., but the new line-up's recordings were not as successful. After Williams returned from military service, he was reinstated in the group, over other members' protests, at the insistence of record company co-owner Jim Stewart. The group continued to have R&B chart hits through to 1969, their final hit being a version of "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" which also reached the pop chart. In 1972, the group continued for a while and finally split up.
Williams recorded a solo album, The Whole Damn World Is Going Crazy, at Stax in 1973. He later worked outside the music business in Iowa and Los Angeles, before forming a new touring version of the Mad Lads in 1984. The new group recorded an album, Madder Than Ever, in 1990.
Julius E. Green died on January 14, 2013. William C. Brown III died on July 24, 2015, aged 69.
Songs
I Want SomeoneIn Action · 1966
What Ever Hurts YouShe's the One · 2013
Don't Have to Shop AroundIn Action · 1966