B-side "Baby Be Mine" Recorded Fortune Records ; 1954 Length 3:03 | Released 1954 Genre Doo-wop, soul | |
Format Vinyl record (7", 45 RPM) | ||
"The Wind" is a 1954 doo-wop classic by the pre-Motown Detroit R&B group Nolan Strong & The Diablos. The song appears originally on the group's second 45rpm single, "The Wind / Baby Be Mine," (Fortune Records #511) [1]
Contents
The song has a unique, reverb-heavy sound and is centered on the high ethereal lead tenor voice of the band's leader, Nolan Strong.
In 2007, The Metro Times listed "The Wind" at #11 in The 100 Greatest Detroit Songs list - which was the November 11th cover story. [2]
"The Wind" was the group's only national hit, though most of the group's other hits were huge local successes in Detroit, including "Mind Over Matter" (Fortune #546, 1962), which went to #1 on local radio station play lists in 1962.
Cover versions
The Jesters reached #110 on the Billboard chart in 1960 with a cover of the song.
Mark Sultan, aka "BBQ," of King Khan & BBQ Show, recorded a version of it for an upcoming Nolan Strong tribute album titled "Daddy Rockin Strong: A Tribute to Nolan Strong & The Diablos." The vinyl LP will be released by The Wind Records and distributed by Norton Records. [3]
The late Laura Nyro covered the song live in concert and on her album "Gonna Take a Miracle."
The Chenille Sisters covered the song on their album "Mamma, I Wanna Make Rhythm."
The Calveys featuring Gino Romano, a doo-wop group, released "The Wind" on a Comma Records 45rpm (C-445).